http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128111544

Gogol Bordello is currently one of my favorite bands on my iPod and gypsy punk is quickly becoming my favorite genre. I haven’t checked out their new album yet, but I hear it’s pretty good. This morning I was perusing NPR’s web site and found their Tiny Desk Concert. You have to watch this if you like Gogol Bordello.

I just downloaded and upgraded my installation of iTunes to the latest, greatest version. I hesitate to upgrade these days because as much as I’ve loved iTunes and Apple in general in days past, these days are full of Microsoftesque bloatware from Apple. I don’t understand why companies feel it is imperative to combine so many things into one when it equals a larger download, slower response, and irritating upgrade notices because instead of one item that needs it 3 or 4 are checking (iTunes, QuickTime, Safari etc.).

The download for iTunes was 64 Mb’s. It took entirely too long to install, and the first startup after installation took almost exactly 1 minute on my 4 year old Dell Inspiron 600m laptop. I’ve only got 768Mb RAM in this sucker and for most things it’s fine, but these upgrades are starting to take a toll on its performance.

The new features include the “Genius Sidebar” which is another way for iTunes to suggest songs you might like from the iTunes store. There’s several other ways to view your library that involve large amounts of memory as well. Pretty, but wasteful if you ask me.

The best thing that seems to have been updated – and it’s a LONG time coming – is the visualizer! That thing was just OLD! It was the stupidest and weakest part of iTunes from the beginning. With other MP3 players like WinAmp generating great visualizers Apple dragged behind for years – strange for a company that prides itself on being visual and inventive. I haven’t really tested it yet because it’s still updating my library with pictures and letting Genius plow through my 80 Gb music collection, after which it will suggest songs I might like when I play something.

Supposedly it won’t suggest something I already have in my collection which is good, but my collection is so diverse I think I’ll have to write a post at some point in the future concerning this stupid new feature. For example, I’d like to know what it might suggest when I start the song “The Preacher and the Man Whore” by the Cobra Skulls! (I’ll post an update when it’s finished with the other 79 Gbs).