The huge potential for audio and music apps was clear, considering the features already disclosed and the obvious convenience factor associated with a device carried on the wrist instead of “in the pocket.” Since so many audio developers had long explored the full potential of Apple’s iPhone for music, entertainment, recording, and even test and measurement applications, it seemed apparent that, having the Apple Watch as a remote controller would be a great starting point.
The good news is that developers had great first ideas on how to leverage the Watch and already went far beyond remote control. Here’s a first selection of Apple Watch audio and music related apps worth mentioning, from communication to recording, audiology to education.
Glide for Apple Watch
Glide is an Israeli startup whose popular live video messenger has attracted more than 15 million users since launching two years ago. Glide surprised us because it immediately took the power of Apple’s Watch beyond what anyone thought to be possible with the first app to enable video playback on the device.
Delivering on the futuristic promise of quick visual communication on wristwatches, Glide’s engineers fused the company’s patented streaming video technology with a simple and intuitive interface. With Glide for Apple Watch, users can receive video, text, and photo messages on their wrists. They can even watch inbound videos live as they’re being recorded, or later at their convenience. The app leverages Apple’s “Handoff” feature, which lets users seamlessly switch from watching a video on the Watch to continuing from the exact same spot on the iPhone’s larger screen.
“We are very bullish on the Apple Watch and believe that live video messaging from your wrist will rapidly become the easiest way to keep in touch with friends and family on the go,” says Ari Roisman, CEO and co-founder of Glide. “By combining Glide with the Apple Watch, we are ushering in a new era of digital communication that will largely replace text messaging. ‘Tap and talk’ messaging delivers a more natural experience on these devices’ tiny screens than typing. It’s fast, effortless and fun!”
Apple Watch users can respond to incoming notifications directly from the Watch. They can easily react to any Glide message by choosing a customizable text, sending a fun emoji or using speech-to-text to dictate their reply. To record a video response, users can launch Glide on their iPhone and send a message with a single tap. Glide for Apple Watch is available for free in the App Store.
glide.me/apple-watch
ReSound Hearing Aid App for Apple Watch
This is a company audioXpress mentioned recently because of its innovative iPhone app. Now, ReSound introduced the first hearing aid app designed specifically for Apple Watch. The ReSound Smart app for Apple Watch allows users to take advantage of seamless, on-the-go control of their hearing ais, right from their wrist.
Through the ReSound Smart app for Apple Watch, users have access to set preferred volume levels, adjust treble and bass settings, change audio profiles as they move though different sound environments, and view at-a-glance details about their hearing aids, including the sound profile in use. Users with the ReSound LiNX2 solution can also experience a new level of smart hearing customization with easy access to sound enhancer controls for comfort in noisy or windy environments.
“As technology advances, we will continue to push the limits and revolutionize what is possible in terms of hearing aid control. ReSound is excited to offer people simple, on-the-go Smart Hearing personalization through the ReSound Smart app for Apple Watch,” says GN ReSound CEO Anders Hedegaard. “We are always striving to bring our users the most innovative solutions; the ReSound Smart app for Apple Watch is an extension of that philosophy. It is control as it should be, combined with the most advanced, natural hearing experience provided by ReSound’s portfolio of Smart Hearing aids.”
Apple Watch compatibility comes just weeks after the debut of ReSound LiNX2, the latest device to leverage ReSound’s proprietary 2.4 GHz wireless platform and build on industry-leading technologies in all areas of Smart Hearing (audiology, connectivity, design, and apps) to offer wearers an advanced, natural hearing experience.
www.resound.com
Beltone HearPlus App for Apple Watch
Hearing aids specialist Beltone also introduced hearing customization with its HearPlus app developed for Apple Watch. The app gives hearing aid wearers new opportunities to personalize hearing aid settings directly from their wrists, offering unprecedented control and freedom to people with hearing loss.
“The Beltone HearPlus app for Apple Watch reaffirms our commitment to bringing the most innovative solutions to our customers,” says Beltone President Todd Murray. “Our new Beltone Legend offers the most versatile family of hearing aids to help users find their perfect match, and the addition of the app for Apple Watch means even more flexibility and lifestyle adaptability.”
The HearPlus app for Apple Watch allows hearing aid wearers to tailor individual preferences and accommodate different listening environments in a simple and discreet way when adjusting programs, volume levels and noise reduction settings.
Beltone Legend wearers will also be able to adjust background and wind noise settings and speech focus directly from Apple Watch.
Recently, Beltone unveiled its Beltone Legend hearing aids, the first Made for iPhone custom hearing aids on the market, featuring Personal Sound ID and Crosslink Directionality technologies. Added features like Smart Gain Pro and Feedback Eraser allow users to even further adapt to unique hearing environments.
www.beltone.com
IK Multimedia UltraTuner for Apple Watch
Jumping directly to the music world, what about “wearing” a digital tuner in the wrist? Makes sense, obviously. And that’s what the pioneer of music-oriented apps for iPhone, IK Multimedia, understood.
IK Multimedia announced the latest version of its UltraTuner for iPhone, now compatible with Apple Watch. Now musicians can accurately tune their instruments straight from their wrist — UltraTuner’s highly visible “STAGE mode” can be viewed on Apple Watch via 2 easy-to-see visualizations.
The latest UltraTuner app can be paired with an Apple Watch when it is installed on an iPhone with the most recent OS. Musicians can now view the tuning information on their Apple Watch in 2 operational modes: UltraTuner’s classic graduated LED “STAGE mode” and a simple “NOTE mode”, custom-designed for the Apple Watch display.
When viewed on Apple Watch, “stage mode” provides a bright and highly visible display with two large yellow LED-like wing arrays that light up in progressive amounts according to whether the note played is flat or sharp. When the note is in tune, the tuning indicator center bar turns bright neon green. “NOTE mode” shows the musical note letter name that is being played, with arrows below to indicate whether the note is flat or sharp. When the note is in tune, the note name turns bright neon green.
Beyond the Apple Watch enhancement, the UltraTuner app runs on both iPhone or iPod touch, and can receive an audio signal via either the built-in microphone or through an audio interface like IK’s iRig HD, iRig 2 or iRig PRO. It sports an advanced quick note-detection engine that delivers accuracy down to +/- 1/100 of a cent, making it ideal for precision tuning and calibration of all instruments from electric guitars to analog synthesizers and beyond.
This newest version of UltraTuner, now compatible with the Apple Watch, is available from the App Store for just $/€4.99. UltraTuner for Apple Watch is a free update for existing owners of UltraTuner for iPhone (standalone app only).
www.ikmultimedia.com/products/ultratuner
Apogee MetaRecorder Audio Recording App
This one was one of the first audio-related apps being announced for Apple Watch. Apogee Electronics introduced MetaRecorder, a two-channel audio recording App for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, with multi-take recording, tagging and file organization features. Designed also has the perfect companion to Sennheiser’s digital clip-on microphones powered by Apogee A/D converters, MetaRecorder features 24 bit/96 kHz recording quality plus software control of input level and recording presets. It also allows export to Dropbox as FCPXML format to open in Final Cut Pro.
Essential features of MetaRecorder on iPhone can be controlled from Apple Watch – start and stop recording, Favorite a Take, add Markers or set your microphone input level.
MetaRecorder is a free download from the Apple App store. For a limited time, connecting a compatible Apogee or Sennheiser device permanently unlocks unlimited continuous recording. MetaRecorder also works with the built-in microphone or any other iOS compatible device but is limited to 60 seconds of continuous recording. An in-app upgrade can be purchased for $4.99 USD to unlock continuous recording.
www.apogeedigital.com
Insteon Connected Home Products for Apple Watch
Home automation and control technology specialist, Insteon, announced the ability to control and monitor Insteon devices from the Apple Watch. Insteon users are able to control lights, appliances, thermostats and scenes from the Apple Watch. In addition, they can view Insteon cameras and monitor a variety of sensors—including motion, door/window, smoke/CO, and water leak—as well as receive instant alerts as soon as they are triggered.
“We are proud to be among the first in the connected home space to release support for Apple Watch especially given our wide variety of connected home devices,” says Joe Dada, CEO at Insteon. “We believe our new solution for the Apple Watch further establishes Insteon as a leader in home automation and underscores our commitment to making Insteon accessible for anyone, from anywhere.”
Communication directly from the Apple Watch is established through Insteon’s Hub, without a smartphone. The app allows selecting the desired Insteon device, monitoring home activity and providing alerts in case of any event. With Insteon cameras, Apple Watch users can even see what’s happening in real time.“Insteon understands that, in our busy world, it’s a challenge to stay connected to what matters,” said Dada at Insteon. “If a phone is buried in your pocket or purse, you might miss an alert warning you that someone has just opened your garage. Or that your sink has just sprung a leak. With Apple Watch and Insteon, you’ll be closer than ever to what matters most.”
www.insteon.com/applewatch
SoundHound + LiveLyrics Apple Watch App
SoundHound, a pioneering company in sound recognition and search technologies, announced its flagship music product, SoundHound + LiveLyrics, was one of the first third-party apps for Apple Watch. The SoundHound app, which has been downloaded by more than 250 million mobile device users, allows Apple Watch users to initiate music recognition with one tap on the Watch, see LiveLyrics displayed in-sync with the music on the Watch display and simultaneously on the user’s iPhone, and view collected songs by scrolling on the song history list.
“As you go through your day, SoundHound + LiveLyrics allows you to capture, collect and enjoy the music around you. By making the user experience as simple and accessible as tapping your wrist, SoundHound becomes a daily pleasure, literally bringing lyrics to your fingertips,” says Katie McMahon, vice president and general manager, SoundHound Inc.
SoundHound is a music and audio recognition app, including singing and humming search. The SoundHound mobile application is the only app in the world that enables two distinct sound inputs to be recognized through a single search button. Both recorded music and a hummed query can be identified.
www.soundhound.com
