One of the best parts about running MacSparky.com is its eclectic group of listeners. I recently heard from J. Walter Hawkes, a professional musician (Website)(Blog)(Twitter). Walter is a composer. He does lots of children’s television, like Blue’s Clues, Wonder Pets, Third and Bird, and he is the current music director for Peg + Cat on PBS. To this day, I still catch myself singing some of the Blues Clues songs. (Team Steve!) Walter also plays a mad trombone solo. Don’t believe me? Listen to him back up Norah Jones on Sinkin Soon. Enough gushing. Walter, show us your home screen.

What are some of favorite apps?  

iPhone: Getting around NYC can be…interesting.  I like KickMap (for quick looks at the map and train line status) and HopStop (transit directions) to help me get around the city.   I have a love/hate relationship with OmniFocus.  I love how the app has helped me keep my act together.  I hate being told what to do.  

Which app is your guilty pleasure?  

I have a few: Firstly, Instagram and Facebook for purely voyeuristic reasons.   When I want something mindless when I’m on the subway, I play 8bit Ninja….SpellTower if I only have one hand. Though it’s not an app… Hue Lights.   I have a few Hue bulbs in my studio.  They’re kinda new… so I’m still experimenting with apps.  Now I’m using the official Hue app and OnSwitch.  I’m not so sure about the apps, but I love the lights!

What is the app you are still missing?  

At the moment, I’m satisfied on my iOS devices… we’ll see how long that lasts.  I’m waiting for those killer HomeKit and Health apps. (Me too. -D)

How many times a day do you use your iPhone/iPad?  

All the time.  Too much, probably.  I  use my iPad very heavily at work and play, too.

What is your favorite feature of the iPhone/iPad?  

I have a new iPad Air that has TouchID.  That’s a real winner for me.  I’m tempted to upgrade my iPhone 5 just for it… that’s crazy talk though!  

If you were in charge at Apple, what would you add or change? 

iTunes.  Oy.

What’s your wallpaper and why?  

I have a random space shot I just picked off the internets.  I was embarrassed that I still had the stock wallpaper on my phone.  Ha! 

Anything else you’d like to share?  

I use my iPad a LOT. On the iPad, when dealing with musical scores or reading instrumental parts for the cartoons, I use FourScore. I use the bluetooth pedals for turning pages when I have a trombone or a ukulele in my hands. I use Noteability for scribbling notes on pdf scripts in meetings. I use GoodReader for my pdfs, which I have a LOT of.  I dabble in electronics and I keep data sheets and schematics… I’ve digitized most my old computer programming paperbacks going back to 1992 or so… I’ll be totally freakin’ SET when I get that great idea for an application using VRML!  (Check, please!)

Thanks Walter.