At first, we had the XLR8 app that uses the accelerometers of Apple and Android devices to match the sounds of exotic Italian supercars, muscle cars or racing models to your vehicle’s acceleration and braking forces.
In much the same way, a newly announced app from Bonobo reproduces the ‘psssshhhht’ sounds of a turbocharger, and mind you, not any turbochargers but the ones from Japanese tuning firm HKS.
The app is fittingly called iBoost and it was developed in partnership with HKS.
“Working with HKS has been a blast,” says Nathan Hamey, lead designer on iBoost. “The partnership has given us pit-lane access to extract the best sounds possible from their SQV. We’ve also painstakingly crafted their boost gauges to look and respond just like the real thing. I think people are going to get a real buzz out of seeing and hearing authentic HKS gear in their car.”
The app works by using the phone’s sensors to detect the movement and acceleration of a car, which means you need to have it securely positioned. Users can choose from multiple gauges and a number of different blow off sounds that are said to have been sampled from real turbocharged engines.
“We’re thrilled to have the chance to be featured in iBoost,” says Masaya Funayama, spokesperson for HKS. “It’s is an incredibly well designed application and a lot of fun to play with. It’s a great match for the HKS SQV,” he added.
Currently, iBoost is available only for iPhones through the App Store with prices starting at $0.99 (the HKS upgrade pack costs $1.99), though an Android version is already in the works.
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