OK there I was about to boot up iTunes when my Apple software updater informed me of iTunes 10 and something called Ping.

So as I usually I installed the latest version of iTunes that usually also includes a few bug updates etc and I was interested in what this “Ping” actually was.

The first thing I’ve noticed with the installation is the shiny new icon on my desktop for the latest version, after clicking and waiting for iTunes 10 to boot up I also noticed the option for “Ping” in then left hand of the screen.

I clicked it and was confronted with the option to turn Ping on, then update my profile etc.

Now supposedly this new addition to iTunes is meant to be a cross between Twitter and Facebook, it’s been described as “Social network for music” it allows us to follow artists and friends via iTunes and post recommendations and status updates!

If you are a fan of a certain band you’ll now get updates from them via “Ping”.

Now I’m not personally sure that I will be utilising this new option on iTunes 10 it seems a good idea, but I suppose its early days, so for now I’ve got Ping turned on just to see how it runs and if it’s of any use to help build my ever-growing list of downloaded albums.

Something else I noticed is that now the list view of your music includes the album artwork, but this is only available for albums where you have five or more tracks from the album.

This version of iTunes also seems to have a slight update when you sync your iPod, instead of the screen just telling you that it is syncing your iPod it now shows you a progress bar and which tracks and how many it is actually syncing, a nice touch as at least you know now how long it will take to sync your iPod after you have connected it and strangely it does seem faster syncing my iPod than the earlier version of iTunes.

I dare say there are some other updates and changes that I haven’t noticed yet and will do in time, but for now a question to those that have downloaded the latest version of Apples flagship.

If you’ve not got the new version yet then you can download it direct from Apple..

Are you using Ping and if you are what do you think of it?

If like me you use iTunes, there comes a time when you have probably made a few playlists, these can be for anything, like a party mix or even something where you have selection of tracks for a certain mood you may be in.

I like to have a collection of different playlists with ones for my favourite remixes or ones containing a certain word!

The one I really listen to a lot lately is the one that I made from the music from the TV show Monkey Dust, which has been getting bigger over the time that I have discovered tracks that were used in the classic BBC show.

So what’s your excuse for making playlists, do you make then often, or don’t you bother?

Well the guys have actually pulled it off and have hit the number one spot, which is awesome, not only have they toppled the X-Factor winner Joe McElderry from the top spot, but they have chalked up a Christmas number one record, you guys rock!!

A group based on Facebook called “RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE FOR CHRISTMAS NO.1” have asked fans to download the single “Killing in the Name” in a fight to get  the X-factor winner away from the number one spot and almost 1 million fans have come to the call to help RATM hit the spot. Read the rest of this entry »

It seems to be the big hit in news on the internet at the moment with thousands and thousands of people downloading the track “Killing In The Name” by Rage Against The Machine and joining the Facebook group to try to stop the X Factor winner from having a number one this Christmas and it may just happen! But how about an alternative, how about an artist that you may all know and read their blog, me

Read the rest of this entry »

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while now will also now that I have a music project Remergence, over on the Remergence blog I have posted about an offer of a free album download.

So I thought I would post a bit of blatant promo to let everyone know about the classic release for free, the album is called “Wide Open Space” and was release some years back, but it still sounds fresh today, the album consists of 11 tracks and 3 bonus tracks.

So if you would like a copy then stop by our Electronica Music blog and grab yourself a copy

Those of us that have upgraded to the latest incarnation of iTunes may of noticed that the option to upgrade previously purchased tracks to the iTunes Plus versions has disappeared from the iTunes music store page.

Some users do have the option in the iTunes store page at the top right of the screen under quick links and others don’t, some can even get the option back by signing out of their account and then signing back in again, but for the majority of iTunes users the link to the iTunes Plus Upgrade page has gone, never to return.

If you do want to find the page to upgrade your previously purchased iTunes store tracks then simply follow this link to the iTunes Plus Upgrade page and you can then be able to upgrade your tracks to that better quality.

Hope this helps

As you can see from the heading of this blog post, I’m about to start a little rant!

My rant today is about annoying neighbours! As I type this post all I can hear from my next door neighbour is the constant thump, thump, thump of extremely load music a blatant attempt at noise pollution and it’s really f****** me off, I mean come how bloody load do you need to have music when you’re washing a car!

Ok! So the weather is nice enough to wash the car, but does he need to have the music SO LOUD I CAN’T HEAR MYSELF THINK! Get a bloody iPod and stick the headphones on!

It maybe just me, but I was brought up to respect my neighbours and not have my music so load that half the street can hear it……..

Ok little rant over, I feel a little better now (not much though)