So when I got the email about the free Android app, I thought maybe I should have a look. I've been giving Obi a lot of trash talk about them hawking their iCrap here, and feeling kind of bad about that because Obi's a good guy. And maybe, just maybe, I might be able to add a microphone and end up with a useful pocket recorder for picking up found sounds.

First step was to go to the Play Store (that's the Android equivalent to the iStore for you iSoldiers) and check the user ratings. Curiously, an equal number of users gave it 1- and 5-star ratings, with few votes in between. There seems to be wildly varying opinions as to whether it's great or crap. 

Next, I went to the "Accept & Download" page, where it tells you just what you're agreeing to. That was an eyebrow-raiser:

When you download the app, you give it permission to 
1. find out what other apps you have installed
2. use GPS to find out where you are, and 
3. silently send this information to IK without further permission, at your expense

My first reaction was: WTF? Then I realized that these permissions were so that IKM could try to sell me stuff. OK, I guess, but really - is this the kind of free reign we're expected to give to applications nowadays?

I'm going to pass on this free offer for now, but I'd be curious to hear anyone's experiences with it.

I never used my iPhone for apps all that much and I haven't tried any of the IK stuff, but I don't remember having to authorize such things with Apps like Touch OSC and DAW remote.

I'm sure you'll remember that JonBouy had quite a bit to say about IK's free apps like Amplitube CS vs privacy/security. 

Just installed it on my Galaxy 10.1 note. Quick & easy set up, registered it with my IK account & then directed me to the additional editing processor apps available for purchase.
Just tried a few simple recordings, works pretty well & have 10MB of recording space available.

I'm going to travel in Europe for a month so it might come in handy. I'll keep it installed for that, my only concern is how quickly it drains the battery.

bit you are right.. obi comes across as a good guy.... BUT and it's a biggy

he's towing the company line.. post on FB posts.. about them spamming the c*** out of people with i-apps.. I always comment, with stuff they don't wanna hear hopefully more that do it.. THE better .. then they will take the hint...  ask them about 64 bit apps.. and tell them to pull their finger out, instead of wasting time spamming 

it's a bit like trying to flog me a 2 stroke lawn mower... yet it's the same company that sells high end sports cars.. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED in entry level BS.

I am not gonna buy into apple stuff.. I bought the IK stuff on a totally different format... sooner they realise that THE BETTER.. I'm getting hacked off with their hawking of i-app BS..

same goes for other companies marketing departments.. they have a habit of making me NOT want to buy their products.. be warned



p.s. IK... your re-downloading of sound libs + transfer of license's policy + super discounting of products soon after buying makes me NOT want to buy your products.. and YES obi.. do pass that on

bitflipper


So when I got the email about the free Android app, I thought maybe I should have a look. I've been giving Obi a lot of trash talk about them hawking their iCrap here, and feeling kind of bad about that because Obi's a good guy. And maybe, just maybe, I might be able to add a microphone and end up with a useful pocket recorder for picking up found sounds.

First step was to go to the Play Store (that's the Android equivalent to the iStore for you iSoldiers) and check the user ratings. Curiously, an equal number of users gave it 1- and 5-star ratings, with few votes in between. There seems to be wildly varying opinions as to whether it's great or crap. 

Next, I went to the "Accept & Download" page, where it tells you just what you're agreeing to. That was an eyebrow-raiser:

When you download the app, you give it permission to 
1. find out what other apps you have installed
2. use GPS to find out where you are, and 
3. silently send this information to IK without further permission, at your expense

My first reaction was: WTF? Then I realized that these permissions were so that IKM could try to sell me stuff. OK, I guess, but really - is this the kind of free reign we're expected to give to applications nowadays?

I'm going to pass on this free offer for now, but I'd be curious to hear anyone's experiences with it.

to be fair, virtually every app you get does that. hell, google search does it. your supermarket loyalty card does it. i plan on getting it and the iRig hardware at some point, seems cheap and will be great for some basic location recordings...

Fog


bit you are right.. obi comes across as a good guy.... BUT and it's a biggy

he's towing the company line.. post on FB posts.. about them spamming the c*** out of people with i-apps.. I always comment, with stuff they don't wanna hear hopefully more that do it.. THE better .. then they will take the hint...  ask them about 64 bit apps.. and tell them to pull their finger out, instead of wasting time spamming 

it's a bit like trying to flog me a 2 stroke lawn mower... yet it's the same company that sells high end sports cars.. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED in entry level BS.

I am not gonna buy into apple stuff.. I bought the IK stuff on a totally different format... sooner they realise that THE BETTER.. I'm getting hacked off with their hawking of i-app BS..

same goes for other companies marketing departments.. they have a habit of making me NOT want to buy their products.. be warned



p.s. IK... your re-downloading of sound libs + transfer of license's policy + super discounting of products soon after buying makes me NOT want to buy your products.. and YES obi.. do pass that on

I've mentioned it elsewhere before, but, for whatever it's worth - IK posting memes on Facebook telling you to "like this post if you like Hendrix" or "like if you like X and here's a semi relevant link...  " That doesn't work for me. My 4 year old niece, maybe...
Companies like McDSP - man they post when they have something to say - like: Joe Barresi talks about McDSP. 

Or Waves... They have a special, you'll know it. Or even Steven Slate, as much of a media whore as he can be.

But IK? Posting rubbish 4 times a day like:  Like if you like songs w/ notes in them????

Seeing IK USE a picture of Hendrix to keep themselves in your newsfeed, even if they have nothing to say? Man...

I can't even begin to tell you how much I've learned about guitar maintenance and pick-ups since I liked Seymour Duncan. Relevant stuff I mean. 

And when they post a picture of Hendrix, it's usually because a founding member of the company is in the shot - not just POSING, but talking w/ Jimi..

Like if you think JIMI would have recorded great music on an iPhone!!!





I'd sell that stuff - if it was worth anything...

 I recently spent a very long time in a well known electronics store trying to decide which pad device I would buy. In the case of IK I guess it really wouldn't matter because they seem to be heading in the direction of both well known platforms.

 When it comes to privacy,yeah they probably know my underwear size and everything in between and I don't personally care( as long as the crooks don't get into my wallet), but I can certainly understand the concern about it. I didn't know that IK was doing this kind of information mining though. I knew Google and others were.

  My guess is that in this day and age when it comes to marketing the gloves come off. Any edge at all can be an advantage in a tough sell environment. 

  I ended up with an ipad . Just about every app I download asks me for permission to use "location services". Most of this is simply so if the app has something to sell or recommend it knows what is nearest to where I am so it can give me the closest choices(and probably get geographical info on buyers).If big brother wants to use it he certainly could. If he wants me he knows where I am.

  I don't think this thing will ever replace my studio but for some things it is simply amazing. I like the idea of bluetooth keyboard controllers with an iphone/ipad as the sound module. Even basic recording can be decent,maybe as a way to work with something on the go and put it into the mother ship later on.Using the screen as an input device....meh.


 Guess I didn't really answer your question Bit. The nice thing about apps is that you can download it and if it doesn't work for you it can be deleted in less than a minute.

...to be fair, virtually every app you get does that

You're right. It's one of the things that puts me off mobile apps in general.


An app that demands full network access can cost you money. Say you travel overseas (or even just to Canada!) - your phone could be racking up huge roaming charges without your knowledge. And using up your data allocation, causing you to get an unexpected surcharge on your next bill for excess data.


Question for anyone who has this app, or for Obi (I know you're here, Obi): will it still work in Airplane Mode?

Fog


bit you are right.. obi comes across as a good guy.... BUT and it's a biggy

he's towing the company line.. post on FB posts.. about them spamming the c*** out of people with i-apps.. I always comment, with stuff they don't wanna hear hopefully more that do it.. THE better .. then they will take the hint...  ask them about 64 bit apps.. and tell them to pull their finger out, instead of wasting time spamming 

it's a bit like trying to flog me a 2 stroke lawn mower... yet it's the same company that sells high end sports cars.. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED in entry level BS.

I am not gonna buy into apple stuff.. I bought the IK stuff on a totally different format... sooner they realise that THE BETTER.. I'm getting hacked off with their hawking of i-app BS..

same goes for other companies marketing departments.. they have a habit of making me NOT want to buy their products.. be warned



p.s. IK... your re-downloading of sound libs + transfer of license's policy + super discounting of products soon after buying makes me NOT want to buy your products.. and YES obi.. do pass that on

 
+10000
i couldn't have said it any better
 
but maybe we should also mention the cusom shop crap that's now also infected TRackS (which by itself is a great BTW), but having all that trouble to get it to work AFTER paying for the update just because that bloody useless custom shop keeps crashing when being offline and of course totally useless support from IK really did it for me ... no more money for updates at that end and definitely no iCrap, either
 

 

Most every app on Android does that if not more. You'd be far harder pressed to find a music app that doesn't ask those things. @Carl - Thanks for the kind words, let me know how you like it. I've been rocking it with my Galaxy Note 2 and it rocks. @Rain - I'm sorry you don't like what we post on FB, we have a wider audience than Seymour Duncan does, so its harder to hit just what Guitar players, or mix/mastering engineers vs keyboard players or DJs. Its the nature of having a wide selection products. I'll keep what you said in mind for the future though. Do note though, I'm not the only one that posts on Facebook, there are others. @Bitflipper - Yes, iRig Recorder for Android does work fine in Airplane mode. To those questioning our support - Our support is always here to help. If, by off chance you feel you weren't helped PM me your ticket number and I'll bring it to the attention of the support manager. We've even helped expand our support department recently. We have had a well under 24 hour (Business day) response time.