More Thoughts on Rhapsody (Or, Why Can’t iTunes Do Subscription Music?)

I’ve posted a lot about subscription music in this blog, making sure to include my opinion about it in general, and also relating my initial experiences trying the Rhapsody music service, after being dumped there from MTV’s soon-to-be-defunct URGE service.

(Actually, this subject has so dominated this blog so far, that the title “Reluctant Geek That Mostly Whines About Subscription Music” would not be inappropriate.)

After further “normal” use of Rhapsody, and a multi-day ordeal involving the reinstallation of Windows XP on my MacBook Pro, I can now give you further thoughts on Rhapsody, with the added fun of trying to use it on a Mac machine. If I had to sum it up in one phrase, it would be this:

Why, oh why, can’t iTunes do subscription music?

Read the rest of this entry »

Great List of Essential Mac Applications

I found this post that lists the 35 essential applications for any Mac user from the Freelance Switch blog.

(Apologies to all my Windows using friends. You may not be able to use most of these apps, but at least you can browse and dream of what it might be like to own a Mac.)

After glancing through the list, I recognize at least a few applications that I either use (Quicksilver, Skype, TextMate, for example), or would like to try (such as Ecto and Spanning Sync, among others).

Has any of my faithful readers (either of them) tried using any of this software? Any favorites of yours on this list?

Looking Back at the Cutting Edge Mac of 1984

I saw this link to a post from a guy who recently bought a manual from the original Mac manual.

Besides the obvious questions such as “Who would search out an old manual and buy it on eBay?”, the photos are interesting, as well as the author’s thoughts on The Way Things Were back in 1984.

Actually, the more I think about it, the more I could see paying for something like this.  You’re not so much buying a 23 year old computer manual as you are buying a window of history.  Besides the state of computers, there’s an interesting look into the culture back then, as well.

Anyway, enjoy the link.

Why Subscription Music is a Good Idea (Or, Is There Life Without iTunes?)

In a previous post, I lamented the impending demise of a music subscription service that I use and enjoy. I also warned you that I would be posting about why I think subscription music is a good idea. I’ll give you three guesses as to the subject of this post.

Um, no. It won’t be about the advantages of organic dog food. Good guess, though. Read the rest of this entry »