I’m a big Beatles fan, and had a post cooked up all about those reports that, thanks to Norweigan Broadcasting (NRK), you could download Beatles MP3s for free, legally. NRK’s site said: “Some weeks ago, NRK – Norwegian Braodcasting – signed a deal with music rights holder organisation TONO in Norway. The new deal givesContinue reading “It Won’t Be Long: The Beatles and MP3”
Author Archives: Alex
Can You Hear Me Calling? Vampire Weekend cover Fleetwood Mac
At some point, I will launch a blog entirely devoted to cover songs – they’re a great way to hear musicians taking on melodies and choruses they’d never normally write, and there’s great pleasure to be had in the way a cover puts the stresses in other places: different lyrics, different parts of the melody.Continue reading “Can You Hear Me Calling? Vampire Weekend cover Fleetwood Mac”
Lucky Symbols
I’ve never been one to have any good luck totems myself – no lucky socks for my exams or charmed shirts for interviews2 – but I do like this Threadless t-shirt with its collection of lucky symbols. Should make it certain2 2009 gets off to a great start. From left to right: a rabbit’s foot,Continue reading “Lucky Symbols”
A post in 2 parts: Mark Rothko and Camerabag
Took the shot above yesterday at Tate Modern, and it’s the first one I’ve got from the iPhone’s camera that I’ve been really happy with. It’s from Tate’s excellent Mark Rothko exhibition… Part 1: Overheard at Mark Rothko Well, I say it’s excellent, but that’s if you like Rothko. If you don’t, it’s fair toContinue reading “A post in 2 parts: Mark Rothko and Camerabag”
More iPhone tips
My last iPhone post went down well, so I think it’s worthwhile linking to TapTapTap’s list of handy iPhone hints. Half of them I’d discovered myself, but the double-tap at the top of the screen to scroll all the way up, and holding down the .com button to access .co.uk are new to me.
Memoir in six words
The Guardian is running a competition asking for six word memoirs to promote a new book, called ‘One Life, Six Words, What’s Yours?‘. This is my entry and you can see a selection on their site.
How to delete podcasts you’ve downloaded to an iPhone with 2.2
The new 2.2 system software for the iPhone allows you to download podcast episodes straight to the phone (previously it just copied episodes downloaded via iTunes if and when you synced with your home computer). This is great, but there are some problems with the process – namely that podcasts downloaded directly to the iPhoneContinue reading “How to delete podcasts you’ve downloaded to an iPhone with 2.2”
The Custom PC book: Ultimate Guide to PC Gaming
I’m pleased to announce the first ever Custom PC book, the Ultimate Guide To PC Gaming, out just in time for Christmas on the 4th of December. It’s everything you need to know about PC gaming in one 174-page book. It went to press yesterday, so we’ll get copies in the office at the endContinue reading “The Custom PC book: Ultimate Guide to PC Gaming”
Talking about Windows 7
Warning! Awkward geekery ahead. Here’s me on the BBC website, talking about Windows 7. In short: it looks a lot like Vista, especially at this early stage – much of the stuff previewed by MS (and covered on the PC Pro blog) doesn’t appear to be in the version we had to play with. ButContinue reading “Talking about Windows 7”
43 was a pillock, 44 looks like he’ll be a lot better
I was with an American friend last night, and even at 11pm she didn’t dare believe it was going to happen. It did though, it really did. Writers with a firmer grasp on the issues, the times and the rhetoric you need for them have delivered the goods. And of course Obama himself did. HisContinue reading “43 was a pillock, 44 looks like he’ll be a lot better”
The Wired Jester 