Shazam for iPad Rebuilt as Universal App With Background Auto-Tagging and More

MacRumors · May 23, 2013, 08:35 AM

Shazam was one of the early App Store success stories, offering users the ability to easily identify music by capturing a snippet of the song and matching it against a database to provide title and artist information. The service has since expanded to integrate with the iTunes Store, YouTube, lyrics, and more, with TV shows and ads even adopting Shazam to allow users to easily learn more about the show or product.

Shazam has offered separate apps for the iPhone and iPad since 2010, but the company today unveiled a universal version of the iPhone app that includes a completely rebuilt experience for the iPad. A number of new features have shown up in the iPad version of Shazam, most notably a background tagging feature that allows users to have all matching incoming audio tagged even while using other applications on their devices. TechCrunch explains a bit more about how it works:

Quote:

[A]fter downloading the updated version, users will be walked through a brief tutorial that explains what Auto-Tagging is all about, then allowing users to switch it on, if desired. If they do so, the app will run in the background, listening for anything it can identify, and loading those items into a carousel at the top of its homescreen.

From here, users can interact with the content much as before - sharing it on social media, buying the song, show or movie from iTunes or Amazon, or in the case of TV shows, learning more about the cast and episode, viewing a playlist of songs in the broadcast, or heading off to sites like Wikipedia, IMDb, the official website and/or store, and more.

Other new features arriving in Shazam 6.0 include a mapping system that allows users to see popular music on a city-by-city basis, Rdio integration, streamlined sharing, and automatic resubmission of tags for users in areas with poor reception. The iPad app is also adding for the first time Shazam's LyricPlay feature that shows lyrics on-screen in sync with the music.

Shazam is a free download from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Users interested in an ad-free Shazam experience can either upgrade through the free Shazam app or directly purchase Shazam Encore for $6.99. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Shazam for iPad Rebuilt as Universal App With Background Auto-Tagging and More

GoCubsGo · May 23, 2013, 08:38 AM

Auto-tagging sounds fantastic but I wonder what kind of battery suck that will cause. I truly do love Shazam (and Sound Hound for that matter). I had found Sound Hound to be more accurate or capable of listening better in difficult environments. This update will make me definitely try Shazam more often.

ZacNicholson · May 23, 2013, 08:41 AM

how many people really use shazam?

GoCubsGo · May 23, 2013, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZacNicholson

how many people really use shazam?

You've never been somewhere and wondered what song was playing? Also, I learned very recently that you can Shazam stuff on TV. I was in a hotel and wondered what I was watching. Without a guide to tell me, I used Shazam (recommended by someone on Twitter) and I instantly knew what I was watching.

mac98aop · May 23, 2013, 08:46 AM

Shazam is brilliant!

It's not a daily app, but goodness is it handy when you want it! In the car, in the restaurant, in a shop, to be able to find that song you hear and want is brilliant!

As for the background tagging - battery drain dependent, that sounds excellent and I hope it finds its way to iPhone.

And there was Android and Windows users (no, I'm not trolling, but tire of poor comparisons) saying iOS can't multitask. This is an example of a useful feature happening in the background, just as you'd want it to. No?

Mad Mac Maniac · May 23, 2013, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZacNicholson

how many people really use shazam?

Yeah, I thought it was so cool back in 2008. I used it all the time. Now It's barely still on my phone.

Although I'm honestly surprised it hasn't had an iPad app until now...

needfx · May 23, 2013, 08:55 AM

shazam is a cool service, but I wouldn't pay $6.99 for it.

maybe $2.99

thederby · May 23, 2013, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Mac Maniac

Yeah, I thought it was so cool back in 2008. I used it all the time. Now It's barely still on my phone.

Although I'm honestly surprised it hasn't had an iPad app until now...

ahem:

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

Shazam has offered separate apps for the iPhone and iPad since 2010...

GoldenJoe · May 23, 2013, 08:59 AM

I'm not sure I understand the use of the background feature. Unless you're at home, wouldn't the phone usually go into your pocket or purse when you finish the immediate task?

thederby · May 23, 2013, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenJoe

I'm not sure I understand the use of the background feature. Unless you're at home, wouldn't the phone usually go into your pocket or purse when you finish the immediate task?

mine usually sits in a console when i'm driving or on the table when i'm at a restaurant.

JAT · May 23, 2013, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZacNicholson

how many people really use shazam?

I don't bother....because Soundhound exists.

hexonxonx · May 23, 2013, 09:25 AM

I use it a few times a year mostly when I want to know the name of a song in a TV show or movie.

mscriv · May 23, 2013, 10:14 AM

I really have enjoyed Shazam and use it consistently for music identification in the car or out and about. I picked up the Encore version when it was a free promo a while back.

Kevtech1 · May 23, 2013, 10:25 AM

I was a Soundhound user until they dropped Spotify integration. Shazam is a cool occasional app, but when they started limiting the amount of free look-ups per month I quit using it. Typically the title of the song can be figured out and then I can type it in to Spotify or Google it.

milo · May 23, 2013, 11:01 AM

What I can't figure out is how apps like Shazam can identify a song in a noisy restaurant yet iTunes match can't identify songs when it has the whole pristine file to analyze.

extradryny · May 23, 2013, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZacNicholson

how many people really use shazam?

At least a few times a week.

NightFox · May 23, 2013, 12:31 PM

I'm a little confused here - the article is about a universal app instead of the previous separate iPhone and iPad versions, but then goes on to talk about new features on the iPad version. Does it mean the universal app running on an iPad?

As far as I can see the auto tag feature doesn't seem to be there on the universal app running on an iPhone; I didn't get a walkthrough when I ran the update for the first time and there doesn't seem to be any option for it even though in the settings it says "Shazam listens every few seconds when open to speed tagging".

Seems strange to have the functionality when the app is running on an iPad but not on an iPhone, where it would arguably be more useful. Or am I missing something?

bedifferent · May 24, 2013, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milo

What I can't figure out is how apps like Shazam can identify a song in a noisy restaurant yet iTunes match can't identify songs when it has the whole pristine file to analyze.

Ha! Kudos, very excellent point.

Shaun.P · May 25, 2013, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thederby

ahem:

In the UK, you used to be able to dial 2580 from a mobile phone to dial Shazaam and let it listen to the song you wanted to tag. You would then get an SMS message telling your the name of the song + artist.

I think this cost around £0.50, obviously added onto your phone bill.

When the app came along, I certainly saved a small fortune!

firstrev360 · May 25, 2013, 07:22 AM

this is great news, i've always loved Shazam!

May 23, 2013, 08:38 AM	#2
GoCubsGo macrumors Nehalem Join Date: Feb 2005	Auto-tagging sounds fantastic but I wonder what kind of battery suck that will cause. I truly do love Shazam (and Sound Hound for that matter). I had found Sound Hound to be more accurate or capable of listening better in difficult environments. This update will make me definitely try Shazam more often. __________________ Because I'm an ahole.
	0

May 23, 2013, 08:41 AM	#3
ZacNicholson macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Indiana	how many people really use shazam? __________________ follow me on twitter @zac_nicholson watch my youtube www.youtube.com/mrzacnicholson 2011 13" MBP, iPhone 4 (jailbroken), iPad 3 32 GB Verizon(jailbroken), Apple tv 2(jailbroken)
	0

May 23, 2013, 08:46 AM	#5
mac98aop macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2010	Sounds great! Shazam is brilliant! It's not a daily app, but goodness is it handy when you want it! In the car, in the restaurant, in a shop, to be able to find that song you hear and want is brilliant! As for the background tagging - battery drain dependent, that sounds excellent and I hope it finds its way to iPhone. And there was Android and Windows users (no, I'm not trolling, but tire of poor comparisons) saying iOS can't multitask. This is an example of a useful feature happening in the background, just as you'd want it to. No?
	4

May 23, 2013, 10:14 AM	#13
mscriv macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dallas, Texas	I really have enjoyed Shazam and use it consistently for music identification in the car or out and about. I picked up the Encore version when it was a free promo a while back. __________________ I'm a professional therapist. If I deem our forum interaction to be professional in nature then I will bill you. Prompt payment is expected.
	1

May 23, 2013, 12:31 PM	#17
NightFox macrumors 65816 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Shropshire, UK	I'm a little confused here - the article is about a universal app instead of the previous separate iPhone and iPad versions, but then goes on to talk about new features on the iPad version. Does it mean the universal app running on an iPad? As far as I can see the auto tag feature doesn't seem to be there on the universal app running on an iPhone; I didn't get a walkthrough when I ran the update for the first time and there doesn't seem to be any option for it even though in the settings it says "Shazam listens every few seconds when open to speed tagging". Seems strange to have the functionality when the app is running on an iPad but not on an iPhone, where it would arguably be more useful. Or am I missing something? __________________ Mac Pro 2x2.8GHz :: MacBook Pro 13" 2.53GHz :: iPad 3 64GB :: iPhone 5 64GB :: iPod Nano 5G 16GB & 4G 16GB
	0

May 23, 2013, 08:55 AM	#7
needfx macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: macrumors apparently	shazam is a cool service, but I wouldn't pay $6.99 for it. maybe $2.99
	0

May 23, 2013, 08:59 AM	#9
GoldenJoe macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2011	I'm not sure I understand the use of the background feature. Unless you're at home, wouldn't the phone usually go into your pocket or purse when you finish the immediate task?
	0

May 23, 2013, 09:25 AM	#12
hexonxonx macrumors 601 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Denver Colorado	I use it a few times a year mostly when I want to know the name of a song in a TV show or movie.
	1

May 23, 2013, 10:25 AM	#14
Kevtech1 macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2009	I was a Soundhound user until they dropped Spotify integration. Shazam is a cool occasional app, but when they started limiting the amount of free look-ups per month I quit using it. Typically the title of the song can be figured out and then I can type it in to Spotify or Google it.
	0

May 23, 2013, 11:01 AM	#15
milo macrumors 603 Join Date: Sep 2003	What I can't figure out is how apps like Shazam can identify a song in a noisy restaurant yet iTunes match can't identify songs when it has the whole pristine file to analyze.
	4

May 25, 2013, 07:22 AM	#20
firstrev360 macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2013	this is great news, i've always loved Shazam!
	0


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