Although I knew that the 1.1.1 firmware update introduced more attachment viewing support, I didn't realize until now that it added AMR playback. AMR, if you don't recall, refers to Adaptive Multi-rate Compression. It's the audio data compression format used by the iPhone for both voice memos and (if you've installed my Voice Notes application) voice recording. AMR is used primarily to store spoken audio.
So why is this big news? Well, if you're very very patient and you don't mind waiting for long gaps within a conversation, you can now use your iPhone as a very low-end push-to-talk device. By this I mean, you can install VoiceNotes and use it to record short messages. You can then email those short messages to a friend and they can play it back on their iPhone. To respond, they do the same: record and email.
This is obviously a long way from VOIP but as a stop-gap measure it works pretty well. I tested out a voice-only conversation the other evening and, while slow, the recording and playback quality was just fine for communicating.
Right now, the slowest part of the process involves addressing the message in Mobile Mail. If people show an interest, I'm considering either updating VNotes or writing an app that allows you to add the recipient's email once and then handles the addressing bit. Let me know in the comments.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-17-2007 @ 3:13PM
Zoli said...
I'm definitely interested! Thanks Erica!
Also another Idea I had was a google maps cache... now google maps caches what you've seen already, so you don't need to download it again, and it will work without a connection (edge or wifi), there should be some way to enter a zipcode and download all of that zip codes map data into google maps.
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10-17-2007 @ 3:15PM
dasilvetz said...
If you could somehow build a PTT app that would be amazing... i'd say even more standalone than the VoiceNotes app which does voice recording perfectly. I think it should be more of a standalone app.
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10-17-2007 @ 3:21PM
Aron Trimble said...
I'd much rather have SendSong working again to add ringtones - however any work on any front is greatly appreciated!
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10-17-2007 @ 3:24PM
Ryan p said...
Sounds pretty kickass even as a touch user. Now have you tried using the iphone headset with an ipod touch? If you have the two devices can you check to see?
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10-17-2007 @ 3:24PM
Erica Sadun said...
Touch use is receive-only. You cannot as yet record--it kinda crashes your system big time if you try.
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10-17-2007 @ 3:24PM
wayne said...
I'm interested, please make it happen
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10-17-2007 @ 3:24PM
Leif said...
Hi Erica,
Sounds great to me, thanks! Can't your suggestion currently be accomplished using the 3rd party app NikoTalkie? Or what about using your Voicenotes app with another 3rd party app like SendFile?
Keep up the great work!
-Leif
www.SparkNW.com
www.Wonderosity.com
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10-17-2007 @ 3:25PM
Ryan Schmidt said...
Erica, I appreciate what you're suggestion but this is already done. Write up a review for Nikotalkie. It works great and does everything you're talking about and more!
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10-17-2007 @ 3:27PM
Erica Sadun said...
I haven't given NikoTalkie a test yet but its my understanding that it uploads to a third party area. If true, that goes outside my comfort zone.
As for SendFile, you don't need it. You can send your voice notes directly from VNotes.
Regarding SendSong, I'm not sure how far I really want to push things there. If there is an easy add-to-ringtones-by-editing-a-plist functionality, sure. Otherwise, I'm going to defer to Ambrosia and iToner.
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10-17-2007 @ 3:31PM
Ryan Schmidt said...
Funny how you used the old, nasty voicenotes icon. :) As for nikotalkie uploading to a 3rd party, oh boy... I don't like that either. I wonder if that's true.
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10-17-2007 @ 3:43PM
momo said...
I would be interested, Erica. Rock on!
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10-17-2007 @ 4:12PM
me said...
yes!!! YES YESSSS!!!!!!
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10-17-2007 @ 4:14PM
billp said...
Sigh.
"You can then email those short messages to a friend and they can play it back on their iPhone. To respond, they do the same: record and email."
This is almost like... calling the person directly pfffffffft. Who would seriously buy a $300 cell phone to mail audio files back and forth? Maybe I'll go buy a BMW and have myself towed to the movie theater and back home.
What an abuse of logic and technological function.
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10-17-2007 @ 4:15PM
Jason said...
erica.... can you or did you open source send pic? i would like to combine sendpic and iflickr to make an app that lets you quickly shoot and upload pictures to facebook using either its api or email..
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10-17-2007 @ 4:38PM
Buck Bailey said...
I'd buy that for a dollar, as they say! Remember, Nicotalkie requires another patched iPhone (or other device?) and a Nicotalkie account... VNotes could e-mail voice memos to anybody. (I'm assuming VLC can play them back... it does everything.)
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10-17-2007 @ 4:41PM
Frank Furter said...
@billp - perhaps I'm on a business trip, in a meeting, and would like to hear my daughters voice before I turn in for the night. It's 4AM at home, but 8PM here. I'll take it.
Basically, it'd offer convenience. If the receiver can't pick up a phone call, this is the next best thing.
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10-17-2007 @ 4:43PM
J.G. said...
After reading the posting I though this was a silly idea, who'd want to do that when you could just call the person? But looking at the comments, almost 50% of them were interested/excited about the prospect.
So, I'm curious, why are all you people interested in sending voice notes back and forth? Why not just call the person, the iPhone is after all a phone. I guess I don't see a practical application for this.
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10-17-2007 @ 4:44PM
josh r. said...
What I'd really like would be a utility for taking short movie clips with the iPhone, I don't know too much about the development process but I'm guessing it's feasible given you've developed vnotes and those fellows at http://macdaddyworld.com/?p=38 managed to record a video stream for their demo videoconferencing app...
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10-17-2007 @ 5:05PM
sam said...
You and I need to work on your definition of "push to talk"
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10-17-2007 @ 5:11PM
sam said...
@ Frank Furter: The iPhone also supports something that would be perfect for this. It's a system whereby people can attach voice messages to your phone if you don't pick up. It's kindof like those old answering machines from the 80's except all digital. I believe they call it "voice mail."
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