makers

Ringtone Maker is one of dozens of apps on the App Store designed to create ringtones from the music and songs already on your phone. While it is possible to purchase ringtones from the iTunes store, and the limits on certain tracks in terms of DRM make it hard to convert any track to a ringtone, this is a well-crafted app that works quite well for free.

Open Ringtone Maker and you can choose to either review the online collection of ringtones created by the app's users--usually home recordings or indie bands--or to make your own ringtone from your … Read more

The drum pad and beat maker app craze continues with the release of Ultimate Beat Maker [Dubstep] for the iPad. The app, designed with nearly 50 different Dubstep and electronic music beats, allows you to set and combine any of those 48 beats with the tap of a button. While lacking in a number of features that would make this a must-own app, it is still very fun to use.

This is a very basic app, basically providing a map onscreen of 48 Dubstep beats that you can choose from. Tap any of the multicolored blocks and a beat will … Read more

Thanks to video games, karaoke is more than just a barroom activity, and StarMaker Karaoke makes it more accessible than ever with a robust, feature-filled app that is a lot of fun, despite its relatively high cost of entry.

StarMaker Karaoke with Auto-Tune is exactly as it sounds, a karaoke app that allows you to sing along to your favorite songs on the iPad. You can record each of the songs as you sing them and even turn on Auto-Tune or Magic Tune to really take your song to the next level. Combined with guide vocals, background vocals, headphone recording, … Read more

While not easily completed with native programs, users may still want the ability to create a bootable USB of their Mac OS. Lion DiskMaker for Mac lacks any other features, but completes this function well.

The free program downloaded and installed easily. Minimal instructions were included beyond a frequently asked questions section and it was not clear if technical support was available. At startup, Lion DiskMaker for Mac immediately asks which operating system the user would like to use, whether OS X 10.7 or 10.8. The menu is small, but uncomplicated and walks the user through the process. … Read more

With so many apps offering photo editing in some form, it takes a unique function to warrant downloading yet another app on most people's phones. Photo Mosaic Maker Free does a decent job of offering such an experience with a very easy-to-use mosaic creation tool that pulls directly from your photo library, but is it enough to warrant the download or upgrade?

When you start Photo Mosaic Maker, you're presented with the upgrade screen outlining exactly what features are missing from the free version. You can then immediately start creating your first mosaics. Assuming you've linked your … Read more

David Segal Violins is located just a few blocks from Lincoln Center and the Juilliard School in New York City. I stopped by the showroom to learn how the technology of violin making has changed, but that wasn't the main story. Today's violins may look similar to the ones made 300 years ago by Stradivarius or Guarneri, but they get used in different ways. Where before violins were only played in concerts, now they're also recorded. Segal tells me that a great concert violin might not work all that well to accompany a vocalist.

The "technology&… Read more

NEW YORK--Guitars. Skulls. Bracelets. Colorful heads. And so much more.

That was what was on display at the Inside 3D Printing event here today, a celebration of all things 3D printing, and one of the first-ever professional events dedicated solely to the decades-old technology that has been taking the world by storm over the last few years.

Just about ever leading company in the field was on hand, from 3D Systems to MakerBot to Stratasys, and many others. And hundreds of people packed the event hall, eager to see the latest machines, and hear from some of the leaders in … Read more

A number of applications exist to work with photos on a mobile device. Photo Collage App Maker Effect's usability problems and programming bugs make this photo application a less desirable download.

The initial download and installation of Photo Collage App Maker Effect completed quickly. There were no user instructions and it was unclear if technical support existed. The initial menu was difficult to decipher and had four small buttons along the bottom that were hard to read. When we selected the first one for background images, the program prompted an additional 20MB download, which took 15 minutes to complete … Read more

Still can't get enough of the viral Harlem Shake meme? You can try to make your own with this video-shooting app. You're far more likely to get force close after force close than an actual Harlem Shake video, though. Harlem Shake Maker performs worse than simply shooting a video with your phone's camera app.

The app makes you shoot two separate 15-second clips and then splices them together. After shooting the first clip, Harlem Shake Maker force closes more often than not. The same thing happens after you shoot the second clip, too. Then, when it comes … Read more