Zune Pricing Makes Me Laugh
November 13, 2006 | 0 Comments
So tomorrow Microsoft’s iPod killer, the Zune, comes out. While this MP3/video player might slow iPod sales slightly, and only until a new iPod comes out, Microsoft’s attempt at capturing any market share from the iTunes Store will fail miserably (which means so will the Zune). But please, please don’t take my word for it. Check out this hilarious look at just how crazy the Zune music pricing scheme works.
As we all know, purchasing songs, videos or games from the iTMS only requires a customer to create an account and have a valid credit card. Thus, like most other business transactions, you purchase a good and the price of that good is billed to your credit card. It works the same way at the grocery store, at the gas station or in a restaurant. And for the most part it seems like a pretty good system. Plenty of people have credit cards and they understand the concept of purchasing items with them. So, how, you ask, could Microsoft screw this up? No, first you might ask, what is there to screw up? I mean, the system already works. All you need your customer to do is show up with a credit card? Right?
Full article can be read at Apple Matters.
Fraud in the 80’s
July 26, 2006 | 1 Comment
A few days ago I was reading the Apple Hot News RSS feed and came across a cool article about Arno Salters, a music video director. What caught my attention is he directed the video for Mates of State’s Fraud in the 80’s song. I happen to like Mates of Sate and so I checked out the video — this is some pretty crazy stuff. The video is a mixture of stop motion and live action filming. It’s actually pretty increadable. There are 5,760 still shots in the video, 2,500 of which Salters cut out by hand! It was on the Apple site because he used an Apple G5 PowerMac to edit and put the video together. It’s really a pretty cool piece of work.
What’s Been Going On
July 5, 2006 | 0 Comments
It’s been quite awhile since I last posted anything meaningful. I know the 24 reviews have been highly captivating and all, but a lot more has been happening in my life. Without boring everyone to tears — and by everyone I mean the two people who will actually read this — I’m going to try and capture the last few weeks of my life in a few paragraphs. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
A few weeks ago I started the arduous process towards SCUBA certification. This means countless hours of not actually doing anything. Well, not really. I read a book, answered some questions, and dove in a pool for a few hours. Today I went down to DeLeon Springs (think cold water) and spent another few hours underwater performing various skills. I am now one ocean dive away from being a full blown PADI Open Water diver. Look out world, here I come.
Last week I was in the Golden Isles/Brunswick area of Georgia with the sixth graders on their mission trip. It was a lot of fun and the kids did more work then I could have imagined. They built cabins so that future TEAMeffort work teams will be able to come and help out the area. It was a great trip and I only had to take one person to the hospital — that was a first.
Last night was the fourth of July. Fireworks. Bang.
I am currently counting down the days until Intel releases the Core 2 Duo — stupid name I know — processor and Apple puts it in the iMac. When that glorious moment comes, I will be buying a pimped out computer that will then be cooler than yours. I’m a geek, I know.
The week before I left for the mission trip I officially became the Associate Youth Director of First United Methodist Church of Orlando. I’m on the letterhead. Cool huh?
Saturday I leave with the seventh and eighth graders on their mission trip to Asheville, NC. I don’t really have a clue what we’ll be doing. Should be fun though.
I’ve been getting back into Fueled by Ramen music lately. October Fall is a great band. Check them out.
I’m tried of this. This posting is done.
Well, almost. I found this funny and maybe the two of you will also. Check it out: Website Flags.
Last.fm
May 12, 2006 | 1 Comment
Last.fm is a pretty cool site that sprung out of the whole Web 2.0, social networking deal that started up a while back. Basically, after signing up for Last.fm, you install a plugin to the music player of your choice (mine, of course, is iTunes) and it records all the songs you listen too. After two minutes or 50% of the song has completed the plugin sends the information to Last.fm and it records it on your profile. This way you can then see how many times you’ve listened to “Genie in a Bottle” or that Lynyrd Skynyrd is your favorite artist of all time. Wondering what the point is? Well remember that I told you this site sprung out of the whole social networking trend. The idea is that Last.fm uses it’s supercomputers to recommend other artists you may enjoy and also find people who have similar musical taste as you. It’s kind of cool just to see what it recommends and also see what other people are listening too. A pretty neat site that will more than likely live longer then most Web 2.0 sites out there.
Review of Angel of Retribution
March 17, 2005 | 0 Comments
This post was written by guest author, The One and Only Wayne.
So, the other day this guy comes up to me at work and says, “Wayne, you’re the coolest guy ever. In my ongoing attempt to be just as awesome as you are, I want to listen to the same kind of music you do. What kind of cds do I need to go buy?”My response: “Aaaahhhh, pod people!” Then I stabbed him in the face with a soldering iron.
Had I been of sound mind at the time, I likely would have told him that I always go back to the rock.
Browsing through my music collection, from 58 to ZZ Top, it is easy to see that I either have a thing for rock music, or groups of four or five white guys. I won’t deny either one.
This being said, it may not be too hard to understand how excited I was a few years ago when it was announced that Rob Halford had rejoined Judas Priest, one of the most influential bands in the history of heavy metal. I’m pretty sure that I told everyone I know two or three times, at least. I’m also pretty sure that I don’t know anyone who really cared (sigh). Really, people, these guys co-headlined Ozzfest last year! They’re still awesome!
Whatever. On March 1, 2005, Judas Priest released Angel of Retribution, their first album in 15 years with the original lineup. None of my friends cared. However, I know better. I know that it may just be the best album in the 30+-year history of the self-proclaimed “Metal Gods.” Sweet guitar solos, a driving double-bass drum, and bald guy who can wail just about as well as he did before I was born. And that’s just the first song, “Judas is Rising.”
The first single released is “Revolution,” a song that seems radio-friendly and even has an accompanying video on the band’s website. It’s a bit of a different sound than the band’s last few albums, but not very different at all from Halford’s last two, which makes his re-entry into the band even more welcome.
I suppose that the best way to sum up Retribution is to say that if you like Judas Priest, you’ll like the album. I’d even say that if you like a heavier, non-Tom Petty-type rock, you’ll like the album. If you have at least one functioning lung, and an attention span of more than 17 seconds, you’ll like the album. It’s a collection of songs that is simultaneously classic Priest and something new, and it works. And where else can you find a 13-minute song about the Loch Ness Monster?