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July 4, 2010

iTunes Hacked!

Filed under Computers, Gadgets, Music

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iTunes: Hello, I'm iTunes.

Zune: And I'm Zune.

iTunes: I think somebody stole my wallet!

Zune: How could that happen?

iTunes: Someone must have hacked my account.

Zune: You should call someone immediately!

iTunes: I wish! There is no support phone number for iTunes.

Zune: So what are you supposed to do?

iTunes: Email.

Zune: This is urgent! How quickly will they respond to email?

iTunes: Within 48 hours. You know how it is.

Zune: Actually, I don’t.

iTunes: Oh, you get a better response than an email back in 48 hours?

Zune: I can contact support via phone 7 days a week, from 6am until 10pm.

iTunes: Well you better contact them now!

Zune: I’ll be fine.

iTunes: Don’t be a hero, Zune! iTunes has been hacked!

Zune: iTunes…but not Zune.

 

 

Source: http://thenextweb.com/apple/2010/07/04/app-store-hacked/

Technorati Tags: ,,

November 7, 2008

Fett's Vette

Filed under Movies, Music, Reviews

I saw "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" last night. I loved it...very raunchy and funny.

The soundtrack is great...I preordered it from Amazon. My favorite song: Fett's Vette...

 

October 14, 2008

Switching

Filed under Music, Reviews

 

I dumped my iPod's and now I'm all about Zune.

Why? I tried out the Zune software first and was *very* impressed.

There are three main parts to iPod:

  1. iPod hardware
  2. iTunes music player for your PC
  3. iTunes store

Similarly, there are three main parts to Zune:

  1. Zune Hardware
  2. Zune Software for your PC
  3. Zune Marketplace

Here's what I like about Zune/don't like about iPod...

Zune Hardware

I bought the new 120GB black Zune.

  • The included Zune headphones have magnets that make the ear buds stick together so tangled chords are less of an issue.
  • I bought the premium headphones (also have magnetized ear buds) and they do an amazing job of silencing external noise so you can listen at a lower volume. Bass is surprisingly good.
  • Photos automatically synced
  • Videos automatically synced
  • I *hate* the iPod clickwheel. When I want to choose the next song in a list via the clickwheel, I typically overshoot by a few songs and must resonate back and forth to get the proper selection. I also don't like when I have to constantly rotate my finger around the clickwheel to move through a long list.
  • Zune has a slick 4-way direction pad/touch pad called the Zune Pad. Want the next song? Just press the bottom of the pad once. Done! Need to scroll through a bunch of songs, flick your finger over the pad and songs will scroll past very quickly...just tap when you get close to stop. The Zune Pad is both better at precise selection and quickly traversing a long list than the iPod clickwheel. Check out this video to see it in action.
  • Built-in FM radio (iPod has no radio). If you hear a song on the radio you like, just click the Zune Pad and you can buy it and add it to your collection...very cool!
  • The directional pad/touch pad works well for games. The directional pad works just like a standard up/down/left/right navigation on a standard gaming system. It works great for games like Pac Man. The Zune Pad gives you mouse-like control (like for Missile Command or Centipede). The clickwheel *sucks* for games.
  • Speaking of games...XNA allows writing a game once and deploying on Windows, Xbox 360, and now Zune.
  • I can sync my Zune wirelessly (Zune has built in WiFi). This means I can leave my Zune in a charger/dock that is connected to my home theater system (for music, videos, and photos). While my Zune is charging in my living room, it wirelessly syncs with my PC that is in my office. Very slick!
  • The Zune User Interface is very polished and fun...much nicer than iPod.
  • Zune's 3.5" screen is much better for watching videos than iPod Classic's 2.5" screen
  • Zune can use WiFi to listen or purchase music from the Zune Marketplace

Zune Software

The Zune Software is *amazing*! Here it is in action. It is the best looking software I've ever seen...

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iTunes looks like (ahem) an office productivity app in comparison...

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Even Zune's installation is worth checking out. It doesn't use the standard InstallShield wizard setup. Some of the dialog boxes have very subtle geometric animations in the background...nice touch.

I recommend anybody that creates software check out Zune Software...they clearly had artists involved in the development of the software and it shows.

You can get the software here.

Here's what I like about Zune Software over iTunes

  • iTunes is slow. The UI bogs down while downloading. I haven't noticed any slowdown's with Zune Software.
  • iTunes doesn't support forward/back buttons on mouse, Zune does
  • When playing a song, Zune Software defaults to a mosaic of album covers from your collection in the background that constantly change:image
  • For some artists, Zune does a montage of color-shifting photos mixed with informative text:image
  • If I update iTunes, Apple tries to slip in Safari *every* time. Unchecking the checkbox gets old fast. Also notice how the Apple dialog doesn't follow the Window's dialog box guidlines that place the least disruptive action on the right (they are following the Mac guidelines). Best Windows app ever written? Puhleez!
    image
  • If you sync with a cable, you can just unplug your Zune at anytime...no need to tell the software you want to "eject" your device (which you have to do with iPod/iTunes).
  • With Zune, you can delete a song while it is playing. With iTunes, you can't.
  • If you delete a song via explorer, it is instantly removed from your Zune library. With iTunes, the song is still there, but gives an error because it can't be found.
  • Restoring music from the recycle bin instantly updates the Zune library.
  • As soon as you update the tag information for an MP3 via explorer, it shows up in the Zune library automatically. For iTunes, you must do "File->Import" each time your music library changes outside of iTunes.
  • Rating system for music is stored *in* the music file for Zune. For iTunes, it is not. So if you copy your mp3 to another system, you will lose the iTunes ratings, but not the Zune ratings. With Zune, you can set the rating in explorer and Zune will recognize the rating (doesn't work for iTunes).
  • Zune's rating system is simpler than iTunes (3 levels verses 6). I'm more likely to use the 3 levels (like/don't like/unrated) because the difference between levels is clear. I'm not sure how to tell the difference between a song with 1 star verses 2.
  • Zune music rating nicely integrated with explorer. Zune's three ratings map to explorer's 5 star rating like this:
    •   like = 4/5
    •   don't like = 1/5
    •   unrated = no rating
  • The Zune UI is filled with subtle fades and slide animation that give it nice polish
  • You can view your photos in Zune, you can't in iTunes.

 

Zune Marketplace

Zune Marketplace is where you can browse music and videos for purchase.

  • Uses same "point" system as Xbox 360. You can purchase music with your Xbox points.
  • Zune Pass (which I got) lets you listen to any song you want on your PC or your player for $15/month. iTunes doesn't have a subscription model.
  • MixView helps you find music you might like based on music you do like. How does it compare to iTune's new Genius Playlist? Here's one view.
  • Picks: Zune Marketplace will suggest music you may like and connect you with listeners that have similar tastes so you can browse their playlists
  • Channels: playlists that are updated every week by professionals that know what they are doing

 

I didn't even get into the social aspect of Zune, which is completely missing from iPod.

One example of the social component is the Zune badge.

If you click on my home page, you can see I have a Zune badge on the right. This badge tracks what I'm listening to, which artists I like, what my favorite songs are. I don't have to do anything...it automatically stays up to date as I play music. If you click on the badge, you get the more detailed version below:

 
So far, I *really* like my Zune. I still use my iPod Shuffle for jogging, but with Mediafour's XPlay, I don't need/use iTunes at all...which is wonderful!
 
Highly recommended!
 

May 12, 2008

Amazon MP3 Downloads

Filed under Music, Reviews, Web

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Last year I switched from using iTunes and Rhapsody for my source of music back to CD's. The main reason: convenience.

I'm switching again...to Amazon MP3.

They have a really good selection of music. Singles cost 89 or 99 cents.

The *big* difference over iTunes and Rhapsody: you download music as MP3, not a format that will only work on certain devices.

I have two iPods, an MP3 player for my car, phone with a media player, and my computer. MP3 is the only format that will work in all places (and any future devices I get). MP3 support is a requirement for me.

Anytime I bought from iTunes/Rhapsody, I'd immediately burn the DRM'ed songs to CD and then extract them as MP3's back to the hard drive. It was a painfully slow process...especially filling in all the missing information.

Amazon MP3 avoids all of this...I just pick a song and it is downloaded directly to my library AND it has all the song information and cover art!

Amazon MP3 is better than CD's because your purchase is immediate (no waiting for CD delivered by mail) and there is no need to rip the MP3's from the CD.

It is pretty addictive...I bought $40 worth of singles tonight.

If I can't find it on Amazon MP3, then I'll use CD's as my backup option.

Highly recommended!

December 4, 2007

seeqpod

Filed under Music, Web

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I just found this web site called "seeqpod".

seeqpod is like Google for music, with a player that will play the results.

I've bought music online for a while now (via Rhapsody and iTunes). I've kept a list of music I want, but is not available online. seeqpod has everything on that list!

For example, here is a song from my early college days by M.C.L. (Microchip League) called "New York, New York."

That is another cool feature...the ability to "embed" songs in your web site, just like you can do with youtube videos.

You can also embed an entire playlist. Here are some difficult to find songs...


SeeqPod Music beta - Playable Search

This seems like it is a lawsuit away from being shut down. They claim they are not hosting any music, just pointing you to it (just like Google does) so they aren't doing anything wrong. They go to great lengths on their web site to defend their right to exist.

Just like Napster, I would imagine this site is mainly going to be used to access copyrighted works. Once they start profiting from advertising that is connected to illegal access to copyrighted works, the party is over.

This will be fun to watch. Enjoy it while you can.

December 1, 2007

Still Alive

Filed under Music, Video Games

I found this on Youtube and had to post it. This is a bit of a spoiler because this song gets played when you beat Portal...but I love the song and I want to listen to it more often than just when I beat Portal. The song is called "Still Alive" and it is sung by the HAL-like computer that performs experiments on you. The video features an amber monochrome display with synchronized lyrics text and ASCII art while the game credits roll...a nice touch!

September 26, 2007

iPod classic 160 GB

Filed under Gadgets, Movies, Music, Travel, Video Games

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I'm going to spend quite a bit of time on an airplane soon, so I wanted to find something to keep me entertained.

I initially thought about getting a Dell XPS M1330 laptop. I was actually one click away from buying it today when I realized the ship date was after the bulk of much of my traveling.

I'm actually glad I didn't get the laptop. I don't travel very often, so the laptop would probably sit unused most of the time.

So the next best thing...an iPod. What I like about the iPod over the laptop...

  • Much cheaper ($350 vs. $2,500)
  • Much better battery life (7 hours vs 3 hours for watching movies)
  • Much smaller (can fit in my jacket pocket)
  • Much lighter
  • Fast charging (about 2 hours for 80% capacity)
  • Less concern about theft
  • Should arrive next week

I figure I will load it up with...

  • Season 5 and 6 of 24 (from iTunes)
  • Several seasons of South Park (from iTunes)
  • A few movies I haven't seen (from iTunes)
  • Some audio books (from iTunes)
  • The 3 video games iTunes has (Ms. Pacman, Tetris, and Sudoko)
  • My music collection

Putting everything on the iPod means I don't have to worry about bringing a bunch of DVD's with me.

I decided on the 160GB over the 80GB because of battery life...the 160GB can do 7 hours of video watching on a charge verses only 5 hours on the 80GB.

There are two color choices, black or white. I went with black.

Any suggestions for good audio books, TV, or movies available on iTunes are welcome!

August 26, 2007

This is for you, DJ Donger

Filed under College, Music

I found this on youtube.

It reminds me of the guy across the hall from me in my dorm...DJ Donger. It was my freshman year in college...1990.

DJ Donger had two turntables and a ton of 12" records and was constantly making mix tapes. This song was always featured on all the mix tapes I got from him.

I love this song...but I never hear it anymore. I would buy it...but the only place selling it had a used cd for $50...I don't love it that much!

It's Leila K's "Got to Get"...

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About Music

This page contains an archive of all entries posted to David's Blog in the Music category. They are listed from oldest to newest.

Movies is the previous category.

Not Safe for Work (NSFW) is the next category.

Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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