A week’s worth of great offerings hit the iTunes App Store this week; among them an amazing way to discover new music, a game companion to a television series, and another hit from Smule.
AWEDITORIUM (FREE)
If you’re a fan of music, you absolutely have to grab Aweditorium (free). Open the app and you’re presented with a grid of photographs. Tap one, and hear a song by the artist, read pop-up information, including quotes from interviews, and view lyrics. Share the song via Twitter or Facebook, tap to be sent to other music by the artist, download music from iTunes, and open YouTube videos. It’s an exploration, and you never know where you’ll end up. But in the last couple of days, Aweditorium has opened up a whole world of music that I might otherwise never have heard. This app showcases the capabilities of the iPad in stunning fashion.
MARTHA STEWART LIVING MAGAZINE ($3.99)
I’ll admit I have a love-hate relationship with Martha Stewart. But there’s no denying that not only is she really good at cutting out paper hearts, she also does her best to be on the cutting edge of the latest technologies, and has brought Martha Stewart Living Magazine ($3.99) to the iPad. Using what appears to me to be the exact same UI as is being used by The New Yorker, Living is more than a magazine pasted onto an electronic device. It’s a re-imagining of the magazine using the features of the iPad itself. Navigate from article to article via a swipe, and swipe up to read the entire article; the presentation is beautiful. The “cover” features a delicate peony; when you tap, the peony opens in bloom. Tap anything of interest on the table of contents page to be taken directly to it (for example, a recipe for Savory Phyllo Pie that had my stomach rumbling). A table of contents is also available from any page with a tap.
GREAT MIGRATIONS HD ($2.99)
The National Geographic channel has a beautiful new series called Great Migrations, and now a companion game for the iPad, Great Migrations HD ($2.99). Guide creatures (Monarch butterflies, salmon, zebras, and red crabs) past predators and environmental dangers by drawing a line to safety for them to follow. Customizable levels of difficulty mean that anyone can play Great Migrations HD. Combined with educational information and stunning photographs, Great Migrations is more than just a game, and is well worth a spot on your iPad.
MAGIC FIDDLE ($2.99)
Well, Smule has done it again with Magic Fiddle ($2.99). Within just a few minutes of opening the app, I was playing Mary Had a Little Lamb like a pro. Well… almost. Magic Fiddle requires that you hold the iPad up like a fiddle, even down to resting it on your shoulder and placing your chin on the designated spot on the screen. You can play as a guest, but if you register with Smule, you’ll be able to earn high scores and various accomplishments as your performances improve. A “Storybook” takes you on an eight-step journey to learn how to play. Very nicely done, Smule.
