musicgenretree.com update

After finding a suitable home/host/server for musicgenretree.com, I am ready to offer a sneak peek at the very first incarnations of the site.  Send me a note if you would like an invitation.

These first few versions of the application will simply offer the ability to traverse the genre tree.  In a few months, I will add the ability to get information on each genre and possibly add a community around the site.

One of the reasons I am offering an advanced sneak-peek is to get feedback regarding the overall look-and-feel and to get suggestions on the genre tree itself.

DJ Fly Setting A New Bar In The Turntablism World.

It has been years since I have seen innovation in the turntablism world.  Just when I thought that the art of turntablism has reached its limit in innovation, 2008 DMC World Champion DJ Fly from France enters into the scene.  He has taken the turntablism art to a whole new level and has set a whole new bar for the art of turntablism.  He has a style that can best be described as perfect-timing turntablist and scratching skills to create a musical journey using hip-hop and electronic flavors.  The one thing that sets DJ Fly apart from the rest is his attention to precision.  He rarely misses a beat in his very difficult and articulate sets.  I can’t wait to see what DJ Fly is going to do next.

… and finally, here is DJ Fly with legendary DJ QBert:

4/29/2009 Update: one more video here: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x24ylt_dj-fly-le-6-minutes-vice-champion-d_creation

Breaking News (or Twitter notifications) on My MP3 Player.

I consider myself a news junkie.  If there is some breaking news occurring, I want to know what it is, immediately.  While on my computer, I get breaking news alerts by subscribing to @cnnbrk and @breakingnewson on Twitter.  Even when I am out-and-about, I have breaking news sent to my mobile phone via SMS text messages.  The one place where I have no access to breaking news is while driving.  If I get an SMS text message notification, I will not read it because it is very distracting to keep checking my messages while driving.

The technology I have in mind that will fix this problem is very simple: include in internet-enabled MP3 players the ability to speak breaking news as they happen.  The process will work as follows.  I am driving down the highway listening to my MP3 player.  When breaking news is occurring somewhere in the world, my music player will be notified.  When the unit gets notified, it will gradually lower the volume of the music that is playing and then speak the breaking news to me, preferably a short snippet ala Twitter.  After the breaking news has been spoken, the music volume will return to its original state.  Technology-wise, it seems very simple.  So simple that I think something like this may have already been created.  Anyone?

To extend on this idea a bit further.  Maybe I can send selected twitter notifications to my MP3 unit and not only will I get breaking news, but friends’ updates, as well.  Pretty cool, ha?