iTunes - or What Went Wrong?

April 25, 2007 | Filed Under IT Related | 1 Comment

“Whoops!”

I often find myself thinking that when I hear about some dumb decision made, either in the corporate world or in day-to-day life. I can’t help myself thinking that about Apple’s iTunes software. For a while it was the best music management software available - made even better because it was free. Then iTunes 7 came along offering new features, like Coverflow (for people who keep their music collections above mirrors, or something like that) and other stuff.

Of course, what Apple hang their hat on with iTunes is the Apple Music Bore…uhh I mean Store. I would comment here on the store itself, but unfortunately I have to go to bed in a few hours so I don’t have time to browse the store now. You see, I keep finding that the Apple Music Store is quite ridiculously slow! Trying to browse podcasts is a ridiculously long task. But that is only the beginning of the problem. Once you have podcasts downloaded, playing them is a positively intuitive less experience. Playing video podcasts is even worse (insert here “stultifying annoying”). The coup-de-grace of the iTunes experience is it’s intense desire to sap all my system’s resources. I thought only software like Microsoft’s legendary bloatware Outlook could achieve this. On one of my machines at work, with a 2Ghz processor and 1GB RAM, I have to plan ahead by a few hours if I intend to open iTunes, and I only have a library of a hundred or so podcast episodes. What is the solution? Windows Media Player? “Whoops!” No podcast support! If only Microsoft got their RSS acts together, it would be adios iTunes altogether.

Update…James: Good call!

April is Blooming

April 20, 2007 | Filed Under Photo Updates | 1 Comment

I hate to say “we need to rain” so close to the weekend, but some April showers would really help to add colur to an already cheerful spring. We have had some amazing sunshine over the past few weeks, it has been a real joy to be walking outside, smelling the trees as they come to life. Suddenly there is colour everywhere and we are reminded of what a beautiful country England can be (when people aren’t dumping litter all over it).

Thinking of Sophia

April 11, 2007 | Filed Under Family News | 1 Comment

Paul is right, a year has flown past. Louise and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary on Monday and today my niece is a year old! Here is a link to remember the occasion.

Canvas Prints

April 7, 2007 | Filed Under Photo Updates | Leave a Comment

Prints are available for order via the ImageVenue website. I currently have a selection of my “March Skies” photos available. You can get canvas prints for $45 (US) or $63 (UK).