Hasta La Gadget!

We’re always looking for excuses to get behind the wheel, so naturally the new Dynamic Music function in the Mini Connected app made us yearn for a chance to hit the road. Version 2.0 brings this headline feature to the iPhone, which includes exclusively-composed music that adjusts based on things like a compatible Mini Cooper‘s “longitudinal and lateral acceleration.” In other words, the faster and crazier you drive, the more exciting the music becomes. So instead of having mom in the passenger seat begging you to slow down, there’s music that encourages you to do the opposite. The press release even references a “hallmark Mini go-kart feeling,” so you might want to make sure everyone’s buckled up before you plug in. Should anyone fail to do so, a new feature called Mission Control will let you know, also nagging about poor driving conditions. How’s that for a mixed signal?

Continue reading Mini Cooper Connected app adjusts music based on driving style, stops when airbags deploy

Mini Cooper Connected app adjusts music based on driving style, stops when airbags deploy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 09:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Songs can sound different depending on when and where you hear them—I can only appreciate the subtle craftsmanship of Katy Perry, for example, when I’m at home with my headphones on. SoundTracking takes the “now playing”-style share to the next level by letting you announce what you’re listening to as well as where you are and what you’re doing while listening to it. More »

Musical duo Bluebrain has taken the guesswork out of listening to music — their latest album dictates where you can listen to it, what songs it plays, and when it plays them. Take that, playlists! The album, titled The National Mall, will be available only as an iPhone app and the band is calling it the first location-aware album. The app… er, album, uses your phone’s GPS to track one’s proximity to hundreds of tagged zones spread throughout the landmarks of the Washington DC National Mall, dynamically tweaking the rhythm, melody, instrumentation, and pace of the music as you go.

Despite this fancy smartphone integration, Bluebrain stresses that this is still an album, not a toy or augmented reality application. The experience is strictly location specific, no user input necessary, or available. Want to hear a new melody or arrangement? Walk to a different monument. The project’s location-specific nature means that fans outside of the DC area are out of luck for now. The band says two more GPS-powered albums are on the way — one designed for Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, and another spanning the entire length of California’s Highway 1. Music, measured in miles — neat, but Hwy. 1 manages just fine on its own, wouldn’t you say?

Location-aware album gives Washington DC dynamically modified soundtrack originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankly, a few things in life are just too hard. Taxes being one of them, and moving from one’s spot in a hot tub to adjust the temperature and / or jet pressure being another. In a bid to solve issue number two, Arctic Spas has shoved out an iOS app (Android and BlackBerry are inbound) that interfaces with a WiFi module on some of the company’s hot tubs. Once loaded up, owners can control temperature and jets with a simple touch, though we hear that loads of steam and moist fingers aren’t exactly great for consumer electronics. Either way, you’ve got a video to entice you down below.

Continue reading Arctic Spas shows off hot tub-controlling iPhone app, waterproof iPhone case sold separately (video)

Arctic Spas shows off hot tub-controlling iPhone app, waterproof iPhone case sold separately (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All together now: “flippin’ finally!” For anyone in the business world who has been blocked from receiving information due to the inability to locate a printer, ink pen, scanner, publicly available PC, a working printer driver and a fifth of Jack, say hello to your savior. EasySign is a delightfully simple new iOS app (yeah, we’re already begging for an Android port) that solves a painful problem, and it should make signing documents on the go a whole heck of a lot easier for those who tote iPhones. The concept is simple: you download the document you’re supposed to sign right onto your iPhone, and then you use your finger to enter your John Hancock. It’ll stamp whatever date you want onto the form, and with a simple button press, it’s converted to a PDF and shot back to the sender. We’d probably recommend using the stock black ink, but it seems that a few color options are available for those who prefer to roll a bit more casually. Head on past the break for a demo, and then hit that iTunes link for a free trial. Once you send three documents, you’ll need to pony up $4.99 for another 20 docs (a $9.99 unlimited version is coming soon). But hey, given that petrol looks like a steal compared to your average inkjet cartridge, you’ll probably still come out ahead.

Continue reading EasySign iPhone app halts the print / sign / email cycle, trees everywhere celebrate

EasySign iPhone app halts the print / sign / email cycle, trees everywhere celebrate originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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