Song identification is a fairly compelling function and apps that can do that have been available on the iPhone for quite a while now. In fact, an app called Listen was available before there was even an App Store. The two most popular song identification apps are now SoundHound and Shazam. Such apps made quite a splash in the mobile app world as what they provided was virtually magical. In terms of usage though, most people would open such an app for a few seconds to identify a song and then close the app. It’s like the main selling point of Windows Phone 7, you go in and out and get on with your life.
SoundHound changes all that with its newest feature called LiveLyrics. This feature provides song lyrics that are synchronized with the playback of a song. It can recognize the exact part of a song that is playing and provide the correct lyrics, starting with that part, scrolling the lyrics as the song is played. This function is nearly as revolutionary as SoundHound’s ability to recognize a song within just four seconds. LiveLyrics now makes SoundHound a much more useful app and one that you’ll likely use more often to enjoy your music.
LiveLyrics may be just a bullet point in their list of new features, but it really is a selling point that can stand on its own since it can also be used with music from your iPod Library. In a way, it turns your iOS device into a karaoke machine, minus the microphone with reverb effects. Another way to look at it is that it’s a closed captioning system for your own music or for the music you hear around you. This will be useful to people who are learning English or to children learning to read.
SoundHound has been rolling out new features on a regular basis and they’ve even changed the free version of their app to provide unlimited identification. Its competition doesn’t come close to offering what SoundHound has now. This app is the one to keep on your iOS device.
SoundHound is free. An ad-free version can be purchased for $6.99.
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