Digital Lifestyle

I like the fact that iTMS lets you re-download purchased music now... unfortunately, it doesn't let you redownload everything. All of my older tracks that couldn't be upgraded to iTunes Plus don't appear to be included in the list of available music in my "cloud". I'm also frustrated by the fact that hard drive failures over the years have again left me with 3 of my device authorizations tied up by no-longer-existent computers.

On the latter issue, deauthorize all your computers (in iTunes, sign into your account, an on the account information page click "Deauthorize All"), then reauthorize the ones that you still have/use. On the former issue, I agree it's frustrating. The same is true of TV shows that have been removed from the iTunes Store--they don't appear in the cloud and can't be redownloaded. On the other hand, I'm grateful for the ability to redownload the Battlestar Galactica miniseries, which I originally downloaded in the original iTunes 320x240 format, and which I can now redownload in SD for free.

There we go, October 45th... right on schedule.

I'm going to hold off a bit to see what explodes. It syncs your playlists, though, which is a very good thing, so I probably won't wait long.

I have been using it for a while and it does work well, needed the extra time in the oven though.

Daniel

It's already oversubscribed.

I just dug out my original 5GB iPod. It still works. The Firewire port on it is a little flaky but it's plugged in and charging right now.

I've also started using my 40GB 3rd Gen iPod, too. I wish it supported charging via USB so I could use it in the car.

DPBD...

I really liked the original physical scroll wheel. It was so much easier to precisely navigate with that.

Yes. Physical scroll wheels on original (1G) is nice.

Posting from my Kindle Fire. Interesting, but you get what you pay for. Kind of lame next to the much more expensive iPad.

Worth upgrading from the standard kindle?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2011 05:51PM by Tony Leggett.

It depends on whether or not you want a kind-of-crappy tablet experience along with the reader.

For a $200 tablet, it's not bad. The UI is a little laggy, the interface is a little awkward; it feels like the Carousel was just added to be eye-candy rather than actually useful. The touch screen misses touches fairly frequently. Silk didn't work for me at all until I turned off the "fast loading" that routes everything through Amazon's servers. Book reader was fine, iPad-like experience, but using the iPad's 10" screen has ruined me for 7" screens. Movie viewer was kind of cool since, as an Amazon Prime user I can stream a lot of movies for free but, you know, it's not like there isn't a NetFlix out there.

I suspect that I will probably pass it on to my daughter, who has been wanting a Kindle (or a Nook), and keep my 2nd Gen eInk Kindle. I wanted to get an Android device, and this seemed like a good choice, but if I had it to do over again I'd probably get the current touchscreen eInk reader or more likely stick with my iPad.

Here's a better review of the Kindle Fire. Spot on.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/2011 09:38AM by John Willoughby.

Listening to a presentation about http://foundation.zurb.com/ -- what do you guys think? It's kinda beyond me. But maybe it's partly because this guy is talking really rapidly. Why does this make prototyping so rapid?

ddt

This is going to get ugly. The old music industry is not going down easily, they apparently insist on taking everyone with them.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/spotify-other-streaming-services-lose-more-than-200-labels/2011/11/18/gIQA1i7KZN_story.html

They have a right to determine what business model works for them. Once they're bankrupt, their bands can sign with more forward- thinking labels.

Quote
John Willoughby
...Once they're bankrupt, their bands can sign with more forward- thinking labels.

Probably not, at least not immediately. Unless the artists have an escape hatch clause, the contracts are likely considered assets of the company to be sold to whichever dinosaur succeeds the bankrupt one.

Hmmm... It had better be really sucky for $200...

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/tiny-21-gram-cotton-candy-usb-actually-a-personal-computer-20111121-1nqdf.html

ok. still love the Netgear NeoTV550.
Got a WD Live TV thingy - don't love that so much. But it does do some basic stuff. Far inferior to the Netgear.

Now I am looking to buy the high end router Netgear N900 is about as good as I can find --- that has built-in parental controls. I find I am dismayed when my offsprings' friends ask to connect to our router/internet. So, a guest LAN and one that I can restrict will ease my fears of such things.

Now, when WILL those damned hard drives come the freak down in price???? Fry's shelves are nearly BARE --- no kidding. They have crap for selection right now. (not that it matters in the interwebs age)