Other Uses for Mobile Device
Most of us are aware of the potential and use of pocket-sized recording devices as tools for learning, but some may not have considered the full potential of mobile devices such as iPhones, "Smart Phones" and PDA's as useful musician's tools when they are partnered with the appropriate software.
Examples include:
Serving as a large-capacity (multi-thousand) audio reference library of tunes, enabling the user to quickly locate and play any tune on demand and in a key and at a speed of the their choosing. In learning situations one can use this capability very effectively for "play by ear" applications. I'm currently using TunePal for this purpose and have provided additional details here.
Functioning as extended-capability audio recorders permitting users to capture lectures and tune demonstrations, edit the recordings and play the final result at normal and pitch-corrected reduced speeds. This application is especially useful in instrument class and workshop settings. I'm currently using Vito SoundExplorer and Virtual Recorder. It's only fair I mention that while I'm satisfied with the audio quality of files created by both of these products, I don't find their reduced-speed playback to be of high audio quality although one can follow the tune. I rarely use the reduced speed function so it's not an issue with me anyway.
Use as instrument tuners, generating accurate reference tones on demand as well as indicating the actual frequencies of tones generated by various instruments. I'm currently using Auto Tuner to determine the latter, but have no personal need for a tone generator so haven't installed software for that on my mobile device.
Creation of multi-voice MIDI files and on-screen sheet music. The sheet music can be printed by transferring the MIDI files to a regular PC and using additional software (at user's additional expense). This can be quite handy in workshop settings when one wants to do some MIDI-based tinkering with a new tune or generate sheet music (viewed on-screen). I'm currently using MidNote to compose/view in sheet-music format and listen to the result.
Converting pre-existing ABC files to on-screen sheet music displays. I'm currently using ABassC for this purpose, though I don't use it much since I've come to embrace the "by ear" approach to Irish music.
Providing metronome and drum rhythms. I've not installed such software on my own Pocket PC, but I've seen several examples of suitable software online. To locate such files yourself, do an online search on the terms "Pocket PC metronome drum" to get started.