iPhone Remote App + AirPort Express with AirTunes = Awesome

I just setup the Apple AirPort Express with AirTunes(802.11G version). Combined with the Apple Remote application on the iPhone this is very, very, very cool.

Now, from anywhere in the house, you can control the iTunes library stored on your computer from the iPhone and stream the music to your home stereo system. The Remote application can even control which set of speakers to send the music to- the computer speakers or the AirTunes one.

No more being limited to the music on the iPhone. Ours is 8Gb.
No more having to plug the iPhone into speakers, especially since this one has the recessed headphone jack.
No more having to control the iPhone/iPod by walking up to it since it's hardwired to the speakers.

Now if only the Remote application could control the iTunes library and stream your music to the iPhone.

Anyways, setting up the AirPort Express with Windows wasn't exactly straightfoward. I had to muck with the PC's network settings, then set them back.

Otherwise, this is awesome. My wife was duly impressed but in the next breath said, "What about FM radio reception?" Guess I'm going to go buy an AM/FM antenna tomorrow. At least I can listen to the Giants then.

iGotOne

Well, actually iGotOne for her :)

My lovely wife gets the iPhone and I get her Samsung slider phone, which has a horrendous GUI.

It really is for her.

No-- really.

I'm not kidding!

I'm in front of a computer all day and have access to the Internet. In contrast, she's doing myriad sorts of things as a full-time mom and rarely has time to sit at a computer.

I, of course, get to mess w/ it when I'm not at work! Plus- I get to take the iPod Photo (40Gb) now!

Simply Streamin' myTunes

SimplifyMedia is really cool. It allows you to stream your music in iTunes between your computers and between 30 friends as well!

Now I have access to my entire iTunes library anywhere my laptop can get an Internet connection! I got Lkwan to sign-up and we messed around streaming tunes.

Needed fixes and enhancements-

• 1. Sometimes it freezes iTunes completely and I had to kill the process.
• 2. It drops the connection for no apparent reason. Sometimes even killing my connection to the network.
• 3. It can't browse your music from other computers via CoverFlow.
• 4. Can't listen to friend's songs purchased in iTunes that has DRM unless my computer is authorized.
• 5. Would be neat to be able to see what my friends are listening to from my library.
  

Anyways, let me know if you want to be my friend on SimplifyMedia.

Update:
SimplifyMedia has some awesome customer service. Paul Joyce, the co-founder, answered some of the items above in the comments. Click below.

Also, in a prior post I mentioned my favorite Christian artists. Well, if you're my SM friend, you can sample them from my iTunes!

Update2:
Appears that it doesn't work through VPN. Bummer.

Free iPhone!

... for Apple employees that is!! "Isn't Steve Jobs such an awesome boss?!"
I originally saw the story at ThinkSecret: Steve Jobs: Free iPhones for Apple employees
Steve Jobs just pulled an Oprah "My favorite things."

If I were Mr. Jobs' speechwriter I would have scripted it like this...

Good Morning Everyone. Thank you all for taking time out of your busy work days to be here.
We're webcasting this across the entire company and I'm sorry you all couldn't be here... but-

Tomorrow is a momentous day. A day I've been looking forward to for a long, long time.
Tomorrow. Is. The. Nationwide. Release. of. (dramatic pause)
Ratatouille! (Uproaring laughter)
No, No- Really I'm not kidding. (big grin on his face)
It will continue the fine Disney/Pixar tradition pairing great storytelling and state-of-the-art computer graphics.

Okay. Really, tomorrow is a big day for us here at Apple.
Tomorrow, iPhone will be let loose for the masses.
I just wanted to thank you all for the long days you've put in to make it all possible.
And I want to thank everyone at Apple for working so hard in contributing to our success.

One of the best things about working here is that we build the best computer hardware and software and MP3 players in the world.
And we get to enjoy them in our daily lives.

So to the iPhone team assembled here, there's something hidden under your seats as a token of appreciation.
(People reach under their seats)
iPhones for everyone!
(Everyone goes nuts)

And here at Apple, regardless of where you contribute, we share in each other's successes.
So if you are watching via webcast, I'd like thank you as well.
See what's taped underneath your desks.
(Everyone on-line goes nuts)

Anyways, I guess you can tell I've seen some Oprah. They'll be getting their iPhones in July actually... Ok, not everyone's getting them... but close enough.

In stark contrast, instead of giving out free iPhones, my company announced layoffs this week, which was expected post Agere acquisition. (I'm safe.)

iWantOne

Steve Jobs' keynote introducing the iPhone is amazing. The iPhone looks amazing.

I'll stick w/ my trusty Nokia 6230 a little while longer and wait for the 3G iPhone w/ more storage.

I got all excited since I get 20% off equipment from Cingular w/ my company's corporate program, but Apple shot that down pretty quickly.