Sunday, January 31, 2016

2016 January - Custom Apple Watch Clockface Photos

Index January 2016
Custom Apple Watch Clockface Photos

This high resolution 8-picture set is created specifically for the Apple Watch. Each photo is formatted at a resolution of 1920x2400 pixels. Any or all of the photos may be used with the Apple Watch native clockfaces for either a single-photo or multiple-photo screen display.

Download the zipped file:
Custom Apple Watch Clockface Photo Set
!20160130AWClockFacePics.zip

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Mozart at 260


Tab 1 Feature:

27 January 2016
A Birthday Anniversary

Mozart
A Classical Music Immortal
(27 January 1756 - 5 December 1791)

Mino Haruki Trio
2007

Jazz "Voi che sapete"
from 'Le Nozze di Figaro' 3'32"
(after Mozart)



~*~

Tab 2 Feature:

27 January 2016
A Birthday Anniversary

Mozart
A Classical Music Immortal
(27 January 1756 - 5 December 1791)


Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, soprano
(1987 remastered)
Aria "Voi che sapete"
from 'Le Nozze di Figaro'

with tandem bonus track

Carol Vaness, lyric soprano
and Nuccia Focile, soprano (1995)
Duet "Che soave zeffiretto"
from 'Le Nozze di Figaro'
5'41"



This MP3 post expired on 02-29-2016.
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Monday, January 25, 2016

Etta James' Birthday Anniversary


Tab 1 Feature:

25 January 2016
A Birthday Anniversary

Etta James
vocalist and songwriter
(25 January 1938 - 20 January 2012)

Etta James, vocals
1960 Remastered

- Never My Love 3'50"
(Addrisi, Addrisi & Davis)


~*~

Tab 2 Feature:

25 January 2016
A Birthday Anniversary

Etta James
vocalist and songwriter
(25 January 1938 - 20 January 2012)

Etta James, vocals
1960 Remastered

- Someone to Watch Over Me 3'40"
(Gershwin & Gershwin)



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Tuesday, January 19, 2016

At Last, My Caribbean Dream Comes True




Tab 1 Feature:

19 January 2016
A Birthday Anniversary

Ray Eberle

vocalist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra
(19 January 1919 - 15 August 1979)

Ray Eberle, vocals
1942

- At Last 3'08"
(M. Gordon & H. Warren)


~*~

Tab 2 Feature:

19 January 2016
A Birthday Anniversary

Dan Gibson

Canadian photographer and sound recordist
(19 January 1922 - 18 March 2006)

Dan Gibson Solitude Series
1999

- Caribbean Dream 5'14"


This MP3 post expired on 01-25-2016.
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Monday, January 18, 2016

The Apple (Pay) of My Eye

The following grocery stores in my neck of the woods offer NFC Apple Pay which I have used. There is only one store really understands and makes NFC mobile payment works. That is Sprouts. The others on the list are just so-so when it comes to setting up NFC terminals for Apple Pay.

In all of these stores, I like using the Apple Watch instead of the iPhone 6s. The former is much more convenient and requires no iPhone nor its Touch ID to initiate a payment.


Best of all of the Apple Pay NFC stores in town:

- Sprouts

Sprouts has the best Apple Pay setup. Once the clerk starts scanning the items, the Apple Pay NFC is ready to accept payment. I just place my Apple Watch over the NFC, and its done reading it. All I have to do is wait for the clerk to finish scanning and bagging the purchased items. Very nice.


First Place:

- Best Buy

Forget MCX. Best Buy has decided it's best all around to accept Apple Pay. No need to press "Yes" on the NFC unit to authorize credit card payment


Second Place:

- Whole Food

Once the cashier starts to scan the purchase item, Apple Pay is ready at the NFC unit. But the NFC still requires
the pressing of the "Yes" button on the screen to complete the transaction


Third Place:

- Trader Joe's

The clerk needs to finish scanning all of the purchase items, then he has to press a key on the register to authorize Apple Pay. After placing my Apple Watch over the NFC, I must tap the terminal for "Yes" to approve the purchase.


Tied for 4th Place:


These two merchants have very awkward Apple Pay NFC systems.

- Save Mart

- Walgreens


Promises Promises:

- Home Depot

It never got its act together or it reneged on providing Apple Pay.


Unknown:

- Lowe's

Nada. No Apple Pay. It decided to stick with PayPal.


Note: Other service providers in town (e.g. Apple Store, health care providers)are known to have Apple Pay which I have used. Their particulars are not included in this post.






Wednesday, January 06, 2016

Alexander Scriabin's Birthday




Tab 1 Feature:

6 January 2016

Alexander Scriabin's Birthday
Russian composer and pianist
(6 January 1872 - 27 April 1915)

Evgeny Kissin, piano
2005

- 5 Preludes, Op. 15, No. 2 - Vivo   0'51"
(A. Scriabin)


~*~

Tab 2 Feature:

6 January 2016

Alexander Scriabin's Birthday
Russian composer and pianist
(6 January 1872 - 27 April 1915)

Evgeny Kissin, piano
2005

- 5 Preludes, Op. 15, No. 3 - Allegro assai   0'58"
(A. Scriabin)



This MP3 post expired on 01-19-2016.
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