Fix iTunes Catalog Streaming on FStream for iPhone

On my way to work, I've gotten in the habit of listening to web radio on my iPhone instead of local radio. It's a much more satisfying commute when you get rid of commercials, etc.

Up until recently I used an app called FStream, however, that all stopped working a few weeks ago. I'm not sure what changed, but FStream is no longer able to play any streams from the iTunes radio catalog (although other streams in the favorites browser, such as those from Shoutcast, still seem to work). After quite a bit of fiddling, I finally came across a solution, although it's a bit hackish.

Since I only had issues with the iTunes catalog stations in the app, I was betting that the stream URLs were wrong, or something along those lines. So I went into iTunes to try to get the stream URLs that it was playing, because I could still access those stations through iTunes. I couldn't find a way to just right-click on the stations in the radio browser in iTunes, so I had to drag the station to a playlist first and then do a 'Get Info' on it. Doing so, I was able to then copy the stream URL and then paste it into FStream as a new station (I emailed the URL to myself on the iPhone if you are wondering how I did this copy/paste).

No dice.

Looking at the stream URL I realized it was actually a redirect URL. Maybe iTunes uses these as some sort of marketing ploy to figure out what stations users are listening to? And maybe FStream can't follow the redirect? Don't know. So instead I took that URL and pasted it into Safari and let it follow the redirect. Doing so I was able to download the M3U playlist file that the actual web radio station serves up. Opening that with a text editor yields the real stream URLs. Copy/pasting those URLs into FStream instead did work. Voila!

So like I said, it was a bit hackish and I'm hoping the FStream app gets updated to remove this issue. Most users will not want to go through this process and the only reason I did it was because I only had two stations I listen to so it was easy. But for a free app that works well and keeps me from having to listen to the annoying local radio stations play the same crap over and over, this little hack fest was worth the effort for me.

Xbox 360 Update + WPA2 + Airport Express

I ran into an issue last night trying to download the latest Xbox 360 dashboard update. The first part of the download came through okay, the system rebooted okay, and then all hell broke loose. Okay, it wasn't really that bad, but the little WPA2 update for the 360 wireless adapter basically hosed my connection to my Airport Express router.

After 20 minutes of getting "can't connect to your wireless network" errors, here's what I discovered. My AE was set to the wireless mode "WPA/WPA2 Personal". With that mode, the 360 would not accept my network password at all, no matter whether it was specified in the WPA field or the WPA2 field. It just flat out would not connect. By switching the AE into WPA2-only mode, the 360 was finally able to accept the network passphrase.

I'm not sure why the old method didn't still work, but oh well. Hopefully this post will help some other poor soul who runs into the same problem.

My Mistress

I'm officially cheating. There I said it. I'm cheating on SmugMug with Flickr. Don't hate me.

But let me say this too before I go further. I love SmugMug. I always have, I probably always will. Sure there are some things with the service that annoy me (like that damn pop-out window when you hover over an image -- Argh!!!), but like any successful marriage, you take the good with the bad. With SmugMug, there is more good than bad, I think.

So, if I'm in love with SmugMug, why flirt with Flickr? The answer is that SmugMug has become a one-side relationship for me. I will continue to post every picture I take to SmugMug for safe keeping and for pointing my friends and family to. But I need more. I want to be a better photographer. I want people to comment on my pictures and tell me what they like or don't like. Sure, SmugMug has communities, but it's not the same as the social photo sharing monstrosity that is Flickr.

Therefore, I've decided to start posting a small subset of pics on Flickr too, just to see what becomes of it. I plan on redirecting everyone back to SmugMug for the larger versions, but hopefully this test will help me get some more exposure and improve my skill set.

If you want to check out all of the sexy, secretive details of my little affair, head on over to http://www.flickr.com/areichman.

The Great iTunes Catalog Update

Man, I haven't blogged in a long time...And if I keep doing what I'm doing, I might not for a while again either.

After snagging a shiny new, abeit plastic, iPhone 3GS, I have a lot more space to fill on my phone now. I could simply copy my whole music library over, seeing as I have the space. But I'd like to do things a little more smartly.

I've been having this annoyance with my music library lately. Basically I'm sick of my music and I feel like I'm listening to the same stuff over an over.

So I'm embarking on a long journey whereby I'm updating the tags on my music. I've never used the Genre or Rating tags and I'm making an effort to do so now. I'm hoping in the end that I'll rediscover some music I had forgotten about. And ultimately, I'll be able to create some Smart Playlists with more randomized music for me to listen to.

It's a big effort (and I have a smallish 2500 song library), but hopefully it will be worth it in the end.

The New Hotness

After 5+ years, my aging PowerBook G4 was finally replaced this week by a new aluminum MacBook.

I had been eyeing it for a while and was planning all along to actually buy a refurb unit from apple.com. Well, it turns out I waited long enough for them to drop the price buy another Franklin, which sweetened the deal even more. The backlit keyboard on this unit is much brighter and consistent than that on my PowerBook, it's obviously much snappier with the upgraded hardware, and I love the new look of the black keyboard and screen. I'm really digging this so far.

As for my PowerBook, Craigslist, here you come.