Ambiance ($0.99) is an iPhone app that features 44 sounds to help you fall asleep or generally block out other bothersome environmental noise while you’re working or studying.
*Update 3/7/2009* We no longer recommend this app, as the developers have dramatically changed the app with a recent update. Sounds no long come with the app, but require you to register on an online website in order to download them.
Ambiance offers a range of sounds, from the soothing gurgle of a stream to the buzz of an electric fan. All sounds are looped for endless listening with the option to add a timer for automatic shutoff.
The timer functionality makes Ambiance useful as a sleep tool. Choose crickets, set the timer for an hour, and drift off to sleep to the soothing sound of nature. There is also a feature to automatically lower the volume slowly over time while the counter counts down to zero, or have the sound slowly fade after it reaches zero.
I’ve tested out the app several times at work, and there are definitely some very pleasant sounds on here. Some of my favorites are Coast, Creek, Wind, and the various rain sounds. (See after the break for an entire list of sounds.)
Yet, included are some truly annoying sounds, too. Cicada, for instance, is a high-pitched constant screech that makes me want to rip my earphones off. And the low buzzing Light Saber was likewise uncomfortable.
There are also several “color” noises available, in particular, white noise, which is supposed to block out most environmental noise and increase concentration. I found it uncomfortable to listen to, unlike a white noise machine I already have at work that easily fades into the background.
Ambiance does offer some menu options. You can place a timer on the sounds, remove the “color noises” from showing, add an alarm, have the app quit after the timer goes off, or have the volume fade during or after the timer countdown.
Ambiance is simple to use and has a clean interface. I enjoy using it at work and seems to help me concentrate. Its large variety of sounds offer something for everybody. And at $0.99, it’s also a big bargain.
- Name: Ambiance
- Developer: Matt Coneybeare
- Price: $0.99
- iTunes Download: Click here
Ambiance has 34 sounds:
Airplane
Birds
Blue Noise
Brown Noise
Cat Purr
Cicada
Clock
City
Coast
Creek
Crickets
Fan
Fan – Oscillating
Fire – Big
Fire – Small
Freeway
Frog
Heartbeat
Heartbeat – Slow
Light Saber
Machine
Owl
Pink Noise
Rain – Car
Rain – Light
Rain – Porch
Rain – Thunder
Rain – Tinroof
Rain – Wind
River
Sailboat
Shower
Stream
Subway
Swamp
Train
Vinyl
Violet Noise
Waterfall
Waves
Whale
White Noise
Wind
Wind – Haunting
*Post Updated 9/14/08 for version 1.4, which added 10 new sounds*
#1 by Paul M. Watson on November 21st, 2008
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Ah, the sound of cicadas. I often fell asleep to that in the African bush. Like crickets, only African. :)
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#2 by Craig on March 17th, 2009
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Your upgrade doesn’t work on iphone. can I get the old vs back it was faster and didn’t crash. It just work sorry this is so slow and crash often. I would like to go back it possible?
thanks
#3 by Passat on April 28th, 2009
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Does this program play a multiple sounds at the same time?
#4 by Abishua on October 11th, 2009
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The new version is actually a very well put together app, which you can download the sounds you specifically enjoy. I personally enjoy the rain as well as the supposed binary beats (with no real idea if they work or not, but I enjoy them.) You no longer have to sign up to download the sounds, and everything is very smooth and works pretty effectively, and I feel the interface is much easier to manipulate because it is a rough copy of the normal music player. There was an issue with having to have an account for a while, but they’ve resolved that and an account is optional. With the new sounds added (with alerts to tell you when they’ve added sounds) and what I feel is a more streamlined interface with more features, I think this app deserves to be recommended again.
#5 by Mat on November 30th, 2009
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Type your comment here
#6 by Doylene on May 28th, 2010
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How do you get the alarm clock onto the sound thumbnail?