This is the first post in a new category called “Apps We Love.”  We intend to post a series of shout-outs for apps we think deserve acclaim.  For our first installment, we are going to call upon the “Bebot” app.  This app languished in the annals of the music and entertainment category for a couple months, which is when we stumbled upon it.  Apple has now picked up support for Bebot and they are doing much better now, and we’re happy for the makers of Bebot.

Well ok, what is Bebot?  From the maker’s web site, its “part synthesizer, part animated robot.”  It actually struck my funny bone the moment I first touched the screen, as the ueber-cool, retro robot bends and sways, opening his mouth in different ways to produce tones ranging from low and bassy to high and thin.  There are two axes of control, and you can use up to 4 fingers to control 4-part robot polyphony.  A subtle light-show plays in the 50’s era, loungy backdrop.

Bebot has evolved quickly.  There are a set of options you can open by double-clicking a little icon, which originally allowed you to shift the timbre of the robot’s voice and add an echo effect.  This section now offers several other options to make the robot sound like various synthesizers, each with their own set of parameters.  They added auto-tune which tuned the robot to musical semi-tones, and now they actually let you set up the scale you want the robot to sing in - awesome!  They’ve also added an overdrive effect, so long story short, watch this little guy get better and better.

The Tiny Wonder assessment: 5 out of 5 stars.  Kudos to inventors Russell Black and Lily McDonnell!

Pixi now has a fanpage on Facebook.  Become a fan here.

We’ve set up a flickr group pool for anyone interested in sharing images of their Pixi designs. To view the images visit www.flickr.com/groups/pixi.  To share your own Pixi designs, just do a screen capture, upload to your own flickr account, and join the Pixi group to post your own images.  Or you can e-mail us your images and we’ll post them for you.

Please note that in an upcoming release of Pixi, you’ll be able to share actual Pixi animations with other Pixi users, using the social sharing mechanism that we’re developing. Enjoy!

We’re getting many requests asking how to use your favorite Pixi design as a wallpaper on your iPhone.  It’s simple. You can capture a screenshot on the iPhone by holding down the “home” button (the main iPhone button) and simultaneously clicking the sleep/wake button on the top of the phone. You can capture any iPhone screen in this same manner.  Then simply go to your photos and set the image you want as your wallpaper.

Pixi was given an extensive review in the Japanese iPhone blog, AppBank.net.  Our first act upon discovering the thrilling article was to run it through a language translator (babelfish).  We were immediately charmed by the translated title shown above.   Here is an excerpt from a better translation:

Pixi: A beautiful, dancing, wriggling line—a new method of art

Remember the Spawn Illuminati application? Wasn’t it a beautiful, neon-like fireworks app?

Now introducing Pixi—outclassing the former with the ability to gaze at a wriggling that you control—a high-quality iPhone application.

I’d like to introduce you to the instruction page which shows the capabilities of this app.  At the startup screen, let’s begin by pressing “start”. Initially, the default Pixi is displayed: see the line spinning around.

Try playing around without knowing how to use it.

And there, you can make such a beautiful wiggling line. Did you get it? I got it, but let’s go back to check the help.

[The features are then explained]

After spending seven minutes learning the controls and having gotten Pixi to react in the way I intended, without realizing it I found that I had spent about an hour playing around with it. In other words, what with the after images and optical illusions I had a good sensation.

The full review is here: http://www.appbank.net/2009/01/30/iphone-application/7741.php. Thank you AppBank!!  Thank you to all our Japanese followers.

AppCraver, the leading iPhone App blog has given Pixi a very positive review and states that “Pixi’s interactive graphics in motion is cool for creatives” and calls us a “new age spirograph”.  Pixi was designed to allow anyone to make art!  Be you either creative or a “hopeless creative”… we are flattered and hope you’ll join us in an experience we describe as “Hopeful Creativity.”

Anyhow, the full review is here: http://www.appcraver.com/pixi.

Thank you AppCraver!

First of all, thanks to our early adopters.  Pixi launched on the iTunes store just 6 days ago and we’re already receiving rave reviews.  Our iTunes average review is 4.5 out of 5 stars and we’re receiving many kudos and suggestions via e-mail.

Many of you have requested more information about the inner-workings of Pixi.  As a first response, we’re posting a FAQ to quickly answer your most common questions.  Look for an instructional video to be posted both here and on YouTube within the week.

We’ll also be creating a flickr group for Pixi images, so you can share your favorite designs.

Thanks again for the incredible support!  Let us know if you have comments or suggestions for Pixi.