3 iOS Items For the Stranger in Us All

“People are strange, when you’re a stranger.”

There’s definitely some truth to that statement. People do what they do for an infinite number of reasons. Everyone is unique, but there are some of us who are more unique than others.

Take Lady Gaga for instance. Now, here’s a woman who would, by many definitions of the term, be considered average where it not for her eccentricities, which she carefully cultivates. She is talented, to be sure, but it is her odd ways that draws attention to her talent.

In real life Stefani Germanotta, Lady Gaga’s real name, is smart, business savvy, and socially aware. Not so strange once you get to know her.

I hadn’t paid too much attention to Lady Gaga until she came out with the Born This Way album. Even then it wasn’t so much her music as it was the visuals she presented. The pointed joints and facial protuberances were at once creepy, fascinating, and eye catching. In fact, I’m surprised I don’t see people taking it up as a fashion statement.

If you’re a Lady Gaga fan, or if you just want to see what all the fuss is about then you might want to check out the free app, Lady Gaga - Walmart Soundcheck Concert (Live).

Lady Gaga

Yes, the app is ladened with Walmart and AXE (the men’s cologne) ads, but between the ads you’ll find great videos and photos of the performer in concert. You can zap the videos to your Apple TV equipped TV for more comfortable viewing, but I didn’t see a way to get the photos on the big screen.

Lady Gaga

Ah well, the app and the vids are free so I’ll stop complaining.

Björk is another strange persona, at least she seems to be from this distance. Watch any of her videos and you’ll wonder what she’s been smoking, and perhaps where you can score some.

Her uniqueness is, as with Lady Gaga, what keeps her relevant in a world where fads and fashion pass over the social landscape like wind driven clouds on a sunny day. I bet if you can catch her in a private moment she would be engaging and funny, and a lot more real than most people think she is.

As if to emphasize this, Björk has released an iOS app called Biophilia. Many artists have attempted to find a way to expand music beyond its audio boundaries, Biophilia is Björk’s attempt at this.

Biophilia

When you fire up the free app you are deposited, free floating, in a realm inhabited by three dimensional constellations. You are free to move around and through the constellations at will. An announcer explains the concept behind the realm and invites you to explore. As you do you soon realize that there isn’t a lot to explore without making an in-app purchase.

See, each of the constellations is focused on a song. Currently, the only song available is Crystalline, and it’ll set you back US$1.99 to access it. Once purchased you get to hear the song, play a game inspired by the song, view unique animations based on the song, and read an essay about the song.

Biophilia

As new songs are released you get the option to buy them and your realm of constellations start to fill up. It’s an interesting concept, and the free app is a distraction for a few minutes, but without the added depth of at least one constellation, I think most folks will get bored with it and move on without buying anything.

Biophilia

New and strange doesn’t always equal good. Check out Biophilia and see how it sits with you.

OK, so Lady Gaga and Björk aren’t so strange as they are about the bottom line. The fact remains that people are strange, especially when you’re a stranger.

Take the SciFi, umm, sorry, SyFy Channel show, Haven, which is inspired by another strange character, Stephen King. In the show, FBI agent Audrey Parker winds up in a weird New England town with weird New England residence, while weird things happen. The weird occurrences are kind of X-File-ish in nature mixed with a healthy dollop of Stephen King’s sense of horror.

Haven

The show is in its second season and to interest potential viewers in all its strangeness, SyFy and iTunes is offering the season premiere episode for free.

I watched a few episodes of the first season and liked it. I just didn’t have the time to keep watching. Agent Parker is a stranger in a strange place that just happens to be a bit stranger than most places.

Grab the Season Two Premiere of Haven and see what I mean.

Well, that’s a wrap for this week.

More free TV shows below with direct links.