‘pzizz relax’ – upcoming updates!
Well, since the launch of ‘pzizz relax’ you’ve spoken to us via email, Twitter and Facebook – and we’ve been listening!
Generally speaking, the feedback has been excellent and everyone seems extremely happy with the way ‘pzizz relax’ is shaping up, but there are a few niggles which we need to address.
So, future updates will include the following four most requested items :
1 - option to choose from different alarms – such as zen chime, birds, buzzer…
We have included an alarm as ‘pzizz relax’ is scientifically designed to be used for short term relaxation. i.e. a midday power nap. It has specific instructions to relax you – and then wake you up rested and more energized. It’s not designed for night time sleep, and we don’t want people to miss anything important for lack of an alarm!
Our next app, ‘pzizz sleep’, is already in development and it will be made available as soon as possible. Rest assured that we won’t sleep until you can!
2 - option to choose different background wallpapers – such as concentric water / concentric sand / zen garden
The current pink background has produced a distinctly “Marmite” response! It appears you either love it or you hate it – so we’re going to let you choose the background you prefer. That way everyone is happy!
3 – a ‘main volume’ control within the app. I’m afraid we’d completely forgotten that 1st Gen iPod Touches don’t have an external volume control – sorry! 
The other thing that’s been requested by a lot of people is the ability to turn the phone to airplane mode from within ‘pzizz relax’ to avoid being disturbed, and this was one of the features I requested at the beginning. However, there is no Apple approved way of doing this and including it would undoubtedly cause problems with the application process, so that’s a ‘no no’.
4 – ‘delayed start’ as per the desktop version – not sure why that’s not there, but we missed it somehow!
Well, that just about wraps it up for now – I’m excited about the changes we’re going to be making, and hope you like them too!
If you haven’t already posted a review on iTunes, please take a moment to do so. We really need your help to get pzizz noticed in the Store and every review makes a difference! Thank you!
Please click on this link to post your review 
Best wishes and happy pzizzing, everyone!
edward
Comments
60 Responses to “‘pzizz relax’ – upcoming updates!”
When does the update happen and how do we get it?
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
We’re working on the update and *hope* to have it available within a month.\r\n\r\nYou’ll be notified on your iPhone / iPod Touch when it’s ready to download!
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Benzion\r\n\r\nHopefully within the next month – you’ll be notified via the app itself and also from within your iTunes accont!
\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
It’s good. I like it. But… some of the music is a bit creepy. Those three repeated minor tones. Straight out of a horror film. And I’m not too keen on the breaks between passages. Kinda breaks the flow. Apart from that and an option to turn the wake-up alarm down (or off), I like it very much. Good voice.
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Molly\r\n\r\nGlad to hear you’re enjoying your pzizz – great news!\r\n\r\nWe wanted to be a little different and have music that actually stimulated the subconscious not just send it into an inert state. This helps you to get more from the relaxation period!\r\n\r\nHappy pzizzing!\r\n\r\nedward
I was very happy to give Pzizz Relax! a five-star review on the UK app store. I had two quibbles that I decided not to mention in the review. One was the background image the other was that I’d still like to have the option of a female voice.\r\n\r\nI’m very pleased with pzizz on iPhone and on my Mac, and I look forward to the updates.
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hello Conrad\r\n\r\nThanks so much for taking the time to review pzizz – much appreciated!\r\n\r\nWe’re attending to the background image as a priority update, and would love to give the option of a female voice – but we’ve had problems finding the right person to record it! We’ve had 3 people into the studio so far, but they haven’t managed to pull it off – and it’s not worth doing if it’s not done properly!\r\n\r\nHappy to hear how pleased you are with ‘pzizz relax’ – and look forward to providing you with updates!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\ne
Any idea when the sleep module will make it to the app store?
Good to hear that you’ve acted so fast on the issues people have raised. Whilst it is great to have the Pzizz application on my iPhone, I am sad that My only regret is that my handheld unit, which I bought when the Pzizz first came out, will only ever have the original version on it. It was a beautifully designed piece of technology and still gets admiring glances from people when I whip it out in public. Ho hum!
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Gary\r\n\r\nThanks for your message and for your feedback!\r\n\r\nI’m sorry we were never able to produce other modules for the original handheld unit, but unfortunately our manufacturer went bust and we couldn’t afford to start over again with a new one. Ho hum, indeed!\r\n\r\nHope the ability to have pzizz on your iPhone makes up for it in some small way, though?\r\n\r\nHappy pzizzing!
\r\n\r\ne
I was so thrilled to give the app a favorable review in the Mexico app store (en español, of course!). You folks have created a wonderful thing with your products. Congrats!
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Paco\r\n\r\nThanks so much for posting your review in Mexican iTunes Store – muchissimas gracias!
\r\n\r\nDelighted to hear how much you’re enjoying your pzizz – great news…\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\ne
I’d like to have the option of a female voice
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Rick\r\n\r\nAs mentioned previously, if we can find the right person to record it we’ll get right on it!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Me too! We’re constantly looking for the perfect woman!
I absolutely love your guys’ integrity and honesty about your mistakes.\r\n\r\nI love your license policy – It’s the most amazing everywhere (trust me I do I.T. support at a major company as a license administrator)\r\n\r\nKeep up the great work! \r\n\r\nDo you think this app would be easy to port to the Palm Pre or has that not taken off enough to capture your return on investment?\r\n\r\nI don’t have an iPhone, but I’ve been telling all my friends who do about it.\r\n\r\nCheers,\r\n\r\nJustin
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Justin\r\n\r\nThanks for your message and your kind words – much appreciated!\r\n\r\nI figure there’s no point pretending we’re perfect. Things do go wrong from time to time, but we’re dedicated to making pzizz as polished as we can for you all!\r\n\r\nGlad you like the license policy!\r\n\r\nWe’re only able to work on one project at a time, but if things go well on iTunes we would definitely like to create versions of pzizz that run natively on Blackberry, Palm Pre and Windows Mobile. This is why it’s so important to us that everyone posts their review on the iTunes Store!!!\r\n\r\nThanks for helping to spread the word about ‘pzizz relax’ – very much appreciated!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
Hi,\r\n\r\nAgain super as is the PC pzizz! \r\nLove having it in my pocket when ever i need it.\r\n\r\nOne option i could do with: Would it be possible to add the option to have no ‘end/alarm’ for the moments that you don’t need to wake up afterwards ?\r\n\r\nGreet job, keep up the good work!\r\n\r\nThanks,\r\n\r\nTj
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Tj\r\n\r\nThanks for your feedback!\r\n\r\nAs per my post, we plan to offer alternative alarms for the daytime version, but the sleep version won’t have an alarm, obviously!\r\n\r\nHappy pzizzing!\r\n\r\ne
Perhaps my voice might be right for your project…may I audition via mp3? I can use a local studio to record, if it is suitable. \r\n\r\nI’ve had a radio show, sung professionally and have a master’s in counseling.
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Ruth\r\n\r\nThanks for your message!\r\n\r\nCan you please contact Matthew directly? He’ll be able to tell you if this can work!\r\n\r\nHis email address is : matthew AT pzizz DOT com\r\n\r\nThanks!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
Edward, I\\’m disappointed you\\’re not going to give the option to shut off the alarm on this module. I use it to go to sleep sometimes and sometimes I use it for a nap. I\\’m not as comfortable using the sleep module on the mac and just use what I\\’m comfortable with and know what works.\r\n\r\nI would prefer to have an option to turn it off please.
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
The iPhone version is exactly the same as the desktop version – which also has an alarm!
Am I just listening to a 95mg album (of mp3′s) ?..I dont get this 100 billion variations, as it just plays the same tracks over and over, there are gaps between the songs, nothing overlaps…so where are or what are the 100 billion variations within a 95mg download of Pzizz…dont get me wrong I think it’s great but this mystifies me.\r\nBest Wishes,\r\n KELVIN.
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Kelvin\r\n\r\nThanks for your message and for your feedback!\r\n\r\nSorry for any confusion I may have caused, but there are 95 MB of pre-recorded spoken suggestions, especially composed music and sound effects.\r\n\r\nThese are stored as files in sound file ‘bins’.\r\n\r\nWhen you tell pzizz to create a nap, it can choose from the various sound file bins, depending on how long you’ve selected, and mix them up accordingly.\r\n\r\nBecause there are different sound file bins for each section of ‘pzizz relax’ (beginning, middle and end) it can create more than 100 billion combinations in total!\r\n\r\npzizz always sounds similar – which is great in terms of power of association. i.e. Once you’ve used it a few times, your brain hears it and says “Oh, this is pzizz. This makes me feel great!” So it helps to relax you faster the more you use it.\r\n\r\nBut because it’s slightly different every time, your subconscious continues to pay attention (it can’t ‘learn’ the sequence of suggestions, music and sound effects) which means it continues to become more effective over time!\r\n\r\nHope this helps?\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
Hi Brian\r\n\r\nThanks for your message – I’m so happy that you’re enjoying ‘relax’ so much – great news!\r\n\r\n’sleep’ will run with screen turned off and, assuming it’s possible within the iPhone OS, will then turn itself off in order to save power!\r\n\r\nDelayed start is on our ‘to do’ list, don’t worry!\r\n\r\nIn today’s economic climate, we wanted to make sure that pzizz was affordable to everyone – life is pretty stressful at the moment.\r\n\r\nBest wishes and happy pzizzing!\r\n\r\nedward
Hi Danielle\r\n\r\nThanks for your message and your feedback – we do what we can to keep you up to speed with what’s going on, and we want to address any complaints as quickly as possible! Mistakes do happen, but we will fix things as soon as we can!\r\n\r\nI’m delighted that you love the pink background as much as me! As I mentioned in my post, it seems to be a “love / hate” thing for people so we’ll make the background a personal choice in future…
\r\n\r\nWe’ll bring you the sleep module asap, I promise!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
Hi Nik\r\n\r\nThanks for your message!\r\n\r\nI think it’s a two way thing we’ve got going here – I can’t fix things if I don’t know what’s wrong, and it’s important that I let you know that I’m listening to you when you tell me!\r\n\r\nIt would be nice if we could turn the phone to airplane mode from within ‘pzizz relax’ but Apple doesn’t allow us to, so we’re not going to risk them rejecting our app by including it…\r\n\r\nThank you for taking the time to write it – much appreciated!\r\n\r\nHappy pzizzing!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
Hi Alexander\r\n\r\nThanks for your feedback. Sorry you didn’t like the pink background, but we’ve got our best guys working on the updates – I’m sure you’ll be happy with the next update!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\ne
I’m a VoiceOver user and am absolutely thrilled that the app is compatible. THe only issue I’ve found, and this might be strictly a VoiceOver one is that changing any of the sliders in settings doesn’t seem to effect their associated values until the app is restarted. Other than that, I’m absolutely loving Pzizz, it’s now my favorite iPhone app.
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Steven\r\n\r\nThanks for your message and for your feedback – I’m delighted that you’re so happy with pzizz!\r\n\r\nI’ve made a note of your comment for my developer and we’ll be sure to check into it as soon as possible!\r\n\r\nUntil then, thanks for your patience – and continued happy pzizzing!\r\n\r\nedward
Hi Nini\r\n\r\nThanks for your message and for your feedback!\r\n\r\nNot sure what the problem is as Matthew had his old 1st Gen iPhone working perfectly with ‘pzizz relax’.\r\n\r\nIf it’s only with pzizz, please contact us via the support page on the website and we’ll do what we can to sort it out!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
Your proposed updates answer every quibble I’ve had about Pzizz Relax so I look forward to getting even more use from it.\r\n\r\nOn an unrelated topic–is there some way to make your security code a little more visible for those of us with poor eyesight?
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Jo\r\n\r\nThanks for your message – I’m delighted to hear that we’re managing to address any and all quibbles!
\r\n\r\nCan you please confirm which security code is causing a problem? I’m a little confused!\r\n\r\nThanks!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
I like it, but I really hate the alarm. Couldn’t we have something a little more gentle? I don’t like to use the voice over at all, so when the alarm kicks in, it undoes all the benefit of using the programme.
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Carol\r\n\r\nThanks for your feedback!\r\n\r\nI understand that the alarm is a little harsh and that’s why my post says that we’re going to be including an option for you to choose different alarm sounds in future.\r\n\r\nAt the moment we have the following list of sounds : zen chime, birds, buzzer, mediation bowl, ascending ‘something’ – is there anything else in particular you’d like to hear?
\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
As i understand it you’re submitting a ‘sleep’ app to the appstore as well? \r\n\r\nI would like to be able to turn that sucker all the way up to “till I shut it off” in the morning for duration.. with perhaps an alarm I can set when it’s time to get up. I’d gotten out of the habit of using pzizz and since relax came out i’ve been using it more.. On the 2-3 hours of sleep nights which i often get, relax gets used two or three times during the day for 20 mins and it’s making a world of difference for me. Much better able to focus and get things done..\r\n\r\n I have major sleeping problems, can’t sleep on beds due to orthopedic problems (car accident) so I sleep in a lazyboy chair.. \r\n\r\nI’m getting it wired up so i have a good durable set of noise canceling headphones mounted on it and plan to plug my touch in with a charger unit in the storage arm of the chair.
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Loyd\r\n\r\nSo sorry to hear about your accident and your resultant orthopaedic problems…\r\n\r\nYes, we’re currently working on ‘pzizz sleep’ for iPhone / iPod Touch and hope to submit to Apple by the end of October.\r\n\r\nWe hear your request for “play until I shut it off” or “until the alarm I set goes off” and very much hope to be able to include this feature, but it may have to be in a future update depending on how complex it turns out to be to code. With so many people crying out for it, our top priority is to get it out to you as soon as possible!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
I agree with Molly, I have been a long time customer with the Windows version and now the iPhone version and the breaks between passages has really erked me and interupted the flow.\r\n\r\nSomehow I find I am just dozing off, and then it pauses, then I find myself waiting for the next feature.\r\n\r\nI think they need to crossfade over, or at least have no pause if this is possible.\r\n\r\nThanks Edward and team!
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Graham\r\n\r\nThanks for your feedback. I’m sorry you find the breaks annoying, but are they on both versions or just the iPhone one? I’ve not noticed any problems when I use it, so I’m not sure what you’re referring to!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
On longer intervals the ‘music’ has breaks in it instead of being one continous sequence. What causes them and is there any to eliminate them?\r\n\r\nOtherwise awesome job!
>But because it’s slightly different every time, your subconscious >continues to pay attention (it can’t ‘learn’ the sequence of >suggestions, music and sound effects) which means it continues to >become more effective over time!\r\n\r\nI’ve had the desktop application for some time now, and I’ve begun to notice myself saying to myself: Oh, I know what he’s going to say now. Over 15-20 minutes, sure, there are going to be a couple of differences every time but on a second by second/minute by minute basis, I’d suggest that the differences are a little too limited for long-term use. I think you need to record some new sound files.
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Rick\r\n\r\nThanks for your feedback.\r\n\r\nI’m afraid there are no plans to record any new sound files in the short term as Michael, the ‘voice of pzizz’, has emigrated to Australia!\r\n\r\nI’ve been using pzizz for 8 or 9 years now, and am not noticing *any* decrease in effectiveness, and I’ve heard the same from some of our earliest customers.\r\n\r\nThe point is that, even if you recognise a phrase when it begins, you don’t know which one will follow it, and this is what causes your subconscious to keep paying attention to what’s going on.
\r\n\r\nHappy pzizzing!\r\n\r\ne
I was wondering if you could optionally add vibration to the alarm. \r\n\r\nSometime, pzizz is working so well that simple alarms just doesn’t do it!
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Takeshi\r\n\r\nThanks for your message and for your feedback!\r\n\r\nI’ve put it on my list of “To Investigate” and if it’s possible, we’ll be sure to include it – ‘sounds’ like a good idea!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
Hi Edward,\r\n\r\nAs said in a previous personal message, I just post a 5 stars feedback on the french appstore. Hope it could help to give some more spotlight on your great app.\r\n\r\nKeep up,\r\nAntoine
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Antoine\r\n\r\nMany thanks for your message and for posting a review on iTunes!\r\n\r\nIf everyone who’d bought ‘pzizz relax’ posted a review, I think we could dominate iTunes, so thank you for your help!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
Hiya,\r\n\r\nCongratulations on the launch of ‘pzizz relax’, outstanding job guys! Can you please clarify something with regard to the upcoming ‘pzizz sleep’. Is that going to be an entirely separate app as opposed to an update or in app purchase that adds value to the existing app?\r\n\r\nI for one would have preferred to have one App on my iPhone that offers the different components (much like the desktop app – sleep, energiser & meditation) rather than a separate app for each function. Many thanks!\r\n\r\nKind regards,\r\n\r\nJustin
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Justin\r\n\r\nThanks for your words of support!\r\n\r\nAs mentioned previously, the current plan is to have separate apps for different titles, both as a result of the way our developers coded ‘pzizz relax’ and also due to marketing concerns within the iTunes Store.\r\n\r\nWe’ll keep monitoring the situation though – we want everyone to be happy with the results, obviously!\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
Wonderful app! One concern I have is having separate pzizz apps on my iPhone. Instead, would it be possible to make modules like the desktop app that can be purchased using the app store’s in-app commerce system? I would much prefer to have one icon on my screen and a pzizz shell that can run whichever module I choose to use at that time. I would be happy to pay the same amount for a module as the original app, just to save from clutter and confusion.\r\nThanks for the wonderful utility to lull myself to sleep!
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Jonathon\r\n\r\nThanks for your feedback.\r\n\r\nMy developer tells me that it’s not going to be possible to have all the modules run from within a single interface at this time due to the way they coded it, but we may look at changing this in the future.\r\n\r\nThat said, we’re not sure how we’d market the different modules on the iTunes Store if there was only one application!\r\n\r\nSo happy to hear that you’re enjoying ‘pzizz relax’ for now anyway…
\r\n\r\ne
Jonathon Warthman Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
You could market it just like pzizz for the desktop!
\r\nAlso, because of the new app store rules, you could make pzizz free with a demo module, and then charge for each module ($0.99 to $1.99 would probably be best).\r\nI’ll be patient and wait for a rewrite of the code, if I have to. 
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Jonathon\r\n\r\nThanks for your feedback!\r\n\r\nYes, we’ll be working on a free demo version with “In App Purchase” of the full version.\r\n\r\nHowever, certainly in the short term, we’re going to be keeping the apps separate, so you may have to wait a while for us to re-write the code!\r\n\r\nThere are no plans to drop the price any further – although we may increase them!\r\n\r\nA standard relaxation music CD costs $9.95 – $29.95, but generally at least $14.95. And remember, it’s the same every time you listen to it, and it’s a fixed length of time.\r\n\r\n’pzizz relax’ generates a new guided relaxation soundtrack every time you use it, and you can select how long you want it to play. At $2.99, it’s already a steal!
\r\n\r\nAll the best\r\n\r\nedward
am liking this app very much and its is doing me lots of good. but twice now it crashed half way through… i have un- and reinstalled now and am hoping it helps. have other people had this problem?\r\n\r\nFrancis
Hi Edward,\r\n\r\nI am a long time pzizz user and I must say the iPhone version is just awesome. Really great work. I have just one quibble and that is the icon. I love the desktop icon but the iPhone icon is just plain ugly to be frank (sorry). Would be great if it looked as classy as the desktop icon.\r\nAnd one other thing, it would be great that when you release pzizz sleep that you do it as an in-app purchase so we don’t have to have two apps on the phone.\r\nKeep up the great work.
I’m having a great time since pzizz came out for iPhone.\r\n\r\nI’m a Flight Attendant and we get some time off to rest during the flight. I wasn’t always able to fall asleep but with pzizz, I feel all my thoughts dying out slowly to make way for the nap.\r\n\r\nI don’t mind the silence between the different tracks because I’m usually asleep so fast I don’t notice it.\r\n\r\nI also confess to using the “relax” pzizz to help fall asleep at night when it’s not biologically night for me.\r\n\r\nI just manage to switch it off when I feel I’m close to falling asleep so the alarm don’t wake me.\r\n\r\nI’m so eager for the “sleep” app!!!!!\r\n\r\nI actually find its effectiveness almost frightful ?!?
\r\n\r\nAnd so it’s not all praise, I belong to the group who’s not fond of the pinky esoteric wallpaper… Although I’ll admit to not seeing it for very long because I fall asleep so fast.\r\n\r\nKeep up the great work!\r\n\r\nJust one question?\r\nWill the sleep pzizz come as a separate app or as an add-on?\r\nI’d prefer the add-on so it takes less room… or rather it leaves more room for games on my springboard
Are there any plans for this to be added to the app as a module? I don’t have an iphone.
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi JBB\r\n\r\nSorry for any confusion, but ‘pzizz relax’ IS ‘pzizz energizer’ – just with a different name. If you’ve got ‘pzizz energizer’ module, you already have ‘pzizz relax’ for your desktop.
\r\n\r\ne
I’m *really* enjoying Pzizz Relax! I’m rubbish at sleeping (am I the only one who finds it creepy, lying there waiting to lose consciousness while trying not to think?), but I’m good at power-naps. Pzizz Relax has made it even easier to get right into them.\r\n\r\nLike the other posters, I would prefer that the samples cross-faded into each other. I don’t notice the silence (usually too unconscious to), but when the sound comes back, it’s a bit jarring.\r\n\r\nAnd I’m desperate for the sleep application! Whip your code monkeys to make them work as fast as possible!
edward Reply:
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi Hamish\r\n\r\nWe’ll look at improving the cross fades, but not sure how possible this will be.\r\n\r\nIn the meantime, we’ve created a new position here at pzizz – “Chief Code Monkey Whipper”!
\r\ne