there is a new Firefox version (0.9) avaiable at http://www.mozilla.org/

Still a release candidate, not an actual release.

Release of 0.9 was scheduled for yesterday, but has slipped.

I saw a cool thing a while ago for in car mp3 - it sat in a 5.25" drive bay and you could drag and drop mp3s into it, then you could eject it and plug it into where the radio goes on a car, it became a car radio, with mp3 player. Held 5Gb, but newer ones probably hold far more. Not having much interest in in-car mp3, this may be old news...

<IMO>
I'd like an ipod (over iRiver etc) simply because the alternatives are all so damn ugly. I'm not (usually) one to care about such things, but they've become quite a fashionable accessory, whereas the iRiver looks like a badly designed gameboy.
</IMO ;P>


_____________________________
Insert funny quote here

the iPod could be seen (from Apple's strategic view) as nothing but the portable extension of iTunes

Nope. It's very much the other way around. If you look at the financials, iTunes is, at best, a break even prospect. There's a massive amount of profit in iPods though. Apple has iTunes purely as a way to sell more iPods... after all, if you want to download music from the iTunes store and play it in its native format (which will give you the best sound quality), you only have one choice -- an iPod.

Like many others, I have no real interest in iTunes or any DRM... would love a portable player, but they're just too expensive for my tastes right now. I've already ripped all of my music to high bitrate MP3s (~224 kbps, 80GB total) for playing around my house (computers and TiVos). I'd love to have the collection available in my car or wherever else I happen to be, but not at the going prices.

there is a new Firefox version (0.9) avaiable at http://www.mozilla.org/

much better than IE (popup blocker, (more) secure, etc.

Bronco -

Nope, have not read it. Mayhaps 4 years from now, when I have time and inclination for some leisure reading I might pick it up. Will keep in mind.

You cannot make anything fool-proof. The fools are too inventive

Well, as I live in the UK, I can't use the iTunes store.

iTunes is, at best, an average media player. Just about the only feature I could see myself using is the "share my playlist" thing, but given that the only other iTunes user is my flatmate (he has a G4 Powerbook), and all his music's stored on his Windows machine, it's not exactly a big deal.

I simply can't see the point in using iTunes. It has no features I need.

I buy a lot of music - I spend over £100 ($180) on music per month. All of that's on CDs or vinyl though.

I've never bought music for download - part of why I buy music is to have something physical and tangible. The packaging, sleeve notes, photography, and such, all contribute to what makes a good "album".

It's even worse for me with singles. I'm gradually working up more knowledge of the art and science of DJing, so practically any single I buy will be on vinyl anyway - I can't afford one of the decent Pioneer CD-decks yet.

Actually, I'm dead set on not using iTunes. I hate the software.

That's pretty funny considering that the iPod could be seen (from Apple's strategic view) as nothing but the portable extension of iTunes...

Mebbe it's just me, but I found the main characters as whinney, self-absorbed losers, who couldn't sieze an opportunity if it came and bit 'em in the ass.

I'm curious, have you read this:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0140042598/qid=1087256499/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/103-3254530-4464626?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

If so, what did you think of it?

-TPFKAS2S
http://www.braglio.com

The way the music died:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/music/view/

Unless you are dead set on using iTunes

Actually, I'm dead set on not using iTunes. I hate the software. I use EphPod (http://www.ephpod.com) to update my iPod, and I won't let iTunes or MusicMatch anywhere near my machine.

With the plethora of iPod plugins available for WinAmp, foobar etc, there's really no good reason to use iTunes even with an iPod.

I was seriously tempted by the H120, but I decided that the extra capacity on the H140 was worth the extra money.

I bought one of these a few months ago...
http://www.iriveramerica.com/products/H120.aspx

Absolutely a fantastic device. Unless you are dead set on using iTunes then there is no reason not to go for iRiver instead of iPod. No restrictions on transfering files other than music, unlike iPod has. Can read txt files, rip to wav or mp3 at various qualities if you connect it to a cd player. Can be used as a micro recorder (for interviews etc) and even has an FM tuner.

/me looks interested

/me checks his bank balance

/me stops looking interested

I had much the same reaction about the Sony Vaio U70:

http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/notebooks/sony_vaio_U50.htm

I'd love to get one, but not at those prices.

iRiver are most definitely the bomb though.

From my perspective it's a more flexible storage device/MP3/OGG player - not as many restrictions as some of the other MP3 players.

Edit: left stuff out when I was quoting. Fixed.

This comment was edited on Jun 14, 16:32.

Aghast that someone could not like The Sun Also Rises.

Mebbe it's just me, but I found the main characters as whinney, self-absorbed losers, who couldn't sieze an opportunity if it came and bit 'em in the ass.

But that's just me.

You cannot make anything fool-proof. The fools are too inventive

Really stupid problem, expect something like this to make a major article on a Mac site. All you do is switch your laptop into desktop environment instead of laptop in power options. Wow. Problem solved. Another solution, don't use an iPod. I have a Creative Zen Jukebox 40GB for $260, about half the price of the equiv iPod. No AAC files, but that is the way I like it. Die Apple.

Aghast that someone could not like The Sun Also Rises. Probably the only book I enjoyed reading for English last year.

Never a single problem with my iPod. Go Intel/Firewire or go home.

Oooooooh.

/me looks interested

/me checks his bank balance

/me stops looking interested

Actually, I'm not sure how much I'd be willing to pay over the odds for something like this - I've got a very nice digital satellite PVR device in my lounge (Sky+ for anyone that cares), and I can't see myself watching movies on the move as a rule.

Of course, if it's not horrendously expensive (Ha!) then I might consider it.

iRiver are most definitely the bomb though.

What thing with the British ?

You cannot make anything fool-proof. The fools are too inventive

Arrrrrrrghhhhh ..... not only do I lose points for spelling and grammar, but also for not using proper citations. Damn!

That's OK, Gandhi -- you get mega points for that thing with the British
This comment was edited on Jun 14, 14:04.

Arrrrrrrghhhhh ..... not only do I lose points for spelling and grammar, but also for not using proper citations. Damn!



You cannot make anything fool-proof. The fools are too inventive

Actually, you can blame Wired for that title...

People look so snooty, Take pills make them moody, Automatic bzooty, Zero to tutti fruitti, Sex in the halls, Niagra Falls, Local shopping malls receive Anonymous calls