2:21am and I still have 6,000 more songs to upload…
I downloaded and installed Google's Music Beta music manager. It is pretty straight forward install and configuration. Nothing complicated or hidden. Pick where your music is, whether it be in iTunes, Media Player or where ever you have setup your music library. Then you select how to sync your files; automatically, based of computer usage or manually. I chose manual for the first sync. It recognized over 8,800 songs to sync to the service.
I have tried streaming to multiple computers and my Motorola Droid (yup, it runs fine on the first gen stuff as long as you have Android 2.2+) over various connection methods and have found the service to have great sound quality and usability. I am currently creating new playlist groups as I listen (I've never really been a playlist guy).
The web interface is pretty straight forward. In Google fashion it's clean and void of any extras that a group of paranoid, white wallpaper using, Googlers would be scared of. I found it very easy to use and for the most part very intuitive. I'd like to see some of the common Right-Click tasks integrated, but for a beta first-gen service it's great.
If you knew me during the golden ages of Lala.com, you know I was a huge fan and made sure all my buddies knew about the service. Ever since the rotten Apple got it's hands on it and strangled it to death, I have been waiting for an adequate replacement. All I can say is this just met those needs and surpassed them! Now if Google would stop supporting the crybaby's in their commercials!
I’m a Google Music Beta user!
I finally got my invite! More to come after I get to play with it!
Man flies over Grand Canyon with jetpack
Yves Rossy, better known as "Jetman," has successfully flown his custom jetpack/wing over a part of the Grand Canyon. I found the following humorous (from the article):
The Grand Canyon flight was originally supposed to take place on Friday, with many onlookers and journalists gathering for the event on that day. Rossy didn't feel adequately prepared, however, as he had only received permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) just moments before he was scheduled to fly. The FAA had only learned of his planned flight through media reports, as Rossy hadn't realized that he required their approval.
You can find more videos of Jetman and his jetpack on National Geographic's Net Geo Adventure website.
Nasa banned from working with China
It's been long known that China does not have the US's best interests at heart... but this month marks a new step towards separating ties with China as much as possible. I wonder if China will take this personally, lol?
Google launces Music Beta
Google today launched it's long anticipated cloud-based music hosting service called Music Beta for it's accounts and devices. This service is basically the next step in integrating all of the Google services with their Android and Web based devices. Seamless streaming from the web browser, to your recently updated Android 3.1 powered tablet, to your Android powered smart phone. I tell you what, I cant wait to get my invitation! Woot!
You can get to your personal music collection at home or on the go. Listen from the web or any enabled device with the Music app available from Android Market. Not online? No problem. The songs you've recently played will automatically be available offline. You can also select the specific albums, artists and playlists you want to have available when you're not connected.
Microsoft is buying Skype for $8.5B
Among rumors of a Facebook bidding war comes a move that will no doubt light a new flame under every Microsoft flamer; Microsoft has announced that it is closing a deal to buy Skype for $8.5B cash. Yup, that's $8,500,000,000! If you're like me and moved away from Microsoft Live Messenger and adopted amazing tools like Trillian in it's place, this will no doubt keep your interest peaked at seeing what becomes of Skype in the future and how it gets integrated into the Microsoft product portfolio (read, Windows Phone 7) along with the future of Facebook (Microsoft invested $240M in Facebook). Who knows, maybe they'll even just let Skype be themselves... but I doubt it. I am also predicting that Microsoft will slap either a "live" or "cloud" label onto it as soon as humanly possible!
Chrome gets pwnd!
Looks like the secure browser king has just received egg on it's face! Google Chrome's secure sandbox was just demonstrated circumvented allowing remote execution of code at a medium integrity level while also remaining completely silent (no crashing).
A Peugeot EV sets Nurburgring record
An all electric Peugeot EX1 just stole the electric vehicle world lap record from the race-spec Mini Cooper E! The original record, set by the Mini E team,was shattered at 9:01:338 averaging 85.9mph... on previously rained on track! The 340hp EX1 was revealed just before the 2010 Paris Motor Show and has been the desire of all sport car uber-geeks. I'd assume Jay Leno will have one within the next year, lol!
Secret or prototype helicopters used in Osama raid?
Looks like the crashed helicopter, involved in the now infamous Pakistan raid of Osama bin Laden, that mysteriously dropped out of the sky left us a little surprise!
A photo of the remaining tail rotor was released today and shows that it might not belong to any previously known helicopter. It is definitely reminiscent of H-60 variants of helicopters used throughout the US armed forces; specifically the Navy SEALs.
Points of interest of the photo are that it features what appears to be a silver enhanced "stealth coat" of paint, particularly angled and stealthy cuts to the shaping, a reflective pan covering the rotor blades and swept stabilizers among other things.
Starbucks WOW!
So we've all heard of those random "older" people that play World of Warcraft, but until this morning, I've never seen this specimen in the wild... This morning I wrapped up my Venti, 5-shot, Light-ice, Half-pump Vanilla/Caramel, Non-fat Latte order (yup, love is in the details) and I turned and saw it! 45-ish years old, beer belly, cop mustache, polo shirt and a full on gaming headset with WOW going full bore at a 4-story winged demon... It was an amazing experience!