What's New

Sep 30, 2014

SpamCop discontinues email service:
For many years, SpamCop (a spam diagnosing tool and reporting service) provided paid email accounts through Corporate Email Services (CES). I was a paying user of their email hosting services since Mar of 2003 ($30.00 per year for filtered email with the 'SpamCop.net' domain). Unfortunately, they've decided to discontinue that service. It's not core to the SpamCop business model. Principally, they make money by configuring, selling and maintaining spam filtering routers for large corporate customers. In March of 2014 I made my last payment of $30.00 for my SpamCop.net email account. In August of that year, I received an important notification from CES (the provider of the SpamCop email service): "[a]s of September 30, 2014 (Tuesday) 6pm ET, the current SpamCop Email service will be converted to email forwarding-only with spam filtered by SpamCop for all existing SpamCop Email users" and that "SpamCop will no longer provide IMAP or POP service [after that date]."

Unfortunately CESmail ceased operations in September of 2014 - They were the exclusive provider of email service to SpamCop.net (since 1998). SpamCop (Became a division of Cisco in 2007) decided not to continue the email service. I'm not sure (speculation above/here), but I would assume that an outsourced email service wasn't really increasing/enhancing the core business of the SpamCop/Cisco relationship - It was probably costing them more money than it was worth / given their core business and the calibre of talent employed. SpamCop worked with CESmail to ensure an orderly shutdown/conversion to forwarding only services, and the email service was shut down at the end of September of 2014.

SpamCop planned to continue providing this mail forwarding service (for those who previously held a SpamCop.net email address) with no additional or future charge to their
users. As you might presume, I was/am one of the affected customers/users. They committed "to provide the forwarding service through 2015 and review the ongoing need for this service annually each fall". Since I'm from the future (not really? it's a long story), I can tell you that they will continue to provide this service until at least 2018 (I'm writing this blog post in December of 2018). I loved my SpamCop.net email address and still take pride in the fact that I have one. I will continue to use the SpamCop reporting services (and my SpamCop.net address forwarding) as long as I can. They've always been of great use to me in my efforts to fight spam, and I will continue using the SpamCop.net email address as a symbol of respect and admiration.
<http://forum.spamcop.net/topic/14280-forwarding-and-faq-update/>
<https://wordtothewise.com/2014/09/spamcop-mail-changes/>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpamCop>
<https://www.spamcop.net>

Uninstalling Macports:
Typically, a software update is supposed to solve/resolve issues on your computer. Not so with the latest batch of updates to my computer. See below for additional information. After encountering numerous system issues on my computer, I decided to 'Uninstall' an 'Application' that has a tendency to cause a few headaches. The application is 'MacPorts' - It's not really a single application, it's more of a Developers tool. MacPorts is something referred to as a package installer. It's a tool that allows you to compile, install and manage open-source software on your computer. This might be command-line software, native X11 (Mac's OS is based upon a type of BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution) Unix) applications or software designed to run using the Aqua interface designed for the Mac desktop OS.

I've used MacPorts (and HomeBrew) for several years. It's been one way to install applications that are otherwise expensive, difficult to duplicate and/or hard to find. Some of these applications have made my life much easier, some have made things more difficult. Unfortunately, of late (especially after some recent OS updates) I've found myself engaged in numerous bug hunting and troubleshooting sessions. These efforts are hair-pulling, late into the night sessions where I engage in exotic command line hacking, tweaking and system level modifications that should make most computer owners cringe. Well, no-more! I've grown considerably frustrated with these headaches. I've got better things to do with my time. As of 30 Sep, 2014, I've 'Uninstalled' MacPorts and all the applications I've installed using it. It took me a long time and some considerable sleuthing in order to exorcise these system level installs and modifications, but the results should be a smoother running system, and fewer OS level headaches going forward. Oh yeah - This also has the added benefit of eliminating some 'vulnerabilities' that were introduced by certain system level applications.
<https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/32724/what-are-pros-and-cons-for-macports-fink-and-homebrew>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley_Software_Distribution>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS_X_Mavericks>
<https://www.macports.org/index.php>

Software Updates cause some issues:
Typically, a software update is supposed to solve/resolve issues on your computer. Not so with the latest batch of updates to my computer. I recently update my OS to Mac OS X 10.9.5 ( Mavericks), and my mobile devices to iOS 8. After theses updates I had to do a lot of troubleshooting and fix a bunch of broken stuff... Stuff that broke? OneDrive desktop/toolbar client; Messages application; and VPN unlimited connectivity on my iOS devices. These three problems required approximately four hours of troubleshooting to fix, and then there was the nagging problem of VPN unlimited connectivity on my iMac. I finally got that working as well. A total of five hours doing troubleshooting.

The biggest lesson learned after these upgrades? Always follow my two rules for OS level updates.

Step 1: After the desktop update, run a 'Repair disk permissions' routine on the system boot drive using the Disk Utility.
Step 2: After the permissions repair is completed, restart the computer. Sometimes I do the restart twice. Especially when it seems to take longer than usual.

These two steps have saved me countless hours of troubleshooting and frustration. Unfortunately, I don't always remember to do them, and this was one of those times. The OS update came after the iOS update, and there were so many updates in a row that I simply forgot to follow my two rules for updates. I got tied up in a lot of application and system level issues that probably wouldn't have been an issue, if I had simply followed my typical update routing.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacPorts>

eMusic returning to it's roots:
Recently (27 Sep, 2014), eMusic announced that it's returning to its roots. I've been a member since 2006, and I have to say I'm actually quite pleased with the service. It's had its ups and downs, but I've stuck with it. Since its inception (In 1998 - Five years before iTunes (ten years before Spotify)), eMusic has been a place where you could find Independent artists (rock and pop), punk, heavy metal, jazz, classical music, even one hit wonders; music that wasn't 'mainstream' or bound by the latest trends. That suits me well - I don't exactly listen to the top 40. I was seldom impressed by what the radio considered a 'Hit'. My purchases were usually lesser known artists. eMusic was the place to go to find the independent music.

In 2009 (after Apple dropped its DRM copy protection/eMusic never had/used DRM), eMusic greatly expanded their library. The catalog started to include a lot of mainstream bands and popular labels. This change was both good and bad. I was able to find a lot more music, but it also diluted the pool of independent offerings. eMusic became a place where I could find both the big names and the small names - all at a fraction of the big store (Amazon, iTunes, etc) prices - Even though eMusic recently (in 2009 and again in 2010) changed its pricing structure (raised prices). There have been plenty of changes since the company was founded, and this recent announcement is just another example of the volatile music industry. When I first joined eMusic, I was getting 90 downloads (tracks) a month, for approximately $0.22 per track!

By 2010, three of the largest independent labels (Domino Recording Co, Beggars Group and Merge) pulled their catalogs from eMusic. There were disputes over new terms, and the independents didn't like the terms. Domino and Merge eventually returned, but Beggars Group didn't. In this latest announcement, eMusic announced that they will no longer be carrying the major labels: Sony, Universal and Warner. That makes a lot of music harder to find (in the eMusic store), but it certainly jives with their stated intent to 'build the most extensive catalog of independent music in the world.' Apparently they can't have both?

eMusic now (in 2018) competes with several streaming services. The focus of the industry is clearly moving away from digital downloads. The new Subscription model is really picking up speed and contracts. The pressure to increase per track prices is still there, and eMusic's catalog has shrunken considerably. In addition to all these changes in the industry, there have also been several ownership/management changes at eMusic. I'm sticking with eMusic for now, but I might eventually drop it all together. It all depends on how loyal they stay to me. I'd like to see them improve the interface experience and build up their catalog again, without raising their prices. Unfortunately, their discovery services are pretty much useless now that they've done away (writing this in 2018) with their 'Stations'. Thankfully there is a healthy streaming industry that I can turn to for discovery.
<https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/30/business/media/emusic-returns-to-indie-roots-amid-shift-in-online-market.html>
<https://www.robsworld.org/emusic_returningtoourroots_sep2014.png>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMusic>
<https://www.emusic.com>

Sep 20, 2014

Software favorites:
Another batch of updates for my favorite Graphic editor. GraphicConverter moves ever forward. As usual, the developer has been busy updating this application. All the updates are free for those who own a license (for the most recent version). If you need a powerhouse converter, editor, and browser for your graphics, grab a copy of GraphicConverter - You won't be disappointed

Safari:
Apple's default web browser for OS X (also available for Windows!), is way ahead of the pack. Apple's browser contains a plethora of incredibly powerful features, and this release moves the browser forward for everyone (there's even a Windows version! - Microsoft stopped developing IE for Mac, and Apple makes a Windows version of Safari). I'm currently running version 7.1.

Battle of the browsers. Internet Explorer vs FireFox. Those are your choices right? Wrong! Think different! Think Mac! A fast but full featured browser, which performs like a pro. The full release version is a powerful workhorse - Featuring tabbed browsing, URL snap-back, a powerful but elegant bookmark implementation (with built-in import capability), Google, Yahoo and Bing search integration, built-in pop-up blocker, multiple standards (HTML 4.01, HTML 5, XML, XPath, XSLT, XHTML, DOM, CSS, CSS3, ECMA Script, Proxy Support, SSL, TLS, JavaScript, Java, plus QuickTime, Flash and Shockwave plug-ins), Top sites - A visual representation of your top visited sites. Cover Flow - A fantastic new way to visualize your bookmarks. Safari Reader mode - banish all those annoying sidebars and adds. Expanded support for HTML 5 and the new JavaScript Nitro Engine implementation - Makes Safari the fastest in the pack.

Some of the new and improved features (under the 7.1 release) include: DuckDuckGo as a search option. Encryption of all Yahoo searches conducted from the search field. Improved 'Reader' compatibility. Improved auto-fill compatibility.

By the way, Safari is fully compliant (it was the first Browser to meet that bench mark) with the advanced Acid 3.0 test. So, if you're concerned about standards and compliance, you've nothing to worry about. Develop your web site using the Safari webkit and you won't have to worry about rendering problems or sticky browser compatibility issues. Check out the website for more info. Safari is just one more reason to Switch! It's won a place as my default browser, give it a chance and it'll soon be yours.
<https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203059>
<http://www.webstandards.org/action/acid3>
<https://developer.apple.com/safari/>
<https://www.apple.com/html5/>
<https://www.apple.com/safari/>

Transmit:
An FTP tool that does it all. Anyone who publishes web pages eventually needs a way to upload their pages to a web site. I've found that stand alone FTP tools are the best for this task. Transmit (updated to version 4.4.8 on the 19th of Sep and 4.4.8 on the 20th of Sep, 2014) has a clean and easy to use interface, and some really nifty features, like the ability to resume a transfer that's been interrupted, advanced site synchronization capabilities (with simulation mode and reporting capabilities), Amazon S3 integration, Sync your favorites using Dropbox, drag-to-dock sending, creation / use of transfer droplets, column views, quick navigation side-bar, multi-connection transfers, built in compression, a built in text editor, remote file editing using local editors, and secure transfer (in various different flavors) capabilities. Check out the Panic.com Release Notes for all the changes made (by version) to Transmit. This particular update was released in order to make the application compatible with the Mavericks OS update.
<http://www.panic.com/transmit/index.html>

Logoist 2.0:
Recently (in Jan of 2013), I purchased the 'Logoist' as another replacement to a piece of software I used for several years. This new software does everything that the Logo Creator did; plus, it works under the newest Mac Operating System (OS 10.8 / as of Feb 2013). I've been using it for a few years now, and I'm very happy with it's performance. It's a great application for creating Titles, Logos, Buttons and graphic for my web pages. I've even added it to my Software Favorites page. It's still competing with 'Art Text 2', but competition is a good thing. As long as these two compete to be my 'Logo Creator' replacement, I'll be assured a well stocked chest of graphic design tools. I've even put together a web page containing a few examples of the titles and logos I've created using 'Logoist'. I may add more as time goes on. For now this is just a simple showcase to illustrate it's capabilities. If you'd like to see more samples, you may find the developers website provides more and 'better' examples.

<rant>I do have one complaint about the 'Upgrade' pricing for the 2.0 version of this application. When I bought the 1.0 version of Logoist (Purchased v1.1.2 (4+) via the Mac App Store on the 5th of January, 2013), I paid $9.99 (not counting taxes). The 'Upgrade' price for version 2.0 was advertised as a 50% discount from full price. Given the fact that I paid $9.99 for the 1.0 version, I expected the 2.0 Upgrade to cost me ~$4.99 (Purchased v2.0 (4+) via the Mac App Store on the 20th of September, 2014). Instead the cost was $14.99 - That's a 50% increase! Not a 50% discount. That's just not right!</rant>
<https://www.robsworld.org/logoistexample.html>
<http://www.syniumsoftware.com/logoist/>

With this software update, I've updated my Software Favorites page. It's primarily dedicated to web publishing for the Mac user. Not meant for the professional, It's my hope that home users and hobbyists will find it useful. It's a listing of applications that I find useful in publishing my web pages.
<https://www.robsworld.org/myfavs.html>

VPN Unlimited has some issues:
Are you using a VPN? I am. I'm concerned that service providers and various websites are tracking my presence, controlling what I see, and selling my website browsing history to various advertisers. I'm concerned about my privacy, I want to deter hacking attempts, and I want all my web traffic to be encrypted. A VPN can help protect your privacy and more. Unfortunately, the VPN I've been using (since Aug of 2014) isn't exactly free of any problems. The VPN Unlimited application comes in a couple of different 'flavors' - One for the Computer, and one for my Mobile Devices. Aside from persistent bandwidth issues (endemic to most VPNs), I've also noticed that the iOS application is fraught with OS incompatibilities. Just recently (during Sep of 2014), I had to fix a problem with the VPN Unlimited application (on my Mac). I had to uninstall the application from my iPhone and my iPad. Then I had to figure out how to uninstall the VPN settings and certificates - Using a VPN isn't all that easy. It can be quite difficult to get it installed properly. Every time Apple updates their OS (Desktop or Mobile), I find that the VPN applications start to 'act up'. After the latest iOS update, I had to uninstall and re-install the VPN applications. The settings and certificates no longer worked properly. The developer of the application was useless in resolving this issue. At this point, the support for the applications is virtually non-existent. As the application has become more popular, more people have started using it, and the developer is now swamped trying to address all the customer complaints. Thankfully I was able to resolve the problems (with the mobile applications) all on my own. Unfortunately - the Desktop application (on my Mac) still isn't working properly. Every time I launch it, I end up with no internet connection. I suspect that the problem isn't entirely the applications fault. It's probably some kind of installation issue. A certificate that needs to be updated, replaced or configured differently. Unfortunately - As I mentioned previously, the developer hasn't been responsive or helpful in correcting the problems.

Email sent to the 'support' address goes largely ignored. I couldn't find any forums, support pages, or even a troubleshooting/tech support email address for the specific product that I'm using. I'm worried that I made a mistake and purchased an unsupported product. The only thing I could find online were pages designed to ‘sell’ the product. When I do get an email reply, the support is limited and more or less a rehash of what I've already discovered. So far the support for this product has been very slow and less than stellar. I still want a VPN, but it appears that I can't use the VPN Unlimited desktop application.

A few days later (on the 19th of Sep, 2014), I was able to fix the VPN Unlimited desktop issue. After updating the desktop OS to Mac OS X 10.9.5, I was able to correct the internet connectivity issue. I had to uninstall everything related to VPN Unlimited (the desktop application), and reinstall it. I also had to download a new VPN certificate, and connect to a different VPN server. Of course six plus hours of troubleshooting a buggy application isn't my idea of a leisure activity.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KeepSolid>
<https://www.vpnunlimitedapp.com/en>

iCloud Drive - The new iDisk:
Long long ago, in an Apple universe of the distant past. Apple used to have a file hosting service. A cloud based file storage service or 'iDisk'. This file storage service was similar to Dropbox and OneDrive (fka SkyDrive). You could upload files from your computer to the cloud based storage service, and then download it from some other location, or offer a link to others and they could download the file. This service was part of the original iTools service (it was free as part of iTools - from 2000-2002), which was later renamed .mac and then MobileMe (the .mac/MobileMe service cost appx $100.00 / year). Unfortunately, the extremely useful iDisk service was discontinued on the 30th of June, 2012. Long live the iDisk. Of course everyone expected that the iDisk would reappear in the new 'iCloud' service... That didn't happen - at least not right away. It took a long time (2 years+) before the 'iCloud Drive' materialized.

The new 'iCloud Drive' is here. Part of the iCloud file hosting service. In order to use iCloud Drive (iCloud Services), you must be running OS X Yosemite (v10.10), Windows 7, or iOS 8 (or later). Additionally, you will likely want/need internet connectivity - as a huge part of the iCloud Services depends on web based access. Allowing you to access many of the iCloud Services when you're away from home (your desktop), or you don't have your iPhone/iPad handy. The new iCloud Drive (iCloud Services) provides 5GB of file storage for free. If you want more (up to 2TB of space), you'll have to pay more. Of course the cost for more storage is far above the cost of actual local storage, and generally more expensive than other cloud based storage solutions. I doubt that I'll pay for more than the free 5GB of storage (way less than the 20GB we used to get with the MobileMe service). I've got my own cloud based storage solutions (a NAS drive that can be accessed remotely). You can use the iCloud Drive to store any type of file - Music, Photos, Documents (iWorks - Pages, Numbers, Keynote all have options to store files in iCloud), PDFs, etc. You can upload, download and share documents - Just like the original iDisk. The interface is improved (over iDisk), and I'm glad that Apple has finally restored this feature/capability.

The iCloud Services are free - provided you don't need more than 5GB of storage. That's great - Considering the fact that we paid ~$100 per year for the MobileMe service. However, if you want to duplicate the 20GB of storage (which was included with MobileMe), you'd have to pay ~$12.00 per year - For 50GB of storage. It's not a bad price, but its still not competitive with other providers. If you want the cheapest storage, a NAS type solution will probably get you the lowest cost per GB, but you'll have to manage the service yourself. I have a NAS device, which I use for file backups, file sharing and remote access.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICloud#iCloud_Drive>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobileMe#iTools>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICloud>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IDisk>

Sep 14, 2014

September Snowfall in Colorado:
What the hell! What the hell just happened? I woke up this morning (Friday morning) - On the 12th of September, 2014 - and imagine my surprise to find snow on the ground? What? How exactly does that happen? Fall (in the Northern hemisphere) begins in September, but it's not quite Autumn yet. Summer doesn't end for another 10 days: The autumnal equinox occurs Sep 22. Snow?! Seriously? It's only the 12th of September. The temps haven't really been that low... It's not the first time it's happened. Colorado occasionally gets snow in September, and the higher mountain elevations certainly are no stranger to snow in September. Not to worry though. According to the Weather prognosticators - Summer should be back in no time. The experts are calling for temps in the 70s tomorrow (Saturday the 13th), and as high as 80 by Sunday. I'm sure we'll be back to normal in no time at all. It's Colorado - we get some crazy weather here. This snowfall marks the 2nd earliest record for Denver snowfall. You have to go back a ways to find the record on Sep 3rd of 1961.
<https://www.9news.com/article/weather/weather-colorado/one-time-it-snowed-in-denver-on-sept-3-because-colorado/73-590503953>
<https://weather.com/news/news/september-2014-record-hot-cold-snow-wet-dry-20141001>
<https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2014/09/12/snow-falls-in-denver/15514319/>

Sendin' some music your way in September:
Here's a list of some of the music I recently acquired. Where do I get all this stuff? In this case it's a little something extra. Apple was trying to be nice when they decided to gift everyone some free music. Apple is known to have musical talent at their new product announcements. It's not the first time they've had a musical act accompany one of their 'Keynote' presentations. Apple events are peppered with music; live and recorded, it's a part of the Keynote tradition.

During their fall 2014 event (on the 9th of Sep, 2014), Apple's Keynote was punctuated with a special live performance by U2. After unveiling the new iPhone 6 and the brand new Apple Watch, Tim Cook said Apple had 'One more thing' to announce. U2 performed the song "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)". After the performance came a special announcement. Apple presented a free copy of the U2 album 'Songs of Innocence' to everyone with an iTunes account. The free album then appeared (that day) in the library of more than a half a billion iTunes users. The album would be a free exclusive (It was the first U2 album in more than 5 years) for any iTunes users, for an entire month. After that, it would be available for sale in the iTunes store (in October of 2014).

This stunt - Getting U2 to forego an entire month's worth of potential sales, on their new album was costly. Reportedly (according to the New York Times), it cost Apple $100 million dollars. Unfortunately, one should never assume that the best of intentions equals the best of ideas. Apparently, unbeknownst to Apple, many people don't like U2, and considered this intrusion - into their personal iTunes accounts, to be a horrendous violation of their personal space. An affront to their musical taste and an egregious affront to them personally. In my opinion, the amount of outrage was a bit overblown by the media, and a bit overblown by individuals who dislike U2. It wasn't all that difficult to 'delete' the album - If you didn't want it.

The media outcry was so loud and overblown that U2 Apologized for the blunder and Apple had to create a special website that helped users delete the album. Just in case they couldn't figure out how to delete the album themselves. Hint: Select tracks you don't want, press backspace key... I'm still befuddled by the amount of outrage. Come on people. It was a free gift. You don't like it, delete it. You don't like what Apple did - I get it. Tell them not to do it again.

For what it's worth - I like U2. Less now than their early days (80's - Albums: Boy, October, War). Here's a bit more info on the album which caused the uproar.

iTunes Music Downloads:
Sometimes I purchase music from iTunes, and sometimes I take advantage of their free downloads (Here's a major release - A Free release). iTunes is the King of the Hill when it comes to the bigger names, and sometimes I have to go there to get the albums of big named bands. Not so in this case. U2 decided to give away their latest album, and many of us benefited from this free gift. Thank you U2, thank you Apple. I for one and grateful for the free gift.
* Songs of Innocence - U2: (11 songs) A free album from U2. They used to be near the top of my favorites list, but they sold out. Their sound changed drastically over the years. In the early years, their sound was raw and emotional. That sound eventually became political and polished. This release is about mid-way up/down the charts when it comes to U2. I can clearly tell that they took great pains to produce a technically perfect album, but the emotion was only half that of their best albums. It's a great album by most standards, but it's only a good U2 album. I haven't listened to it that much over the years... Perhaps it's time to give it another try?

This is one of the items I added to my music collection during this month. Since revamping my music collection back in September of 2005, I've been slowly adding, revising and updating the collection. If you have a comment, question or correction regarding my collection, please don't hesitate to send me an email. Please keep in mind that my collection isn't for sale, and I'm not interested in giving you any copyrighted materials. I'd rather not go to jail for music piracy. :-)
<https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/09/09/the-free-u2-album-songs-of-innocence-was-a-debacle-for-apple-fans-on-september-9-2018>
<https://buy.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZFinance.woa/wa/offerOptOut>
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/songs-of-innocence/928288986>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_of_Innocence_(U2_album)>
<https://www.robsworld.org/music.html>
<https://www.applemusic.info>

iTunes updated to version 11.4:
Recently (Sep of 2014), Apple updated iTunes to version 11.4. There's been a few since I last posted about any iTunes updates, and I doubt that I will ever post another announcement about Apple's application updates. This blog is supposed to be about "What's New" in "Rob's World!" - Not "What's New" with Apple. It seems that I've been posting an inordinate amount of promotional or product based information that focuses on Apple's products. Yes - I use Apple products, but I don't think I need to tell you about every application that Apple has updated during the last month. I might still tell you about Apple OS updates, and some Apple products - Like the productivity apps that make my life easier, but I probably won't be telling you about iTunes in the future. For that matter, I might forego updates for other Apple products. Especially if it's a product that I don't personally own. This isn't supposed to be an 'Apple Announcements' blog.

As far as most people knew, this release (the 11.4 update) was an OS compatibility update. This update allows you to sync your music, movies, and more to devices running the newest version of iOS (iOS 8). This version of iTunes works with Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks, bringing support for the upcoming iOS 8 mobile operating system. As usual, I'm not sure whether this update will make things better or worse. Apple's efforts to keep iTunes running smoothly haven't been meeting with much success of late.
<https://support.apple.com/kb/dl1774?locale=en_US>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_iTunes>
<http://www.apple.com/itunes/>

GraphicConverter:
Thorsten Lemke (of Lemkesoft) completed work on a couple more updates over the past couple of weeks. I recently saw/downloaded the following updates: 9.4 (b1692), 9.4 (b1695). GraphicConverter is an image converter and editor. A fantastic piece of shareware that is well worth the price (~$40.00). I use it to convert image formats into web standard formats; to create and edit image maps and other graphics. I've been singing GC's praises for many years now, and I'm not sure what I would do without it. The best part about GC is it's author. Thorsten Lemke is completely committed to his customer base. Constantly and Continuously responding to customer recommendations and bug reports. GC is a dynamic, evolving, application. Always on the cutting edge, an absolute must in any web developers tool box. At a fraction of PhotoShop's cost (and no monthly subscription fees!), this photo editor is a highly versatile application with all the bells and whistles. On par with the 'Very Expensive' top end editors, and no 'subscription fee' required!
<http://www.lemkesoft.de/en/products/graphicconverter/overview-of-new-features-and-versions/>
<http://www.lemkesoft.de/en/products/graphicconverter/key-features/>

I Want To Be a Cowboy:
For many years, I have wondered whether I should, would, could, ever own a pair of Cowboy boots. In June of 2014, I asked friends (Longtime Colorado residents): "How long do you have to live in Colorado before you've earned the right to wear a genuine pair of 'Cowboy Boots?'" After indicating how long I had lived here (Kim and I have lived in Colorado since 2001), the overwhelming consensus was: "Go ahead and sport those bad boys". As a result, I purchased a pair of boots in August of 2014. I purchased a pair of Tony Lama Men's Tan Saigets Worn Goat Cowboy Boot. That's a long name for a pair of boots. Maybe a picture would work better? (see link below) So far, I've only worn the boots a couple of times, and the fit is a bit tight, but I think I made a good decision. I'll have to wear them more often if I'm going to break them in properly.

Another note from the future (Dec of 2018). I can tell you that after four years of wearing these boots (mostly on Fridays (to work) and special occasions outside of work), they now fit like a glove. The custom sizing procedure for Tony Lama boots works quite well. The boots were quite tight for a brief period of time, but now the fit is perfect. I treated the boots with some leather/weather-water proofing and they still look as good as when I purchased them. I'm really bought a pair. I might just purchase another pair. While these are great for everyday wear, I might purchase a fancier pair for special occasions The price was right as well. While these boots typically sell for more than $250.00, I was able to purchase mine for appx $175.00 through the Official Tony Lama outlet on Amazon.
<https://www.robsworld.org/ tonylamaboots.png>

Sonic Vibrations get my Groove On:
Here's a list of some of the music I recently acquired. Where do I get all this stuff? For the long story on my music discovery efforts, see my music page. After rdio was shut down, I searched for an alternative streaming service, but the only thing that made sense (given price, catalog, service, support and my existing preferences) was Apple Music. I signed up for a 3 month free trial in December of 2015 (yes I know that's in the future, or the past, depending on when you read this (or read this depending on when you read this) - but then there's no such thing as time, so wrap your head around that!), and I've been a $9.99/month subscriber ever since - Thank you for not raising your prices (as of Dec, 2018). For now, eMusic is my primary download service (even though it's catalog is severely shrunken - no major labels, and the minor labels are disappearing on a daily basis), and Apple Music streaming is my primary music discovery service, but I certainly can't afford to buy my music from them, and the other major players - Amazon and Google both think that the outrageous prices that Apple charges are o.k.

Artists want you to Hear their music - If you like it, you'll buy it, or maybe you'll buy some concert tickets. The major labels of the music industry want you to pay for their product. - letting you hear it for free is contrary to their business model. Well, guess what? I won't buy the music if I can't listen to it first, and no one listens to the radio anymore (I don't because of all the advertising, interruptions, lack of new music and lack of information - you can never figure out who/what is being played) The major labels are killing themselves with their restrictive distribution and dissemination policies. If you like new music, you can do a web search to find your favorite artists web site, a new music web site, or an archive of free music. Free music is available - Legally! Don't believe the propaganda of the major labels - Not all free music is illegal. You can legally download and listen to all sorts of music for free (Have you heard of Pandora, Presto, Jango, SoundCloud or GrooveShark?). I download (purchase) most of my music from a couple of commercial sources (eMusic and iTunes), but I occasionally download tracks (legally) from various websites, newsgroups and blogs in order to satisfy my craving for music.

Here's a listing of some of the music I legally downloaded - and paid for!

eMusic monthly downloads:
Every month I download ~50 tracks from eMusic.com. This month (Sep of 2014) I downloaded 50 tracks (from eMusic) at the low cost of $23.10. Normally I pay a $19.99 monthly fee, which makes the tracks extremely cheaper - That's right I didn't actually pay $23.10, that would have been the price if I had purchased individual tracks. When you purchase an entire album you get a discount. Plus I got a discount for purchasing a specific plan (as a member), and I've been 'Grandfathered' with additional credits since I'm a long-time loyal member (since 2006). As a subscriber, you save even more. I only paid $19.99 for my $23.10 worth of downloads. The price for these tracks came out at ~$0.40 per track - Way less than the cost on iTunes or Amazon. A non-subscriber/non-member would have paid more than $40.00! If you bought these tracks on iTunes you might have paid more than $60.00!

* XL1 - Pete Shelley: (12 Tracks) Pete Shelley is one of my favorite artists from the 80s, and this album contains some of his best hits. Formerly lead singer of the Buzzcocks. His solo career is notable, and I remember him more from his solo career than his time with the Buzzcocks and Howard Devoto. His power-pop version of punk burned up the dance floor and I can't get enough.
* The Grifter's Hymnal - Ray Wylie: (12 songs) Here's some true Americana, country blues. Ray Wylie's songs tell tales of woe so mournful and slow that you'll swear to repent for all your sins. With a touch of revivalist country, this Grifter's Hymnal is a testament to true blues and country roots. I'm so glad that he decided to return to make music in 1991 - After an eight year hiatus. Discovered by listening to MOG music recommendations.
* Mission Control - The Whigs: (11 songs) I discovered this band by listening to an iTunes sampler that I downloaded. After two songs, on two different samplers caught my attention I decided to get one of their albums. I haven't been disappointed.
* An Adjustment to Society - Kraut: (15 tracks) Kraut is a favorite band from the 80s. This hardcore/New York City punk/Thrash band opened for the Clash back in the 80s, and I've been a fan ever since. The 'Thrash' bands gets my blood pumping. Unfortunately, they only produced two studio albums.

Unlike some music outlets, eMusic doesn't have any DRM and they don't insert unique track id's into the ID3 tags. Their terms of service are consumer friendly. eMusic allows you to burn as many CDs as you like and copy downloads to an unlimited number of your computers and portable MP3 players. At less than $.50 a track (I'm currently paying $19.99 for $22.99 worth of downloads per month) you can't really go wrong. You don't have to be a member/monthly subscriber to access the site or buy music, and the membership prices (per album) are compared to the non-member prices right up front, so you can see how much you save as a monthly member. eMusic offers a really good value for your download dollar. iTunes and Amazon still charge more. eMusic offers more music for your money, and the variable bit rate recordings make for exceptionally high quality recordings. If you still want your own copies of the music, check out eMusic.

These are some of the items I added to my music collection during this month. Since revamping my music collection back in September of 2005, I've been slowly adding, revising and updating the collection. If you have a comment, question or correction regarding my music collection, please don't hesitate to send me an email. Please keep in mind that my collection isn't for sale, and I'm not interested in giving you any copyrighted materials. I'd rather not go to jail for music piracy. :-)
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_on-demand_streaming_music_services>
<http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/07/emusic-lets-the.html>
<https://www.robsworld.org/music.html>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMusic>