Hasta La Gadget!

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you’d like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with “Insert Coin” as the subject line.

We’re not sure proper air guitarists would ever consider adding a bonafide pick to their cherished imaginary pastime, but what if a petite plastic plectrum could turn those strokes into stringed acoustics that more than just you can hear? That’s the idea behind Air Guitar Move, a $50 motion-sensing guitar pick that pairs with a dedicated iPhone app using a single dock-connected string. The minds behind Move aren’t new to product design — Colin Karpfinger created Thumbies, a suction cup-based gaming control accessory for iPhone, and Ronald Mannak has launched other freestyle electronic toys, including the V-Beat AirDrums and AirGuitar — so if they meet their $25,000 funding goal, we imagine that we’ll have a very solid iPhone accessory on our hands.

A $39 pledge gets you a single Move with a 20 percent discount, and a pledge of $49 will net you a pick from the first shipment, so you’ll be strumming away a month before folks in the first group. The creators have yet to commit to a ship date, but head over to Kickstarter if you’d like to make a pledge, or jump past the break for the intro video and an update on our last featured product, ZionEyez.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Air Guitar Move for iPhone (video)

Insert Coin: Air Guitar Move for iPhone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Have you been to Google’s home page recently? Do it, you’ve got less than 24 hours to check out its guitar-inspired doodle celebrating the birthday of Les Paul. The “Google” script is highly interactive thanks to a combination of JavaScript, HTML5, CSS, and even Flash (providing the audio). Click the compose button at the base of the second “g” and begin recording your own 30 second tribute to one of music’s most innovative pioneers using your keyboard to play specific notes or mouse for virtual strumming. Unfortunately, the recording and sharing aspect appears limited to US Googlers. Impressive stuff from a typically impressive company.

Google doodle lets you play a recordable guitar ditty in honor of Les Paul originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 01:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If your iPad or iPhone is set to play a starring role at your next, sold-out concert, you may want to check out two new, iOS-friendly interfaces from New Signal Process. Pictured above is NSP’s BreakOut Stomp — a die cast aluminum-encased pedal that promises to transmit guitar signals to and from your iDevice, without any unwanted distortions or detection interference. All you have to do is slide the stompbox into your pedal board, hook it up to your iPhone’s headphone jack and fire up your favorite recording or mixing apps. Whereas the stomp was designed with guitarists in mind, the recently unveiled BreakOut Stereo is geared more toward the DJ demographic. The device offers essentially the same iOS-interfacing capabilities of its pedal-based counterpart, serving as a portable conduit between an iPad and an amp or tabletop unit. Boasting two mono output jacks, this little guy can also be used with guitars, mics or mixing boards and is durable enough to survive the rough and tumble of your next world tour. As far as prices go, the BreakOut Stomp is selling for $155, whereas the Stereo will set you back $135. Groove past the break to see an image of the latter, or hit the source link to find out how to order one.

Continue reading New Signal Process introduces BreakOut Stereo and Stomp for the most serious of iOS musicians

New Signal Process introduces BreakOut Stereo and Stomp for the most serious of iOS musicians originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 May 2011 07:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Ubisoft’s Rocksmith aims to prove anyone can play guitar

Ubisoft’s Rocksmith aims to prove anyone can play guitar originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Those seeking the upper echelons of virtual guitar wizardry have a third option now — the You Rock Guitar, which is now compatible with Rock Band 3’s Pro mode. So long as you’ve also got Mad Catz’ MIDI-Pro adapter handy, the multi-touch fret board sounds like a solid middle ground between the uber-realistic Squier Stratocaster strings and the tiny toy-like fret keys of the Mustang Pro, and at roughly $200 street it’s priced right between the others as well. PR after the break, and find our early impressions of the You Rock here.

Continue reading You Rock strums its way into Rock Band 3 Pro mode

You Rock strums its way into Rock Band 3 Pro mode originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 06:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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