Testing, testing….one, two, three. Have you ever blown onto a microphone to see if it’s turned on? That forced whooshing sound that comes out of the speakers when you do has inspired many software programmers to create Apps that use that sound in order to “listen to” and react to your own breath. It’s not a new trick, Nintendo DS games have been using it for years, asking players to blow onto the system’s screen in order to blow out candles and inflate virtual balloons, but Apple’s Apps Store is unique in its ability to support simple programs where the smallest idea can become the basis for an entire program. Here are five innovative Apps, both free and inexpensive, that make use of the iPhone’s microphone to create tricks that are powered by human breath.

One quick note for iPod Touch users. As you surely know, the iPod Touch does not include a built-in microphone, but with the addition of a set of earbuds that include a built-in remote and mic (sold separately) you can add one and then make use of the following Apps.

Free Apps

Virtual Zippo Lighter

Like a real lighter, you can flick your wrist and the Zippo on the screen will flip open. Swipe the virtual flint wheel with your thumb and the flame will ignite, complete with the clink sound of the wheel striking. With the flame alight you can then blow onto the microphone and the flame will react accordingly. The harder you blow, the more the flame will dance and flicker. To match the Zippo claim that their lighters are wind-proof, you won’t be able to blow the flame out.

In addition to the interaction, the App also taps into the Zippo culture by allowing you to customize your own virtual lighter by choosing from a wide range of designs including peace signs, lucky clovers, grim reapers, playing cards, butterflies, and different colours. You can even use the virtual keyboard to add your own inscriptions.

iSteam

A simple, but very entertaining idea, iSteam allows you to fog up the screen using your breath. As you blow onto the microphone the screen hazes over with virtual condensation. You can then use your fingertips to draw in the fog, adding your own shapes and letters. As you move your finger across the screen, it’ll make the occasional squeak of your wet fingers on glass. Just like drawing on a fogged up window, the areas you trace with your finger become crystal clear, revealing the scenery underneath. You can use any photograph as your background and even e-mail your steamy masterpiece to your friends.

iRecorder

The attempt here is replicate every aspect of a real recorder. It works in the same way, you blow into the end of your iPhone where the microphone is and then place your fingertips over the holes of the virtual recorder on the screen. The sound of the recorder changes and you change your fingering and if you know how to play the recorder, you’ll be able to play songs in the exact same manner. For the hole that exists at the backside of the recorder, you place a fingertip onto the wood paneling. It’s a good simulation with the main drawback being that the screen is considerably shorter than a real recorder, making it harder to play.

Paid Apps

Ocarina – $0.99

http://ocarina.smule.com/

An effort to replicate the musical instrument made famous by the Legend of Zelda video games, Ocarina is a sophisticated virtual instrument where players blow into the iPhone’s microphone at varying levels and place their fingertips over the virtual holes on the screen to change the musical pitch. From there you can then physically tilt your iPhone to also add vibrato and depth. There’s also the option to change keys. As you play music, you’ll see visual effects including resonating rings play out across the screen.

In addition to recording and playing back your own performances, you can also connect to a social network displayed using a virtual globe. This allows you to connect to other players and listen to them perform in real time.

The support offered by creators Smule at their website is astonishing. You’ll find instructional videos to teach you how to play the Ocarina better, but also packs of sheet music, a score generator to write your own, and an online forum where you can share musical scores with others.

Blow - $0.99

Far less sophisticated, Blow simulates a range of different sounds and gag noises. You can choose to have your iPhone produce a sports whistle, the sound of underwater bubbles, or the flute-like sound of blowing air over an empty Coke bottle as examples.. While its basic simplicity doesn’t quite add up to the value of a paid App, it’s merely a noise-maker, it does offer a certain practical joke value as you can also hold it up to your face and blow into the mic to have it play the sound effect of you blowing your nose. From some, that gag alone will be worth the ninety-nine cents.