A decade ago it was a marvel when someone pulled out his or her big, bulky cellphone after it started beeping in shrill, electronic tones. Who would have guessed that the cellphone industry would come this far in 10 years?
Now it’s all bright colours, phones that ring like happy budgies and more memory than Imelda Marcos’s shoes.
And Philips has just launched a new phone that pushes the boundaries even more. It launches itself into the lucrative youth market with the Philips 530, whose selling point is its onboard DJ function (not that the hi-fi stereo handset, multimedia messaging service and camera accessory are unimpressive).
Users can compose and store up to nine tracks at a time, using a variety of beats and instruments. These can even be used as ringtones.
Many pimpled teenagers doubtlessly spends hours in their bedrooms practising their mixing on second-hand decks, dreaming of one day thrilling crowds of ravers on Ibiza, or even just at the club down the road.
Now they can compose their own doof-doof tracks on the Philips 530 and enter these in a competition — run in collaboration with Ministry of Sound — that will see a winning tune selected by a panel of judges from each participating country.
Then, the country winners will compete at a big event in Cape Town, and the ultimate winner’s tune will be remixed by a Ministry of Sound producer, released as a white label and included on Ministry of Sound compilations.
South Africa’s winner will also have his or her track remixed by DJ, radio man and producer Roger Goode.
Best of all, Philips and Ministry of Sound are launching the phone at a big daytime party in Gauteng on Saturday October 25, teaming up with the Splash/ESP crowd for a party of note spread out over three dance arenas.
On the DJ line-up are visiting acts Cosmic Gate, 4 Strings (just added to the list), Mr C (the frontman of the Shamen), Roy the Roach (who DJs with Jamiroquai), and Nalin and Kane (remember Beachball?)
Also on the decks will be local dance celebs such as Goode, Surge, Speedy, Stereotribe (Dean Fuel and Dino Moran), Ryan Dent, Ice and Derek the Bandit.
The details
Tickets are R160 (VIP R210) at Computicket, www.5fm.co.za or outlets, or R180 (VIP R230) at the door. The party runs from 10am to 10pm.