Switch Preview: Myna Music is iTunes Genius on steroids

If you’ve ever hit the “next” button on Pandora, you’ve likely been wowed by the service’s ability to dig up music that you like based on the “seed” artist you give.

However, in order to draw connections between songs, Pandora relies on human beings individually tagging every song with metadeta. For movie studios and large music libraries, an army of metadata taggers isn’t a realistic (or cost effective) option.

Enter Myna.

“With Myna, we offer a digital solution for digital files,” says Greg Wilder, founder of the Indy Hall-based Orpheus Media Research.

Thanks to a wicked smart team of composers and technology, Myna can automatically scan a library of music tracks and make connections based on mood, “texture,” note pattern, instruments used and more to offer similar songs. No human taggers needed. (Get the nitty-gritty on Myna, then called “Clio,” in our September 2009 Shop Talk)

At Switch, Wilder said he is planning to show how Myna is used to help set the mood for movie soundtracks using example’s from movies like the Bourne Supremecy to make his point, and he may just get down and dirty in the program’s terminal.

So far, the music industry is catching on to Myna: Wilder has fielded calls from all over the world and while attending a recent industry event, he says that people from all over the country were familiar with OMR’s work.

“This is a big play,” he says, adding that he hopes Myna touches half the music we interact with by the end of next year.

See Myna at work in the video above. and come get inspired by OMR and four other Philly innovators at Switch on October 6th at the Levitt Auditorium.  Get your tickets today.

A big thanks to our sponsors: First Round Capital, Genacast Ventures, The University City Science Center,MCD Law Partners, VC Deal Lawyer, The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Corzo Center for the Creative Arts, and University of the Arts.

Switch preview: How to game Packlate

If you’re planning a vacation in the next few months, your Switch ticket will likely pay for itself.

At Switch, not only will Packlate CEO and founder Steve Barsh show off how Packlate works, but he will also show us how to get a “screamer of a deal.”

“People always ask, ‘How can I really book this [house] without waiting until the last possible minute?’,” he says. “I’ll show you how.”

Right now on Packlate, you can book a three day stay in Cosa Rica for less than $250. Of course, that rate applies if you’re willing to leave in, say, the next six hours.

Being impulsive enough to take up such a deal is the premise of Packlate, a West Conshohocken-based website that helps private vacation homeowners fill unused inventory while giving flexible travelers a deal.

Started by Barsh, a former managing partner at DreamIt Ventures, Packlate has expanded quickly since we last spoke with the company. The site now allows users to book vacations in over 20 locations with more planned.

Come get inspired by Packlate and four other Philly innovators at Switch on October 6th at the Levitt Auditorium.  Get your tickets today.

A big thanks to our sponsors: First Round Capital, Genacast Ventures, The University City Science Center,MCD Law Partners, VC Deal Lawyer, The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Corzo Center for the Creative Arts and the University of the Arts.

And the final two Switch companies are…

Geographic software company Azavea and sustainability tracker Zecozi will round out the slate at Switch – our biggest event yet that will feature five demos from five local companies. The late additions will join last-minute travel site Packlate, music technology company Orpheus Media Research and web development shop P’unk Ave.

A regular here at Technically Philly, Azavea will be demoing CommonSpace its new application that allows Philadelphians to easily determine the walking distance to anywhere in the city. We’re also proud to showcase Zecozi, a Good Company Ventures company that will launch its first product shortly before the event.

We plan on previewing each company in the coming weeks, but the best way to be inspired is to purchase a ticket. Not only will you get to see five great local companies, but we’re happy to announce that you’ll also get half off of drinks at the Tavern on Broad after the event.

A big thanks to our sponsors: First Round Capital, Genacast Ventures, The University City Science Center, MCD Law Partners, VC Deal Lawyer, The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the Corzo Center.

Switch Philly: Stealth company named fourth presenting company

At Technically Philly we’ve written nearly 1,000 posts covering the technology community here in Philadelphia. If you paged through our archives, you would come across hundreds of local companies, each with something innovative to offer the city and the world.

However, in the rare circumstance that you do not have hours to look at TP’s back archives, let us help you take an easier, much more fun approach: Switch.

Switch is a brand new event from Technically Philly that will feature seven-minute demos from the most innovative and interesting companies in the Philadelphia region. At Switch, you’ll be able to see the Philadelphia-based companies that inspire and innovate in a little under an hour.

Continue reading on Phillymag.com to find out the fourth of five companies presenting at Switch. Read about the event here.