Previously, I mentioned the troubles of bridging the gap between the music stored on my computer and being able to listen to this music on my main stereo, which is not in my office where my computer is located. Actually, my main stereo isn't even hooked up currently. It is much too large for an apartment and since all of the rooms in our apartment are within close proximity, just listening to the music on the computer isn't too bad most of the time, unless you are in the bedroom, which is where the Bose sound dock comes in.
At any rate, in the future when we have a house I am going to need a way to efficiently connect my music collection on my computer to my stereo. I've been thinking about ways to do this recently. I know there are several devices out there that can do this, including the Logitech Squeezebox, which I might end up buying. But this week I stumbled upon an answer to this problem that is really quite brilliant: Take the computer out of the equation. How would you do this, you might ask? Simple - use the cloud.
In simple terms, cloud computing is basically a hard drive not within your computer that a person can access and store files (it has other functions, but this is the basic idea). You typically access the drive through the internet using either a browser or an app. In the past few weeks I have accidentally acquired three cloud drives, the best one being the Amazon Cloud. We are Prime members, so my cloud drive has 20 gb of storage (I think the usual free amount is 5 gb). This drive allows me to upload my files so that I can access it anywhere there is an internet connection. The best part is, music files do not count against your storage total, so I basically have an unlimited drive that I can store music on and access it anywhere. In addition, there is a great app for the iPhone to access and play the music. I have already used it in my car to stream music over my car stereo's bluetooth connection and it works great. Using a simple device like Apple's Air Port Express, you can easily stream the music from the cloud into your stereo, completely eliminating the need for a personal computer at all!
I must say I am quite excited about this. I have already started uploading parts of my music collection. The upload part can be a bit cumbersome but it will be worth it in the end. I should be able to access songs, create playlists, and basically do everything with my music just as if the computer were right next to me, except the computer isn't even being used. Instead I'll use my iPhone to control the music (it really can do everything), or an iPad if I can swing that. It's really quite brilliant.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Re-Reviewing the iPhone
The 4S is the first iPhone I've ever owned. I've had it for several months now (I think it was released last October) and have had time to get used to it and learn what it can do. With this being the case, I must say that the iPhone is one of the most amazing objects I have ever owned. Technology evolves quickly so it is easy to forget that just a few years ago devices like this didn't exist. But if you take the time to think about what all it can do, it really is a remarkable device.
Besides the obvious features of communication via phone, text message, or email, the phone has more or less replaced my camera for all but the most special occasions. The camera is quite good. It can shoot full high definition video as well. I surf the internet using the quite good Safari browser or apps like Wikipedia or IMDB. I check the weather forecast. I check locations and get directions using Google Maps. I check the latest sports scores. I almost don't even need a computer the internet experience is that good. I watch TV on the phone on HBO Go. It's how I'm re-watching the Sopranos. I read books on the phone on my Kindle app. I listen to music using Pandora, even connecting the phone to my car stereo by bluetooth. I keep a calendar of all my events so I know where I'm going and what I'm supposed to do. I play games on the phone, which some of them are quite good. I use it at work to look up drugs and their doses.
This single device has replaced or greatly reduced my need for a camera, a computer, a GPS device, a TV, a bookshelf or textbooks at all, a stereo, a calendar, and a gaming system, and it fits in the palm of my hand. Not only does the iPhone do all of these things, but it is so intuitive to use a toddler could figure out how to do most of it. The device is nearly perfect (I do have a few complaints, but they are so minor they aren't worth mentioning.). Oh yeah, did I mention that it could make phone calls?
On a side note, I'd like to say happy father's day to all of the dads out there. Dad, I hope you enjoy your TV. And I'd like to thank Joe for picking up a copy of A Game of Thrones, the book. It should hold me over until season 3 picks up on HBO.
Besides the obvious features of communication via phone, text message, or email, the phone has more or less replaced my camera for all but the most special occasions. The camera is quite good. It can shoot full high definition video as well. I surf the internet using the quite good Safari browser or apps like Wikipedia or IMDB. I check the weather forecast. I check locations and get directions using Google Maps. I check the latest sports scores. I almost don't even need a computer the internet experience is that good. I watch TV on the phone on HBO Go. It's how I'm re-watching the Sopranos. I read books on the phone on my Kindle app. I listen to music using Pandora, even connecting the phone to my car stereo by bluetooth. I keep a calendar of all my events so I know where I'm going and what I'm supposed to do. I play games on the phone, which some of them are quite good. I use it at work to look up drugs and their doses.
This single device has replaced or greatly reduced my need for a camera, a computer, a GPS device, a TV, a bookshelf or textbooks at all, a stereo, a calendar, and a gaming system, and it fits in the palm of my hand. Not only does the iPhone do all of these things, but it is so intuitive to use a toddler could figure out how to do most of it. The device is nearly perfect (I do have a few complaints, but they are so minor they aren't worth mentioning.). Oh yeah, did I mention that it could make phone calls?
On a side note, I'd like to say happy father's day to all of the dads out there. Dad, I hope you enjoy your TV. And I'd like to thank Joe for picking up a copy of A Game of Thrones, the book. It should hold me over until season 3 picks up on HBO.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
The Sound of Music
Long gone are the days where if you wanted to buy an album you would go to a music store to make the purchase. In fact, even I can barely remember those days. Today, if you want to purchase a song you just hop on the Internet and go to Amazon or iTunes and download the song or album to your computer. I don't even think I own any "CDs" anymore. I have a 200 disc changer sitting in my closet collecting dust. It is just barely over 10 years old yet it seems so archaic its presence in my home seems laughable.
The personal computer equipped with Internet access is the best music machine ever made. Never in the history of music have you been able to store so much music, have access to so much music so quickly, been able to set up play lists with the touch of a button so easily. The only problem with having your music stored on your computer is having access to the music through your home stereo.
When I was growing up I had a man cave (or was it a boy cave?) in my parent's basement, equipped with a computer connected to a high out-put stereo and two speakers that were each about three feet tall. Ever since moving out of my parent's basement, however, I have not had such a convenient setup. I've never again had a computer in the same room as my stereo, which is now in my living room. That seems just a bit awkward. I haven't figured out a good way to stream the music wireless. The PS3 does a decent job but you have to have the TV on, which I really don't like. Truthfully I haven't tried a lot of other devices, but I worry about difficulty browsing my library (which has 40,000+ songs) using a device other than a computer and mouse. This is something I am going to have to look into more seriously once we move into a house.
However, in the meantime I mostly listen to music at my computer or in my car. Otherwise, I save the living room for TV. However, I enjoy listening to music in the bedroom and bathroom in the mornings when I get ready for my day. This presents a similar dilemma as I do not have a computer in my bedroom either. To solve this problem, I decided to get an iPod sound dock. I never thought I would buy such a device, but it seemed like an easy way to get my computerized music to a stereo. Plus, the iPod has a great interface for going through music. I did a little bit of research, saw a review on Attack of the Show, and decided to go with a Bose Sound Dock. Of course it was a bit costly, but the sound it produces is really quite impressive. It can easily fill a large room with sound, and most of the reviews I read said Bose made the best-sounding docks on the market. My only complaint thus far is that it doesn't have bluetooth built-in. But otherwise it is a great sounding little stereo that easily allows me to listen to my computer music someplace other than my computer.
While we're on the subject of music, Sarah and I went to Cincinnati last week to see Radiohead at Riverbend Music Center. We had lawn seats (which was artificial turf, how odd). The concert was decent, though it wasn't as good as when we saw them in St. Louis earlier this year. Overall, I don't think Riverbend is as good as Klipsch (formerly Verizon Wireless Music Center) here in Indy. It didn't sound as good and it needed to be twice as loud. We enjoyed the show regardless. Below is a picture from our lawn seat.
The personal computer equipped with Internet access is the best music machine ever made. Never in the history of music have you been able to store so much music, have access to so much music so quickly, been able to set up play lists with the touch of a button so easily. The only problem with having your music stored on your computer is having access to the music through your home stereo.
When I was growing up I had a man cave (or was it a boy cave?) in my parent's basement, equipped with a computer connected to a high out-put stereo and two speakers that were each about three feet tall. Ever since moving out of my parent's basement, however, I have not had such a convenient setup. I've never again had a computer in the same room as my stereo, which is now in my living room. That seems just a bit awkward. I haven't figured out a good way to stream the music wireless. The PS3 does a decent job but you have to have the TV on, which I really don't like. Truthfully I haven't tried a lot of other devices, but I worry about difficulty browsing my library (which has 40,000+ songs) using a device other than a computer and mouse. This is something I am going to have to look into more seriously once we move into a house.
However, in the meantime I mostly listen to music at my computer or in my car. Otherwise, I save the living room for TV. However, I enjoy listening to music in the bedroom and bathroom in the mornings when I get ready for my day. This presents a similar dilemma as I do not have a computer in my bedroom either. To solve this problem, I decided to get an iPod sound dock. I never thought I would buy such a device, but it seemed like an easy way to get my computerized music to a stereo. Plus, the iPod has a great interface for going through music. I did a little bit of research, saw a review on Attack of the Show, and decided to go with a Bose Sound Dock. Of course it was a bit costly, but the sound it produces is really quite impressive. It can easily fill a large room with sound, and most of the reviews I read said Bose made the best-sounding docks on the market. My only complaint thus far is that it doesn't have bluetooth built-in. But otherwise it is a great sounding little stereo that easily allows me to listen to my computer music someplace other than my computer.
While we're on the subject of music, Sarah and I went to Cincinnati last week to see Radiohead at Riverbend Music Center. We had lawn seats (which was artificial turf, how odd). The concert was decent, though it wasn't as good as when we saw them in St. Louis earlier this year. Overall, I don't think Riverbend is as good as Klipsch (formerly Verizon Wireless Music Center) here in Indy. It didn't sound as good and it needed to be twice as loud. We enjoyed the show regardless. Below is a picture from our lawn seat.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
You Are What You Eat, Part II
I was diligent about entering my food into myfitnesspal for four to five weeks. To be honest, I've gotten away from it a bit. But four to five weeks of data is enough to have a pretty good idea about what I'm eating and how many calories I am taking in.
I have my program set to maintain weight, as opposed to lose weight. At my height and current weight, according to the program, I can take in around 2,300 calories per day. I found that on most days I would eat between 1700 and 2000 calories. I did this pretty consistently for a month. I believe the calorie amount because I didn't change the way I eat too much and I have been the same weight since about junior high. Counting the calories did make me change the way I eat a little bit. For example, once I found out that two double stuff Oreos were 140 calories, I backed off on the amount of cookies I ate a bit in order to stay under my daily calorie limit.
Of course, the other side of the equation is exercise. I'll be honest, I absolutely loathe exercising. It will be a 90/90 day (90 degrees, 90% humidity) and I'll see people running around our neighborhood and they look absolutely miserable. I have no idea what would possess you to just get out and run. I don't particularly like other exercise activities either. While I was counting the calories Sarah and I started going to the gym a few times per week but we have since fallen off that phase. I don't even know how much it was helping if at all. I felt good about going (even though I didn't enjoy it) but I'm afraid I was getting more psychological benefit than physiological benefit.
In this weekend news, I had my first shift at the free clinic down the street from where I live. It was very busy! Last night Sarah and I ate at the Kona Grill. My steak was very good, and Sarah had some fancy sushi, seen below.
I have my program set to maintain weight, as opposed to lose weight. At my height and current weight, according to the program, I can take in around 2,300 calories per day. I found that on most days I would eat between 1700 and 2000 calories. I did this pretty consistently for a month. I believe the calorie amount because I didn't change the way I eat too much and I have been the same weight since about junior high. Counting the calories did make me change the way I eat a little bit. For example, once I found out that two double stuff Oreos were 140 calories, I backed off on the amount of cookies I ate a bit in order to stay under my daily calorie limit.
Of course, the other side of the equation is exercise. I'll be honest, I absolutely loathe exercising. It will be a 90/90 day (90 degrees, 90% humidity) and I'll see people running around our neighborhood and they look absolutely miserable. I have no idea what would possess you to just get out and run. I don't particularly like other exercise activities either. While I was counting the calories Sarah and I started going to the gym a few times per week but we have since fallen off that phase. I don't even know how much it was helping if at all. I felt good about going (even though I didn't enjoy it) but I'm afraid I was getting more psychological benefit than physiological benefit.
In this weekend news, I had my first shift at the free clinic down the street from where I live. It was very busy! Last night Sarah and I ate at the Kona Grill. My steak was very good, and Sarah had some fancy sushi, seen below.
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