iOS 14 & Apple Watch Series 6

 

I've been using iPhone since the 4S (before that I had a Samsung Windows phone, can you imagine?).  In that time I've had a 4S, a 6S, and now an X.  I'm not going to spend time discussing the iPhone, as everyone is familiar.  I will say, however, it is amazing to watch how the iOS software has advanced through the years.  Seeing video or screenshots of how the iOS looked in the past makes it look archaic compared to today's version.  Case in point: iOS 14.  Ever since I've owned an iPhone I made it a goal to only have one screen of apps.  I would have a folder that contained any additional apps that wouldn't fit on my home screen.  With iOS 14, that problem is solved with the app drawer.  Plus, I can now put widgets on my home screen which allows me to see additional information about that is going on that day without getting into the app.  While this takes up more screen space, I still only have one page of apps because I can push lesser used apps to the app drawer.  While it's my understanding that Android devices have been able to do this for years, I don't really care about that.  This iOS update has changed how I use my phone, and for the better.

Moving onto the Apple Watch.  I bought my first Apple Watch in 2017.  I had a gift card to the Apple store and didn't need a computer or tablet at the time.  Series 3 had just come out but I wasn't sure if I would even like the watch so I decided to get the Series 1.  Turns out I really like the watch and how it integrates with the iPhone.  It is especially useful while at work.  At this point, however, the Series 1 was starting to feel a bit dated and I don't think Apple is supporting it anymore so I decided to update to the recently released Series 6.  From an app perspective, I don't see a lot of major changes between the two watches.  From a hardware perspective, however, the Series 6 is a big step-up from the Series 1.  It is amazing how a few millimeters in size can make such a big difference.  The Series 6 screen feels markedly bigger than the Series 1.  It is also more responsive with swipes and button clicks and significantly faster.  The EKG and O2 sensors are amazing as well.  It's just amazing to see how the hardware and to a lesser extent, the software advances with this device in a relatively short amount of time.

Radiohead's Top 20 Songs: A Moon Shaped Pool

 

Their most recent album, A Moon Shaped Pool came out in 2016, a full 5 years after A King Of Limbs.  I have two songs from this album in my top 20: Decks Dark and Identikit.  Decks Dark is just an incredible song and is a perfect example of Radiohead's style.  It is eerie, mellow, and somehow simple and complex at the same time.  Identikit is a fantastically weird song.  I have Present Tense, The Numbers, Desert Island Disk, and Burn The Witch on my honorable mentions list. I like True Love Waits as well, but the album version is a bit much for me.  The live version is better in my opinion.  

RIP 3DS

 

I purchased my 3DS in 2018, a full 7 years after the system's initial release in 2011.  I was in-between games on the Switch and PS4, and Nintendo had just released a Hyrule edition of the system with A Link Between Worlds included for under $200.  A Link Between Worlds got good reviews and it was a Zelda game that I had never played before.  Additionally, the 3DS shop had access to numerous other Zelda titles that I had never played before, mostly on prior hand held systems.  I decided to buy the old system for these reasons and am glad that I did so.  I dominated the system's old Zelda and Mario games for a solid 18 months.

What a quirky system.  By 2018 the system felt quite dated.  It did not have HD graphics.  It had two screens and most of the time I wasn't sure what to do with the second screen.  The clamshell design felt dated.  It wasn't exactly fast at loading or saving.  I could go on and on.  But it had an extensive gaming library, was easy to pick up and play, and was just fun.  As with many other Zelda fans, I love the music in Zelda games.  The fact that I could pay $1.99 and get a Twilight Princess background that plays music from the game was great.  Every time I opened the system and heard the music, it made me smile.  

I didn't get the opportunity to play many 3DS original games except for A Link Between Worlds and Animal Crossing, but having access to many of the older Zelda and Mario games from 2000-2010 that I had not previously played was a treat.  I was able to get through all of my games on my wishlist except for Oracle of Ages, which I will likely try to pick-up soon before the store closes.  

What a great system.  It is rather old and with the Switch being portable it's not a surprise at all that they are moving on and retiring the 3DS.  I hesitated to buy it since it was so old in 2018 but am glad that I did.  It was rather quite enjoyable to play. 

Radiohead's Top 20 Songs: The King Of Limbs

 

The King Of Limbs is a bit of an odd-ball album in my opinion, even for Radiohead standards.  The album came out in 2011, which for me was a time of intense business as I was right in the middle of medical residency.   It's also quite short - 8 songs lasting 37 minutes.  To me, this album was a bit of a disappointment following In Rainbows.  I liked it, but not as much as their previous albums.  As with many Radiohead albums, however, it has grown with me over time.  Two of the 8 songs from this album made my list of top Radiohead songs: Codex and Separator.  Codex is a perfect example of how powerful their music can be, even though it is a simple song.  Separator perfectly demonstrates the complexity of their music, with the complicated percussion and gradual addition of instruments as the song progresses.  They are easily two of my favorite Radiohead songs.  Little By Little, Lotus Flower, and Give Up The Ghost made my honorable mention list.  Over half the songs on the album made my top or honorable songs list.  Not bad for an album that at the time I did not appreciate.

Radiohead's Top 20 Songs: In Rainbows

 

In Rainbows is my favorite Radiohead album.  It released in 2007 right after I graduated college and likely in the peak of my Radiohead fandom.  The tour that accompanied this album was the first time I saw Radiohead live. By this point in my Radiohead journey I had become a big enough fan that I was looking forward to new albums and not just discovering their old stuff. When I heard this album for the first time I immediately loved it.  This is somewhat unique in that often times it takes a few listens before I fall in love with their music.  It's complex enough that I don't think I can fully grasp the songs until I hear them a few times.  This album was different.  Its songs grabbed me like Vader choking one of his fellow Empire comrades - it is that good.

I do want to take a brief moment to discuss how the album was sold.  By the time this album was released the peak of the MP3 era had passed.  However, illegal MP3 downloads still existed and people were used to paying nothing for music at that point.  Kudos for Radiohead for releasing this album as a digital download where you could name your own price, even if it was nothing.  I think I paid $10 for my digital download.

This album featured more songs on my top 20 list than any of the other albums.  No surprise based on the aforementioned praise.  We start the list with Bodysnatchers, which has one of my all time favorite Radiohead guitar hooks.  Every time I hear this song I think of Thom rocking out and bobbling his head.  Weird Fishes/Arpeggi is next.  Unique mix of upbeat drums in the background with mellow guitar and vocals that slowly crescendo in volume as the song progresses. All I Need with that amazing bells part that starts mid-way and the piano part that starts towards the end of the song. Reckoner with the great samba drum and percussion in the background.  Jigsaw Falling Into Place, which honestly is a song that has grown on me over the years after seeing live performances.  Honorable mention includes 15 Step, Videotape, and House Of Cards. Truly one of my favorite modern albums and favorite Radiohead albums.  If I needed to introduce someone to Radiohead, this is the album I would tell them to listen to.

September 18th

 

September 18 is going to be a good day.  It was just announced that the rumored Super Mario Bros. remake for the Switch will be releasing that day.  I'm already looking forward to visiting Peach's castle in Mario 64 again and Mario Galaxy has some of the best music of any video game.  I never had a Gamecube and so Mario Sunshine will be a brand new game for me.

Sarah and I watched the original Long Way Round and found their journey to be quite interesting, so looking forward to seeing these two travel from South America up to Los Angeles on Apple TV+.  Also, since being more engaged with Star Wars I have become somewhat of a Ewan McGregor fan so should be a good show.

The Most Awful Song In The History Of Radio

 I was sitting in the car with my family last weekend after swim class and the UB40 song Red Red Wine came on the radio and I decided at that moment that I cannot stand that song.  It's awful.  According to Wikipedia, when it was released in 1983 it only had moderate success in the States.  I can understand hearing the song on the radio when it first came out, but why in the world is it still being played on radio today? It was released nearly 40 years ago!  If it were a good song, then I'd be glad to listen to a 40 year old song.  But this song sucks. It would be like hearing Imagine Dragons on the radio 40 years from now.  

In the process of spending 30 seconds researching this song, I discovered that it is a remake of a Neil Diamond song.  I did not know that.  I listened to the original.  It is awful as well.