Shazam - impressive

**Stuart Wright** · 08-03-2009, 11:01 PM

Ok, I have tried to catch Shazam out and so far it has beaten me 100%.
It successfully recognised:

Bon Jovi - Living On a Prayer (started with an easy one)
Dio - Stand Up And Shout (bit more obscure)
Dokken - Into the Fire (oops no cover art work but correctly recognised it)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang theme
Teletubbies Say 'Eh-Oh!'
Batman theme from the original series
Heavy Pettin - Love on the Run (wow *really* obscure)
Tasmanian...ane Sheldon - Eliza Aria (from an ad on telly)
John Williams - Montage (from Jaws)
Vangelis - Wait For Me (from Bladerunner)
Miley Cyrus - See You Again (at a kids roller disco)
Sugababes - Girls (at a kids roller disco)
Los Del Rio - Macarena (at a kids roller disco)
and tonight on radio 2
Bob Crosby - South Ramparts Street Parade
Vic Lewis &...ert Orchestra - The Man I Love

I'm *very* impressed with this free app.

I would have been utterly gobsmacked if it had recognised our album, and my gob remains unsmacked.

Matt_C · 08-03-2009, 11:17 PM

What I don't get is how is it free? When you do it from a normal phone you dial 2580 and you don't get charged for that call. But you DO get charged 50p for the result text message. So with the iPhone app, where do they make their money?

mistry · 08-03-2009, 11:53 PM

just downloaded this, this tool is awesome....thanks op

dave_a · 09-03-2009, 2:24 AM

First time I tried it it failed and gave me some random song. I will let it off as it was the intro to a song and has been flawless since.

jmcr100 · 09-03-2009, 8:06 AM

Tried this last night because there was a piece of music being used to plug an episode of CSi New York and I didn't know what it was - there were people talking through the piece and it was probably too short and my wife said "I'll be amazed if it finds anything"

"42" from Coldplay!!!

Why this application is free I don't know because I would gladly pay for it. If anyone doubts that they need this program - don't! Download it now before they change they're minds and charge us!

**Stuart Wright** · 09-03-2009, 9:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt_C

What I don't get is how is it free?

Because of the various advertorial links to download from iTunes etc. As you know it's possible to click and buy from iTunes instantly on the iPhone. And you can click web links and visit websites where you will be presented with opportunities to buy more stuff.
You can't embed images or links to websites in texts, so the ads in Shazam are much more valuable. They will make their money on those.

Quote:

there were people talking through the piece and it was probably too short

Yeah the three hits at the kids' roller disco were impressive cos the PA wasn't particularly good, the room had typical reverberating properties of a gym and there was much clattering of roller blading and screaming of kids.

jerryq7777 · 09-03-2009, 11:28 AM

I remember my Sony phone had track id but nowhere near as good as Shazam great little app hours of fun to be had with it

Scholes18 · 09-03-2009, 11:34 AM

had this app as soon as i got my iphone as ive used it in the past and its almost never failed with recorded music.

What it does struggle with is live music but then it does tell you that when you fire the app up.

The really impressive thing is the itunes links to the various albums the songs is on as well as the video ( if there is one ) on youtube.

sim667 · 09-03-2009, 12:39 PM

I concur, its a great app, even used it to find drum and bass and trance songs when ive been at raves....

*achoudry* · 09-03-2009, 1:32 PM

midomi is another one that is meant to provide similar functionality to shazam. i've had it on my iphone for a while but not got round to trying it. it's also free and you can sing your tune to it too! it also has additional features but can't remember what they are off the top of my head!

Alison22uk · 09-03-2009, 3:49 PM

saw this advertised on the tv, sounded really impressive. Im shocked its free tho! and even more shocked that it actually works a lot!

**UrbanT** · 09-03-2009, 5:15 PM

The most surprising thing for me is not that its free, but that the average feedback on the app store is 3 stars. Its a brilliant app that could easily be sold, so have to assume its 12 year olds downloading it to their Touch's and then think its funny to give it a poor review.

I used it walking around the Bristol Show and it didn't fail once. Recommended.

chelsea.tone · 09-03-2009, 5:19 PM

Really good App, way better than Sony's Music I.D.

Tony

bigdavecox90 · 09-03-2009, 6:08 PM

This only works on iPhone and not iPod Touch due to the speaker needed, is that right?

**UrbanT** · 09-03-2009, 6:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdavecox90

This only works on iPhone and not iPod Touch due to the speaker needed, is that right?

Thats right, which blows my theory out of the water

bigdavecox90 · 09-03-2009, 6:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UrbanT

Thats right, which blows my theory out of the water

It sounded cool, so was gonna download for my Touch, no point now though.

Naaktgeboren · 09-03-2009, 6:19 PM

It works very well with the Touch when used with the iphone headset.

I can only repeat the brilliance of this software.

I was watching some friends playing Guitar Hero and I wondered if the mike would be good enough to pick up the tracks and it was

It identified everything without a single mistake.

Excellent

bigdavecox90 · 09-03-2009, 6:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloggyNL

It works very well with the Touch when used with the iphone headset.

I can only repeat the brilliance of this software.

I was watching some friends playing Guitar Hero and I wondered if the mike would be good enough to pick up the tracks and it was

It identified everything without a single mistake.

Excellent

I have an iPhone headset, but didn't think it worked?

chelsea.tone · 09-03-2009, 6:28 PM

They have a mic so i dont see why it wouldnt work Dave

bigdavecox90 · 09-03-2009, 6:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chelsea.tone

They have a mic so i dont see why it wouldnt work Dave

Typical, as I find this out I can't find the headphones that have the mic on.

Naaktgeboren · 09-03-2009, 6:33 PM

Just to clarify, it will only work with the 2nd generation Touch's. They fully support the iphone headset.

This means that 2G touch users can make skype and landline phone calls in areas that a wireless connection is available when using the free application Truphone.

bigdavecox90 · 09-03-2009, 6:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CloggyNL

Just to clarify, it will only work with the 2nd generation Touch's. They fully support the iphone headset.

This means that 2G touch users can make skype and landline phone calls in areas that a wireless connection is available when using the free application Truphone.

Ahhhh, that explains, I thought I had tried it before and it didn't work.

I only have a 1st Gen Touch, so that explains it not working.

Sirkerz · 09-03-2009, 7:57 PM

I just beat it!!
tried it on one of my fave tunes ever "lookin' for a home" by Al kooper (Al kooper introduces Suggie Otis LP)
funny because it correctly indentified an Al bowlly track recorded in the early 40's

bigdavecox90 · 09-03-2009, 9:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirkerz

I just beat it!!
tried it on one of my fave tunes ever "lookin' for a home" by Al kooper (Al kooper introduces Suggie Otis LP)
funny because it correctly indentified an Al bowlly track recorded in the early 40's

No proof.

clual · 10-03-2009, 12:03 PM

Pub Quiz music rounds will never be the same again!!!!

divabanana · 12-03-2009, 10:42 PM

I tried it quite a few times when I got my 3G iPhone and the app failed almost every time. This was with music from radio as well as from CD. I didn't try anything too obscure (it missed Aerosmith, Chemical Brothers, Pantera and Jeff Beck amongst many others).
Maybe it has improved a lot over time but my experience was that it certainly sucked in the first few weeks after the 3G iPhone was released.
Maybe I'll give it another go...

bigdavecox90 · 12-03-2009, 10:44 PM

Even my Dad who doesn't know the first thing about an iPhone said Shazam looks brilliant after seeing it on TV.

pdiddy · 13-03-2009, 9:03 AM

Had it since day one and it`s always been good. I always forget i`ve got it though. However there`s a song i`ve been wanting for ages and this thread reminded me of Shazam`s presence on my iphone.

The song is being used on the advert for the departed on channel 4 at the mo so thought i`d give it a whirl. Came back with the right answer first time despite Jack Nicholson talking all over it.

Song was Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones, wanted the intro for my ringtone

Naaktgeboren · 13-03-2009, 9:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by divabanana

I tried it quite a few times when I got my 3G iPhone and the app failed almost every time. This was with music from radio as well as from CD. I didn't try anything too obscure (it missed Aerosmith, Chemical Brothers, Pantera and Jeff Beck amongst many others).
Maybe it has improved a lot over time but my experience was that it certainly sucked in the first few weeks after the 3G iPhone was released.
Maybe I'll give it another go...

Well, things must have improved massively. It even works with songs in the Dutch language (some obscure ones at that)

I even tried it on a compilation of football songs and it got 10/10.

I would love to see the technology behind Shazam.