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Phone support clocked in at two calls of approx 2.5 hours total, only to have no Level 2 support solve my problem.

Taking matters into my own hands, and after much experimentation, I discovered, apparently, my issue with the Zune software not being able to connect to my Zune device, seems to have stemmed from the fact I had Visual C# Express installed. So, if you’re having problems where you can’t get the software to connect to the device, but the device is clearly recognized by the Device Manager… try uninstalling software you don’t need.

So, I guess it’s not Vista 64’s fault, but probably the Zune software’s inability to check certain necessities of its environment upon install.

but regular 32-bit vista loves it. Wish me luck in my future phone-support hell.

Update: Wed Nov 14th 12:37 AM EST - After a lengthy support call, everything is still the same…. but the support agent told me to call back in a few hours, after they had updated the Zune software. Awesome.

I’ve been completely bored with the music I’ve been listening to. Worse yet, I’ve found it exceedingly difficult to find new music which has caught my fancy.

Thankfully, lifehacker swung in on a rope and saved me from musical monotony. In a mouse-click that was as whimsical as any mouse-click could ever be, I was introduced to one of the finest net inventions ever, Pandora.com.

Pandora automagically serves new music to you (that you’ll like) based a favorite band or song of yours. That’s it. Feed it a song or a band, and it feeds you musical goodness. Lots of it. Emphasis on the good. You know those buffets in Vegas that have great food, for cheap? Well, this is that, but for music on the Interlink, for free.

I recommend you give it a go.

If Pandora catches your fancy, you might also sign up at last.fm, which is a similar music service, but differs in a few ways.

• Last.fm keeps track of what you listen to.
• Last.fm can keep track of what you listen to if you install a piece of software into your favorite player. Don’t worry, it’s painless.
• It then recommends music based on all of this. Like Pandora…

If you like both Pandora and last.fm…. enter pandora.fm
It’s pandora, but it talks to last.fm. You get the benefits of both. Oh-so-slick. I’m in heaven.

“Guitar Hero is about rocking your fucking face off.”

Perhaps you understand the gravity of those words, and maybe you don’t. But as I see it, such a phrase isn’t to be said lightly. You see, that resonates with me on some primal level, stroking the hope built up during so many hours as a teen spent jumping on my bed (yeah, as a teen, that’s the ticket) performing air guitar acrobatics.

Shame on you, for now you’ve made me think rock godhood is somehow within my grasp, if even for a short time. I hate you Tycho. I hate you for getting my hopes up, for making me spend money on this…. controller.

I feel used and dirty, as I’ll be paying for some cheap thrill akin to buying a blow up doll. When did normal game controllers cease to suffice? Oh sure, I don’t *need* this new succubus of a game. At least, that’s what I try and tell myself. I’ll love it. I’ll love it as I love rocking, and I’ll feel unclean for it.

I have you to thank for that.
~Tor

Well, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the fact that iTunes now supports multimedia annotation and playback of audio files. On one hand, it’s great to see excellent support for this kind of feature in a prime-time application. On the other hand they’ve gone and implemented something which is pretty much in the same space as the w3 spec, SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language). Why re-invent the wheel? Initial signs point to market protection of iTunes, AAC, iPods, and Garageband software. While this new format isn’t proprietary, it seems like big companies like Apple or MS are supporting alternative niche “open” formats, to create market protection. Sure it’s open, but did they really need to make another competing format? In this case, Apple just gave the middle finger to all current SMIL supporting media players.

If it weren’t bad enough that they created a competing format, they only allow the spec to work with their proprietary format, AAC. The Voxmedia Wiki, the most comprehensive source for how to implement AAC multimedia markup, states that Garageband/Podcast Chapter Tool is only compatible with AAC files. Apple’s decision to only support this markup in their player for AAC files fucking sucks. I’m really, really mad about this. I see no reason why the annotations can’t be applied to other file formats, as it should be the player’s job to associate the timestamp in the XML file with the position of audio playback.

Maybe I don’t get this. I hope I don’t, and if I don’t, someone please set me straight. But from where I’m sitting, this new development is a mixed blessing. It’s too bad that the functionality that podcasters have been desiring is caught up in this GarageBand/iTunes/AAC quasi-open format bullshit.

Found by way of Scoble.
Update: It looks like Simon is a bit miffed too.

Let me say right now that this is going to be the album for my coming summer, given that it’s got some tasty hip-hop beats and easygoing melodies.

The fact that he’s back collaborating with the Dust Brothers shows through, as it’s somewhat reminiscient of Odelay, though, I’d categorize this album as simpler and far less processed than Mutations, Odelay, or Midnite Vultures.

My third generation iPod was definitely worth getting at the time. Though, with greater competition now, as well as converging devices, I really don’t think I’ll be replacing my iPod when it dies. By the time that happens, I’ll be in the market for a single device, akin to the Motorola MPx, something to replace my phone, my iPod, and PDA. I can’t wait to have room in my pockets for a wallet again.

If you’re thinking of using Napster’s new and “improved” service, you might want to take a look at this users experience with their DRM. By way of Scoble’s link log.

Check out Billy Harvey’s website. It’s a great example of simulating 3d effects in Flash with simple scaling and volume manipulation. Oh, and it’s really cool too. That’s why you should check it out.

The individual songs from the Wired CD are now available for download at high quality. Previously, you could only download one large track containing the whole disc.

Go listen to Brad Sucks. I can’t remember what podcast uses the guitar riff for “Dirt Bag” as their intro music but it prompted me to download it a few weeks ago. Now, Adam Curry’s giving him some airtime.

All of the work by Brad Sucks is free to use and redistribute, remix, and broadcast for non-commercial purposes. Oh, and he uses WordPress as well.

Check out Sarah McLachlan’s new video. It’s thought provoking to some extent, and I can’t decide whether or not if it lies on the side of being sincere or subvertantly preachy. I guess I don’t like being put on a guilt trip, but then, isn’t that part of the point of the guilt trip? By way of Tim Bray

• World On Fire (for iTunes users)
• World On Fire (everybody else)

Kenny G sucks. Most people know this, but I’ve never seen my views so exactly articulated. Pat Metheny took the bile that simmers in our stomach for Kenny G, and interpreted it into some of the most hateful prose I’ve read. Take a look at this if you hate Kenny G, or if you interested in reading a rabid rant of the most pure, refined substance.

RollingStone, the magazine who brought you the most flamingly gay cover of Ben Affleck, a publication that I love to hate, but all too often find myself nodding in agreement with, has put up an interesting overview of what they rate as the top 50 artists of all time.

Of course, I don’t agree (and I doubt you will) with the ordering of a lot of artists, so with the exception of the top 5, think of it as a simple who’s who list. The nice spin on it is that each writeup on each superband is authored by a recognized, regarded celebrity.

Highlights include…

• The Doors by Marilyn Manson
• Muddy Waters by Billy Gibbons
• Stevie Wonder by Elton John
• Led Zeppelin by David Grohl
• Fats Domino by Dr. John
• The Beatles by Elvis Costello
• And my personal favorite, Johnny Cash by Kris Kristofferson

1. Lorin has never and will never punch anyone in the face, even if that person is a shitty movie.
2. Lorin was right about the Grey Album.
3. Tony Hawk Underground’s sick mode is impossible.
4. Jay-Z’s Black Album is boring.
5. If you like cigars, try a Montecristo #2.
6. You’re breaking the law by downloading the Grey Album.
7. Norah Jones Feels Like Home actually makes me like some aspects of country music.
8. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is refreshing.
9. Justin is a smart man who knows lots about movies.
10. Natalie Portman is definetly hot enough to make me want to see a shitty movie like Garden State.
11. The Beatles have been butchered in the Grey Album.
12. I wish Johnny Cash were my grandad.
13. I will buy the Matrix Trilogy despite the creamy shit center that is the second movie.
14. If you smoke cigarettes don’t fucking tell me my cigar stinks.
15. Jim Carrey is a good actor.
16. Justin likes some shitty ass movies.
17. I wish I had a lightsaber.
18. Disney stole almost every story it ever made a movie of.
19. If you can do 40 fliptricks in one combo, you need to go outside.
20. Natalie Portman is definetly hot enough to make me want to see a shitty movie like Star Wars Episode III.
21. Disney is rich. DJ Danger Mouse isn’t, and can’t sell his album.
22. I liked Top Gun.
23. Good cigars are only tobacco. Cigarettes have all kinds of added chemicals in them.
24. I’m no better than Justin.
25. I hope Lorin punches somebody in the fucking face, one day, I really really do, and knocks them out cold.