| miniMusic 1.0 release |
MINIMUSIC(TM) RELEASES SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR PALM COMPUTING(R) PLATFORM
More power for portable music
| miniMusic 1.0 release |
Portability makes the miniMusic software unique. However, it also provides flexibility, letting you work not only where you want, but also how you want: place notes on musical staff, play an on-screen piano, or draw notes on a grid. You can even write notes in by letter name (i.e. write the letter 'b' in the device's Graffiti(R) software writing area, and a note of that pitch appears on the score). This new version of the software lets you enter notes in four simultaneous voices (allowing you to write chords and counterpoint); compose a string quartet or do voice leading homework for music class.
David Pogue, author of such books as 'PalmPilot: The Ultimate Guide' and 'Classical Music for Dummies' says that miniMusic is "the most impressive music program yet written for the Palm Computing platform, bar none." Bill Dyszel, author of 'PalmPilot for Dummies' adds that "it's a wonderful practice tool for singers and lots of fun to use!" The miniMusic application is already being used by a wide audience. "miniMusic helps a user in Germany learn difficult parts for his choir; another just likes playing with the on-screen piano," says Chad Mealey, the software's designer, "I wrote miniMusic for composing, but it's finding its way into the pockets of performers, students, educators, and hobbiests. Music is universal; I hope that making it portable opens some new doors."
The new features in version 1.0 turn miniMusic into a powerful tool that can now handle more complex music. Not only can you write simultaneous notes, you can also write music in different meters and use triplets. When you're ready to listen to a song, the program scrolls through the music on screen as you listen to it from the speaker. Since the capabilities of the handheld computer's built-in speaker are limited, miniMusic can send a song to an external music instrument or desktop computer using the industry standard MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) protocol.
Pricing, Availability, Distribution, and Support
The miniMusic NotePad 1.0 application becomes available for $29.95 U.S. on Novemebr 12th, 1999. At this time the software will only be available on the internet, but will soon be available through other channels, including retail. Free demos are currently available for download from the miniMusic web-site at http://www.5thwall.com/minimusic and from other internet software distributors such as PalmGear H.Q. and PalmCentral.
About miniMusic
miniMusic is a division of The 5th Wall(TM), a publishing company co-founded in 1991 by Chad Mealey, the designer of the miniMusic software. Now operating in San Francisco, miniMusic's goal is to provide portable music tools for composition, education, performance, and entertainment so that musical ideas can be explored anywhere and anytime, giving individuals the freedom of musical expression on their own terms. Chad Mealey studied music composition at San Francisco State University and Mesa College in San Diego. His computer background includes work at the Salk Institute, The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Biosphere 2 in Arizona.
For more information please visit the miniMusic website at http://www.5thwall.com/minimusic
The 5th Wall and miniMusic are trademarks of The 5th Wall. Palm Computing and Graffiti are registered trademarks, and Palm and Palm OS are trademarks of Palm Computing, Inc., or 3Com Corporation. All other brands and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.