Music Live

Live music is something I do not get to enjoy very often (last concert I saw was 2003), this app though could make it easier at least to know when a favorite group is coming to town. (parts of review updated on 1/8/12)

Music Live – main screen

Initially blank on the left side, as you add favorite artists, etc. it will start to fill up and become useful. I wish it had a way to get it started up easier. I had to either search or browse for each artist (and only did a few so far) and then right-click and favorite them. As part of the set-up of the app it should provide an option where you can enter your favorite artists so you can get it populated quicker. The design provides easy access to information, although I have a ‘recommendation’ later on in this review concerning what should be listed first rather than “Top Artists”.

Music Live – Near Me

“Near Me” shows you a selection of artists and venues coming up in the near future. by default this is set at 100 kilometers. Going into settings allows you to easily change not only distance, but whether it shows in kilometers or miles.

Music Live – artist page with right-click

A pretty basic bio with some pictures are provided on the artist page. Here you can see the favorite button available with right-click as well as navigation to the main categories. You get access to videos (though not just the artist live, but music videos as well), album information and then more to the right any venues they are playing at and when.

Music Live – album info

The album information is a nice addition even if it drifts away from what I assume is the purpose of the app (to find live music). It is wasted though as no way to play tracks or even to play videos the app lists elsewhere for the tracks. It just doesn’t fit here. Some of the information provided is incorrect but that is the fault of where the information is pulled from. “Dark Side of the Moon” came out 40 years before the date listed in the app (shows 2003).

As mention the videos are a nice option and glad they are provided since certainly if you are not that familiar with a band, it would help to hear some songs before you go see them in concert. The videos play full screen (top part is for title, done as an overlay) with basic play/pause and an option to change the quality of the video. It will keep playing the music in the background while you continue to use the app. If you need to return to the video or want to see where it is, a right-click provides that information.

You might have noticed “Recommendations” is an option available when you right-click. It is based on the artist you currently have selected. It will also give you recommendations from the main screen, though not sure why it is not represented with its own section on the main screen. You have to right-click and choose it. This could replace “Top Artists” on the main screen which I could care less about. So what if others like them, maybe I don’t. Recommendations makes a lot more sense here.

Music Live – venue info

Since the main purpose of the app is to locate where your favorite band is playing next or what is playing at venues near you, it provides a healthy bit of basic information, plus a link to their website. If you click on a date, you can then click on that artist to go to their page in the app, a welcome addition. You can also make a venue a favorite, although it doesn’t tell you in the favorites section who is playing there next. It would be awesome as a live tile on the main screen of the app.

Charms

Search – it works well to find not only artists but videos, albums and places as well. The search will return matches in all those areas. Share - you can share just about everything in the app. However, only the video shares with more than the Mail app (at least for me). Still perfect for trying to plan to see an artist with friends. Settings - you get a basic preferences section to adjust how near you wish to search venues (in kilometers or miles).

Snap

This app doesn’t work in snapped one-third view at all.

Tile

It does provide a live tile. I wouldn’t call it completely live as on mine is just showing (or did show) one of my favorite artists images. I made the app small and then large again and now nothing shows “live”. Nice icon of a guitar player for the app and color bar for the app name.

Summary

I like the idea of finding where not only my favorite artist is playing but what might be playing at venues near me. There is unneeded (album info) but it provides a nice adjustment for to find what is near you. No snapped view, no proper live tile, but at least provides basic sharing. It has a nice presentation, and a useful app, with an active developer. If you want features, suggest them.

Rating

Category: Music & Video > Music	Download size: 509 KB	Age: 16+
Publisher: Arnaud MICHELET

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