Playing Sax-O-Meter, a new app for your long tones!

[441Lab]

Hello,

I'm happy to present a mobile application I developed specially for us saxophonists, it's called Sax-O-Meter and it's designed to help you in your tone development, to help you stay motivated in the shed and add a little fun to your long tones practice!

If you're interested, I made a website that explain everything : saxometer.com, but I'd be happy to answer any question you may have.

For now it's available only for Android (5.0+), you can get it on Google Play.
There's also a demo version to let you try the app for free : Google Play.

Julien.

 

[Jeanette]

Interesting, unfortunately not compatible with my tablet

I expect some interesting discussions...

Jx

 

[Pete Thomas]

I'm looking forward to trying this, soon as you get it on iOS. I'm all for adding fun to long tones.

Please feel free to post some screenshots here

 

[saxyjt]

Sounds interesting. I hope I can try it soon. At least I have the right Android gear for it.

 

[441Lab]

Better than screenshots, a video demo : Sax-O-Meter demonstration.

OK, here are some screenshots:

 

[Jules]

Just downloaded it and will get a session in over the next few days.

 

[Rob Pealing]

I have tried the trial version of this, it is very very frustrating and very difficult to assess because the pop up ad to buy the full version pops up about every 30 seconds, the app goes back to the intro page and you have to start all over again. I have removed it.

 

[jafo50]

I have tried the trial version of this, it is very very frustrating and very difficult to assess because the pop up ad to buy the full version pops up about every 30 seconds, the app goes back to the intro page and you have to start all over again. I have removed it.

As did I.

 

[Jazzaferri]

Well It looked like it could be fun Hopefully @441Lab will correct that.

 

[441Lab]

Hi Rob and Jafo50,
I'm sorry you couldn't assess the app with the demo version. What do you think could be a good way to try the app without giving it for free ?
I admit that I didn't spent much time on the demo version because I thought it was not really necessary, as the app costs less than a pint of budget beer in a budget pub...
Please let me know how you think the demo version should be and I'll do it !

 

[saxyjt]

How about leaving more time to evaluate, like 10 minutes, but only on a few options, with the others only available with the paid version?

The other way is the timed bomb approach. Allow the user to evaluate freely for 7 days, then you activate your very annoying demo limitations!

 

[Rob Pealing]

@441Lab , I have three suggestions,
a) arrange the advert interruptions to be 3 to 5 minutes apart or
b) make it function fully without interruption for say 5 days, then either not function or the advert as it is now. This would need a way of stopping it from being repeatedly installed and removed
ç) a cut down (light) version.

 

[441Lab]

Hi guys, sorry for my late reply,
These are good ideas, I'll come up with something soon. Thank you for your help, I'll tell you when I'm able to release a better test version.

 

[QWales]

Love the idea but was expecting it to be £1.99 after your comment. Since when was £4.39 less than the price of a budget beer in a budget pub? Get double that and change in Wetherspoons and others around here.

 

[441Lab]

Ahah ok, sorry for the beer analogy... You couldn't find a pint for less than 5€ over here but that's not the point.
Let me be clear about the price. I spent a huge amount of time on making this app. Even if I sell loads of it, it will never cover the time I spent. I made this for the saxophone community, and because I think it's a great idea, not to make money. I won't give it for nothing the same way I don't play for free in a restaurant.
About the price in the UK, I let Google decide what is a fair price in all the countries, depending on the local taxes and the Google tax, to be equivalent to 3,99€. But 4,39GBP is not equivalent, I'm going to fix this to 3,99GBP.
Please let me know if you need more details about this.

 

[Pete Thomas]

One thing I noticed in the screenshots was the reference to Coltrane and Brecker. While I think it's a great idea to have great players as a reference, this implied to me that they are at opposite ends of a spectrum and I would classify the as quite similar (depending the era).

is that in fact the point , or have I got the wrong end of the stick? (not having been able to try it myself yet)

 

[Targa]

Well It looked like it could be fun Hopefully @441Lab will correct that.

Quite right, we're not here to be having fun.

 

[nigeld]

About the price in the UK, I let Google decide what is a fair price in all the countries, depending on the local taxes and the Google tax, to be equivalent to 3,99€. But 4,39GBP is not equivalent, I'm going to fix this to 3,99GBP.
Please let me know if you need more details about this.

I'm an iPhone user, so I can't use the app.
However, I will happily buy an app for £1.99 without being bothered whether it turns out not to be useful.
I will not buy an app for £3.99 without some reassurance that it works.
This may not be logical, but it is how I behave.
My behaviour may be atypical, but I doubt it - apps are mostly free or very cheap.

So I think if you want to sell an app for £3.99, you need a good free demo version, (which can be with advertising) or a lot of publicity.

 

[441Lab]

@Pete Thomas, I suppose you talk about the timbre triangle. The Coltrane and Brecker references were just a way to say "very bright" and "not so bright" with few letters... If you have better suggestions, I'd be happy to update the app with these.

 

[441Lab]

@nigeld, ok, that make sense.
Let's do this : for the next 2 weeks, I make the app for 1.99GBP, only in the UK. Let's call this a café saxophone promotion !