“This is an…app world!” *soulful James Brown voice*
It’s true. Getting the best of our smartphone experience these days means downloading countless mobile apps designed to engage us as users in the endless, online world.
The holiday/New Year season is prime time for new apps to debut. This time of year, since we’re all fascinated by the latest gadgets, games, and go-to websites, here’s a short list of three that you should download soon:
We may have reached the final frontier when users can now create their own, high-quality music videos with their phones. With the help of R&B’s Miguel, AHH’s Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur, and others, the creators of SongBooth recently launched a new music video-making app that serves as another social media platform for iPod Touch and iPhone users.
SongBooth includes a catalog of instrumentals (and some for purchase), along with music effects and other custom features to create real music videos. Check out the interactive SongBooth user community at www.SongBooth.com.
Project SongBooth will host an annual, international contest to select the best user-made SongBooth videos – the one with the most likes during the contest (the first one is in March 2013) will be rewarded with a major label recording contract.
The Music Biz (Imaginary) Hip-Hop Industry App
Suge Knight ain’t got nothin’ on you! The Mu$ic Biz™, a new app that allows users to “sign” and manage fictional artists, also promises the joy of letting you mix, produce, and sell music within its virtual industry. The major bonus, according to The Music Biz, is that app users “can even collaborate with real-life hip-hop producers.”
Hungry Eyes Film and Television Inc. and XMG Studio Inc. are the creative minds behind this first gaming app of its kind. “Growing up, hip-hop was something that got me through the pains of being a teenager, but it was fun as hell, too. The Music Biz takes a lot of what people love about hip-hop and morphs it into a game,” said creator Sudz Sutherland. The Music Biz app debuts tomorrow (December 12) – download it at the iTunes Store and find out more at at www.urthemusicbiz.com.
Mister Cartoon’s “Time to Ride” Lowrider App/Contest
Mister Cartoon, the well-known West Coast tattoo/graffiti artist, recently debuted his Time 2 Ride web app which lets users experience the virtual feel of riding in a lowrider. (Because you’ve always wanted to do that.) Says Mister Cartoon, “Lowriding with friends is a way of life for us in Los Angeles. Whenever I get the chance to put someone in one of my classic lowriders and hit the switches, the expression across their face is like nothing else.”