GaDGET Junky UPDATE! iTunes 10 Tunes into Morpheus Server from my laptop.

Back. Yes been very busy doing lots, but can't remember anything.

Anyway, as the title bar suggests, I am currently streaming 'Clannad' from the Morpheus Server in the Office through my laptop using iTunes 10, just downloaded.

At the same time I am listening to Muse on the Morpheus Music Centre the other side of the office. I am using the iPod touch to control it of course. Now to see if I can pick up a stream from my Android phone(using Twonkey app) at the same time. Again using the iPod to control it.

Why you ask? I don't know! But it's cool.

GaDGET Junky: Android and Apple working together to make Morpheus Sing

So I've had my Sony Ericsson Xperia X10mini pro fro a few days now and it's not perfect, but I am getting used to it.

The cool thing is right now, as I write this blog, I have my iPod touch with Plug Player controlling my new Android phone(that'll be the Xperia)  some music and Twonkey Media mobile ( a free app) streaming to the Sonneteer Morpheus Music Centre in my living room. Ok I dont need the iPod to make the music happen as the Morpheus simply saw the phone as a server the moment the app was loaded(wifi switched on of course). Fantastic!

I am currently playing a few Led Zeplin songs in full WAV (CD quality) seemlessly.

Oh and one more thing

Hazel O'Conner at Guilfest; stirred the emotions.
Must find my Breaking Glass LP. Another first listen 'gotya' Album.

Dear Muso's if you are writing a good 'Album filler' please stop writing, tear it all up and start again. If wanted good padding i'd buy scatter cushions.

2010 by Prince

Yes I had to buy the Mirror and spent a whole 65p for a hot off the press Prince Album. The second time he's done this in the UK. The last time was much worse as I had to buy the Mail! I hope no one saw me!

First listen was through my laptop speakers as I was working at the breakfast bar in my Kitchen. One could argue that as a hi-fi type person that this really wasn't going to do it any justice. Recordingwise this may be true, but i really wanted to know if the songs would grasp me in the same way as when i first listened to Black holes and Revelations by Muse a couple of years back.

One word, No. This is not to say that by anyone else this wouldn't be a competent yet not totally exciting collection of songs, but Prince is coasting. When I first heard Parade back in 1986 I was goosepimpling and when i played it again recently it still sounded fresh and had this buzz about it. Purple Rain, Controversy, 1999 and so on all had similar affects.

I was at Guilfest on the weekend past and one evening the Wonderstuff (Size of a Cow) were on and they said while on stage that they had recently learned while doing Glastonbury that at Festivals there is no need to play anything written this century. Based on the last time I saw them at Guilfest I wouldn't disagree. Prince, unfortunately, suffers a similar affliction. Nothing he has produced since the turn of the Century would have brought him to the legendary status that he fully deserves for his earlier work.

Shame. I just found it boring.

Regarding the quality of the recording; of course it's great. Good quality recordings to not stir emotions, good songs do. But I didn't need to tell you that.

Just reading the FT the other day, as one does....

There was an article about the Swiss watch business. Actually there were several articles. Something to do with Hublot  and how they've grabbed all the juicy bits from their failed movement supplier. So now they are doing it all in house. This supplier it seems supplied a wide range of brands. many of which are blitzed all over the FT's own, 'How to spend it' magazine. The interesting thing to me is that many of these brands, including the current incarnation of Hublot, are less than 10 years old. A lot of their strength is built on the heritage  that Switzerland as a country has for making watches. Since most of them use the same engine, admittedly crafted by high calibre Swiss watchmakers, they are basically gifted marketing vehicles taking a ride on the greatest brand bus there is; 'Swiss Made'. I wonder how strong the 'British Made' brand is?

The best job in the world

We had the pleasure of driving around an almost empty Heathrow area yesterday. We were there to pick up Vicky, my partner's, car from Business parking. She has just concluded a 27 hour train and ferry trip from Madrid under beautiful, blue yet volcano ash stricken sky. We arrived at the gate of the Parking area to be greeted by by a Gentleman who welcomed us and and advised us that the 3 days over stay was free and that we could enter with my car and drive the 500 metres or so to collect the car and both leave for free.

We were, of course, fully expecting to pay for the overstay as companies all over are invoking their 'act of God' clauses to plough back money into their coffers. Business Parking at Heathrow clearly had other ideas and I imagine everyone who arrived that day to collect their cars left happy.

So why the best job in the world? Well the Gentleman who greeted us has one job and one job only all day and that's to make people happy. Yes he has his Saturday blown out, a beautiful sunny day, but hey; everybody was smiling.

The second best job? The guy at the other end writing off the charges and raising the barrier for us to leave.

Montreal Show in the -12 degree spring time

I almost look respectable, as my mother would say!

New Suite, new shirt and new product. It's bee beautifully sunny and as cold as -12 degrees centigrade here in Montreal and it's Spring!!!!  I've got some pics and more to say, but right now I'm late to meet my public! As they say. Think French!

Brand loyal...until I got in a pickle at Sainsburys's

I am partial to lime pickle as nothing spices up a bit of grilled lamb neck fillet on a skewer better. I had dinner all planned. I just needed to pop into Sainsbury's(my closest local supermarket, others are available) to get the lamb, some salad and, of course, Sharwoods finest lime pickle as I'd gobbled up the last jar. Shriek! The shelf in the store was empty! It seems I am not the only fiend.

Now I knew that they sometimes keep a stash next to the Indian foods as well as with the pickles so I marched over to that isles. Aggghhhhh! None there too. Oh what to do!? Vicky, noticed I was in a fluster and pointed out that there was another brand available on the shelf near by. A little uncomfortable, I was, until I noticed it was Pataks. Now until I'd seen their advert on the television (yes i sometimes do watch commercial television) I'd never heard of them. Suddenly I felt a little more at ease and willing to put it in the trolley.

The verdict? Not bad at all. More lime than paste compared to the Sharwoods version which gave it a stronger sense of freshness. It was also hotter! So be warned. Would I continue with it long term? May be. I'll keep you posted. I might even buy both and mix them. I mean they are like having two different pickles.

GadGET Junky: Had the Morpheus Server round for new year. What a party!

To make sure all is running well and to get used to the unit I had one of the demonstration Morpheus Servers at home for the holidays. I didn't get much time to play with it as we were up north in Yorkshire visiting the in-laws to be. Well my in-laws to be, Vicky's mum and dad. Had my first white Christmas in ages and some lovely food and company. Might need spikes on my tyres next time though.

When we got back, Vicky bought me a copy of Tori Amos Midwinter Graces CD as an anniversary gift as we met 15 years ago this New year and got togther 14 years ago. (I think I got the numbers right? I am sure Vicky will make me edit the blog if wrong).

Got home, switched the server on and popped the CD in. Oh, I have to say the server is so quiet, it makes my Buffalo Linkstation sound like a vacuum cleaner!

Where was I? Oh yes; as the CD was being consumed by the server, I popped down stairs and switched on my Morpheus music centre and then My iPod Touch which has the Plug Player installed (about £3 from Apps store). All this took about 3 to 4 minutes.

As you can see in the picture, by the music centre was switched on in our living room I was able to start playing the (ripped and stored) CD from the Server.
The Morpheus music centre was  singing through my loudspeakers and I had full control via the iPod Touch. Oh I made cup of tea at the same time  and my other hand was holding it!  yes, I hear some of you shouting, I should have left it brew for longer to get that fuller flavour.

I have a brief story to tell about the server concept and how we came about to make one. Next blog!