Using an iPhone & iPad in Thailand Tips, App Reviews and News for the iPhone and iPad by Richard Barrow

Somtow’s iPhone app for his Fans

The iSomtow Fan App is the easiest way to follow Somtow. Now you have access to Somtow's music at anytime, anywhere.

Who exactly is S.P. Somtow? It would seem that he is different things to different people. I first came across him as the author of some popular books as well as stories in the popular magazine "Asimov's Science Fiction".  Lately he has provoked controversy online in his blogs and twitter account with his outspoken views on Thaksin and the red shirt protests. However, what he is really well-known for is being a Thai-American composer. He is presently the director of the Bangkok Opera. I have never actually had a chance to go to one of his musical performances, but after downloading this iPhone app called iSomtow, I might actually make a bigger effort.

The iPhone app not only gives you access to the latest blogs written by the world-renowned Somtow, but it also gives a list of his upcoming events. Click on the name of an event and you will get further information such as venue, dates, artists and also some programme notes. If you want to attend there is a handy button you can click to get tickets. In addition, you will be able to listen to and watch Somtow at work. At the moment I am listening to Mahler's Symphony no. 9 in D major and it hasn't stopped to buffer once. When you first install this app you are asked to sign up at InstantEncore to become a fan of Somtow. This is done within the app. You also don't need to confirm your email address. You will then receive occasional emails about the artist. However, if you later log into your account on the InstantEncore.com website you can unsubscribe to these emails.

There are a few things that I find a little annoying. The "buy tickets" button takes you to the front page of thaiticketmajor.com and you then have to navigate your own way to the correct page. Obviously not easy on an iPhone.  If you click on the "map" icon you are then taken out of the app to Google maps. For the Thailand Cultural Center there is no problem but for smaller places, Google maps couldn't guess where it was and gave at least half a dozen different marker pins! The final little quibble, is that although it is great listening to the music by Somtow, it doesn't take advantage of OS04 which should allow you to multi task. If you leave the app the music then promptly stops! So I cannot browse the web while listening to some of this great music. Having said all of that,  I am certainly glad that I found this app and I will be making good use of it in the future. The iSomtow iPhone app is free to download from iTunes.