SynchStep for your iPhone
SynchStep, meet world. World, meet SynchStep!
Designed and developed single-handedly by Greg Elliott, SynchStep is a fun and easy experimental way to plays songs from your music library that match your pace. That means when you're out struttin your stuff down "My Favorite Street", every step you take lands in-time with a drum hit, a bass slap, a piano chord. It's kind of like being in your own music video, where your your music becomes the soundtrack to your life. Ya, it's just like a your own music video, except you don't have to pay 3 hundo to some smug director and let his smarmy crew use your bathroom.
The idea behind SynchStep was to create an interface-less device. See, each person has a unique gait, and SynchStep is built to adapt to your individual walking style. It doesn't require people to wrap themselves around bizarre, non-ergonomic devices (keyboards? are you listening?).
Originally, Greg created SynchStep was a hand-made, custom built MP3-player in 2005. His experimental interface didn't even have a display - only an on-off switch. He gave it to people from age 10 to 65 to play with. Without explaining the device to any of them, each tester was told to go for a walk. Surprisingly, everyone got it, probably because the "user interface" is really the user's body. Unfortunately, it was tough to hand out hundreds of hand-made, fragile gadgets that cost $250 each and countless hours of sanding and cursing.
Then along came the iPhone and iPod Touch, both packed with all the hardware needed to run SynchStep. This meant that if SynchStep was re-written, it could be given to everyone who had one of these little gadgets. So, Greg rebuilt SynchStep from the ground-up to run on this new, shiny platform.
While eventually SynchStep will be available to everyone for free, it's currently available only as a private beta. It's being tested pretty intensely to make sure it's a great experience.
The final version will be a one-stop shop, with minimal setup required. Installing SynchStep will make you happier, wealthier, and more satisfied*
*SynchStep in no way promises to make you happier, wealthier or more satisfied.
Comments
julesj : Monday, 31 March 2008
the first two 'synchsteps' are actually 'SnychStep'?
AJ : Tuesday, 01 April 2008
Can I kick it? ... Sounds like a really great idea. Nice one!
greg : Saturday, 12 April 2008
@julesj lol, thanks for catching that :) @AJ thanks for the kind words. if you're interested in trying it out, drop me an email and we'll talk.
Niklas Schröder : Saturday, 17 May 2008
Wow. Amazing idea! Wish I had an iTouch to test it on. Oh well. Just another month... I'll probably ask for an invite then. Great work!
Jeremy : Saturday, 17 May 2008
sounds awesome!! reading from mobile safari now
Pat : Monday, 19 May 2008
Sounds swell. May I try it out as well? What I'm wondering: Does it use my own music or do you provide some? If it's my own, how do you get all the bpm data and when the downbeats occur?
Tom : Tuesday, 20 May 2008
It's still a private beta. Pat, Jeremy, Niklas if you like to try it just email greg@pokenewyork.com I'm sure if you give him a beer or six he'll hook you up! :)
greg : Sunday, 01 June 2008
hey all, synchstep is now available as a public beta. head over to http://synchstep.com for instructions on how to get it and set it up.
pat: to set it up, you download an application that will automatically analyze your playlist and tag the songs with a bpm value for synchstep to use.
Justin : Sunday, 06 July 2008
I just got an ipod a few days ago, got all the installers i needed put on, and discovered SynchStep by accident so i thought i would give it a try. I have 3000+ songs in my library and tested it with about 80 tracks and i must say, i love it. I am slowly converting my entire library to contain the BPM, as well as installing it on friends iPods because I got them hooked on it Thanks for the wonderful program
greg elliott : Sunday, 10 August 2008
hey justin, glad you like it! it's always nice to hear when someone appreciates the work. =)
if you're interested, you can stay up to date on the project's progress here: http://synchstep.tumblr.com
Omar : Saturday, 23 August 2008
A while back there was a Windows Mobile commercial that advertised its Windows Media Player as being the soundtrack to life. This software definitely comes closer to that idea.
Nicholas : Sunday, 24 August 2008
Hi... I tried to make this program work on my iphone... but when I press "Prep synchstep playlist" an error pops up telling me that it is the wrong format... and therefore I can not get it working... Do you know what to do? =)