Shazam-powered Siri can now name that tune in iOS 8
Do you often find yourself listening to a great but unfamiliar song on the radio and wanting to know its name? Apple device owners who've upgraded to iOS 8 can now ask Siri.Siri has long been able to identify a song being played on the same device. For example, if you're listening to a tune on your iPhone, you can ask Siri: "What song is this," and it will tell you. But in iOS 8, Siri's musical abilities have gone a step further.You can now play a song on a different device, on the radio, on a CD, or on some other source, and Siri should be able to name that tune for you. Here's how it works:Start playing the song you want to identify if it's not already playing. Ask Siri the question: "What song is this?" Siri responds by saying: "Let me listen." Depending on how far along you are in the track, Siri will probably take at least a few seconds to recognize the song. Once it does, Siri will respond by saying something like "I can name that tune." And then it proceeds to do so.Siri's new music prowess in iOS 8 sounds a lot like an app called Shazam, which can also identify the name of a song currently playing. And the similarity is no coincidence. Apple teamed up with Shazam to integrate the app's capabilities directly into Siri.As the folks at Shazam phrased it on a new support page: "With the release of iOS 8, the magic and convenience of Shazam is now fully integrated into Siri. To know the details of the music/media around you, open Siri, and ask a question..."On my iPhone, I tested Siri's new musical talents against a few devices, including an iPad, a CD, and an old-fashioned radio. I also quizzed Siri on a variety of songs, including modern pop tunes, classical selections, and some of my favorite jazz music. And it was able to name that tune each time.The new music recognition feature is one way in which Siri is trying to keep up with the competition. Both Google Now and Windows Phone's Cortana voice assistant offer their own music ID talents. Of course, Apple is also hoping the new feature will rack up more music sales. The identified song includes a Buy button that you can tap to purchase the song or its entire album directly on iTunes.For more helpful iOS 8 tips, be sure to check out our complete guide on how to use iOS 8.
Huge iPhone game sale- Capcom, EA, and Gameloft titles 99 cents each
Huge iPhone game sale: Capcom, EA, and Gameloft titles 99 cents each
I love 99-cent games. Wait, that's not right: I love games that are priced at 99 cents. Which is why today is my lucky day: three major game developers have slashed prices on some of their bestselling titles.Between them, Capcom, EA Games, and Gameloft are selling nearly 50 iPhone/iPod Touch games for 99 cents apiece--and a handful of iPad titles as well. (Update: SEGA titles are on sale as well.) That's fairly unprecedented. The only tricky part is figuring out where to spend my shiny new dollar. (Oh, who am I kidding, I'll probably end up spending a dozen of them.)Capcom's list is the shortest, so I'll start there:Devil May Cry 4 RefrainPhoenix WrightResident Evil 4 (also for iPad)Street Fighter IVOn the flipside, EA Games (which is "welcoming Verizon users to the iPhone") has the longest list of goodies, including:Battlefield: Bad Company 2FIFA 10FIFA 11Madden NFL 11Mirror's EdgeMonopolyMonopoly Here & Now: The World EditionNBA Elite 11NCAA FootballNeed For Speed Hot PursuitNeed For Speed ShiftNeed For Speed UndercoverPictureka! (also for iPad)Reckless Racing (also for iPad)Risk: The Official GameScrabbleSimCity DeluxeSnood (also for iPad)TetrisThe Game of Life Classic EditionThe Sims 3The Sims 3 AmbitionsThe Sims 3 World AdventuresThe Simpsons ArcadeYahtzee (also for iPad)Whew! Quite a list. Finally, we come to Gameloft, which has 13 titles on sale as part of a Valentine's Day promotion (which ends Feb. 14, natch). Here's the rundown:Brothers In Arms 2: Global FrontDriverFishing Kings Hero of Sparta IILet's Golf! 2 Prince of Persia: Warrior WithinRayman 2: The Great EscapeReal Golf 2011Shadow Guardian (also for iPad)Shrek KartSpider-Man: Total MayhemStar Battalion (also for iPad)Zombie InfectionGameloft is also letting users vote on a 14th game, one that will go on sale for 99 cents on Feb. 14. The only catch: to cast your vote, you have to "like" Gameloft on Facebook (a step I know some users won't want to take).My question for you: if you had only $1 to spend, which of these games would you buy--and why? I'd probably have to give the nod to Madden NFL 11, but, man, it's a tough call.Update: SEGA also has a bunch of games on sale for 99 cents, including Altered Beast, ChuChu Rocket (also for iPad), and Super Monkey Ball 2.
I love 99-cent games. Wait, that's not right: I love games that are priced at 99 cents. Which is why today is my lucky day: three major game developers have slashed prices on some of their bestselling titles.Between them, Capcom, EA Games, and Gameloft are selling nearly 50 iPhone/iPod Touch games for 99 cents apiece--and a handful of iPad titles as well. (Update: SEGA titles are on sale as well.) That's fairly unprecedented. The only tricky part is figuring out where to spend my shiny new dollar. (Oh, who am I kidding, I'll probably end up spending a dozen of them.)Capcom's list is the shortest, so I'll start there:Devil May Cry 4 RefrainPhoenix WrightResident Evil 4 (also for iPad)Street Fighter IVOn the flipside, EA Games (which is "welcoming Verizon users to the iPhone") has the longest list of goodies, including:Battlefield: Bad Company 2FIFA 10FIFA 11Madden NFL 11Mirror's EdgeMonopolyMonopoly Here & Now: The World EditionNBA Elite 11NCAA FootballNeed For Speed Hot PursuitNeed For Speed ShiftNeed For Speed UndercoverPictureka! (also for iPad)Reckless Racing (also for iPad)Risk: The Official GameScrabbleSimCity DeluxeSnood (also for iPad)TetrisThe Game of Life Classic EditionThe Sims 3The Sims 3 AmbitionsThe Sims 3 World AdventuresThe Simpsons ArcadeYahtzee (also for iPad)Whew! Quite a list. Finally, we come to Gameloft, which has 13 titles on sale as part of a Valentine's Day promotion (which ends Feb. 14, natch). Here's the rundown:Brothers In Arms 2: Global FrontDriverFishing Kings Hero of Sparta IILet's Golf! 2 Prince of Persia: Warrior WithinRayman 2: The Great EscapeReal Golf 2011Shadow Guardian (also for iPad)Shrek KartSpider-Man: Total MayhemStar Battalion (also for iPad)Zombie InfectionGameloft is also letting users vote on a 14th game, one that will go on sale for 99 cents on Feb. 14. The only catch: to cast your vote, you have to "like" Gameloft on Facebook (a step I know some users won't want to take).My question for you: if you had only $1 to spend, which of these games would you buy--and why? I'd probably have to give the nod to Madden NFL 11, but, man, it's a tough call.Update: SEGA also has a bunch of games on sale for 99 cents, including Altered Beast, ChuChu Rocket (also for iPad), and Super Monkey Ball 2.
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