PowerAMP: Feel the Power of Music

One of strong suits of Android is its openness. Unlike iOS, developers can just go for it and create apps that mimic or duplicate the functionality of the core operating system or apps. In other words, you can have as many browsers (full featured with their own rendering engines), media players, home screens and so forth.

It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that portable media players have transformed into smart phones and not the other way round. It is fair enough to search for new media players that push the envelope and make music on the go so much fun. PowerAMP is a great example — let’s check out how it fares.

Availability

To install and enjoy music with PowerAMP, your mobile phone should have Android version 2.1 or above.

Installation and Setup

PowerAMP’s installation technically happens in two steps with two different apps. The first one is the trial version and the second one is the unlocker app. If you download the PowerAMP app from the Android Market, you can enjoy all of its features for free for a full fifteen days. However, if you are totally in love with the app and plan to purchase it, there is a dedicated unlocker app available for $4.99.

All you have to do is to open/install the downloaded APK file and the PowerAMP will be unlocked. The unlocker caches the license information for a period of four months, so you will no longer be interrupted every time you start the app. It looks like the app will check the validity of license after four months, but rest assured, you can use the app for as long as wish.

No, it isn’t a single click operation but it’s not a big deal. Considering the rampant piracy surrounding the Android Market, it is only fair that developers protect their investment and intellectual property. Remember, the more confident and safe developers feel about the Android ecosystem, the more awesome apps for us to play with.

Now that I have veered enough off the topic to deliver a social message, let us take PowerAMP for a spin.

Interface & Play Mode

Play Mode

PowerAMP’s design and layout are interesting. Unlike other media player apps which typically start with a playlist view, you will see the song that is first on the list ready to be played. Displayed prominently on top of the screen is the now inevitable album art. The album art’s background shades are a nice touch adding a bit of eyecandy.

Coming to navigation controls, PowerAMP has a feature that a lot of us have always wanted: jump to the next or previous folder (or album). Yes, it is a standard featureset in music players and car stereos but is an uncommon and appreciated feature in a mobile media player. Most other players in the market have their navigation options in the Now playing screen limited to Previous/ Next Track. Heck, even iTunes on my iPhone has only track jumping.

You can still jump between tracks by holding the forward or rewind buttons for a few seconds.

Equalizer and Presets

Sliders and Volume Control

PowerAMP excels in making you the DJ with just a mobile phone. At the bottom of play mode, you’ll notice icons for Equalizer and Presets , and a volume controller. It’s so refreshing to see a bunch of realistic control icons for a change! Tapping on any one of the icons brings up the Graphic Equalizer screen. This screen is breath taking. I has almost all controls (or maybe all of the controls; I am not an audiophile) one could see or want in even a desktop media player.

The sight of the awesome backlit moving sliders is convincing enough for me, but since some might be complain in comments, I did check if they worked by moving them up and down. And such a fine job they did! The responses were precise and even my tone-deaf ears could feel the difference.

Presets and Graphic Equalizer

Move the volume knob clockwise or anti-clockwise to, well, change the volume. You will not see any change in the tiny bar close the volume knob in the play screen. That’s because it’s meant for displaying the equalizer preset. When you launch the app, the equalizer is flat; to change the settings, use the sliders and save the preset for future use. Alternatively, you can use one of the many presets that come with PowerAMP. Personally I judge a media player with the number of presets available and based on what I saw, PowerAMP gets full marks.

Playlists and Ringtones

Menu Options and Folder View

You can create playlists on the move with PowerAMP. Use the Menu icon to bring up additional options. Create a playlist and start adding tracks to it. So simple!

Creating a Playlist and Ringtone

As you can see in the menu option, PowerAMP lets you select a custom ringtone for your mobile phone. Just tap the Ringtone icon to add the song that’s playing as the ringer, in a single click.

Final Thoughts

QR Code

True to its name, PowerAMP is a powerful music player. I suspect it may be too powerful for my HTC Wildfire, as I got few “system busy” messages from my device when evaluating the app. Another important factor is its price point.

However, while it has some fabulous features when compared to free alternatives like Winamp, it’s lacking when it comes to support for features that aren’t strictly related to playing music, like online radio and playlist syncing.

PowerAMP is a must have for those who want to make their music their own, with unmatched customization options.