In order for music identifying apps like Shazam to work, you will need an internet connection. This is because the music/TV show that is being recognized has to be matched against a database which obviously isn’t stored on the phones of all users. This means that if you’re somewhere with poor or no internet connection, Shazam won’t work, at least until now.Shazam has recently released a new update for the app that brings about Offline Mode. As its name suggests, this means that the app can be used even without the internet, or at least to a certain degree. According to Shazam, “Keep Shazaming, even when you’re offline! Next time the music’s on but the WiFi isn’t, simply tap the big blue button and we’ll name that song as soon as you’re back online. Now we’ll notify you immediately, even it you don’t have the Shazam app open.”
Basically it queues your Shazam requests until there is an internet connection, after which it will notify you of the songs that you’ve been meaning to identify. It’s not exactly “offline mode” per se, but this should come in handy lest you don’t want to forget the song for a later date. The update to the app should already be live so head on over to the iTunes App Store for the download.
In the meantime Apple has recently acquired Shazam, although what the company’s plans are for the app/service remains unclear, but they did state that they have “exciting plans in store”.