New Tab for Music and Guitar

After some consideration, I have decided to create another blog, which is specially for sharing my love of music and my insane passion for guitars [and maybe other instruments in the future too!] Something like a new blog, on an old blog. Technically, it is a different blog, but I linked them together and made it look the same [as I lack ideas and I am STILL bad at HTML, CSS codes, XML and all these stuff. I will be moving some of the older music/guitar related posts there, as well as uploading my first guitar video and guitar tabs there. Please do check it out and continue to show your support and encouragement! Many thanks!

Commemorating an old friend: Creative Extigy

Originally posted: 19 Jan 2011
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Actually, I had been hesitating to remove this installation from my PC since last year when I changed a new PC as it has served me well since 2001. This unit you see on the left is the Creative Extigy, an external sound-card with many multi-functions and connectivity. For you guys who think it died or is damaged or what not, that is not the case. The custom DIY setup PC I got also back in 2001 has been seriously outdated, and I have purchased a new computer over a year ago. The most unfortunate thing is operating systems beyond Windows XP , like Vista or Windows 7 have compatibility issues which the driver of the Extigy unit. In fact it has escaped disposal since the last spring cleaning and had been sitting on my desk as an ornament for over a year. I didn't bear to throw it away as it's a very good product and it shone like a star when it first launched. Now, CNY is drawing close again, and the time for spring cleaning has come again, my room is running out of space, it has to go.

I remember I purchased it at Sim Lim Square back then, haggling over several distributors to bring the price from S$285 down to $260, approximately. I was like a child with a brand new toy, gleaming from ear to ear. It was one hell of an investment before I starting fiddling with turntables and played the electric guitar. It has many modes of connectivity with its array of different jacks like AUX in/out, MIDI in/out, Line In, S/PDIF inputs, balanced XLR like those ports used in PA systems, even Optical In/out, which was the hottest thing during then due to MD players; using optical fiber cables, utilizing light to transmit data instead of the conventional hard-wire  Output wise, it supports Dolby Surround, with designated jacks to hook up your front, side, rear speakers and sub-woofer. Sound quality was top-notch probably even in the present age, thanks to the software and drivers. My PC back then was like a mini recording studio and helped me a lot during my days as a DJ, making some mixes and gigs.

No tears, but it was emotional when I decided to remove it. After all, it served me throughout the years and was worth every single cent. Thinking back, I certainly miss it. Hope Creative comes up with another fabulous product to equal the Extigy. Farewell.

Blackberry App Review: TuneIn Radio

Originally posted: 18 Jan 2011
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Finally something useful for the music junkies like me who prefer to stick to a Blackberry rather than change to an iPhone because it's "more trendy/popular" and "good to show off with". Haha... I think I'm going to get blasted by the iPhone purists. Anyways, preferences aside, this application that I'm loving is called "TuneIn Radio" or just "TuneIn", developed by RadioTime©, the makers of TuneIn for Android and iPhones, Songbird and Radioshift for MACs. It's a very simple but useful application to allow you to tune in to internet radio stations using either WIFI or mobile packet data [GPRS or HSPA]. By the way, my dear Roseate June was the one who "discovered" it the day before and introduced it to me. I only downloaded it last evening but I'm already stuck to it, in fact I am listening to awesome tunes while working on this review.

Right, of course its nothing new... but its for the Blackberry. I mean, c'mon, enough of credit for iPhone apps, Blackberry users should deserve some support too. Now Blackberry users can also listen to podcasts, live streaming radio, radio talk personalities, in the office, at home or even on the go! I am also well aware that there are already other application which serve the same purpose, but his kick-ass application busts the competition with a review of 4.5 stars out of 5! What I believe contributed, would be the reliability, ease of use, simple user interface, yet diversified content. Best part is, It's absolutely FREE!

Its lets you listen to over 40.000 radio stations, including you local AM/FM stations, live sporting events or DJ's, programs and podcasts. Be released from the confinement of music by performing your own custom search, discovering radio stations from all over the world, or select from categories like music, sports, news, talk-shows, podcasts, by location or by language. A vast range of musical genres await you; from Classical, Country, Rock, Metal, Electronic, House, Trance, Hip-Hop, R&B, Jazz, Latin, Oldies, Blues, Pop, Top 40's, to even children's! From there, you can choose your international stations. My favorites would be Digitally Imported [or commonly know as D.I. FM], Proton Radio, Dance FM, Smooth Lounge Radio, The Alternative Side, Y-Rock. Trust me, you'll be spoilt for choice. Check out some of the screenshots below that I have gotten from RadioTime©.

What I like most about TuneIn would be the hard-to-get music. You see, over in this little sunny island of Singapore, the music industry is rather conservative, [shallow in my truthful opinion] and local radio sucks big time. It's neither expansive nor liberal like in other countries like United States, UK, Europe, etc. What I seek most of the time includes Alternative Rock, Grunge, Chill-out, Ambient, Lounge, Uplifting Trance or Vocal Trance, down to Drum & Bass. If you have an unquenchable thirst for radically tasteful music like me, this would be our everday cup of tea.

It's also good to know that this application doesn't drain you battery like a bloodsucker. I've been listening to TuneIn for several hours since and my battery just dropped by one bar. Just be careful if you are groovin' on the move with a limited mobile data plan. Like all other internet applications, this baby could suck up to 100MB if you stream on high quality of 128Kbps for an hour, which may cause some additional charges depending on your telco provider. Try to stick to WIFI, or if you can compromise on a lower quality and stability, you can choose streams with lower bit-rates like 96 Kbps or below. Doing that, you could lower the risk of getting slapped with an bill of exhorbitant figures. If you don't read me, feel free to comment or ask any questions about the Kbps thingy or the app itself. I'll answer to my best knowledge.

Convined? Seen enough? Time to take action! Click here for the hyperlink of the website of RadioTime© or navigate to radiotime.com/bb on your blackberry to download it.

Even if you are not a music junkie like me, it is still a great application to have. I mean, who hates music? If you own a Blackberry, it is a must-have application; the TuneIn Radio by RadioTime©

Extracted images courtesy of RadioTime©