From the Apple Capital to the Big Apple, I'll be #3 at Squarespace.

Rdio.com's web UI. Great social features, well designed.

I recieved an invite to Rdio.com today.  So far its the best alternative to my beloved Lala.com yet. While Rdio.com is still invite only at this point, it functions quite well.  I also haven't found any issues with their Library. So far anything I've searched for came up.  I've even discovered a few new cool bands.  But one of the best features yet allows users to sync albums to their iPhone app for offline listening. Just as if you had the album on your iPhone.

So far the only caveat I've come across is that unlike Lala, its not free.  Listening online only will set you back $5 a month, while the full meal deal with the offline iPhone listening will set you back $10. However, also unlike Lala, you're not limited to a single listen through a song (however that limitation worked well for me).

So enough chatting about the service, you want to check it out for yourself.  Good thing I'm giving away 3 invites.  Simply leave a comment to this post stating your favorite album (current or all-time), and I'll pick 3 of the best answers (as objective as I can) and send out the invites.

Have a good additional alternative to Lala.com? Leave a comment or shoot me an email.

After a troubling day of privacy concerns, site down time and other antics, Apple and AT&T managed to grab over 6,000 iPhone pre-orders yesterday. AT&T halted pre-orders in the late afternoon, but Apple is still taking them (however the ship date keeps getting pushed back as more orders flood in).

This is crazy. But just look at that display!

Yesterday I read a post on TUAW.com that I thought was too good to be true.  Apparently iTunes has this magic new tick box (or check box for your american types) in your iPhone & iPod Touch's settings that will convert all your music on your phone into 128kbps AAC files.  This means a huge savings in the space taken by your music.  And thats not the best part.  The best part is that this conversion is done on the fly, so none of your original high-quaility files will be affected.

So last night I gave this a shot.  Before the conversion I had just over 26GB of music on my iPhone.

I only had just over 438MB for 'incidentals', which really isn't much, and as you can see, no videos.  Before I had to select playlists instead of syncing my whole library.

So I ticked the box, and let 'er rip.  It was a slow going process (not sure exactly, since I just let it run overnight), but I'd guess it took an hour on my Macbook Pro.  The results?

BAM! This saved me darn near 9 gigabytes. NINE! I could fit 2 or more full length motion pictures with that extra space.

So whats the catch? Well this might not be an option for audiophiles.  If you're familiar with the brands Shure or Etymotic, then you might not be down with the space saving.  But for the rest of us who listen to music casually, the space savings is truly magical.

With the iPad launch looming, pre-orders shipping, I figured I should drop my .02 on Apple's latest craze.  Let me start by saying, like most everyone else, I've never even touched the thing.  I did spend some time checking out Apple's guided tour videos for a bit more information, and like any other mactard I watched the keynote announcement as well.

In brief, I want it and I'm sure I'll eventually have one.  But I do have a few qualms.  Let me start with the good:

1. Simplicity. For 90% of what people do on their home computers daily, the iPad will do it simpler and dare I say better. Email, photos, surfing the net, facebook, twitter; you bet.  And in a light weight and gorgeous package.
2. More than web.  The iPad will have people exploring more about the web with the App store. Games, utilities (a large digital cook book anyone?) and other handy tools that people just don't have or think about when using their laptop. DJ's and Electronic artists are going to love this thing as well.  Daft Punk probably already has 5. The possibilities are really endless.
3. Books. I really think this will get people reading again.  Because its a multipurpose device, and Apple is providing a very robust book store, there will be not 1 iPad out there that doesn't have a book on it. I think it will also make reading fun again.  Oh yes, comics are books too.

While there is plenty more to like about the iPad, I do have a few bones to pick.

1. Aspect Ratio. I understand why the iPad is the size it is, I get it... books.  But in a day and age where widescreen is king (FINALLY), this really seems like a step backwards.  Not to mention the return of the dreaded "black bars" that everyone hated about widescreen movies on 4:3 standard TV sets.  Welcome back 1990.
2. Where is the iSight? This also seems like a no-brainer. Apple went to the effort of putting in an iSight in all of its portable products (and not so portable too), why would they leave it out of this incredible device?  I'd love to sit on my couch and video chat with my mom.  Peace out phone calls.  Aren't we in the 21st century?  Didn't everyone think we'd have flying cars or at the very least video phones (that people want to use) by now?  I'm baffled by this one.
3. That huge black bezel.  This is a small one since you have to hold the thing somehow, but I don't care for this general trend Apple has going for all of its displays.  Sure the black is less obtrusive, but in the end, its still a huge bezel.  I want my screen to go edge to edge (however maybe I wouldn't like it.. who knows).

I could talk more about price and the different models, but the only thing I'll mention about that is that there is that not everyone is going to want 3G service and GPS.  Sure it will be handy, and it will be nice for some users, its a cool offering, but I think we have pretty good WIFI around here for most people on the go.

I'm very excited for the iPad, and I'd love to be able to buy one for all my Moms (I have 3+). Its perfect for them and will be so very much less frustrating (I'd bet they would all be addicted to it actually).  I think the iPad will do for computers what the iPhone has done for smart phones.  Best wishes Apple, and hopefully I'll have mine soon.

1. Don't use the flash.  I WISH I could say NEVER, but sometimes in very low light conditions its the only option.  Check out this fantastic post on Gizmodo (look at all those poor suckers who just took a crappy photo) for more info.  This is typically the number 1 reason your pictures pretty much suck.

2. Don't use Zoom.  Your point and shoot CAN zoom, just like it CAN flash.  But again, you shouldn't.  Instead, try moving closer to your subject.  Most compact digital cameras only have digital zoom.  This uses the software to blow up the image, and increases pixelation, discoloration all other kinds of nasty things.  Read more at Lifehacker.

Hopefully those will help get you on the road to better quick shots. Got another tip? Post up in the comments.

• Assassin's Creed 2
• Borderlands
• The Saboteur
• Fairytale Fights

I already finished the story in Assassin's Creed 2.  I really enjoyed the game play much more than the first one.  They kept all the great things about the first one (the free-run system is fantastic) and added more variety to the missions.  There is SO much to do in Italy in the 15th century.  Pickpocket, rob chests, collect eagle feathers for your Ezio's little brother, shop for some new duds, or my favorite: just explore. UBI did a great job immersing you in Renaissance Italy.  Scale the inside of the Duomo, climb St Mark's basilica, or row around the famous grand canal in a gondola: all while finding interesting ways to dispatch of your target.  Loads of fun.  The Story took me about 22 hours to complete (though thats including much of that exploring and side missions).

Borderlands is a ton of fun too, however at this point I've spent most of my time with Assassin's Creed.  I really like the cell shading style in Borderlands, which is odd because I've never liked that style in any other game.  Apparently this game really shines with online co-op play, which I have yet to try.

The Saboteur also seems like fun, but again I've only dipped into the surface of this game.  I'm a fan of WWII, so this game seems like a great new story to tell.

Fairytale fights is a pretty mindless, but entertaining game in the same vein as the Xbox 360 arcade hit "Castle Crashers".  Pick a famous fairytale character, and your weapon and have at it.  

However, I've put the most time into the easy shoe-in for game of the year: Modern Warfare 2.  I actually have already completed the first player campaign (which took me over a year to even TRY with the first Modern Warfare), and have over 4 days worth of time into multiplayer.  So much fun, and it was hard to not play this game while I was playing Assassin's Creed.  Loads of new weapons, new perks and new combinations.  Easily the best game period for any console (if you like FPS).

So I'll leave you with some links to things I've been enjoying recently:

• Fringe
• iTunes LP
• Shadow Complex
• MUSE
• Snow Leopard
• Wenatchee Wild
• Iwa Sushi (good lookin' logo if i do say so :-D )
• Gist