We’re excited (and a bit surprised) to report that Star6 1.1 has hit the App Store –  a quicker-than-expected approval of the update has left us scrambling a bit! This is a substantial release, many new capabilities, but for my money, the #1 new feature is quantizing; specifically, quantizing when you jump from one sample to another.

Jumping between samples is a core activity when you’re jamming out with Star6.  In release 1.0, you had to hit the sample button at exactly the right instant to keep your music “on the beat” … tough to do, even for experienced DJs. In Star6 1.1, jumping between samples is automatically quantized. You simply select what beat interval you want to quantize on, from 1/16th of a beat up to 4 beats. Then when you jump from one sample to another, Star6 automatically delays the jump so that your sound stays lined up on the beat interval you selected.

Besides keeping you lined up on the beat, quantizing also makes it possible to easily alternate between two samples, playing, for example, 6 beats from sample A followed by 2 beats from sample B, and back again. For me, this one feature makes Star6 1.1 a huge improvement.

Another big win in 1.1 is a raft of BPM-related changes. First of all, we’ve put the BPM control right on the main process screen. This control works in three different modes. First, you can touch the + or – buttons to move up or down a single beat at a time. Next, if you touch and hold, you get “alarm clock mode” where the BPM moves up or down faster the longer you hold. And finally, we’ve added a very nice scrubbing mode: if you touch and hold the BPM button, then move up or down, BPM follows that movement. So you can move from 120 BPM to 303 BPM in a split second by moving your finger up an inch — fun!

Also new on BPM is the ability to control whether pitch varies with the BPM change. Previously Star6 always used granular synth magic to keep the pitch the same, but in 1.1 you can toggle it so pitch varies up and down with the BPM. This can produce some great effects (think James Brown as fast chipmunk) but also causes less distortion when you modify the BPM on certain types of music. For example, if you’re working with the ambient loops from FM3′s Buddha Machine, BPM changes work much better in “vary pitch” mode.

Previously, Star6 would force all samples within a session to run at the same BPM. In Star6 1.1, you can now vary the BPM for each sample. This is helpful when you’re working with samples that are less beat-driven than the typical club / dance music — again the Buddha Machine samples come to mind. And finally, we’ve added a tap-to-BPM bar on the options screen, so you can easily match speeds with the music you’re listening to.

One more notable change to Star6′s control interface is around the reset button. Star6 has always had reset, which returns the six granular synth settings back to their starting (neutral) position. In 1.1, the reset button has been expanded to also reset effects and reversing; so if you have a sample playing with synth effects plus DSP effects plus running in reverse, a single tap of reset puts everything back to neutral. What’s even more powerful in 1.1 is that, if you tap reset again, it “un-resets”: that is, all those processes and effects you just turned off are turned back on in a single click. This makes some really amazing toggles possible, from wildly crunched to original sample, back and forth, just by toggling reset.

We’ve added support for downloading and installing entire sample packs in a single click, via Mobile Safari or from within Star6′s News area. We did this by registering a custom protocol, star6://, when the app installs. If you then click on a star6:// link within Mobile Safari, it automatically loads Star6, downloads the sample pack, and creates a new session for those samples. The format of a sample pack isn’t complex, just a zip file with the samples and some optional metadata, so you can publish your own star6:// downloads if you choose to.

You’ll notice a fairly significant change to Star6′s look and feel in 1.1. We had a chance to sit down and walk through Star6 with Apple’s Eric Hope, an iPhone User Experience Evangelist, at the recent Tech Talk in Seattle. Eric enjoyed Star6′s rather unique and non-standard styling and colors, but suggested a more rounded, 3D look. We’ve taken Eric’s advice and think you’ll like the results. We’ve also cleaned up many other aspects of the UI and UX, particularly the session listing screen.

All in all, in our most humble opinion, Star6 1.1 is twice as much fun! Let us know what you think.

Less than a month after their launch in the iTunes App Store, the  Merck Manual apps are already proving to be convenient resources valued by healthcare professionals and consumers on the go. Both apps have received excellent reviews and are among the Top Paid Apps in the medical category.

Customer comments and reviews for the Professional Edition (App Store link) have come from a variety of sources. Rickkus wrote in the Australia App Store, “Lots of cross references and they are all linked. Just click the link and you are there. Much more information than similar medical apps I have bought, and less than half their price.” In the US App Store, Nursemedic99 commented, “If you like the Merck Manual, you’ll definitely like this app. I use it on a regular basis. It’s well worth the $30 to have the Merck with you at all times.” Before purchasing the app, a healthcare professional who works in a hospital contacted us to confirm that a WiFi/Internet connection is not needed (“we do not have WiFi in my area”). We confirmed that’s true and  then modified the App Store description to emphasize that particular feature of the app. The Professional Edition app has also received positive reviews from lawyers. Jeff Richardson, an attorney and publisher of iPhoneJD.com, wrote a high quality and in-depth review where he concluded, “I suspect that many lawyers have, like me, found the need to look up medical terms, such as during a break in a deposition…the Merck Manual apps are excellent sources of medical information and it is very useful to have all of this information at your fingertips on the iPhone for quick and easy access.”

The Home Edition (App Store link), which is among the top 20 paid apps in the medical category as of this writing, is proving to be a valuable resource for consumers. In the US App Store, Kessee wrote, “Great reference too, easy to navigate, tons of info at a reasonable price!!” and Mehall7 commented, “Easy to use and well worth the price. You won’t regret buying this.” Heather Leister, TheiPhoneMom who’s been mentioned in TechCrunch on more than one occasion, wrote, “This is one heck of an impressive app” and “I’m the type that likes to go into a doctor’s appointment having done some research and love having all this medical information on my itty bitty phone.” In his thorough review of the app at Medtapp.com, family physician Dr. Jojo Ferrer noted that the app enables users to “report bugs, suggest features, and sign up for the newsletter. Kudos to Agile Partners for enabling these in-app; it shows how much importance they give to customer feedback.”

As we said in our blog post when the apps launched, we’re proud of the work with our partners at Merck on the iPhone versions of The Merck Manuals. It’s now fulfilling to see the apps starting to be recognized as valuable references for consumers and healthcare professionals alike. To learn more about both iPhone applications, please visit the Merck Manuals page.

We’re delighted to announce our two newest apps: The Merck Manual – Home Edition (App Store link) for consumers and The Merck Manual – Professional Edition (App Store link) for healthcare professionals. These two Merck Manual apps bring to the iPhone a medical reference that has been trusted for over 100 years.

A Bit of History
In 1899, the pharmaceutical company Merck first published a small book titled Merck’s Manual of the Materia Medica. The Merck Manual (as it was later known) became a favorite of those involved in medical care or in need of a medical reference. Albert Schweitzer carried a copy to Africa in 1913 and Admiral Byrd brought a copy to the South Pole in 1929.

By the 1980’s, the book had become the world’s best-selling medical reference and was translated into more than a dozen languages. In 1997, The Merck Manual – Home Edition was published. Written in everyday language, the Home Edition is meant for anyone interested in medical care, but who may not have a medical degree. It has received critical acclaim and sold over 4 million copies worldwide.

The Merck Manual iPhone Apps
Agile Partners collaborated with Merck to bring the trusted content of the The Merck Manuals to the iPhone and iPod touch. “For over 100 years, healthcare professionals have relied on The Merck Manual for essential information on diagnosing and treating medical disorders,” said Robert S. Porter, MD, Editor-in-Chief of The Merck Manuals. “These two iPhone applications now provide the trusted information in a form that is even more valuable for consumers and healthcare professionals on the go.”

The Home Edition app for consumers puts the trusted medical reference at the user’s fingertips, whenever and wherever it’s needed … while on the soccer field, a family vacation, a business trip abroad or getting ready to see a physician. An “Emergencies & Injuries” section that is accessible from the home screen was developed expressly for the application.

The Professional Edition app for healthcare professionals addresses thousands of diseases and treatments, features clinical approaches to each category of disorder, and provides specific guidance on patient evaluation. The app includes a ‘Find by Symptom’ section that is accessible from the home screen.

Agile Partners and The Merck Manuals
Agile Partners’ contributions to the The Merck Manuals actually began well before the development of the iPhone applications. In 2005, Agile helped Merck develop The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library which includes the Home Edition and Professional Edition. The online Home Edition won the 2005 Webby Award for Best Health Website and was a finalist in the prestigious Best Practices category. (The 2005 winner in the Best Practices category was a small, up-and-coming company named Google.)

We’re proud of our work on the online and iPhone versions of The Merck Manuals, and hope they continue to serve as valuable references for consumers and healthcare professionals alike. To learn more about both iPhone applications, visit the Merck Manuals page.

Just two days after its launch on the iTunes App Store, TabToolkit is already receiving rave reviews from guitar enthusiasts, major media writers, mobile tech bloggers, and most importantly to all of us here at Agile Partners, our customers. These reviews have helped propel TabToolkit to the #30 position on the Top Paid Apps list in the iTunes App Store Music category (as of this writing).

When TabToolkit launched two days ago, Dave at fretbase.com wrote, “Just like GuitarToolkit, we love TabToolkit because it does exactly what it claims it will do … when you load your Power Tab and Guitar Pro tabs, TabToolkit makes you feel like you have been transported into the future.” Dave continues to say, “We think it is well worth its price of $9.99 and a must have for all guitar players who play with tablature.” Travis Ehrlich at geardiary.com wrote yesterday, “Agile Partners have really outdone themselves with this app! TabToolkit is attractive, easy to use and fast … this is a quality app!”

Matt Rosoff at cnet’s Digital Noise blogged, “…a very sophisticated app that performs well — no freezes or stutters, as I’ve experienced with other music-oriented apps.” TabToolkit was named a Cult of Mac Favorite by Lonnie Lazar, who also commented, “I can say without reservation that Agile Partners have created an incredibly useful, well-thought-out app.”

TabToolkit has also captured the attention of mobile technology bloggers. Over at thismobilelife.com, the headline was, “TabToolkit: The Guitarist’s NEW Best Friend!” At TotalApps.com, David Kint wrote, “If you had asked me two weeks ago if I ever thought such a multi-featured application would run on an iPhone or even be possible I would have had serious doubts. Yet, here it is. If you own a guitar and an iPhone then the TabToolkit and GuitarToolkit are two essential applications you really must own.” Palm Sounds featured the TabToolkit video.

Finally, we’re fortunate to have received incredible feedback from TabToolkit customers around the world. JackHarteveld in the UK wrote, “This is a fantastic app, definitely worth the price! A clean, easy way to take tabs with you, with the added bonus of letting the device play the songs out for you! A great companion to GuitarToolkit and a highly polished app; an easy recommendation for guitarists.” NickMaher in Australia wrote, “Very polished application, well worth the money” and Vab-1971 in Belgium said, “Application très soignée, un vrai régal.” I’m not entirely sure what that last comment says, but it  came with a five-star rating!

Thank you to all the writers who reviewed TabToolkit in the first two days of its launch, and a special thanks to TabToolkit customers around the world for providing us with your comments and feedback.  Please keep it coming — we’re dedicated to enhancing TabToolkit and all our products, and keeping our customers happy!

We’re thrilled to announce TabToolkit (App Store link), our latest app for musicians. A perfect companion to GuitarToolkit, TabToolkit is a highly advanced tablature player for the iPhone and iPod touch. It’s a great tool for learning new songs and practicing exercises.

If you’re unfamiliar with what a tablature (or tab) file is, it’s a simplified form of music notation that started out for guitar music, but has expanded over the years to enable the creation of complete music compositions. Wikipedia entry for tablature

TabToolkit was a significant technical challenge in a number of ways. By rendering out music notation in realtime and coupling it with synthesized instrument output, we feel like we’re really expanding the capabilities of the platform. We initially planned on launching 1.0 without synthesized audio, but after hearing a prototype implementation work for the first time, we realized we just had to do it.

Creatively, there were plenty of hurdles to overcome as well. We had to create our own font for the music notation display. The combination of Adobe’s licensing options and the lack of good, freely available music notation fonts made creating our own the most compelling option.

A few of the features in TabToolkit:

• Support for the following tab formats: Guitar Pro, Power Tab, text and PDF *
• Audio synthesizer allows you to hear the instrument being played
• View both standard music notation and tablature notation
• Automatically scroll through music with tempo control
• Turn on a metronome with a wide range of sounds
• Select from multiple instrument tracks
• Display a fretboard (guitar or bass) or keyboard that shows finger positions
• Upload tab files directly from your Mac or PC
• Download tabs from the Internet using the built-in web browser
• Portrait and landscape orientations for viewing while docked or on a music stand
• Built-in help, news and feedback support features
• Lefties welcome! Lefty-mode inverts the fretboard to display correct finger positions

* Instrument audio, metronome, auto-playback, music notation and multiple tracks are suppported for Guitar Pro and Power Tab files

Buy it in the App Store or visit the TabToolkit page to learn more.