Mechanical Empathy

iTunes 4.5 and iTMS Updates

If you haven't already heard, Apple updated it's iTunes software adding a number of very neat features to the jukebox and the music store. My favorite and most concise summary of the new features comes from RAILhead Design:

Apple has updated iTunes to v4.5, making the following enhancements:

• CD Insert Printing: After burning a CD you can create and print a label insert directly from iTunes.
• WMA Support: You can now import WMA (Windows Media) files (unprotected files only).
• Lossless Encoder: You can import CDs into iTunes with sound indistinguishable from the original recording but at about half the size.
• Links to iTunes Music Store: Songs in your iTunes library automatically link to the iTunes Music Store, allowing you, for example, to find more music by an artist you like.
• Party Shuffle Playlists: A new Smart Playlist that is continually updated with songs from your library. "Party Shuffle automatically chooses upcoming songs from your Music Library or Playlists. You may add to, delete or reorder the upcoming songs at any time."
• Compilation Grouping: iTunes can keep compilations grouped together when browsing.

Apple has also added some new features to the iTunes Music Store:

• Free Downloads: Each Tuesday selected singles will be available, for the next week, for free download.
• Wish Lists: You can create a playlist of songs that you want to buy and then purchase them later.
• Published Playlists: Users can publish their own playlists as well as view playlists published by other users.
• Music Videos: Users can view videos for selected iTunes Music Store songs from within iTunes.
• Movie Trailers: Movie trailers available from Apple's QuickTime website are now viewable from within iTunes.
• Radio Station Charts: Playlists/charts from over 1200 US radio stations are updated weekly and available for browsing.

All in all, that's a pretty impressive update, Apple! I'm particularly fond of the CD Insert Printing -- something I wanted from day one of the iTunes Music Store. Compilation grouping will also be nice, and it will be interesting to see what singles Apple makes available for free. Be sure you download the new iPod Updater, too, or you won't be able to take advantage of the new iTunes features.

I've already tried the CD Label insert feature and love it! The additional features in the music store are also most welcome and really streamline some of the operations I regularly complete: viewing new movie trailers, checking local radio playlists for music (although the Twin Cities' classical station is MIA), and watching Music Videos (maybe VH1 Top 20 will be stricken from the TiVo)

iTunes Music Rating Based Recommendations

Students at the University of Illinois have developed a database tool for generating music recommendations based upon the current songs in your iTunes library and their ratings. Their server appears to be grossly underpowered; however, since I received an estimated wait time after submitting my ratings of 6 hours 42 minutes and 15 seconds. Also until the database grows (which it appears to be doing rapidly) the resulting recommendations are likely to be "laughable" according to the creators.

I've often wished the iTunes Music Store would develop a system similar to this based on user's previous sales. The store offers the unique opportunity to preview new artists and start a collection at very low cost, but finding the artists you are likely to enjoy among the hundreds of thousands of selection is more than a little challenging.

Stillwater Orchestra Farewell Weekend

The Stillwater Orchestra is holding a farewell weekend concert event to celebrate the career of retiring orchestra director James Hainlen. This is my former high school and orchestra, so I will be returning with a mass of other alumni to perform with the orchestra. This collaboration should have, well, interesting results.

There will be a recital and roast on Friday, June 11 followed by a pair of concerts on Saturday, June 12. There are several very talented people playing on Friday - don't miss it. Tickets will sell very quickly, so make sure you order soon if you wish to attend.

The event is also attracting some very good press, which, I have to say, speaks well of the press and the concert!

iTunes AAC Encoding Sounds Best

Apple iTunes AAC encoder scored best of 5 compared in Rareware.com's public listening tests. The results are statistically valid and a full ANOVA was run to determine the significance of the results. Most interesting is that it appears the Apple encoder has not been fully optimized nor has it implemented VBR, both of which should yield improvements in sound quality. The original CDFreaks post.

Greg Anderson in Concert

Greg Anderson, a friend of mine from high school and accomplished pianist currently attending the Juilliard School, is giving a recital in the middle of march as part of the Wildwood Artists Series. If you're in the area I highly recommend attending, I'm particularly interested in hearing his new composition "Variations on a Theme by Nokia."

Details

Date: Saturday, March 13, 2004
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: The Chautauqua Fine Arts Center, adjacent to Mahtomedi Senior High School
Tickets: Ticket prices are Adult $10, Student/Senior $7, Family of 3+ for $27.