image1625311659.jpgAmbiance is one if a number of applications that try to help you to sleep or concentrate by playing soothing sound loops. I have tried all the free ones and a couple of the other paid ones and the only one left on my iPhone is Ambiance. It is currently missing a couple of features that I enjoyed in Easy Relax Ultimate, but it has some unique features that make the switch worth it…and based on the attention of the developer to suggestions, I have a feeling that anything “missing” is just temporary.

This is probably going to be the longest review on this site, but the reasons to use this app over something similar need some discussion.

First, it comes with no built-in sounds, but access to a repository of hundreds (and growing) free sounds that you can browse, preview, and download. This means that you are not taking up your memory with sounds that you don’t like. And if you like a sound that you can’t find in the repository, the developer will add it for you. All you have to do is ask Future versions may even include an upload option.

Second, the app is available in multiple flavors. Besides the full blown paid version ($3), there is a free light version with some limitations (number of sounds), as well as a “classic” version. This classic version, free and available for a limited time, is the old pre-upgrade version added to the store to make some cry-babies happy. They didn’t like all the options and configuration of the upgrade, so the developer provided a solution for them. He’s that kind of guy. It is this kind of developer support (quick email responses, a user forum, frequent updates, etc) that really set this app apart.

Third, this app offers mixes and timers like others, but also offers playlists. Sounds can be assigned to categories and all the songs in the category can be played like a iPod playlist with each loop playing for a set period of time. Already a cool feature, future versions are expected to expand on this idea and allow for lists of mixes and such. This will allow for a sound “environment” that changes over a period if time. You could actually tell based on where (or rather “when”) you were in the sequence how long it had been playing and how much time was left.

I could go on and on about this app, but the best thing to do is to try it for yourself and check out the developer’s web site and user forum. You won’t be disappointed.

I would be short of honest though if I did not mention one thing. This app suffers from the ocassional crash. It is memory intensive and Apple is a but less than responsive about how the SDK doesn’t properly clean up memory. The developer is quite active in tracking this down though and each upgrade is better than the last (regardless of what the whiners say). Just do what I do. Use MemTool early and often and you should be OK. Even with the ocassional crash though, I still put this app above other apps of the same type.