FluxTunes is an application for the iPhone and iPod Touch that offers an easier and safer way to play your music while on the go. Touching anywhere on the screen will perform one of several actions such as play, pause, next track or previous track. It is a very simple application that may actually make playing your iPod in the car safer.

Your music automatically begins playing when you open the application. The album artwork takes up most of the screen, while the artist name, song and album titles are listed at the top. Before you begin tapping, you’ll want to take a look at what type of gestures actually work. If you tap and hold on the screen a help menu will appear, offering a list of available features. Tapping once anywhere on the screen will play or pause the music. Sliding your finger to the right will advance to the next track and sliding to the left will go to the previous track. This motion is actually opposite of most applications and will cause of bit of confusion at first. But, the developer has promised a fix to this in the next update. Also, sliding up or down will change the volume.

There are also multi-touch gestures available for even more features. Sliding two fingers to the right or left will go to the next or previous playlist. Sliding two fingers up will play your entire library and two fingers down will allow you to select specific songs, albums or playlists. There is even a four-finger tap that will lock the screen, not allowing any additional touch input except for another four-finger tap. Also, if you quit the application, your music will continue to play. You can then continue controlling your music from the iPod app or back in FluxTunes. So, the app is actually very functional and includes many options to play the music you want to play.

There are a few problems with this app that are a bit annoying. For example, the settings menu is located in the default settings app of your device instead of actually in FluxTunes. So, if you want to change something, such as shuffle on/off, you need to exit the app. Also, as previously stated, the swipe direction for next and previous track is opposite of most applications. The functionality is fine, but it does get annoying. Lastly, the four-finger lock function is not very responsive and requires a few attempts before it actually works. These issues have been identified by the developer and are scheduled to be fixed in the next update.

FluxTunes is definitely an application to consider purchasing. The controls are simple and intuitive, allowing for a smooth user experience. But, you have to ask yourself if you’re really going to use this app often. First of all, it’s really only useful while driving, riding a bike or doing some other task where you shouldn’t take your eyes off the road ahead. Also, while you’re driving, do you play your iPod often or do you use another application such as Pandora or Slacker Radio? If you play music more often from another application other than the iPod, then FluxTunes will be of no use to you. Again, it’s a great app, but are you really going to use it often?