Sunday, March 04, 2007
I like iLike.
There are a few products of the Web 2 that I've been slightly addicted to - YouTube (isn't everyone?), Flickr (the photo sharing extravaganza) and iLike.
iLike is a music-based community site (remarkably it's still a Beta version). You start it by signing up and downloading the iLike toolbar. This is an iTunes plugin that can be used by Mac or Windows user - the Windows version works better, sadly. This keeps tags on your music playing habits, noting recently played, most played and recently added (windows only) tracks and displays them on your iLike profile page (you can see mine here). It was at this point I (and everyone else) discovered that my most played track was the theme tune to Rosie & Jim. Luckily there' a way of removing certain tracks from your list. Now it shows OutKast's "Hey Ya'.
Once your profile is up, you can start searching for other users with similar music tastes. You can do this by randomly clicking on people and letting iLike work out your musical compatibility. You can also click on your preferred artist's pages and see who else likes them. When you've found someone with a high compatibility rating you can invite them to be your friend. If they agree you can start browsing through their profiles, looking for interesting stuff. Your friends appear on your homepage where you can instantly see the tracks that they last recommended. The most useful features I've found are that when on a friend's profile you can click on 'Discover songs {friend} has that you don't...'. Also you can listen to a preview of their songs. Even though some may not have previews , once you've started listening, it'll preview the whole list of tracks one be one. If you want, you can expand the track info to see the album it came from, see other users who also have it, recommend it, and view the video (if it has one). To help your new buddies out, you add songs to an 'iLike' list and write your own quick description on why you think the song is so great.
If you like free tracks, you can use the iLike toolbar.As you listen to your collection the said toolbar recommends a selection of related music and free tracks to instantly add to your library. These free tracks are usually pretty good and are tracks offered up by artists on the GarageBand community site (nothing to do with the Apple app). To be honest, they're usually better than most of the songs found on free cover mounted CDs.
f you need to kill some time there's a 'Name that Tune' style quiz that you compete against your group of friends. The quicker you answer, the higher the score. There are different levels of rank but it seems that this is worked out on the number of questions you answer correctly, incorrect answers don't come into it. So as long as you get some questions right, and you play it for long enough, you can beat everyone else. You get to hear so many different types of music playing it, and as the answer is revealed it shows the album and a link to iTunes. Playing this game, I've come to realise that I absolutely detest emo rock (sorry to all you heavy fringed, eyelined readers).
The community feel of iLike is great - much friendlier than mySpace. I often message my 'friends' about new tracks and each other's comments about tracks and artists. Not only are we all music freaks, we're into the same music. Listening to what other people have just listened to enthrals me.
If you're after new ways to find new music and one of those people who can't help flicking through other people's music collections, then this will be right up your alley. Hopefully you should get as much out of iLike as much as I do.
