I’ve been enjoying the free Amazon selections to build my ever-expanding music collection for ages now, and I thought it might be time to share a few valuable links with my readers.

The samplers are an excellent way to try the freebie offers and these are particularly good:

• Very Best of Naxos Early Music - Classic, alter-boy style album (12 songs)
• ECM Touchstones: The Amazon Exclusive Digital Sampler - A Jazzy sampler (10 songs)
• Celebrating 10 years of Music - by Christian Hommel - A classical sampler for you (11 songs)
• This is Daptone Records - R & B retro stylings for your ears (14 songs)
• Best of Nuclear Blast - Metal Mix - not my cup of tea, but my eldest would like this - (10 songs)
• This Is How I Roc: 2008 Yep Roc Label Sampler - Alternative and rock sampler from this label - (11 songs)
• Vanguard Records and Sugar Hill - Sampler of five excellent songs - Instant personal classics done in my favorite styles of music. (5 songs)

In addition, you can go and peruse over 500 of their free mp3 selections here.

I just wanted to share a particularly good resource with my readers this holiday season. Pick and choose as you will…personally, my musical tastes are a bit eclectic. Enjoy!

Ok, I’m loving the way the platform for the iPhone is constantly expanding. Holding up the device to a radio and using an app (Shazam) to identify the song, artist and offer the ability to buy that song… well that’s just cool. It works pretty well, I had it on my iPhone for awhile.

(I took it off to make room for more apps I wanted to test. I don’t really NEED to know a song that often, but it’s cool to have when I do.)

Being able to scan a barcode and look up the product online, complete with price comparisons to get the best deal… that’s a great concept as well (It’s on my list of apps to try, but I’ve not done this one yet — I’ve heard it still needs a bit of work). I’ll wait for the next version.

One that I did recently download (a paid app) that is uber cool is called the Ocarina by smule. This has GOT to be one of the coolest expansions of the different parts of this device for a completely new purpose.

The mic is used as a “reed” to blow into in order to play the instrument. The touch screen offers combinations of four virtual “buttons” to make a multitude of tones and sounds. And if having a little instrument in your pocket isn’t cool enough… they’ve also taken the social networking aspect to a new level by broadcasting (with your permission, of course) the music of all players all over the world.

So you can watch on a globe of the earth as someone far away struggles with those beginning chords of amazing grace, or triumphs over the final chords of Greensleeves. If you get tired of listening to one new-iphone-age artist, you can hit the next button and the globe spins and picks up another player somewhere else in the world.  Hit the heart emblem to give props to those you like — everyone has their own username.

Yeah, I know that the iPhone has had mini-piano programs (I got the free one to play) and drums and guitars, and some that are a whole band in your pocket… but this is different. This is something completely new.

It’s an instrument FOR the iPhone and it’s worth the 99 cents just to play with the expansion on this smartphone’s overall concept and what it can do. Very cool. Try it.

I hope that an expanded play list will be added to this great new resource for those iPhones and iPod Touch models availing themselves of the use of a wi-fi connection.

Hollywood Pocket is a website offering Quicktime movies that download and play beautifully straight from the website. The selection is rather small now, but I hope it will grow.

This resource is a great example of what could be done with the the wi-fi access of these pocket devices. Since I get most of my television shows from the Internet these days (through Hulu usually or straight from the TV websites), I’d love to see iPhone-friendly layouts for those.

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to cruise to the latest episode of Bones or Life or Gossip Girl (yeah I watch it, so sue me), or a dozen other great options — all on my iPhone?

If the idea is to increase viewership, I’d hope that one of the executives realizes that there are some of us who would not only use the service, but would wax poetic about it if it were available.

In the meantime, check out Hollywood Pocket and see what (I hope) the future will hold.

My disappointment that Wowio went from a free to a paid model a few months ago has now been replaced with awe that there’s an iPhone optimized version. Why?

Because all the content is still available to be read online. You can use wifi, 3G or Edge — and now the whole library is available from wherever. How nice. View yours here: http://www.wowio.com/iphone-wowio.asp

The comic books are particularly pretty on the iphone screen (check out the Grimm’s Fairytales).

You will be required to register to gain access to the free content, but it’s worth the effort. I’d love to see an app for this, so the settings are stored and so I could have access to some of the content when I don’t have a connection.

Is anyone at Wowio listening?

A whole little Village of Sims on my iPhone!

I’ve been looking and looking at the apps store for JUST what I found last night…

Tiny little sims for my iPhone. Life is almost complete, now.

This appears to be made by the same company who created the earlier, more rudimentary version for my formerly beloved Treo (called Village Sims). The company that created both the older rendition and this new “Virtual Villagers: A New Home” is Last Day of Work. But, in the apps store, the seller is listed as Vivendi Games Mobile, (but it is copyrighted by Big Fish Games of LDW fame.)

When I ordered from LDW before, the customer service was amazing. I really like them as a company.

With this app going through Apple’s app store, I’m not sure how much direct contact I’ll have with the developers — if LDW is in fact the creator of this port. (I may have to drop them a line to inquire and then thank them for creating these cute little guys for my iPhone.)

Coolest new feature? The mini-games you can play to speed up the progress of the itty-bitty people learning new skills.

Biggest frustration? Grabbing them isn’t easy. I have to try multiple times to tap successfully to pick them up and move them where I want them to be. (Hoping this will be fixed in the next update.)

So, if you have been jonesing for some little sims for your iPhone, your wish is granted. And, it’s just one more way iPhone rules the smartphone/gaming/communication realm.

Not that I’m biased, or anything.

(note: Photo taken using the built-in screenshot tool on my iPhone - just hold down the home button and briefly tap the top button. The screenshot will be added to your camera roll automagically!)

First, let me say that I don’t sew. EVER. I suck at sewing — loudly. So, I accept that this is not one of my talents. I embrace it. Heck, I don’t even sew on buttons when I can help it. (When a button flies off, I consider it a divine indication that I need to donate said item to Goodwill). I know, I know, I’m thrifty in so many ways… this just isn’t one of them.

Secondly, let me admit that I love to see the creations of those who make art with fabric. I admire textile gurus. With that said, I tripped across this today, and thought I’d share.

At this time of the year (one of my favorite holidays) I thought others may be interested in seeing how really awesome costumes (albeit for the stage) are constructed.

Brent Lengal and Mary Beth Warner pose with Alex following their roles as John Proctor and Abigail Williams in the Russell County Production of Arthur Miller's Play "The Crucible"

Alex and I saw a wonderful production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” this afternoon. It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. This was Alex’s first community production experience, and I must say she was enthralled.

Russell County’s own Brent Lengal and Mary Beth Warner (playing John Proctor and Abigail Williams) offered to pose for a photo with Alexzandria following the show. (She was thrilled.)

The next event will be the telling of ghost stories on October 23rd.

For more information, you can visit the Star Theatre online or visit in person at: 546 Main Street, Russell Springs, KY 42642 in Russell County, Kentucky.

There are many things that the iPhone is, but there were a few nagging things that the iPhone wasn’t. This holiday weekend, while helping my father set up his iPhone, I found a few of the missing pieces.

First and foremost is a decent and FREE ebook reader. I wanted one that would permit me to read the classics AND my own library of ebooks. Enter the winner…

Stanza - you can pick it up in the apps store and you can go to Lexcycle.com and download a desktop version for your PC or Mac. It even handles Kindle formats! I’ll be playing with it more later, but I wanted to share it with any of my readers who have been seeking a quality ebook reader.

Pages turn with a tap in either direction (or a finger-swipe) and you can adjust the size of the font without being required to scroll left to right on the iphone to read the lines. It breaks them for you automatically.

It’s a sweet little app that allows you to download free books from a sizable online library when you are out and you can personalize the contents on your iPhone by adding your own if you pre-plan enough to load them up before leaving home.

And did I mention it was free?!?!

YOUR ebook library now showing on your iPhone

Sending Instant Messages on the iPhone

Another missing piece was a good multi-platform IM manager. Enter Palringo - Vocal Instant Messaging.

Granted, the lack of background apps on the iPhone are a pain for this type of “always on” platform — but I’m just happy to have a non-web-based app with which to shoot off a quick note to my clients/peers/family. I tried a couple of the earlier attempts, and found them sadly lacking. This one seems to be solid, responsive and pretty as well. I’m still playing with all the options.

Taking Notes on the iPhone

I’m less than impressed with the notepad that Apple ships with the iPhone. It takes forever to find and load my old data (and it’s not that I have tons of pages, I only have two or three entries at any time). I wanted a note taking app that would take my info in whatever format I wanted to use — typing, scribbling, voice, whatever.

Wishes do come true… YouNote (in the Apps Store) gives me exactly what I need. I only wish I could get these out of my iPhone and onto my desktop or sync them with a web app so I could use them on my Mac too. I’m just now discovering this little app, but I’m already in love. The drawing feature using a fat finger, produces an impressive thin, responsive line. Bravo!

More Cowbell… errr… Games!

As far as games go, I’ve discovered a few cool ones this weekend as well. Check them out by name at the apps store:

• Hanoi - great ancient (classic) puzzle. Free.
• Asphalt4 - Not free, but worth the bucks (and I have NEVER liked driving games). I just wish the iPhone was actually the steering wheel, that would be even cooler.
• reMovem free - This one is terribly addicting. Pop all the bubbles to clear the board. Curse when you get down to one lone bubble. Rinse. Repeat.

Enjoy!

This little physics-based puzzle game is amazing. See for yourself:

AquaForest Game for iPhone

Now, you go buy it too. My daughter loves it so much, I may have to send her to bed early on a Friday night, just to get it back so I can play.

The concert yesterday was a great way to spend July 4th. My daughter got to experience her first concert (she’s been clamoring for that) and she saw a line up of great country-rock artists. I think I was expecting pure country, so the rock covers threw me a bit, but it was a nice surprise.

The rain made life a bit interesting for awhile, but my daughter and I simply got soaked and continued watching the concert. When you have second-row seats in the VIP section, you don’t just jump ship when it rains a little…or even when it rains so hard and so fast that every square inch of you is soaked.

All the artists were good, some were great. Tracy Lawrence was a laid-back performer who didn’t seem to take himself too seriously - even when some technical difficulties that caused unexpected loud “pops” in the audio equipment a few times during the show. Despite that, his crooning sounded as good in person as it did on disk. He appeared surprisingly early during the day, considering his level of fame, but Lexington was only the first concert stop for him in the state on that day — he had a second show in Ashland.

The newcomers were energetic and entertaining. My daughter (who is 10) became immediately star-struck by Canadian, Adam Gregory. This little shaggy blond (with a five o’clock shadow from sometime a couple days ago) did give a great performance. He offered some original songs, including his own “Crazy Days” and pleased the crowd with his rendition of Vince Gill’s “Liza Jane.”

Sarah Johns was definitely a “Kentucky daughter” and spoke as if she were a Casey County native. Her songs were light and upbeat, and she seemed to enjoy performing and interacting (even to the point of playing matchmaker) with people in the audience.

Julianna Houghs offered a solid performance and enjoyed the last set before the rain drenched everyone in attendance.

When the clouds parted, Bucky Covington took the stage. My daughter (along with much of the crowd) adored this performer from the second they saw him. Not being a person who watches TV in general or American Idol in particular, I didn’t know him. So, when I say he (along with his band who included his twin brother, Rocky, on drums) offered the best performance of the day, it’s not because I’m predisposed to say so. I really enjoyed the sound, his obvious joy in the act of performing, and his interplay with the crowd.

This band did win the prize for the “cockiest” member… the base player. (I’m amazed there was room on stage for him, his ego, AND the rest of the band.) In spite of the bass player, I’ll be buying some of this band’s music just to see if it’s as good in the studio as it was live. Bucky and band demonstrated breadth with (surprisingly) some rock covers… like Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” — WHO expected that?!?!? And they did a beautiful job. I was truly impressed, all the way around.

I may have enjoyed Billy Currington if the sound check had not made the bass (and I LOVE bass) and the audio in general — painfully loud. It actually hurt to listen to his music. My daughter spent his set with her fingers in her ears… I joined her.

The sound issues seemed to be mostly resolved by the time John Michael Montgomery took stage … or maybe we were just too deaf to notice. It was a treat to see this mega-artist so “up close and personal” and to listen to the old favorites. I did notice that the songs I loved most (I’m dating myself now) were not as crisp sounding as the newer sets. I don’t know if his voice has changed in the over-a-decade since their original release, or if he just doesn’t practice the old favorites (Life’s a Dance, Beer and Bones) anymore. By the time he got to “Letters from Home” the sound had improved. That one sounded great! I didn’t expect rock covers from this particular band (Caught in the Crossfire) so that threw me off a bit, but he was the consummate crowd pleaser.

The damp evening ended with a traditional fireworks display and we left a bit early to avoid getting caught in the en masse exit of the crowd. My little one thoroughly enjoyed the day (except for a few minutes during the downpour when she was skeptical about my claims that this was all a part of the adventure and that she should just give into it). I enjoyed it too. Great way to spend the holiday.

I’m loving Pandora. I really am. I like “discovering” new music that comes pre-matched to my musical tastes. It never gets old and there’s always some new artist, style or song to enjoy. If you haven’t tried it yet… go … do it. Now.

I have also found a literary version of the same “database analysis approach” to recommending new things to try, it’s called WhatShouldIReadNext.com. So if you want to get some qualified recommendations for your next book, give it a whirl.

Once you find the book you want to read, why not read it in the same way NetFlix lovers watch movies? Check out BookSwim, it’s the NetFlix of books. If you prefer to read your book recommendations online, why not try DailyLit - and read the books you want in “bitesized” pieces via email or RSS. That way, you can read it on your cell phone/smartphone as easily as on your computer monitor. (Try on one of the free titles for size before committing to buy.)

The writer’s strike resulted in “Black Monday” last week during which the major studios fired many of the best writers, producers, etc. in the entertainment industry. I don’t really watch public television, but I do purchase the shows I like, via iTunes, and the selection has been pretty slim and the episodes pretty strangely spaced and noticeably off since the strike ensued.

I don’t like it. I don’t like it because it messes with my fun, but primarily I don’t like it because this guarantees an abundance of default consumption of the stupidest stuff to ever hit the tube: Reality TV.

How does reality TV suck? Let me count the ways… (more…)

It’s been many weeks since I’ve shared any Friday finds. I’d like to remedy that now. I’ve taken some of the “down” time this week to catch up on what’s going on around the web. Granted, I’ve allowed myself to lag behind a bit in recent months, but I’m back!

Today, I’m sharing a few entertainment finds across the web. (more…)

Negotiations, reported by the WSJ today, may make it possible to digitally “rent” FOX movies for play on your iPod for a limited period of time.

I, for one, could really go for something like that (if the price is right). It would save me the trouble of going out to rent a movie and would give me immediate gratification when I did find a title I wanted to see. Instant gratification is nice, isn’t it?

And, it would let me “stock up” on things to watch on my iPhone right before a trip.

I like! To learn more, read the Wall Street Journal Article on iPod movie rentals.

I just tripped across the latest in a series of ebook reader devices. This Kindle ebook reader from Amazon seems to be a bit more thoughtfully designed than previous incarnations from other manufacturers. For instance, I like the wireless (and free) access to download ebooks and periodicals, to look up things in the Oxford English Dictionary online, and to view the world of Wikipedia without cell phone charges from any location. (more…)

Tonight, when I revisited Joseph-Beth for the third time in as many days, I found a surprise waiting. Author Greg Iles was holding a book signing for his latest book Third Degree. Now, in all honesty, I’ve never heard of Greg Iles before tonight and the thriller genera has never held much attraction for me.

With that said, I must admit that I lurked above the scene as Greg talked to the seated guests at his signing. I leaned over the railing, looking down and found myself eavesdropping with great interest. (more…)

Byron’s Art Club took a trip to the Cincinnati Art Museum Saturday. Some of the parents went and I took Alex and Brittney along with us just for kicks. It was a wonderful day. The museum was enjoyable and when we returned to town we went to Joseph-Beth Booksellers and enjoyed a Mocha Latte and browsed the stacks. (more…)

Ok, the poem that launched my major in English (alongside Chaucer, Milton, and of course Shakespeare) made it to the big screen in a release tonight that I found quite amazing. The digital animation was simply wonderful and to have it “jumping out” at me in full-color, big screen 3D was quite an experience.

A bit on the gory side and a little less than a completely accurate rendition of the original epic hero poem, it was still a good way to spend a Friday evening. An excellent way, in fact.

I’m sure the standard version was good too, but I don’t think anything can quite beat the 3D effects on this one. Kids loved it, I loved it, and it was nearly sold out — so others were anticipating a good time too.

If you get a chance to check it out… you should!

My father got an iPhone from my mother this year for his birthday (Happy B’day, Pops!)  I can’t believe my non-geeky mother bought this piece of equipment. What’s even more unbelievable is that she likes it too and (methinks) wants one of her own! This, gentle reader, is the power of the iPhone… to convert to technology the unconvertable (namely, my mother).

So, Pops is spending the wee hours of the morning finding all the cool stuff online and on the phone itself. I’ve found a few cool new things for him that I’ll share with my readers here… (more…)

I love ebooks. I like the idea of having a literal library in my pocket. I’ve been collecting them for years, and I found a great new free ebook site, while trying to figure out how to best view ebooks on my iPhone, which prompted me to share this one and a few others I use.

If you want great eBook content, check out these sites. And once I find a method to actually read ebooks, without the struggles and pain of the half-baked ideas I’ve seen online so far, I’ll let you know. (If I could name the one thing that the iPhone really lacks on the entertainment-in-your-pocket category, it would be a way to read books.)

(more…)