Apple has just released the latest version of iTunes which is now currently available for download. iTunes 8  includes a few new funky features that will surely help provide a unique experience when playing your loved music, over and over again. Looking to the right, the new look of the “Music” tab is introduced. Keeping everything very simplistic as always, Apple have used black, grey and white to introduce a very focused look. Everyone has different tastes and favourite colours but my assumption is they are trying to target the younger generation with this 2.0 look rather then the wise.

Genius

Genius is a new implementation by Apple which has two parts attached. Firstly is the Genius Playlists which helps save time by creating new playlists based on your song selection. You pick a song, hit the Genius button and voilà!, you have a playlist with all your songs that go together well with your current song selection – neat.

How iTunes Genius Works

The second part is the Genius Sidebar which will recommend songs based on your current playing song. Basically, it introduces new songs which are almost identical with your selected song. It won’t recommend songs that are already in your library. As you can see on the left hand side, (Click to view full image) you choose a song, hit the genius button and it will automatically find you related songs whether that be in your library or available for download through the iTunes store. I would have to say that this is a great marketing tool, allowing different artists to be heard depending on people’s tastes. It doesn’t force you to purchase the song, but it gives you incentive due to it’s relational to what you’re playing. Working on emotion/feelings – smart.

To read more about iTunes 8 new features, visit their website by clicking here and/or to download iTunes 8, click here.

Andrew Knight

I’m always one for writing quality posts, for the best viewing experience possible. However, I am doing an interesting test which will involve a series of things for the popular search engine, Google. The test’s I’m doing are as follows:

• Keyword Density – To see how I rank if I have more of the same keyword in one post. e.g. Andrew Knight
• Bolding or Emphasising Keywords – This will be combined with the above. Bolding particular keywords and seeing if this indeed does contribute.
• Adding a tag just for the keyword Andrew Knight and nothing else.
• Linking to a popular external website, i.e. Wikipedia or News.com.au.
• Interlinking different keywords to multiple posts, see if I rank better for those keywords. “Andrew Knight is my own personal blog.”
• Destroying my competitor, Chris Hamilton who is, plain and simple – a Tyre Kicker.

The outcome will be an interesting one due to my current ranking for Andrew Knight. I was initially number one in the Australian’s results for Google but unfortunately it seems I have dropped to number eight. Not even ranking for my phrase break but ranking for the post about Nicole Kuepper which I posted a week or so ago now.

If you don’t know what a Tyre Kicker is, you can find it on the Urban Dictionary. They always have great urban words on there, it’s amazing some of the stuff you do find. I will post words on my blog, Andrew Knight if I find them worthy enough. A snippet from the term Tyre Kicker:

Andrew Knight: Hi I’m selling a car
Chris Hamilton (Tyre Kicker): Hello can you give me more information about your car.
Andrew Knight: It’s a car.
Chris Hamilton (Tyre Kicker): It’s the car I want but I rang just for the sake of it I have no intention of buying it bye.

I have a picture of Monty, a very intelligent monkey who talks the English language, uses his hands exactly like we do and also shows facial expressions. Click the image to view the full-size.

Monty: Looking at Chris Hamilton - The Tyre Kicker

Please feel free to comment on my blog, Andrew Knight anytime you wish to do so. I must be up front, all my comments are moderated so all Spam, Advertising or Inappropiate material will be deleted. Andrew Knight likes to have a clean blog for all his regular and new visitors.

Thank you for participating in this experiment. If you would like to know more about me, visit my About page.

As you may recall, I posted a few pictures from Lolcats earlier on in the peace and I said I would do so again. I am back posting more. I would like to post the other 1 million, unfortunately I would find myself looking for a new server after the old one had blown up from bandwidth consumption.

The below images have been scaled down to help you if you have a smaller screen resolution, also for it to look neat. To view the full image, click on it.

No Stupid, It's CTRL, ALT, then DELETE

I Did The Math, We Can't Afford The Dog

Materials to build kittehpult: expensive. Getting rid of the dog in 3.. 2.. 1..: Priceless

I'll do it later. I'm watching my stories.

This (is the) last time I (will) hang Christmas lights ever!

I still wonder how do you have a camera to capture these extraordinary moments? All these photos are valuable and clearly priceless. All have their own humour and great to know that there are so many photos on Lolcats.

Could you look at Funny Pictures of Cats all day long? I would if I could.

Everyday Money Credit Card

Woolworths, one of the biggest supermarket chains here in Australia has now gone into the finance market but primarily focused on credit cards, for now. The Sunday Morning Herald (SMH) is now calling them by a new name: “Woolworths – The Credit Card People“. The new entity, “Everyday Money” will not only provide credit cards but home insurance, car insurance & various types of loans in the near future.

The Everyday Money Credit Card will help you earn valuable reward points, everywhere you shop. According to Woolworths but of course I’m unable to comment on that point as I haven’t gotten any feedback from people who have actually purchased the everyday money credit card. Here is a brief run down on what you will receive and obviously ‘expect’ from a credit card, says Woolworths:

• No annual fee for the first year

• Free additional card holder

• A competitive credit card interest rate

• Up to 55 days interest free on purchases

• 5.99% on card balance transfers for the first 6 months

• Worldwide acceptance

• Chip security

• MasterCard® PayPass™

• Access to Everyday Money Credit Card Repayment Insurance

• We’ll even let you choose your card colour – now that’s refreshing!

Now what really surprises me is all these quick 1 year don’t pay anything gimmicks really traps people. Automatically they assume that since it has a low rate, a great interest free period and doesn’t cost anything right now, it’s superior to all other credit cards. Unfortunately, they seem to find out the hard way later one because they ‘accidentally’ missed a payment and have to pay an astronomical fee.

If you are considering purchasing a credit card or simply would like more information, I would recommend visiting CreditCards.com.au. A great website with detailed information about all leading credit cards and a handy page to compare credit cards.

I personally wouldn’t buy a credit card at my age let alone the Woolworths Credit Card. Why do I need one? I don’t need to support a family, pay back my car repayments or pay the overdue electricity bill. I will only apply for a credit card online if my web hosting business became in need of further development and I wanted to grow and take it further.

If you feel like you never have any money, can’t afford to pay for things, then sit down with a cup of coffee and talk to your partner, a family member or your best friend about your current situation. We get targeted by credit card companies on our weaknesses. Sometimes it’s better someone else assessing your financial situation then your own emotions.

iTunes Store Blocked by China

Stumbling across an article from SlashDot, I discovered that over the billion who inhabit China, they are now unable to browse and download songs from the iTunes network. This came in effect due to an album “Songs for Tibet” was downloaded over 40 times from Olympic athletes who are supporting Tibets cause. The album also included songs criticising China’s internet firewall – a.ka the “Great Firewall of China“, which ironically, was the only thing disallowing access to the iTunes network in the first place.

I don’t personally use iTunes to download and purchase music, however I do use it to listen to all of my favourite songs and I find it much easier then most music players. Regarding purchasing music, I prefer to buy an album, upload it to my computer and organise it the way I want to.

If China wishes to keep carrying on this charade of criticising people who support Tibet, they will, without a doubt fall hard and flat on their face.

“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.” -V (From the movie: V for Vendetta)

I don’t take sides generally, but when it comes to government and power, China should really consult their position and begin thinking about the long-term effects of their actions.

Nicole Kuepper, Age 23

A bright woman by the name of Nicole Kuepper has invented a brilliant idea that allows the creation of solar panels by using a pizza oven. This would eventually bring the wonders of electricity all around the world, to areas where they just can’t afford it.

Nicole, who is 23 received her first solar-energy kit from her parents at the age of 10, and has wanted to work with solar energy ever since. She is a PhD student and lecturer in the school of photovoltaic and renewable energy engineering at the University of New South Wales.

Realising at such a young age that the world needs clean, renewable and affordable energy in countries, she decided to think outside the square. “What started off as a brainstorming session has resulted in the iJET cell concept that uses low-cost and low-temperature processes, such as ink-jet printing and pizza ovens, to manufacture solar cells.”

Nicole also believes whilst it could take up to or beyond 5 years to develop the technology, it would allow many to read at night, be kept informed of the world’s news and store vital necessities such as vaccines.

Though from my perspective, I would see it as a positive not to be informed of the negative energy that surrounds the current world today, however I do believe storing vitial necessities and reducing green house gas emissions is a big step forward.

Nicole, we need young people like you to show the rest of the negative world it’s possible to live free, clean and in abundance – the right way. Keep going strong, you have my full support!

I was reading News.com.au this morning and came across an interesting article about a young boy by the name of Blake Peebles, who has officially left school for a video game. Now this doesn’t come as a surprise for many, however he has full support by his parents. There have been many blogs writing about this, many articles with different point of views and it’s quite unfortunate that people are scolding his parents for not pushing him to continue his so called ‘needed’ education. Before you begin to think negative thoughts about what I’m saying, I will question you with the following sentence:

Follow your dreams and succeed within yourself.

Isn’t that the daily motto of successful people?

I do believe the education system is for the masses and doesn’t teach everything about life including proper financial knowledge, however, he is getting home schooled. If his parents believe this is the right direction for their son, I suppor them. I do also know, deep down all parents want the best for their kids, no matter the direction.

For more information on Guitar Hero, check out Wikipedia.org.