Exclusively for iPad
RadSounds
RadSounds makes the 'music' side of the iPad accessible to all. And I LOVE that! I'm all about accessibility! And since it's developed by RJ Cooper, RadSounds is 'switch-friendly' meaning that it's one of a handful of apps that supports RJ Cooper's own Super-Switch and USB Switch Interface. I don't own a switch so I was unable to test this app with a switch however.
RadSounds features many different modes of play and, as expected, allows you to import the music you already have on your iPad. RadSounds is a cause/effect music program and the different modes support that. "Momentary SwitchPlay" only plays music when your finger is touching the screen. "Timed SwitchPlay" only plays music for a certain length of time which you preset. "Switch-user Chooses Songs" advances to the next song in the list when the screen is touched or a switch is released.
Throughout the app, regardless of which screen you're on, you'll find the blue "I'm done here" buttons comforting. They are easy to see and very clear. They sure beat the ambiguous "back" or "finished" buttons we're all familiar with seeing. Back where? Finished with what?
Despite how much I want to love RadSounds, it has several issues. Importing songs into the app from your songs already on the iPad takes a while. Songs must be imported individually. Imported songs only shows the song title, not the artist. If the title is too long it just runs into other graphics/buttons on the screen OR runs off the screen. And if you go to import a song, but then change your mind perhaps because the song you wanted to import isn't on your iPad, there's no way to cancel out and return to the app. You're forced to press the iPad's home button which exits the app entirely.
You're given the option to record your own music. But I found it a little awkward because it says "Press Record to STOP recording." The only buttons on the screen are "I'm done here", "Recording", and "Stop music". Of those 3 I figured "Stop Music" would stop the recording. Nope. Pressing "Recording" stops the recording. That doesn't make sense. Also, when typing in the name of the song touching "Save name" should make the iPad's keyboard disappear and save the song name - but it doesn't work. I had to hide the keyboard myself and then touch "Save name" (in that order).
Whenever you touch the screen in any play mode you hear a little "chirp". Not sure why?
Images are badly pixelated throughout the app and, while the people dancing is cool and fun, the animation looks terribly amateurish.
Within RadSounds you're given some free music, RJ's Songs. Some of the songs included are Hammer Time, White Wedding, Be Funky, and At the Farm. But you can't delete any of RJ's Songs off the app. And after using RadSounds for 15-20 minutes none of RJ's Songs play.
RJ Cooper seems to be a good guy, and he has a well-recognized name in disability circles. And RadSounds does have the basic functionality of cause/affect as it claims. But with all these issues do you want to take a chance on this app? I'm wary of how many more issues I would find if I tested RadSounds with a switch.
