tunequest

The iPod is supposed to be "iTunes to go" but as the little music player has advanced over the years, it still lags behind in some relatively basic features, features that have been a part of the desktop program for some time. iTunes' capabilities seem to be constantly improved and refined; its portable counterpart's behavior has remained relative unchanged, even as it has gained photo and video support. Forget touchscreens ...

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Update: The revised sorting feature/problem in iTunes 7.3 and later renders portions of this advice useless. Some of it still applies for Smart Playlist building, but the segregated sorting no longer works. If you're using a version prior to 7.3, go nuts. If you're using 7.3 or later, be warned. In striving for zen-like simplicity while maintaining and extending the usability of iTunes, please follow me as I introduce you ...

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So the tunequest is now powered by a new 5.5th generation iPod (80GB). His name is "Gustav" (after Mahler and Holst); let's all give him a warm welcome. At long last, I can fit all my remaining tracks in my pocket, none of that "2000 songs sorted alphabetically by album" crap. That's pretty awesome. However, I'm slightly dismayed that I still can't take my entire library with me on the ...

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When it comes to organizing for iTunes and iPod, classical music is an entirely different animal than the "pop" formula the program is primarily designed for. Why tie yourself to an inefficient and illogical "album" model when classical works were never meant to be treated that way? iTunes allows you to appreciate individual works as they were conceived and executed: as individual, stand-alone works. :: Example of my tagging structure (click ...

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tunequest in review: for the week ending may 27, 2006. stats: 226 songs played over 16 hours. a further 11 were removed and 1 was added, for a net progress of 236 songs, which is a nearly 50% decline from last week's performance. well, it figures that this week's would be lackluster compared to last; i'm nothing if not inconsistent. it's not surprising though. i knew there would be a drop ...

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for the week ending may 20, 2006. stats: a superlative week here at tunequest. 394 songs played over 25 hours and 40 minutes. a further 5 songs were removed from the library for a net progress of 399, a new record. frankly, i'm surprised by the results. an afternoon braves game and a couple of extented meetings cut into my normal office listening time and i didn't ...

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At times, i really resent owning a car. Yeah they're convenient necessary for getting around, but with the fueling and maintenance and cleaning and well, effort that goes into having one, there are times when I'd just as soon not have one. (Oh, for a more vibrant public transportation system in metro Atlanta.) Don't get me wrong. I've got a '99 saturn sc2 (aka "the cherry bomb"–it's red) and I ...

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In the pantheon of composers who have worked on Star Trek, none are more prolific than Dennis McCarthy, who has been working with the franchise since the debut episode of The Next Generation to the final episode of Enterprise. Of course, whether you think that's a good thing or bad depends on your opinion of his music. With the rather large caveat that Mr. McCarthy's composing abilities were limited by ...

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Highlights: John Williams score for A.I. Artificial Intelligence is a breathtakingly moving film score, particularly The Mecha World suite. The man was on the mark with that one. In a similar vein, I also enjoyed movements I. and II. from Mahler's 6th Symphony performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra as well as some groovin' Les Baxter. I removed a dull number by Hooverphonic and a non-song by An April March.

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