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(July 13, 2010) - If
you're like a lot of people, you are the owner of an iPhone, or
perhaps an Android or one of a countless variety of other smart
phones that are available out there. And like those same people, you've probably
loaded your device with dozens of innovative apps that you carry
with you 24/7. As a Barbra
fan, there are
a few apps that you might want to consider installing. We
downloaded these apps and can tell you that each is first
rate (with one exception as noted below). All of these Barbra-friendly
apps are available at the iTunes App Store and are compatible with
Apple's iPhone. For other smart phones users, check to see if
these same applications are available for download to your
specific device.
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Barbra-Friendly
Apps |
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Vevo Video
Get the app
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New
App
This is a great new app with
loads of potential. Vevo Video (free) offers a dynamic
catalogue of official music videos provided by all the top
record labels, including Sony Music.
Our search for Streisand brought up two videos:
"Somewhere" and "Evergreen" (from the Vanguard performance).
Our hope is that Sony will eventually provide more, if not
all of Barbra's official videos. For now, it's a nice start.
You can also access the complete Vevo library on your
desktop at
vevo.com.
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Lyrics Studio
Get the app |
New
App The Lyrics Studio app ($.99) comes in
handy for those of us who insist on knowing each word Barbra sings.
Let's face it. Sometimes we miss a line here and there when listening
to our Barbra CDs. With this app, the problem is solved.
The app offers an extensive database with words to hundreds
of songs recorded by Barbra. Not every song is
included (and there are a few errors), but users may note
mistakes and suggest omitted songs. The app also provides a
convenient link to corresponding YouTube videos. |
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Tunein Radio
Get the app
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The "Tunein Radio" app ($1.99)
offers the ability to click and tune to
several live radio stations throughout the U.S. & Canada
(and some around the globe)
whenever a Streisand song is being played.
You can also hear many Streisand related pod-casts, including
discussions with Marvin Hamlisch, Lorraine Gordon, and
others.
Finally, the app works just like a DVR. It has FF and
REW features, and can record any live radio broadcast. It's a first for any radio app we've seen.
Simply amazing. |
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Life Mobile
Get the app
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The
Life Magazine app (free) offers a treasure trove of iconic images
from their archives.
Dozens of Barbra's images can
be accessed and downloaded to your phone. They make great
wallpaper images, too.
Some of the many categories to search for Barbra include:
- Grammys '70s & '80
- A Starlet is Born
- Oscars Star Couples
- Oscar Acceptances
- Best Emmy Photos
- Celebrities and their Dogs |
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iBooks
Get the app
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The iBooks
app (app is free - individual book costs vary) is a
convenient way to read books on your device.
The books available
on the app are limited, but they do have Tom Santopietro's recent Streisand bio,
"The Importance of Being Barbra" ($9.99).
The
novel, "The Prince of Tides" is there, too ($9.99). Included are several
video's by author Pat Conroy who speaks about the autobiographical
nature of his bestseller. Great stuff for fans of the film & book. |
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Pandora
Get the app |
The
Pandora radio app (free) is perhaps
the best for music if you want to hear Barbra Streisand
while on the go.
The app allows you to create a personalized "Streisand Radio
Station" that will not only stream Barbra to your phone, but
also several other artists of a similar genre.
The best feature of Pandora is the ability to multi-task if
you have the iPhone.
While you are using other applications or your e-mail, the
Pandora app continues to play in the background. |
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Glee (on AOL Radio)
Get the app |
If
you're a fan of the television show "Glee" here's an app you
will definitely want to carry with you. Glee Radio is
one of the many stations carried on the on AOL Radio app
(free).
With limited commercials, Glee Radio plays all the familiar
tracks from the show, interspersed with those same tracks as
recorded by the original artists.
As you might expect, Barbra Streisand's versions of those
same "Glee" performances are often played. |
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And Don't Forget Barbra's Movies, Too |
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At iTunes and you can download a number of Barbra's movies for
play on your iPhone. We recently downloaded Clear Day for the bargain basement price of $4.99.
Other
Streisand titles include:
Funny Girl, Hello, Dolly, What's Up, Doc?,
The Way We Were, For Pete's Sake, Funny
Lady, A Star Is Born, The Main Event, Yentl,
Nuts, The Prince of Tides, & The Mirror Has
Two Faces.
Also available: The 2006 concert and the Vanguard
performance.
Costs are between $4.99 and $12.99 per movie.
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The Barbara [sic] Streisand
Reference app
A NOTE OF CAUTION !
As the title
suggests, you might be inclined to immediately download this app. But
be careful. At last check, the app did not function properly.
The app ($.99) is supposed to provide a comprehensive search
for photos, videos and general information on Barbra, but it suffers
from one significant flaw. Their search engine uses Barbra's
misspelled name, limiting the results. Don't waste a buck. |
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