ringer
Latest
Formula E racer disqualified for using an esports ringer in a virtual race
Formula E Audi driver Daniel Abt has been disqualified from an esports race and fined €10,000 for using a ringer in his place, according to Reuters.
TUAW Best of 2011: Vote for the best Mac music app
The nominations are in, and the poll is ready to go! The TUAW Best of 2011 awards are all about you -- the readers -- and what you think is the cream of the crop of Apple or third-party products and software. To vote, select one entry from the top nominations made by readers. We'll be announcing the winner in just a few days. Vote early and often! Today TUAW is asking for your vote for the best Mac music app of 2011. While we received relatively few nominations in this area, there were several apps that stood out as potential winners in this category. Reaper (US$225 for commercial usage, $60 for individual use) is a powerful digital audio workstation app that does it all for musicians. It's "...a complete multitrack audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing, and mastering environment." Maybe you want to create ringtones from your favorite music in iTunes. Several readers nominated Ringer ($3.99), and it's not surprising -- the app is consistently rated with five stars by users in the Mac App Store. Several readers picked apps that simplify and speed playback of music on your Mac (i.e., skipping iTunes). The most popular of this genre were GarageTunes ($4.99) and Simplier ($2.99) Only one of these apps will win TUAW's top honor for Mac music app of 2011. Naming the winner is all up to you. %Poll-72000%
More easy ringtones with Ringer
Just the other day we reviewed one ringtone maker for the iPhone, and now another worthy app has crossed my desk.Ringer, from Pixel Research Labs, is another very easy to use app for the creation of iPhone ringtones. You can use any non-protected media file, including videos, and select it from the list built into the program, or simply drag and drop a file onto the Ringer palette.The editing is very easy, with a nice large display of the waveform. Ringer balances the dynamic range of the audio, so you can hear the soft parts and not distort the loud parts. It also allows you to change the gap between rings, from nothing to 5 seconds, which is a thoughtful feature.I like the ability to browse your collection of files, except it renders the titles in your playlist in alphabetical order (note the screen shot above), rather than the order you actually have the tracks in. Some people might like that, others won't. It should be a software switch.When we review ringtone apps, we often hear from readers about how you can do this for free with GarageBand or other apps, and I agree. However, some may not want the extra steps those methods require, and would rather have something that is really easy.Ringer accomplishes just that, with a fluid interface and no need to look up any instructions or scan the help files. I can create a GarageBand ringtone with the best of them, but I love the ability to get it done in a couple of seconds while this app filters my collection of tunes quickly and efficiently. Ringer is US$15.00, and as I said about the similarly-priced Pocket Mac Ringtone Studio, these apps are a bit pricey, but if you want it quick and easy they are really great. Ringer requires Leopard 10.5 or greater.
BlueQ's unsightly Vibrating Bluetooth Wristband
There's no shortage of vibrating alerts available for your cellphone these days, and while the MBW-100 watch will kindly inform you of whose calling while still looking relatively stylish on your arm, BlueQ's simplified attention getter certainly lacks any hint of fashion. BQ Wireless has unveiled a stripped down wristband that simply sports an internal Bluetooth module, on / off button, and a Transfer button in case your cellphone won't automatically take over the cal from the device. Put simply, this wrist adornment shakes your arm when someone's trying to ring you up, and while this may be somewhat less noticeable than a blaring ringtone in the middle of a crucial interview, it's bound to be exponentially more embarrassing when someone informs you that your articulatio radiocarpea is buzzing uncontrollably. Nevertheless, it's slated to hit retailers in July for $39.95 if you're still interested.[Via Slashphone]
BlackBerry Pearl won't ring in your pocket
Anyone who's had the good fortune of seeing a Pearl in the flesh knows that it's one extraordinarily good looking phone, particularly by BlackBerry standards. Unfortunately, where we come from, phones that don't ring are called "paperweights" -- which is exactly what the Pearl becomes when the trackball gets nudged. You know, like if it's in your pocket, or your purse, or pretty much anywhere besides a stationary counter top. As it turns out, when the phone rings, the handset immediately silences the ringer with even the slightest movement of the trackball, regardless of whether keylock is enabled. While we do appreciate the Pearl taking the initiative for us and ignoring phone calls so we don't have to, there is an occasional situation where we like to make the decision ourselves, and until RIM issues a fix users simply don't have that option. Strangely, two Engadget editors patiently attempted to explain the issue to a RIM representative this week at CTIA for several minutes without success; we think the first step to RIM issuing a fix would be for the company to understand the problem, so we could be in for a bit of a wait. Maybe the words we were using were too big?
Motorola patents cellphone shock BUZR
If you need to turn that ringer off in a movie theater or meeting, but find that the ol' vibrate mode just isn't doing it for you anymore (or if you need a surefire way to wake yourself up in the AM), Moto has the answer: shock mode. The company has filed for a patent on what it calls "a system that allows a cell phone to set off electrodes on a stimulator pad, alerting users of incoming calls." Moto also notes that the system can be used for "therapeutic stimulation," and that customized patterns -- think of them as the shock equivalent of ringtones -- can be downloaded to enhance the experience. We assume it'll only be a matter of time before someone figures out how to use this as a weapon (or at least a 21st century alternative to the joy buzzer) as well. And if you thought you had trouble getting through security with your camera phone, just give it a try with one of these babies.[Via Mobiledia]
