Unlike previous Apps of the Week lists which have seen categorical contributions from across the board, this week’s apps are all music related. Maybe it’s the early spring getting the best of me, or just the dumb luck of a ton of interesting music apps debuting this week, but there’s a lot to like if you want to get down.
Qello (Free)
Actually getting up and going to concerts can be a bit of a drag as you get older, but Qello lets your love of live music take over your iPhone with on-demand HD streaming concert footage. There is, of course, a small catch. Qello lets you view one track from every concert as well as hours of free concerts on Qello TV. But, for $4.99 a month, users get full access to the app. That includes creating custom set-lists of live music that you can share with your friends. You can stream the app’s content to your TV using Airplay. Qello is also home to numerous music documentaries, so you can learn a little while you rock out.
TastemakerX (Free)
I don’t have much use for terrifying whims of the stock market, but TastemakerX has piqued my interest. The app lets you create a virtual portfolio of their favorite bands. From there, you can meet other people who like your portfolio and share similar interests. It’s a unique take on social networking and listing out your favorite things. I’m not sure whether people will be keen to buy and sell their favorite musicians, but TastemakerX will be fun to keep an eye on.
Songza (Free)
Instantly making a playlist to fit a particular mood is one of the best things about the iTunes era of digital music. With Songza, the process has been automated for you. With this free app, you can automatically listen to music for working out, waking up, getting ready to party, or even cooking breakfast. The app has thousands of different playlists to choose from, and you can save your favorites and share them on Facebook, Twitter and email.
Beatstream ($0.99)
Rhythm-based games can be fun, but there’s invariably a whole list of songs you’re just not that into. Beatstream fixes that problem by letting you upload your own music directly from your iTunes library into the game. Now you can play along to only the songs you want to hear. The game itself is a tap-based rhythm game where you have to match up the color of a two-sided arrow with the color of the barriers that you approach in the game. It is simple and fun and a lot more enjoyable with your own tunes. As a bonus, you don’t have to pay a single cent more to play your own songs, so buying additional tracks is never an issue.
Art Jam Trance (Free)
If you’re a fan of trance music and art, Art Jam Trance is basically the peanut butter and jelly sandwich of music apps for which you’ve been waiting. The app combines mixing and DJ tools that let you create a live set of trance music, complete with mixing effects and samples, with interactive background art that you can manipulate while you play music. If you’re into a music experience that takes you beyond the notes and into something a little deeper and multi-faceted, Art Jam Trance is worth a look.
