Digressions and Other Inconsistencies

Here’s an interesting tool that I found while reading an article on TUAW (that’s “The Unfficial Apple Weblog” for the uninitiated). Yes, it’s already been blogged, reported, reviewed, probably upgraded twice, and blamed for global warming by now. What can I say? I guess that’s why those guys get paid for what they do. They find stuff first, while bloggers like me simply regurgitate information to our tiny little spheres of readers. So, really, this post should begin with the phrase, “In case you don’t already know…”

Moving on…

The plugin is from Simplify Media, I think, and is also called Simplify Media. I think. (Apparently the company and the product are the same. Keep it simple, right? People who work there can describe the company and the product in the same breath, which seems like a neat perc to me.) Using this plugin allows you to share your iTunes library with people you choose from anywhere on the internet.

The obvious uses that come to mind are listening to music at work that is stored on your computer at home, or sharing your library with the friend who lives in North Dakota who’s always wanted to hear what a “rock band” sounded like.

Disadvantages seem to be few. The most obvious are that, since the shared music is streamed to a computer, and not stored locally, the computer that is streaming the music must always remain powered on and connected to the internet. I can also imagine that people with a slower internet connection may experience lagging while listening to music.

The plugin’s home page on the web states that it is not spyware, that only the people you specifically authorize can share your music, that it is compatible with both Mac and Windows, and that it is FREE.

It sounds like an interesting plugin. I will be downloading and trying it in the next couple of days. Anybody care to try sharing? (I promise you won’t be forced to listen to my collection of bassoon music.) Has any of my faithful readers (either of them) ever tried this plugin? I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts, if you have.

The Simplify Media plugin can be downloaded here.