I think your songs needs to be properly tagged to be recognized by Genius for it to makes you a proper recommendation. Did your Genius bar on the right recommend any songs for purchase when you pick any particular song in your library?

Also, logically, Genius won't be able to make any recommendation if your songs are in a language or region not supported. For example, Chinese songs. It may collect info on songs it does not have in that Genius cloud in the air, but any recommedations in that song would only properly work once more users starts submitting their database and playlist info into the cloud. Genius will only get smarter from here.

Or Indian, etc. The Genius engine works well only once people starts contributing their iTunes data.

Get everyone in Malaysia to contribute their playlist with "Rasa Sayang" or "Negaraku", and the next guy who have these songs on his library, gets his proper Genius recommendation he needs.

I foresee this a good way for Apple to use it as a tool to weed out albums leaked out the illegal way ie; torrents etc. Whether they want to use it that way remains to be seen.

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Added on September 11, 2008, 10:06 pmAiyoh 41 only!? You'll have to pick "25" as the number of songs to be recommended by Genius. If you pick "50" it will either recommend everything or nothing at all, depending on your tags. Did your Genius sidebar recommend anything when a song is picked?

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Added on September 11, 2008, 10:17 pmCome to think of it, if not properly tagged, even Genius could not help you. Tried it with one of my more problematic mp3s ( the tagged metadata is screwed up) and that gives zero Genius recommendations.

Try clicking "Update Genius" on the Store tab, that may refresh Genius and return a more positive result.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Sep 11 2008, 10:17 PM

Eh? I didnt say that. I was talking about the whole library on iTunes. It is managed automagically.

Anyway, even when we cheered Apple for including HD downloads via iTunes now, the reality is, it is not "really HD" in the truest form.

http://gizmodo.com/5048025/giz-explains-wh...t-very-high-def



From the article, both resolution and bitrate goes hand in hand to create the HD experience. In Apple's HD case, yes you may have the resolution (1280 x 720) but the bitrate is shamefully lacking. In the end, when you look and play your HD contents up a big screen HDTV, it looks nothing more than "just like an upscaled DVD movie" would look like. I've tried this with Battlestar Galactica episode that is downloadable for free promotion now, and the difference between that, and a proper Blu-ray presentation is painfully apparent. Looks like HD downloads have a long way to go before even trying to compare with Blu-ray.

OT:
How low? Your price low, or MRSP is actually lower than RM799?

I'm afraid I'm not the waiting type. If the thread posted on Apple Byte is true, and it is going to be available tomorrow, I'm gonna have to get it ASAP, high price and all. Orange!

RTAOT: Dont know about Malaysia since we dont have an online Apple Store, but Apple Singapore does.

RTAOT =Response To An OT

OT: The new iPod pricings are in, courtesy of Machines!

http://machines.com.my/All_new_iPods.php



Funny how I asked the KLCC branch just now, and the guy said "in two weeks time". Are infos such as these only privy to certain staff only? Shame on you Machines.

Yup, now you can get any iPod, from the entry level Shuffle to the more higher end iPod Touch, BELOW RM1000! *notwithstanding the higher capacity iPod Touches*

Also, just changed money just now at Maybank Bureau de Change, for my trip to Frankfurt tomorrow. RM was 3.5 for USD1, so for the 16GB Nano, we only pay an RM99 premium over the Machine price. Normal, or lower premium than before?

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Sep 12 2008, 12:09 AM

Back to iTunes 8!

http://gizmodo.com/5048237/how-to-get-the-...lizer-in-itunes

Instructions on how to get the real Magnetosphere into your iTunes visualizer list.

1. Go to that link, search for either an .exe for Windows or a zip file for Mac users. For Mac users, if you need the file, I can pass it to you through email. Be advised the visualizer file is LEGAL for distribution, they are still in beta.
2. To install it on Mac, put it in /Users/username/Library/iTunes/iTunes Plug-ins. for Windows folks, doubleclick the .exe. MAKE SURE you scan the .exe first, dont want yourself to be downloading a virus instead.
3. Enjoy!

Personally, I think the built-in iTunes visualizer is way better than Magnetosphere, although I can see similarities and how they've improved upon the original Magnetosphere. Looking at the void as nebulas spring into existence, and then birthing a planet, and tons of streaks of light shooting towards the surface of the dark planet. Very beautiful.

To those who had been keeping up with what J.J.Abrams had been up to, his brand new sci-fi TV show, Fringe is up for purchase on iTunes. Option to buy the entire season is available as well, think of it as a season pass in which future episodes are downloadable immediately once made available. This is usually a day after it has debut on pay-per-view network, just like the case of Lost.

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Added on September 14, 2008, 2:37 amRestoring the second time from the first restore after Firmware 2.1, and on the iTunes 8 Capacity meter at the bottom of the screen, I could have sworn I see a 5th type, called "Apps" colored green. But after the second restore, it is gone? Have it been absorbed into the "Other" type?

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Sep 14 2008, 02:37 AM

Awesome! More controls over the elements in the visualizer is always welcomed. "Toggel Nebula mode"? I wonder if you can create more planets or increase the size of the single planet birthed, so that I can see the light streaks hit it better?

Yup, I got that fixed on mine. It was acting up initially, but I get a green "Apps" bar on the capacity meter now.

That is why I always keep up on which Apple products are about, or due for a refresh. For casual buyers who do not really care that their products are about to be refreshed, it does not affect them, but to those who do care, then this link is important to check if your potential purchase is about to get replaced by a new procut refresh:-

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

Always be in the know, knowledge is power.