Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Smule Ocarina First iPhone Instrument
The iPhone Ocarina from Smule is the first instrumental application that turns the iPhone into a unique musical instrument. The traditional ocarina is a member of a very old family of musical instruments, dating back at least 12,000 years, in China and Mesoamerica. The Smule iPhone Ocarina brings this millenia-old musical tradition into the 21st century.
Here's how it works. Once you've installed the application, hold the iPhone in such a way that you can conveniently press the four buttons while blowing into the microphone. That's right; it's a wind instrument. See the iPhone ocarina picture below.
(Smule iPhone ocarina in use)
The Smule ocarina website has lots of musical scores and instructional materials to get you started, as well as a forum to share what you've learned.
The instrument itself can be configured with any of eight different pitch modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian and Zeldarian).
Okay, maybe you're thinking that you can't do anything really significant with an iPhone music app. Well, think again; watch this Smule ocarina video.
(Smule Ocarina video - Stairway to Heaven)
And, if all that weren't great enough, the Smule ocarina for the iPhone is the only web-enabled instrument in existence. Yes, that's right. The Smule ocarina lets you, the creative artist, bypass not only the RIAA, but also iTunes, Napster and every other aggregator of music.
Here's how it works. If you enable sharing, the Smule will automatically broadcast your music, via the Internet, to any one else's Smule ocarina.
(Smule iPhone ocarina World music forum)
As I write this, my mind is soothed by hauntingly beautiful tones produced by Smule iPhone ocarina players from around the globe: Khel (Oklahoma, USA), Stalzy (Canada), Hoshi*** (Japan), iPot (Australia), lion (France) and Thanatos (Georgia, USA) contribute their magical melodies.
You've got to try the Smule iPhone ocarina. It's the closest you youngsters can get to feeling the groovy vibes emanating from the Star Trek episode The Way To Eden when it was first broadcast. This episode featured futuristic musical instruments (even Spock played!) that, while retrofuturistic, can't hold a candle to the Smule iPhone ocarina.
(Spock shows his hippie side with alien musical instruments)
I'm sure readers have their own favorite alien or futuristic musical instruments. But until First Contact, download the Smule ocarina application into your iPhone. From Smule via my iPhone.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 11/19/2008)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories - (" Culture ")
Robot Baristas Learn Their Trade Without Paying Royalties
'...so we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.' - Anthony Boucher, 1943.
Vesuvius Challenge Accepted - Ancient Burnt Scroll Read!
'The image on the Trimagniscope tube was an enlarged view of one of the pocket-size books found on the body...' - James P. Hogan, 1977.
Humans Love Helping Other Species
'At the ringside opposite them a table had been removed to make room for a large transparent plastic capsule on wheels.' - Robert Heinlein, 1951.
AI-Powered Jesus Hologram Accepts Confessions
'The Padre's weightless voice floated reassuringly back to him.' Philip K. Dick, 1969.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Huawei Pura X Folding Phattie Phone
Why can't we get more innovative phone configurations?
Sleep Pods At Daxing International Airport
'Do not waste your priceless company on the unappreciative folds of a sleep pod...'
Robot Baristas Learn Their Trade Without Paying Royalties
'...so we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.'
JAXA Int Ball 2 Coming Right Along As Star Wars Remote
'Hocus-pocus religions and archaic weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side.'
Robot Bricklayer Or Passer-By Bricklayer?
'Oscar picked up a trowel. 'I'm the tool for the mortar,' the little trowel squeaked cheerfully.'
Robot Gas Station Attendant Pumps Gas For You
'... he waited for the robotrix attendant to finish fueling up his ship.'
Engineer Creates Crazy Motorized Track Hospital Bed
The Roujin Z system provides care to fully bedridden patients - and then some!
Tiny Flying Robot Weighs Just One Gram
'Aerostat meant anything that hung in the air. This was an easy trick to pull off nowadays.'
Some Ringworld Configurations Are Stable
'The Ringworld had no horizon. There was no line where the land curved away from the sky.'
TRANSFORM Dynamic Furniture Concept Becomes What You Need
'An adjustment panel outside the door would cause it to extrude various appurtenances in memory plastic...'
Harvard Metamaterials Change Structure Instantly
'Annealed in any shape for a time, and codified, the structure of that shape is retained down to the molecules.'
SnapBot Robots - You Choose Their Legs And They Choose Their Gaits
It's not really polite to tear the limbs off robots.
Dino From Magical Toys An AI Companion To Children
'...the imaginary companions discovered by needful children.'
Humanoid Robots Building Humanoid Robots
''Pardon me, Struthers,' he broke in suddenly... 'haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?''
Darpa 'Defiant' Unmanned Autonomous Ship
'There was no wheel, and no steersman!'
What's The Best Way To Ship And Unpack Humanoid Robots?
'I opened the oblong box, where lay the automatons side by side...'
