VAGUE SPACE

The iPhone 4s

The Good:  Everything
The Bad:  No turn by turn voice directions on GPS included.

That pretty much sums up the amazing new phone from Apple.

I finally at long last became an iPhone owner last week, after years of waiting for Verizon to get a contract to sell the iPhone and then another 18 months of waiting for my Droid to be eligible for an upgrade.  But I took the plunge, finally, and after the first day my only thought was how did I live so long with such inferior phones.  Seriously, I know I'm coming pretty late to the show here but this is pretty much the greatest phone invented since Bell first invented a phone and pretty much one of the greatest inventions ever.  Why?  It's just so damned intuitive.  Everything is in exactly the right place and everything just works.  I know that's been Apple's motto for years but as someone still living in a PC world where nothing on my computer ever really works exactly as I'd like it's just an amazing feeling when a piece of technology is so easy to set up, so easy to use, and just blends so flawlessly into everything you want a smartphone to do -- and about a million things you never thought of it to do.  I was pretty satisfied with my Droid and for the most part, it sort of has similar functionality as the iPhone and a boatload of apps but there were times, many times, where the Droid would just stop working for some reason and I'd have to remove the battery to reboot or it would lose signal to the GPS while I'm at some dangerous intersection in Manhattan or the Sirius XM app would just stop working right as Howard Stern was about to do something awesome.  Little things that you just expect to have happen when you use technology today but that frustrate the hell out of you.  Or at least me.  The iPhone just feels and acts so much better made that I can't imagine that sort of frustration.  I've had it less than a week so maybe it will start crashing a bunch and do stupid shit but I can't imagine that to be true.  Everything -- so far -- has just worked.

Natural Light

My friend posted an article from the Sydney Morning Herald about the death of the iPod, which I found incredibly interesting, not the least because the iPod has been one of -- if not the -- greatest technological purchase in my life, and has completely changed the way I listen to music, for better or worse.  The article mentions how a new iPod hasn't come out since September 2009 -- the only slightly updated 160GB Classic -- and that Apple hasn't even hinted about any new versions of the venerable product since.  It seems likely, according to the article, that they will stop producing the iPod altogether as consumers switch completely to the iPhone and the iTouch and the iPad.  And that's an awful shame.  The article discusses how when the first iPod came out some 10 years ago, Apple was a failing and forgotten computer company and just 10 years later, it's poised to pass Exxon-Mobil as the biggest company in the world (by market capitalization).  Which is just about the most amazing thing I've ever read.  The iPod wasn't the first mp3 player and it wasn't the best (especially not in its first version) and it wasn't the cheapest nor did it hold the most songs.  In fact, it wasn't really much of a seller despite the modest marketing budget put behind it.  But when the Apple programmers launched iTunes in 2003, everything changed.  And because that program was so good (and once they put out a PC version), it became the place for music fans to listen to their music in an organized way, causing playlists to replace albums and changing the way all of us listen to our music collections.  The success of iTunes boosted sales of the iPod and -- combined with some great marketing in 2004/05 -- it became the must-have gadget of the new century.  The Mini and the Nano followed, dropping the entry price point, and then of course, the iPhone became the must-have gadget of the latter part of the decade.  The iPad is becoming the must-have gadget of this decade and sales of all these devices have turned a struggling and aging computer company into the technology leader of the world.  And it all started with an iPod.

The iPad

Apple has just revealed details on the iPad, which looks just like a big iTouch.  It has all the same capabilities of the Touch, including videos, games, Internet, apps, iTunes (it's a big iPod), YouTube, mapping, calendar, etc. PLUS it will have a Wi-fi and a 3G version (using AT&T) with pre-paid (no contract to AT&T!) data plans ($15 for Wi-fi only and $30 for 3G) that will allow you to surf and use the iPad from anywhere at any time, getting email and everything, just like an iPhone, only bigger (and minus the phone).  It will also challenge Amazon's Kindle as an ebook reader, as the announcement today included a description of it's e-reader capabilities and an iTunes-like bookstore, which for a writer like me, is a pretty big deal.  If we can get more young people to start reading in between videos and video games on their new iPads, then it's a good thing for everyone.

Overall, it's pretty much what everyone was expecting the iPad to be, but seeing it all big up there in Steve Jobs' hands made it look all the more wonderful.  The price points are reasonable -- starting at $499 for Wi-Fi only 16 GB and up to $829 for 64 GB 3-G version.  The Wi-fi versions will ship in 60 days, the 3Gs in 90 days.  It's sort of between an iTouch/iPhone and a laptop and with a portable plug in keyboard it can double as a laptop for email/iWork applications/Internet surfing, plus the portable large-screen video/Internet/gaming device that the iTouch is.  Check out CNET's live blog (that's where I got all these screen shots from) for more information.

 

Vague Space All Time Playlist

I've been keeping a spreadsheet total of every song played on my iPod (or iTunes) since I first purchased an iPod in March of 2004.  And since 99% of the music I've listened to since I bought my iPod has been on my iPod(s) or iTunes, it's a pretty accurate representation of the bands that I've spent the most time listening to in the past 5 years.  This may be interesting to no one but me, but hey, it's my blog.  Maybe someone out there will like to see this.  Without further ado, here is the list of every single artist played on my iPod since March 2004, in order.

1.  Bright Eyes  4,569 plays
2.  Mogwai  3,763
3.  Sunset Rubdown  3,702
4.  Okkervil River  3,608
5.  Sufjan Stevens  2,941

Bright Eyes still holds a huge 800+ play lead based on the strength of 1000+ plays in each of 2004 through 2006 (1st, 1st, and 3rd in each year).  Mogwai peaked with the most ever in one year, 1725 plays in 2006, but they haven't done much this year and are about to get caught by two bands that didn't even appear in 2004.  Okkervil River first appeared on my iPod with 268 plays at the end of 2005, and have stormed up the charts ever since (they've had 1000+ in each of the past three years).  Sunset Rubdown didn't appear until 2006! (with 654 plays) but they had the most in 2007 and are already at 1105 in 2009, definitely on pace to break Mogwai's single year peak and very much on pace to be the 2nd most played of any band by the end of this year.  Sufjan had 1000+ years in 2005 and 2006, but hasn't done much since (he also hasn't released an album since -- what is he waiting for?)

• Download Bright Eyes - "Method Acting".mp3
• Download Mogwai - "Secret Pint".mp3
• Download Sunset Rubdown - "Hope You Don't Stoop to Dirty Words II".mp3
• Download Okkervil River - "Blanket and Crib".mp3
• Download Sufjan Stevens - "The First Full Moon".mp3
  

No Regrets

I had my iPod on "shuffle" on the way to work the other day and up popped DramaRama's "No Regrets."  Since it's arguably my 3rd favorite DramaRama track ever recorded (behind "Anything, Anything" and "Work for Food"), I didn't fast forward.  Until halfway through the song at least, and by that time I was sick and tired of it and moved on.  DramaRama, in case you're too young to know your indie rock history, was a NJ band that had a minor alternative hit back in 1985 (the aforementioned classic "Anything, Anything") and followed that by moving to LA, releasing two more solid albums, and then signing to a major label (Elektra).  Despite a rather successful first effort, they only ever released one more album, 1993's hi-fi/sci-fi.  John Easdale embarked on a less successful solo career, and although they've reformed in recent years for some touring, they're mostly forgotten, especially by me.  But there was a time, back in the late '80s and especially early '90s when DramaRama was steadily one of my top 20 favorite artists.  "Anything, Anything" has a special significance in my life (based on how I was introduced to the track and the band), but it's not a surprise that it was the only track from the band to reach my top 200 of all-time.  I can't say I'm a fan of the band anymore.  I couldn't even get through "No Regrets."

The song that followed on my iPod shuffling that day was another "ancient" song, the even older "What She Said" by The Smiths, a band that formed around the same time as DramaRama and disbanded sooner, but still somehow remains my favorite band of all time.  What makes one band timeless and one band not so much?  Well, DramaRama never really remotely compared to The Smiths when they were both in their prime, but other bands I loved nearly as much as The Smiths during the same period (U2, The Cure, New Order, R.E.M.) have all virtually disappeared from my playlists.  While these artists have still managed to hang onto a couple select slots in the top 200, such former favorite classics as "Just Like Heaven" or "Fall on Me" did not quite make the cut. 

Death of the CD

I had another incident with my Infiniti and an animal, this one not as bad as last year's deer accident, although worse for my conscience since the animal in question this time probably had an owner.  I will say that the chances of me avoiding contact with said animal in question after it leapt over the barrier on Route 1 - at that point a 6-lane highway - right in front of my car, were minimal at best.  And my swerving into the center lane to avoid the animal could have caused a much more serious accident if it wasn't Martin Luther King Day and traffic wasn't light, and if the cars around me that morning hadn't also performed successful evasive maneuvers.  But I'm fine and no one else hit me so I guess I cannot really complain.  The animal probably can't say the same, but last I heard it was taken by the police to the hospital so maybe there's a chance it lived.  I'll try to believe that. 

(above... the side of the car that didn't get damaged; below... the front of the car (sans bumper and left headlight) and assorted parts that used to be inside my car... total damage estimate: $2830. Not good times)

This accident has unfortunately resulted in another chance for me to get up close and personal with Enterprise Rent-a-Car and although this rental is a definite step up from the Hyundai debacle of last March, the Passat that I'm driving this week - while a fine car (and in fact the vehicle I owned before the Infiniti) - does not have a satellite radio installed, nor - and this is worse - a way for me to hook up my iPod while driving.  My dependence on the iPod for musical accompaniment on my lengthy travels is so strong that even after just 10 minutes of the FAN (featuring 7 minutes of commercials!), I was already missing my faithful companion. 

New Computer Woes

I bought a Dell Inspiron desktop to replace my 2-year-old Dell desktop that ceased running properly sometime in the past year, after that model had replaced my 2-year-old Dell desktop that ceased running properly shortly after that warranty expired.  Does it make much sense to continue buying the cheapest model?  Perhaps not.  I mean, my work computer (also a Dell) seems to operate well for several years into its life - necessarily so, since my employers ain't springing for new desktops on a biannual basis.  They've got better things to spend their money on.  Like our new company logo jackets.  I'm sure business will start booming once our clients get a look at them.  A certain former client in the fashion industry that employs a certain LegFu Johnson would be very impressed.  If we didn't buy them from L.L. Bean.  I mean, I have no fashion sense and even I wouldn't be caught dead in something from Tommy these days.  But I digress.

Back to the computer... I went cheap again, spending $500 for a silver, slim-model Dell that has been working great so far -- and by great, of course I mean it's been a huge pain in the ass and it's taken me all week to just set the damn thing up and get all of my settings running.  For all of Friday, for instance, YouTube wasn't working on the machine.  And I finally got my email working about four days after initially setting the thing up.  I've got the new machine and old machine sitting next to each other and I've been switching my monitor between them to make sure I've copied all of my needed files over to the new machine without losing any important porn documents.  I'm still nervous that my novel wasn't completely transferred and made about 7 backup CD copies and mailed several copies to my Yahoo! account.  Buying a new computer is not a step taken easily by someone with a touch of OCD.  And a lack of short term memory.  What was I saying?

1234 How i Love the Apple Store

I love Feist.  I kind of love The Reminder.  I love the iPod and think it's been the technological purchase that has most improved my life in recent years, more than my DVR, my Sirius, my HDTV (if I had one), Poland Spring's new 30% less packaging water bottles, and even more than the dubious invention of software that allows any idiot to waste his time posting random unrelated thoughts about his favorite music, TV shows, and idiot friends for all the world to waste their time reading.  But I digress.  And despite my love for all things iPod and the fact that I think Apple is the greatest company in the history of the world for inventing it (besides of course, whatever genius thought aged barley, malt, and hops might make a decent combination), I  ended up buying a new computer from Dell instead of an iMac, mostly because I wasn't really willing to pay more than twice the price since I don't really need video editing software so much.  And even though I still love "1234", I can't help but be amused by this MadTV clip making fun of it and Apple.  Pretty heady stuff.  And to think, I didn't even realize MadTV was still on the air.  Enjoy.

And thanks to Culture Bully for the following mp3s from Feist's recent appearance on that other late night sketch show that I don't actually watch anymore.

• Download Feist - "I Feel it All (live on SNL)".mp3
• Download Feist - "1234 (live on SNL)".mp3
• Download Feist - "The Park".mp3

News and Notes

• Apple rules.  My brand new iPod broke two days ago, but not due to any defect in the product, I don't think.  The speakers at my office stopped working earlier this year, so I bought these cheap $10 speakers at Best Buy made by a company called Cyber Acoustics.  The right speaker stopped working about one month in, so I called the company and they - without much deliberation, which I guess should have been disconcerting - said "No problem" and sent me a new pair of speakers.  This pair worked until two days ago, when the headphone jack snapped off inside of my iPod.  Uh oh.  So I took the iPod Classic into the Apple store at the Menlo Park Mall yesterday and they spent about 30 minutes trying to fix it in the back - which I assume involved hitting it hard on the bottom to try to pop the broken piece from the speakers free.  After that failed, they ended up just giving me a brand new iPod, no questions asked.  Nice.  Especially since I'm fairly sure it wasn't Apple's fault, but rather this horrendous Cyber Acoustics' company and their shoddy speakers.  The bonus is that I ordered an Agent 18 iPod clear protective case, which arrived yesterday in the mail, so my new iPod went straight from the box to the case with nary a smudge or scratch or any deformation before use.  Excellent.  To be fair, the new molded plastic front on the iPod Classic was scratch and smudge free for the few weeks I owned the old one, but it's nice that I don't even have to worry about the screen being damaged on the new one.  Thank you Apple.  Thank you Apple Store of Edison.  They play the coolest music in their commercials too...

• Download Feist - "1234".mp3
• Download Feist - "1234 (VanShe Technologic Remix)".mp3

The Classic

Less than two years after the purchase of my 30 GB 5th Generation iPod (as documented here), I have just returned from the Apple Store with my brand new 80 GB (6th Generation) iPod Classic.  The Classic is the replacement for the "big" or "regular" iPod, of which I own a 10GB 3rd-Gen (white) and the 30GB 5th-Gen (black).  Along with the two iPod Shuffles that I own, that's 5-still working iPods in my possession, all performing basically the same functions.  If you count the Nanos I've given out as presents, and all the accessories I've purchased, and the few iTunes I've actually paid for, that's a hell of a lot of money I've given to the Apple Corporation over the years.  And it's been worth every penny.  I don't think there's been a single consumer product I've ever purchased which has given me so many hours of unadulterated entertainment as the iPod.  So thank you, Mr. Jobs.  I don't mind the hit to my credit card at all.

Onto the new purchase... the Classic is one of several new models of iPod recently released, along with a new video version of the Nano (smaller and squarer than the old one) and a brand new product, the iPod Touch -- which borrows the look and functions of the iPhone, just without the phone.  The Touch looks really cool and I kind of want one (I'll never own the phone as long as it's AT&T only, because Verizon seems to have by far the best phone service in NJ), but the use of flash memory in this version limits the capacity to 16 GB in the larger model, which would barely hold half of my music collection.  The fact that my iPod is full is one of the drivers of my new purchase, so that's why I didn't seriously consider the Touch.  Instead, I went with the Classic, available in both an 80GB and 160GB version, in both black and silver.  I'll probably regret it a couple months from now, but I went with the 80GB, figuring it will be a couple years at least before my music collection will balloon to that size, and I went with the black.