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Tuesday, December 22, 2009  �  Volume 1  �  Number 3
ZOOZbeat Links
ZOOZbeat First Anniversary

While November 7, 2009 marked the official 1-year anniversary of ZOOZbeat, we trace our beginning back ten years to the MIT Media Labs PhD thesis of ZOOZ Mobile, Inc. (parent company of the new ZOOZbeat and ZOOZbeat Lite) Founder and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Gil Weinberg.

In his thesis, Gil envisioned Beatbugs that would allow you to express yourself musically using gestures or movements with a hand held device; even if you are not musically inclined.

Ten years ago, Beatbugs would have cost $600 to manufacture. (Photo below)

Beat_Bugs_Photo

It was only when Gil saw the first SmartPhone that he realized he could bring his thesis to life as software. "My research focuses on developing algorithms that would allow musical instruments to analyze and interpret a player's intentions," Gil said in the Georgia Tech Digital Lounge. Georgia Tech Venture Lab supports the commercialization of ZOOZbeat.

Added Gil: "With [ZOOZbeat], you don't have to ... know a lot of music theory to become musically creative. You can just use your own expressive, intuitive gestures to create music that you can relate."

Three top graduate students at the Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology (which Gil also founded) joined the full-time. And, today, you are able to reCreate music with ZOOZbeat, ZOOZbeat Sprite and ZOOZbeat Lite on your Apple iPhone or iPod Touch.

A Big Thank You!

Thanks to you -- and a CNN video and CNN.com story --  two days after we officially launched the new ZOOZbeat and ZOOZbeat Lite apps on October 14th, ZOOZbeat was ranked #38 among all paid apps in the iTunes App Store, ranked #2 among all paid music apps and ZOOZbeat Lite was ranked #7 among free music apps. (At the time of our launch, there were 85,000 apps in the iTunes App Store.) Thank you for an early one-year anniversary present!

New ZOOZbeat Sprite

We partnered with Sprite to officially launch ZOOZbeat Sprite app today (12/22/09). ZOOZbeat Sprite is available in the Apple iTunes App Store. ZOOZbeat Sprite feature Dallas Austin and seven hot Artists. (Please see the lead story for details.)

New ZOOZbeat Artists

While we anticipate adding the new ZOOZbeat for other mobile phones, we are focused on enhancing your music reCreation experience by adding additional Artist beats to the new in-App ZOOZbeat Store.

By January 31, 2010, we anticipate that the new ZOOZbeat will have at least 40 Artist songs or collections (albums) of songs from 16 Artists that you can either buy or redeem Sprite 'Under the Cap' codes; plus, we're in discussions with many major and indie labels to add additional Artists.

Seshiria And Strato999

A shout-out to ZOOZbeat Musicians Cecilia "Seshiria" Diaz and John "strato999" Sheridan for showing us what's possible with ZOOZbeat. Cecilia provided ZOOZbeat Musician with tips in the first issue of ZOOZbeatUpdate. John provides tip in this ZOOZbeat Update. [John was interviewed about ZOOZbeat by CNN.com in October 2009.]

And this ...

Stay tuned for lots of exciting news in the months and years ahead as we mash up music, mobile and motion to create a new and unique interactive music experience for you using ZOOZbeat: your
Music reCreation Studio.

If you have ZOOZbeat Lite, please consider upgrading to the new ZOOZbeat for an extended music reCreation experience. We have extended the introductory price of $0.99 through 12/23/09 because thousands and thousands purchased the new ZOOZbeat app when it was official re-launched on October 14, 2009 ($1.99 effective 12/24/09). (Please see this story). ZOOZbeat Lite is no longer available in the Apple iTunes App Store. If you have ZOOZbeat Lite, you may continue to use it.

And, finally, please use the Forward To A Friend button (below) to forward the ZOOZbeat Update to your friends with a note: "gotta get this new music remixing app for your iPhone."

Happy Holidays,

Scott Geller
CEO & President
ZOOZ Mobile, Inc.
(ZOOZbeat)

P.S. Got a question, comment or suggestion? Please email Dan in our ZOOZbeat Musician Relations Dept.
Join ZOOZbeat Free Mailing List

If you received this ZOOZbeat Update from a friend, please join our free ZOOZbeat mailing list now.

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linkZOOZbeat Storesonglist

By January 31, 2010, the new ZOOZbeat will have at least 40 Artist songs or collections of songs (Albums) from 16 Artists that you can either buy or redeem Sprite 'Under the Cap' codes; plus, ZOOZ Mobile, Inc. (ZOOZbeat) is in discussions with many major and indie labels to add additional Artists.*

Now Available


Do it Like Ya BDay
Get Gettin' It
Girls Grinnin'
Collection:
Welcome to Black Hollywood



Bed of Rose
Cool Down
Thai Stick
Album
Easy Star All-Stars


Jaffa
Salame
Diskutique
Album:
 Florentin



Electro Bumper
KrafWerkin'
Midnight Run
Album:
The Devine Collection


Street Lotto

Make It Look Good
That's a Money Maker
What the People Want
Collection:
Game N Fortune



I'm Gone
Red Bull and Vodka



Click
ClickRock
Glitch
Hip-Hop
Metronomo
Pop
Rock
Salsa
Techno
Tejano
Thrash

Coming Soon

Midnight Youth

All On Our Own
Benjamin
Cavalry
Collection: Midnight Youth

ZOOZbeat Sprite
(See Lead Story)

Dallas Austin

Addicted 2 Love

Khayree

Number 1

Alex Christie

Round & Round

Sy Scott

My Bounce

Novel

Think We Landed

sHeeD

Automatic

LaRon Brant

Crystal Clear

Spree Wilson

Pick You Apart

ZOOZ Mobile

The Spark

*Subject to change
New! Two Ways To Buy Beats!

You can now buy beats either on the web or in the in-App ZOOZbeat Store on your iPhone or iPod Touch.

When you buy beats -- either way -- your beats show up in your ZOOZbeat app. Just select: reCreate.

On The Web

Go to: ZOOZbeat.com
Click on the Store tab.

On Your iPhone

Select: Get Beats

Your ZOOZbeat Music Video on YouTube

If you create a video of yourself reCreating music with the new ZOOZbeat, ZOOZbeat Sprite or ZOOZbeat Lite, please email us if you would like us to share your video with other ZOOZbeat Musicians.

ZOOZbeat Update Web Archive

To see previous editions of the ZOOZbeat Update eNewsletter, please visit the ZOOZbeat Update Archive.


If you received this ZOOZbeat Update from a friend, please sign up to receive free occasional ZOOZbeat Updates.
SpriteFree New ZOOZbeat Sprite App Launched Today: First iPhone App for Sprite 'Under the Cap' Promotion: TWIST. TXT. ZOOZ.

ZOOZ Mobile, Inc., parent company to ZOOZbeat, has teamed up with Sprite to launch the first iPhone app to be offered through the Sprite 'Under the Cap' promotion: new ZOOZbeat Sprite.

Each Sprite and Sprite Zero™ 'Under the Cap' code enables you toDallas_Austin unlock additional beats and samples from these eight hot Artists: Dallas Austin, Khayree, Alex Christie, Sy Scott, Novel, sHeeD, LaRon Brant and Spree Wilson.

To get free beats from these Artists, please follow these steps:
  1. From your iPhone (or iPod touch device), go to the Apple iTunes App Store and download the free ZOOZbeat Sprite app
  2. Buy any specially bottle of Sprite or Sprite Zero
  3. Twist off the Sprite cap and look for your 12 digit 'Under the Cap' code
  4. From your iPhone, text message to the Sprite Short Code: 777483 (which spells S-P-R-I-T-E). In the body of your text message, type: ZOOZ immediately followed by the 12-digit 'Under the Cap' code (example: ZOOZ123456789123). Note: Message and data rates may apply).
  5. S-P-R-I-T-E will text you back a unique six-digit code to enter within your free ZOOZbeat Sprite app to unlock the Artist of your choice.
  6. Enjoy your refreshing Sprite while you reCreate music with ZOOZbeat Sprite and the Artist of your choice.
  7. Unlock a new beat each time you purchase a specially marked Sprite or Sprite Zero. Unlock all 8!
"ZOOZbeat Sprite is one of the coolest apps for either the beginner or professional musician," said ZOOZ Mobile CEO & President Scott Geller. "ZOOZbeat Sprite Musicians have access to original downloadable beats and samples that are available nowhere else and ZOOZbeat Sprite gives ZOOZbeat Sprite Artists the opportunity to share their sound with a new audience."

You have until May 31, 2010, or while specially marked 'Under the Cap' bottles of Sprite and Sprite Zero last, to be rewarded with a unique new ZOOZbeat Spritemusic reCreation experience.
To learn more, please visit: Media Release, ZOOZbeat.com or SPRITE.com.

StratoZOOZbeat Musician 'Strato999' Offers Tips: Pick A Style; and Use Swap & Clear Buttons

Editor's Note: John "Strato999" Sheridan is among the most prolific ZOOZbeat Musicians.  His most listened to ZOOZbeat reCreated songs include these Top 10 ZOOZbeat Musician Songs as of today (12/21/09): Turbulence, Ivory Garden and Tambien and Autumnal Moon. We asked John for his ZOOZbeat Music reCreation Studio tips.John_'strato'_Sheridan

[John was quote in the
CNN.com story in October about the launch of the new ZOOZbeat and ZOOZbeat Lite. You'll also find John on the ZOOZbeat Facebook Fan and Group pages. When John is not reCreating music with ZOOZbeat, he and his wife FroAn are running their real estate business in Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte, FL.] Photo by FroAn Sheridan

Strato999 here, giving you some tips on how to be a better ZOOZbeat iPhone Musician. I've spent countless hours composing songs and through my experience have come up with some valuable tips you can use in your own musical experience. First, for the beginner, here is a little tutorial on how the application works.

Pick A Style (Beats)

The first step in the process is to pick a style of music to reCreate. (ZOOZbeat call styles, beats, but I prefer styles as not to confuse this with the eight beats per song format of reCreating music).

You will find you are more versed at certain styles versus others. Some styles of music will be more appealing but don't rule the others out. You will learn from this diversification. Once you've chosen your style, where do you start?

stratto_photoEach style has a chosen percussion beat. I usually start with the bass line. When the bass and drums work together, they create a flow which becomes the foundation. A great rhythm is the way to start a great song.

Obviously, everyone is unique so whatever is most comfortable to you is the key. Once you have created your "backbone" you can add other instruments to the flow.

Creating notes in ZOOZbeat can be done in a couple of ways. One is by tipping the phone slowly or rapidly to create random pitches of notes. The other is to hold the phone horizontal and a chart is created allowing you to add notes to your liking or in a non-random manner.

In the new ZOOZbeat, you have eight beats to a song. Once you have created your first beat, you can start the next. ZOOZbeat gives you the ability of copying entire tracks, the current sequence you are using, or just starting from scratch.

Use The SWAP Button in the New ZOOZbeat

My personal favorite update to the new ZOOZbeat is the SWAP Hip-Hop-Horizontalbutton. With the SWAP button, you can swap instruments for instruments or if you created a real cool set of notes you can swap those notes to a different instrument. I like to add additional pianos and guitars to the same beat to create harmonic or chord like sounds.

A good example of this can found in my song Turbulence. With the SWAP button, I have used dual rhythm guitars and a trio of lead guitars to create harmonic melodies. It's a fun addition and limitless in expression.

Use The CLEAR Button in the New ZOOZbeat

The most important of all buttons in the new ZOOZbeat is the CLEAR button. You will create notes or stanzas you would like to alter. With the CLEAR button, you can delete single, multiple or all notes from your song so that you can recreate them.

Save Your Song As Public:
Go Online to Create MP3 of Your Song


Once you have created your masterpiece and it is complete, it is important that you save your song and also save it to Public. This will allow you to go online and create MP3's of your songs, upload the ZOOZbeat song to Facebook and Twitter and also see them rise in the charts. Happy Music Making!!!


ZOOZbeat Update Editor's Note:To share your ZOOZbeat music reCreation tips with your fellow ZOOZbeat Musicians, please email us.
New ZOOZbeat 'Should be $9.99' and
'Simply Awesome' Say ZOOZbeat
Musician Reviews in the iTunes App StoreUpgrade

Here are reviews of the new ZOOZbeat Music reCreation Studio spotted in the Apple iTunes App Store:

  • Every once in a while, an app will come along that proves ZOOZbeat Iconthat my iPod touch can do anything. Now I can create and edit music in less than 10 minutes! My favorite part is that I can export it by going online and finding my song, so I can edit it on my laptop, too. It just works .. (tpn14)
  • Simply Awesome (Monheim)
  • Flip the phone to landscape and you have all the advanced editing you need. Accurate note entry and editing. (yonaona)
  • Great app. I'm getting all my friends and colleagues to check it out. Worth every cent. Should be $9.99. (the other oracle)
  • We Have A Winner! New favorite app! I've had this forever but the update really made the app 100 times better! I love it! If you enjoy music then you'll love this too! Buy it right now! (Steelersfanatic)
  • A ton of fun. I've been making songs all day! ... (Booyotch)
  • I happen to see this app on the science network show and the guy that created this app is a musical/science genius. This app is tight for everyone, no matter what your musical background. Definitely recommend. (Ryanhofosure)
  • All in all, very good. This app is simple, reliable, and all around good. One of the better music apps I have reviewed. ... (Austinboss)
  • One of the best music apps so far! ZOOZbeat does for making music what Apple did for using computers! I don't think of myself as very musically inclined but this clever app brings out the musician in me so that I can create some really cool tracks. Bravo. (Sundance Man)
  • Fantatic App! I used the free (Lite) version for about five minutes and had to buy the full version! Very well designed. Easy to do and really fun. Try it ... You'll get hooked too! (DJon)
Thank you ZOOZbeat Musicians! We love you too!

(ZOOZbeat Lite is no longer available in the Apple iTunes App Store. If you have ZOOZbeat Lite, you may continue to use it. The new ZOOZbeat introductory price of $0.99 lasts until 12/23/09. $1.99 effective 12/24/09.)
upgrad2ZOOZbeat Lite Musicians: Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade to the New ZOOZbeat Today
  1. Artist Beats in the in-App ZOOZbeat Store: buy additional beats, loops, hooks and tracks from indie and major label Artists with the newTOO_$hort in-app ZOOZbeat Store.
  2. More Instruments and Instrument Customization: buy additional instruments for your library of musical instruments (coming soon) with the new in-App ZOOZbeat Store. Every instrument is custom coded for gesture-based playing and special effects.
  3. Multi-sequence Songs: reCreate multi-sequence songs.
  4. Create Music With Your Friends: Sync your iPhone with a friend. reCreate simultaneously or send tracks back and forth like you would with a hot potato.
  5. Edit Your Music: The new ZOOZbeat lets you finely adjust musical note positions.
  6. ZOOZbeat is a Great Value: Introductory price of $0.99 until 12/23/09. $1.99 effective 12/24/09.
  7. Just Because: Because we said so!
  8. BFF: We'll be your best friend (on MySpace or Facebook)
  9. Ca-Ching: We could use your $.67 (Apple gets $0.32)
  10. Enhancements: We chained our Musician Technologists to their cubes to make the new ZOOZbeat even better. Please look for new ZOOZbeat (4.1) update available now in the Apple iTunes App Store. (Because Santa Claus knows that you have been nice.)
Bonus Reason From A ZOOZbeat Musician (Like You)

(Apple iTunes App Store Review of ZOOZbeat by indemnityPop)

Super Great. I can't put this thing down. Every time I start a new song, I end up with something I'm totally happy with. The voice recording feature is awesome too. Everything I thought the free version lacked is made up for by the full version. A few more beats and the option to change the tempo might be cool, but in reality, I don't need anything else to have a great time sitting around shaking my iPhone.
Ask Dr. Gil . . .
ZOOZbeat Musician Asks the Expert: How Do You ZOOZ Do Re Me Fa So La Te Do?

A ZOOZbeat Musician (GamerPops Blog Author Jeff) Writes:

[My question] deals with semi-tones, as in I couldn't figure out how to do them. In Pro mode [iPhone or iPod Touch held horizontally], it seems that you can only go up or down a full tone from note to note on the graph. Is there a way to work with semi-tones that I missed? One of the things I'm noting is that I can play the Meow Mix jingle (silly, I know :) on pretty much any [traditional] instrument, but I can't do it with [the new ZOOZbeat] app because the first four notes of the jingle are C, B, A, G, and C to B is a semitone, and I couldn't make that work since I could only make it go down from C to B-flat. Not being able to use all 12 semitones in the musical scale could present an issue for some folks if they were trying to create something specific. ... I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something ...

Dr. Gil Writes:

Currently, different
ZOOZbeat beats come in different scales, to make it easier for our ZOOZbeat Musicians likeDr. Gil you to create meaningful melodies that fit the song.

For your
Meow Mix song, try one of our seven notes scale beats, such as Glitch. Moreover, in our next ZOOZbeat update, we will allow ZOOZbeat Musicians like you to change and customize the scale to your liking, so you will be able to play the Meow Mix song in every genre.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dr. Gil Weinberg is ZOOZbeat Founder & Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Gil is also the founder of Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology. In his spare time, he enjoys playing jazz on his piano.

Got a question for Dr. Gil? Please email us. All notes will receive a personal reply. If we publish your question, please let us know if we can use your ZOOZbeat Musician name and link to your ZOOZbeat Musician page.

Tivo Alert: Watch ZOOZbeat Founder on The Science Channel 'PopSci's Future of:'
Pleasure
SCWatch ZOOZ Mobile, Inc. (ZOOZbeat) Founder and Chief Technology Officer (and founder of Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology) Dr. Gil Weinberg on TV.

Gil appears on the Science Channel series PopSci's Future of: on the episode devoted to Pleasure on the Science Channel.

The segment for PopSci's Future of: Pleasure episode was filmed in June 2009 at the Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology and premiered 9 pm ET/PT Monday (11/2/09). Set your Tivo DVR to record the repeat scheduled for 1 pm ET/PT Saturday, January 26, 2010.

The show introduces you to Haile: a robotic percussionist that can listen to live musicians, analyze their music in real-time and play back in an improvisational manner.  Haile was developed by Gil; and Scott Driscoll (a Georgia Tech engineering student at the time) and now ZOOZbeat Musician Technologist. Watch a segment of the episode.

PopSci's Future of Pleasure  Host Baratunde Thurston interviews Gil and Haile the robot (Okay; actually just Gil). Bonus video: The Discovery Channel -- sister channel to the Science Channel -- previously featured Haile, Gil and Scott.

Atlanta Hip-Hop Artist Street Lotto Writes and Performs 'ZOOZbeattttssss' Anthem

ZOOZbeat Musicians now have an anthem that helps describe ZOOZbeat to their friends and inspires creativity, thanks to Atlanta Hip-Hop Artist and ZOOZbeat Super-Fan Street Lotto. Listen now to ZOOZbeat Artist Street Lotto performing his 'ZOOZbeattttssss' song...

(Street Lotto beats are available now in the new in-app ZOOZbeat Store.)Street Lotto

'ZOOZbeattttssss' Lyrics

ZOOZbeattttssss
Yeah! I can do that!
(ZOOZbeattttssss)

Simple as Simon in the first Grade.
The latest App for your iPhone; you want it in the worst way!

You show the world you the King of this.
Spit a verse no prob studio is at my fingertips.

A stroke of genius.
Sing a long with the song to perform while I'm swingin' it.

Light tape for the high-hat. (High-hat)
Now my son havin' fun; like "Dad: can I try that?"

He broke in down to the bear drums. (bear drums)
Then a sweet melodie started fillin' up his ear drums.
(ear drums)

Street_Lotto
He started looking at the channel mayne.
All the sudden, pushed the button and
now back to the piano mayne.


Ah. We finish shake it up.
Whoever sleepin' those ZOOZbeats Street finna wakem' up.

First bird see the sunshine.
I know you better hurry up and get yours;
(because I got mine!)

(Lotto.)

I could do that! (ZOOZbeattttssss)
I could do that! (ZOOZbeattttssss)
I could do that! (ZOOZbeattttssss)

I could do that!

See Street Lotto and Robot 'Shimon' ZOOZin' ZOOZbeattttssss video.

- - - - - - - 

(c) 2009 Street Lotto. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.

First Intercontinental Musical InteractionRobot_Shimon Between Humans (ZOOZed' It Up) Live From Japan and Robot at Georgia Tech in Atlanta

Shimon どうもありがとう、ミスターRoboto (Thank you very much, Mr. Roboto.)

ZOOZbeat Founder and Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Gil Weinberg  jammed live from
SIGGRAPH Asia 2009 emerging technologies conference in Yokohama, Japan December 16-19, 2009 with Shimon; an autonomous robotic marimba player at Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology that he created. At SIGGRAPH Asia 2009, musicians and non-musicians ZOOZed it up with Shimon.

ZOOZbeat_SIGGRAPH_JapanShimon is designed to create inspiring human-robot musical interactions that lead to novel musical experiences and outcomes.


"Shimon combines computational modeling of music perception, interaction, and improvisation with the capacity to produce melodic and harmonic acoustic responses through choreographic gestures. Shimon, therefore, listens like a human and improvises like a machine," says Gil.

For short video demonstrating Shimon's improvisational abilities, Click Here.

Top 10 ZOOZbeat Artist Beats*

1.   What The People Want (Street Lotto)
2.   Diskutique (Kutiman)
3.   That's a Money Maker (Street Lotto)

4.   Red Bull and Vodka (Too $hort)
5.   Girls Grinnin' (Cato)
6.   Do it Like Ya BDay (Cato)
7.   Thai Stick (Easy Star All-Stars)
8.   Electro Bumper (Richard Devine)
9.   Get Gettin' It (Cato)
10. KrafWerkin' (Richard Devine)

Source: Apple iTunes App Store as of December 21, 2009.

Introducing the new ZOOZbeat, ZOOZbeat Lite and ZOOZbeat Sprite; your Music reCreation Studio applications for Apple iPhone and iPod Touch from ZOOZ Mobile, Inc. ZOOZbeat is simple enough to immediately become musically expressive even if you are not a musician, and rich enough to push the envelope of mobile music reCreation if you are an accomplished musician or producer. With the ZOOZbeat app, just shake, tilt or tap your Apple iPhone or iPod Touch to reCreate and personalize beats from your favorite Artists. There's nothing else like it! Unlock your music expression. To learn more, visit: ZOOZbeat.com or get the new ZOOZbeat ($0.99 until 12/23/09: $1.99 effective 12/24/09), and ZOOZbeat Sprite (free; available until 5/31/10) in the Apple iTunes App Store. Got a question, comment, tips for using the new ZOOZbeat or suggestion? Please email Dan in our ZOOZbeat Musician Relations Dept. (Phone: 404-496-8512 Google Voice Number) ZOOZbeat Patent Pending for Gestural Generation, Sequencing and Recording of Music on Mobile Devices. 'Sprite' and the Sprite logo design are trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company. All Rights Reserved by The Coca-Cola Company. 'Sprite' and Sprite logo used by permission. iTunes, iPhone and iPod Touch are trademarkes of Apple, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ZOOZbeat, ZOOZbeat Lite and Music reCreation Studio are trademarks of ZOOZ Mobile, Inc. First Published Date: 12/22/09-v6 Volume 1 � Number 3

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