My Crush on Steve Jobs

My heart races every time I see the MacBook Air. I've watched and re-watched the new ad on the computer more than is healthy, and now I can't stop belting out "I'm a young soul, in this very strange world, hoping I could learn a bit about what is true and fake."

Apple's stock may be off but Steve Jobs is right on for me. He knows exactly what I want, and as soon as the innovative MacBook air comes out with a bit more heft I'm ready to invest.

Speaking of Jobs, I have officially installed Apple iPhone Update 1.1.3 and it makes me doubly proud to own an iPhone. You can now send text messages to multiple recipients and move around and customize the home screen as if it were a normal computer. Best of all, the iPhone will now tell me wherever I am and allow me to map step by step directions to where I should be. For the directionally challenged this is not only beautiful but it's lifesaving. On a lighter note, Apple now made it possible for me to rent movies for road trips. The iPhone was wonderful when I got it but now it's even better. And what's more amazing than a phone that just keeps on improving?

If Jobs and his secretive team listened to me I would request that the following additional fixes are added to Update number 1.1.4.

• The iPhone doesn't allow users to send or automatically view picture text messages. Instead we have to go to a site with a hard to remember username and password (which is separate for each picture) and log in. Half the time the site doesn't even work so viewing something a friend snapped in the cell phone view finder for convenience is laborious and hardly worth it.
• No cell phone offers better browser viewing than the iPhone. But if Apple can do anything then I look forward to the day when we can view Flash.
• I'm used to the keyboard and have come to appreciate the silent satisfaction of pressing buttons. The self correct is effective but if there was a way to turn the keyboard sideways like in the internet browser then it would make my thick fingers much happier.
• Just add instant messenger already and give away a ringtone here or there. And while we're at it, don't constrict email and text message alerts to three measly tones. We want variety and beauty, much like the iPhone itself.

Jobs knows how to do it right, but if he wants me to review that MacBook Air I'd be happy to do so.

In honor of Steve Jobs and the wonderful musical taste of his employees I'm going to recommend some Yael Naim. The French musician usually plays slow ballads with David Donatien, and her music is amazing in a Cat Power sort of way. The song in the ad is even better in the video below:

The Wii Never Looked So Sexy

Ten years ago video game socializing sounded like a ready made oxymoron. But since the emergence of the Wii the idea of sticking people in the same room and asking them to play a video game isn't so absurd. The very nature of games has changed; they are short and often perfect for social interaction. Call having your friends over to play Wii Tennis or Guitar Hero the new version of inviting someone to the movies. You don't have to entertain and because there's something engaging your guests there's no need to make conversation. But is this a good thing?

I'll offer full disclosure now: I am an owner of the Wii. I've spent evenings dripping in sweat during Wii Boxing or Wii Tennis and even rearranged my living room to accommodate two player sports games. I love having people over to play the Wii, and I think that allowing people to come over and play has resulted in enough Wii sales to give me reason to start claiming a commission. Of course Nintendo wouldn't agree, but that's beside the point.

My real point is that the Wii has revolutionized gaming, and I thought that even before I saw Yann. Wired calls Yann a "Franco-American software developer hacker musicians currently living in Scotland" but I'll tell you he's more than that. Yann is the dreamy creator of the Wii Loop Machine, a software that allows people to create music using their Wii remote control. This makes Guitar Hero look childish but better yet, proves that Wii users are intelligent. With creations like the one you'll see in the video below, who cares if people don't make conversation while socializing anymore. This is just too cool and the Wii remote never looked so good.

Wii Loop Machine 2.0 :: Sampling! from The Amazing Rolo on Vimeo

Air Traffic doesn't use the Wii Loop Machine in their newest album Fractured Life but the US release on February 5th is worth paying attention to. I just reviewed Air Traffic's debut album and the band that has received comparisons to Keane and Coldplay proves they're worth the hype. Give them a listen on their myspace, and if you're willing to give away your personal information to the UK's XFM Radio you can get a free download of their single "Come On" by clicking here.

It's Not About What You're Wearing...

UMass softball practice kicked into full gear last Friday the 11th and I think the team is further along than we've ever been. Our two sessions days have been exhausting, but all in all the energy is positive and everyone is active and engaged. Players are making incredible plays like you wouldn't believe, and every day I look on my teammates with pride. Not only that, but I'm one of the few college players I know who can truly say she loves her coaching staff.

A few days ago Coach Sortino (whose ability to breathe without softball is probably in question) offered a gem of advice that applies not only to the game, but to style.

"It's not about what you're wearing," Coach said at the end of our first session of the day. "It's about feeling good about what you're wearing."

She was referring to our incredibly uncomfortable practice pants at the time, but couldn't you see a line like that in Vogue? Now that Coach is offering solid fashion advice I think we're legitimately ready to dig our cleats into the dirt and play some competition...or at least get out of the stifling Boyden gym air.

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R.I.P. Bobby Fischer. You were honorable mention on the upcoming UMass softball profile survey's three people I'd most like to meet, dead or alive.

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As always, let's talk about music. Three years ago I predicted popular music would move into something dashed with electronic happiness. We're starting to see some of that, but it's a little different than what I imagined at the time. One of my favorite dance/rock blend bands right now is Junior Senior. They sit somewhere between ubercool and guilty pleasure, but check them out. You're sure to have a good time.