Who ever would have thought...

Too often technology just complicates my life. (Some of you are thinking: I can't believe you just said that! But it's true.) I guess we have to take the good with the bad, because life in any time has both. But sometimes a technology comes along that really makes me smile. This post is about such an application: Shazam.

How many times have you been someplace and wanted to know the name of the song you are hearing: on the radio, in a movie, in the grocery store, at a restaurant. Maybe the song is a blast from the past (you can't quite remember the name or group) or maybe it's a song you have never heard and really like--would like to purchase. Now the information you need is just two touches away!

Shazam is a free application at the iTunes Store. Touch the Shazam icon on your iPhone so it will "listen" to the music. A few seconds later your phone vibrates, and Shazam gives you a picture of the album cover and all of the details of the music! I am blown away. This is an awesome idea. And It really works! Click on the picture in this post to go to the app on the iTunes Store.

You also get links to purchase the song right then on your iPhone from the iTunes Store. (You have be on a WiFi network at the time for this feature to be available.) You get links to any YouTube videos featuring the song. You can even attach a photo (from your iPhoto library or one you just snapped with your phone) to the song and share it via an instant email to anyone in your address book. "Hey! Remember 10 years ago when we heard this here..."

This is just insane. Loving it.

It hasn't recognized any of the classical music to which I've had it listen. Music educators, we need to request this feature!

You have to upgrade your vintage iPhones (free) or have a 3G iPhone so you have access to the applications on the iTunes Applications Store. Many, perhaps even most, of the iPhone Apps are currently free or very inexpensive. Some are utterly frivolous.