October 2010
1 post
1 tag
The Music Head asks...
The Music Head: I also was only able to use a small part of my library and am being told I have to wait to get the rest ..several hundred songs analyzed and made available. You can manually fix/add .. but each one .. one at a time? arg...I already have BPM's in my iTunes library.. why can't i use those? Its all just a bit frustrating. It's slow going and I still don't have my whole library.
Greg: If you want more of your songs to work with SynchStep, simply download SynchStep Prep from http://synchstep.com/#prep to analyze all of your songs at your own leisure. I might add the tempo selector to the start screen to make it easier for you to choose a tempo, though devices that support multi-tasking already solve this issue. Thanks for your feedback
August 2010
2 posts
1 tag
BSMK asks...
bsmk says: "It doesnt really do a good job on syncing while locked. I wanted it to change my music once I slow down but everytime I do it just starts vibrating and the sound goes dead."
Greg: "Locking the device normally (using the button on top of the iPhone/iPod) prevents SynchStep from working. Just remember to tap the "lock" icon (next to the resync button) within SynchStep INSTEAD of the hardware lock button on the top of your device."
July 2010
1 post
May 2010
2 posts
September 2009
1 post
status
so, since i still can’t release synchstep to the app store until they fix their bug, the project is sort of on hold.
there are reports of a few people experiencing issues with the current jailbreak version: they find that songs will play and then stop after a few seconds.
though i’m pretty busy now at MIT, i’m still working on the project. i’ve got two different...
May 2009
4 posts
SynchStep 3.0.2 now available on Cydia
If you happened to get 3.0 and had an issue with setup it should be fixed in 3.0.2.
Everyone else, go grab it. =)
SynchStep 3.0 Jailbreak submitted to Cydia
Well, a year later, it’s back and better than ever.
Look for Version 3.0 on Cydia in a day or so. I’ll post when it makes it onto Cydia.
For now, it’s back to work on SynchStep for OS 3.0.
public release this week
hi all,
i’ve been debating how to release synchstep because apple has made it illegal for developers to sell jailbreak apps. again, they keep crampin my style.
so, here’s where i’ve netted out:
i’m going to release synchstep this week, fully-featured, for free. that’s right, free. you just enter your email so i can generate a serial for you and you get...
March 2009
1 post
sorry it's been so quiet!
ok, long silence, i know. but i have exciting news!
we’re into the last beta version, #14. i’ll be releasing it to my private testers this weekend. i have kept the group at about 100 beta testers, and i’ve gotten some really great feedback from them.
here’s what needs to happen before the official launch:
1. analytics - synchstep is the first jailbreak app to use pinch...
December 2008
1 post
more betas out - so far so good
several more betas have gone out, and no issues reported yet. everyone seems quite pleased with the overall setup and step detection for running and walking.
this is a very controlled release. if you want a beta and i haven’t gotten to you yet, feel free to ping me.
November 2008
1 post
first beta on its way out + 1-2 min setup
ok, i’ve got my php scripts and database moved onto a mosso cloud (thanks aaron!), and as a result the setup process is about 66% faster than it was previously.
the initial setup can process songs 600 per minute, so you’re looking at around a few minutes from starting the app the first time to using it. obviously, the more songs you have the longer the setup will take. compare that...
October 2008
2 posts
1-click, under 4-min setup
great progress today. initial setup from a blank state takes about 4 minutes for 500 songs, and that’s with the server running on my (relatively) slow laptop.
here’s how the bpm database works: synchstep reads your ipod tracks, downloads tempos for anything found at synchstep.com, and submits anything it can’t find to a queue. tracks queued up are analyzed and in a day or so...
status
ok everyone, it’s been a while since i updated, but i’ve been ridiculously busy coding and haven’t had a chance to breathe.
here’s where things are:
first. i’m getting rid of synchstep prep. no longer will you have to download a separate application to analyze your songs. i’m setting up a system that will allow your iphone to download tempo data directly...
September 2008
2 posts
new business model
i’ve got a new business model in place for synchstep. there will be two versions of synchstep: free and pro. free will act just as it does now: walking only, basic settings. it’ll have the new and improved walking algorithm so it’s going to be as awesome at that as the pro version, and everyone that has enjoyed synchstep so far will continue to enjoy that version for free. if...
big news coming soon
the day is getting closer boys and girls. i have to say this new version of synchstep pretty completely owns all previous versions. i’m actually embarased when i test the previous incarnations.
it’s by no means perfect, but it’s getting really close. i’m at the point where i have to try really hard to get it to not detect my pace. it’s work in my baggiest pants,...
August 2008
11 posts
what i'm doing now
rejigging auto-sync algorithm so that it’s adjustable (in settings you’ll be able to set how quickly synchstep should adapt to you: quickly, normal, slowly).
also, looking into making synchstep prep better:
- instead of exporting to wav using decoders to read into memory for analysis
- computing audio fingerprint and associating analyzed bpm with fingerprint
- uploading bpm to...
revelations from the gym
Belt and armband work great! Wanna test more but wow. Super cool.
Thoughts
Pressing resync while running at 170 bpm is haaaard.
Starting synchstep while running is awkward
WatchDemo of some new code that auto-dims your screen. Needed this because the accelerometer is disabled when the screen is locked. On the iPhone, I could use the proximity sensor to turn off the screen, but the iPod Touch doesn’t have one of those. Unfortunately, this demo uses a private framework, so I won’t be able to repeat this functionality in the app store.
Also, notice how fast...
working on screen dimming for ipods today
no screen dimming for ipod touch users yet
so, since the ipod touch doesn’t have a proximity sensor, there’s no way for me to turn off the screen using legal means.
i’ll probably have to patch a header file and do it a hack way (setting brightness to 0) for the ipod touch.
if running is actually pretty much done, i can hop on this next.
running with armband and belt-mount seem to...
so, jogging in place i have the armband and belt-mounted orientations working well.
surprisingly, i haven’t had to do any tuning for running vs walking yet. it’s kinda just working, though i need to go test it on a treadmill since the movement of running is a bit different than jogging.
however, jogging is closer to running that walking, and that’s working so who knows.
i...
awesome day.
1. you no longer have to set your phone to never lock. synchstep now disables auto-locking only when it’s running (thanks go2!)
2. synchstep can turn off the screen on its own (only on iphones though), like the phone app does, whenever it is in your pocket and turn it back on when you take it out of your pocket. when the screen is off, however, the accelerometer still...
what works and what doesn't
personal notes:
solid
- walking, device in left/right pants pocket @ 60bpm - 160bpm
- walking, armband @ 60bpm - 160bpm
testing
- jogging in place w/ armband @ 120bpm, 150bpm
untested
- jogging with armband on treadmill/outside @ all bpms
- running with armband on treadmill/outside @ all bpms
- jogging with belt-mount on treadmill/outside @ all bpms
- running with belt-mount on...
new step detection algorithm rox
developed a new algorithm that absolutely blows away my previous one. in fact, it’s so good, it actually works with running now!
i’m running with an armband right now, and initial tests are great (good enough that i haven’t even modified the new algorithm to work with running, it just kinda works out of the box).
going to check belt-mounted version next.
needs tuning
synchstep doesn’t feel as accurate as it did on 1.1.4. i’ve set up my debug environment again; looks like i’ll be out walking around like an idiot for another month.
July 2008
8 posts
synchstep is ready for release, but
the accelerometer goes to sleep when the screen is off! that means you have to keep the screen on while it’s in your pocket.
i have no idea how i’m going to work around this one. should i hold off releasing it until this is fixed?
synchstep is running on 2.0 firmware!
it works! UI needs polish, but the core is running solid. gonna see if i cna plow through the rest of it tomorrow.
(and the code is actually pretty! the hacky parts are down to a minimum, and will be replaced soon)
able to access music library on new 2.0 firmware
BIG UPDATE: I’ve coded up a test application that can access the music library on the iPhone on the new 2.0 firmware! I’m still negotiating how to playback audio using the new frameworks, but gaining access to the library is a huge step.
rough day
1. got xcode to deploy normal app to my stock 2.0 phone
2. got xcode to deploy normal app to my jailbroken 2.0 phone
3. got xcode to deploy privateframeworks app to my jailbroken 2.0 phone
everythign runs great, but i’m getting a weird warning i haven’t gotten since 1.1.4 was released. i can’t remember how i solved it.
: NOTE:: loading Music Library: Could not find...
my 2.0 firmware is jailbroken
and i’m getting to work on porting synchstep over.
might have a way to get synchstep into the...
stay tuned.. i’m cooking something up right now.
synchstep prep beta for win + mac
well, i’ve been beta testing synchstep prep (my replacement for beatunes) for the past few weeks, and a few generous users have notified me of minor bugs that i’ve fixed. all in all, it seems to be working fairly well, and the bpm algorithm is on-track to improve very soon (it gets about 8/10 songs right now, the next update should hit 9.8/10).
i still don’t have a powerpc...
June 2008
13 posts
intel mac version is up
alright, the intel mac version of synchstep prep (replacement for beatunes) is live.
windows version just needs an installer, and that’ll be coming tomorrow.
i’m working on compiling for powerpc macs, but i don’t have a ppc mac so it’s going to take more work to finish.
http://synchstep.com
mac version of synchstep prep is done.
releasing tomorrow.
synchstep featured on installer + 58,000 downloads
synchstep is now on the featured page of installer.
also, good news: synchstep has been downloaded 58,000 times since june 1.
awesome! thanks everyone! hope you all enjoy it.
synchstep 1.2 is out
now up on installer. let me know what you think of this new version!
synchstep 1.2 is off to the presses
should be up on installer pretty soon. yay!
new updates:
Settings
set when you want synchstep to re-sync (change songs to match pace) with you:
a. have it re-sync whenever your pace changes
b. have it re-sync only after the current song finishes playing
c. don’t re-sync automatically. tap ‘re-sync’ when you want it to re-sync.
runs as background process
now, once a...
Flickr set of synchstep 1.1.5 screenshots →
1.1.5 is tested and ready to go out
finishing up some graphical tweaks, and adding in nice transitions between albums.