Is That One of Those iPhone Things?

So I'm at a bar/birthday party yesterday evening and I'm talking to someone I know, she knows I have a son so she asks the woman question "so do you have any photos?" My first reaction is no I don't really carry any photos, and as for some unknown reason I reach for my back pockets (like I have some secret photo album stash back there) I realize, no I don't have "a" photo with me I actually have ALL my photos with me.

So I locate my Zune in my pocket and take it out, now I begin to browse to my photos and she realizes I'm using the touch wheel and that's when the question comes, "is that one of those iPhone things?" Now at this point I'm really tempted to go into it but I quickly realize, she's had a few and she really doesn't care anyway so I simply say no and proceed to show off some photos.

Now aside from the fact that I had to hold my breath as I handed her my Zune 80, again in a bar, again after she's had a few and just hope that the slow motion fall to the floor doesn't happen, it was nice to be able to show off some photos, recent ones may I add of my son.

And that's what I wanted from the Zune, those non everyday experiences, and showing off some photos was one of them. That's the beauty of it when technology is there for you. Before the Zune it was always having to choose the photos to put on the device which was never automatic and of course prior to the Zune I used my PSP, which I would never even have had in my pocket in the bar nevermind have taken it out.

So no it wasn't an iPhone thing but to me its so much more than even a Zune, its being able to take those photos and memories everywhere I go, and the opportunity to share them when I get there.

Zune helps keep the Holidays Festive

I hope the holiday was festive for everyone, the wife and I spent the day recovering from having the family over yesterday, don't get me wrong it was a great day, but we consumed allot of food which left allot of garbage! Another thing we consumed allot of was holiday music and thanks to the Zune those tunes kept playing nicely.  When I purchased my Zune 80 I also purchased the home entertainment dock, the deluxe model with the component connection.  Although its only hooked up to the TV and not a stereo using it to play the holiday playlists I made ahead of time was quick easy and the TV speakers proved more than sufficient for playing some low level background music.  I had some holiday favorites queued up from country favorites of mine Garth Brooks and Martina McBride, along with the modern rock sounds of the Trans Siberian Orchestra and of course some Alvin and the Chimpmunks thrown in for the little guy.  Outside of the holiday music I used it to show off the new Dark Knight trailer! Although the Zune will soon be replaced at that location with a second Xbox 360 for media it was nice to enjoy it for Christmas.  Next up on the 31st is the annual New Years Eve party where the Linux PC in the garage will be called upon to supply some music for that portion of the party!  Happy Holidays!

Getting it all Connected

Sometimes the hardest part of building a digital life can be getting it all connected.  As 2007 comes to a close at the end of this month I have realized how much has changed in the past year.  One of the most important things for me is how my media is handled.  A digital life cannot be enjoyed if its more work than play.  In the past I've made things work, but alot of input on my behalf was always needed. This year with the Fall 360 dashboard update, the purchase of an 80GB Zune, the addition of my iBook, my Linux PC in the garage, and my Cingular 8125 I've had more time to enjoy media and less time getting it all to where it needed to be.  Today I had the task of getting a friend's 360 and PC connected together, essentially starting his first home network.  If there is one thing I enjoy more than getting my own media to work its getting someone else connected as well.  Of course the average person doesn't need as much as I have!  So now that it's all working together I have a new task for 2008, getting the wife to start using it!

Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Ah December, the smell of Christmas in the air and the hope that I'll finally get all those DVD's I've missed throughout the year. Ok so that's not what Christmas is all about, well maybe it is for some. Anyway I haven't blogged in awhile so I figured it was time to back to business. I've been enjoying the added benefits the Fall 360 Dashboard update has brought and I'm in the process of getting a very cheap (read free) second 360 to extend those benefits even more. My Zune 80 has been by my side and helping me keep up to date on all my video and audio podcasts and I LOVE the Wi Fi sync. Speaking of Wi Fi sync it actually seems that I'm getting my home media to a point where most of it is automatic and doesn't need a whole lot of user modification to get the media around. I've been literally beating the hell out of Rock Band you know with the drums and all and as this writer's strike begins to keep new TV shows from hitting the networks I'm catching up on all the movies that have been piling up. And finally even though I've not been blogging all that much (I know my droves of fans are wondering where I've been) you can keep up to date on the goings on via my Twitter. Enjoy your holidays and enjoy all your media, keep those holiday playlists going!