Apple needs to add iTunes streaming to the iPhone a la Simplify!

Simplify works great in that it streams my iTunes library off my laptop to my iPhone. So although my iPhone has no where near the storage required (>100GB) I have full access to my music library.  The one drawback with Simplify is that it cannot run in the background like the standard iTunes app.   For music I do have on my iPod, i can browse the web, Facebook and Tweet away with music in the background provided by iTunes. Not so for Simplify... So please Apple, release iPhone iTunes streaming in your next 3.1 OS release!

Addendum:  Yes Apple, I would even be willing to pay a "mobile me" tax for access to this feature!

Road Warrior Gear

I have a 17" laptop which I've been carying around in a targus bag that's not much good for anything else except a few papers. It's been hard to find a useful case or backpack for a 17 incher, so I also sling an old "JavaOne" conference bag over my shoulder with all of my gadgets, accessories and notebooks. 

Tomorrow I'm heading down to Orlando for a conference and dreaded lugging both along with my Travelpro Rollerboard. So... on the off chance I would find something suitable, I stopped by the local staples today. Wouldn't you know it, after picking through all the piled luggage, I found the perfect backpack that would hold my HP Pavilion 17" Laptop. The backpack was a Pegasus from Wenger . I love the Swiss Army stuff. This is the first time I've found one of their backpacks that was big enough. It holds the laptop nicely along with my LinkSys travel WiFi router, Kindle eBook, several notebooks, iPod Video, Pulse SmartPen, Sudoku Books, flashlight, along with assorted cables and accessories.  Perfect!

While I was at it I figured I pickup a travel mouse and noise canceling ear buds. The Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse is nice and compact, with a compartment to slide the USB dongle inside when not in use. When you pop out the dongle, the VX automatically turns on. Nice! I also purchased the Sony Mdrnc22 Noise Canceling Headphones . The sound quality was excellent, but I won't be able to tell how well the noise cancellation works till I get on the plane, but they did come with a special airline adapter so that I can plug them right into my seat if I plan to partake of the airline entertainment. I'll update this entry once I land.

Lovin the 15 Inch Digital Photo Frame

Just bought Julia the Pandigital 15" photo frame.  Awesome picture, great features.   This model can play video and mp3 files as well as digital photos.  You can also setup a schedule for when you would like the frame to turn on and off throughout the day.  I basically set it to automatically turn on at 6am in the morning and shut off at 10pm at night all week long.   The frame also comes with a remote control that allows you to stop and start the slide show, zoom in and rotate pictures on the fly.   Julia's having a blast going through our archives and filling up the memory card for the pandigital.   We've placed it in the front hall.  Love it