I am Ashley Elsdon

someone who's doing some things

Month: April 2012

Appollo 18

Posted by on in Films

This film was on my watch list for a long time, as I thought the trailer was quite interesting and the idea was intriguing. The actual film is ok so far, but not brilliant, and not entirely gripping. The story was quite predictable and you really could see what was coming from afar. It’s a shame really, as the story had some potential, but I think that the makers concentrated a little too much on the documentary style of the film and not enough on giving the story a little more edge to it.

Still. Another film to cross off my list.

So, is Spotify the OS of music?

Posted by on in Mobile Applications, Music, Thinking

This was something that their head of platform claimed that they were aiming for at the Music Ally App Side conference last month. An interesting claim. I have a slightly different take on it though. For me the OS of music isn’t just about listening, in fact it might not be about listening at all, or at least listening might only be a small part of the puzzle.

For me the idea of an OS for music has always been very enticing. Something that I don’t think I’ve ever seen done properly, but I’ve always wished for. The closest thing to it was the elusive Capers OS which was meant to be a replacement for the Palm OS and act as an OS for music making.

Back when that was being talked about it wasn’t really something that could be used for pure synthesis, so Capers OS was more about controlling other devices. That made sense then, but not now. I think now we have the capability in mobile devices for an actual mobile OS which is built for music making.

Will something like this ever come about? Who knows, I’d love to see it, but I can see it being difficult to get off the ground and fund properly. One day perhaps.

So, is Spotify going to be the OS of music? Not for me I don’t think, but I do think that they are doing a great deal for changing listening and discovery, and that’s a step in the right direction, albeit not my direction.

Binary Clock in LiveView

Posted by on in Tech
Binary Clock
LiveView BinaryClock

A little bit of progress with this project. I got the binary clock app running on the device. I really need to be able to get this working with RSS feeds and more soon.

App revisit: Noise Machine

Posted by on in Mobile Applications, Music

I remember when this app first arrived. I was really blown away by it. I still think it’s a lot of fun to mess around with and a nice example of an experimental app for the iOS. I hope that people keep on doing things like this instead of more complex apps that are commercial but less experimental.

Time will tell.

App revisit: Star Melody

Posted by on in Mobile Applications, Music

Amidio used to make all of their app splash screens like this, and in some ways I preferred them to what they do now. The app was meant to be like Eno’s Bloom app only much better. I’m not sure it was. It was different, that’s for sure, but better? Maybe in some ways. I still liked this, and found it useful back when I first got it.

This version only gets as far as the splash screen on my 3G so it won’t be used any more sadly. I haven’t tried the latest version of the app that Amidio have released. Perhaps I should. But it won’t be the same experience.

App revisit: O-Generator Accoustic

Posted by on in Mobile Applications, Music

Another circular sequencer concept. This one was quite tricky to use although the concept was good. I seem to remember that there were in fact a number of version of the app with different sample bases to them. Something that a number of people have tried out, but that hasn’t always been too successful.

Still, it was ok to use although I can’t see myself making any amazing tracks with it.

Further thoughts on Spotify

Posted by on in Listening

Well, I have well and truly stepped into the 21st Century now. I’m quite enjoying spotify and finding it works well. I can still myself buying a few things, but probably nowhere near as much from now on.

Is this a good thing? I’m not sure. After only just about a week I think it’s too early to give a complete verdict. Although it’s been a very positive experience so far I think. For me the most positive thing is having spotify on my iPhone, although I’d quite like a proper iPad app too.

Zodiac is up and running!

Posted by on in Tech

I finally managed to get a charger for my Zodiac 2, and it works just fine! I’ve had a very brief try out with the onboard sound card and that too works just fine. I’m looking forward to getting it fully loaded.

Finished listening to Shada

Posted by on in Books and Audiobooks

So I finished listening to the 10 CD version of Shada narrated by Lalla Ward. It was a good version. There’s certainly more detail in this version than the Big Finish version, although partly that’s because it’s narrated rather than a dramatised version.

On the whole though, I do prefer the Big Finish version with Paul McGann. Not because it’s a dramatised version, although I think that brings it to life far better as a story. But because I think that they just did it much better by shortening it to something more like the length it would have been if it had actually been televised. Let’s not forget that it was meant to be on TV in 25 minute episodes, and not a 10 hour narrated story.

Anyway, I’m glad I heard this version, and I’m glad I’ve got both now. I might even by the book when the paperback comes out.