Yet Another Streaming Radio App: TuneIn Is Pretty Awesome, Actually.

Posted on by November 16, 2012

UPDATE: had to go hunt down a valid URL again for WXRT’s HD “New Music” stream to load into another Internet radio player. I don’t have TuneIn on my old laptop; for that I use Clementine, which is kind of twitchy but works on desktops like WinAmp did, but also scrobbles tracks via Last.fm or Audioscrobbler.

I went looking for yet another Internet radio app for the iPad, and had to track down the URLs again for one of my favorite stations:

20121010-222456.jpg

For example, WXRT Chicago plays directly on a computer (without any login) using this link: http://www.thestreamcenter.com/STW.asp?URL=947 but I haven’t had the chance to check these links on my Roku lately… … Some have asked on this and other forums about the WXRT Chicago internet stream – but…it appears there are two streams, and only one plays on the ROKU.

The one people have been successful with is their “New Music Station” – which is a DIFFERENT station than what they play on the regular WXRT (it is a HD radio station). This is the URL for the New Music Station (edited because it’s changed again).

via Roku Forums • View topic – StreamTheWorld stations

Actually, there’s a couple more valid XRT streaming URLs. Even more info here.

WXRT:  http://provisioning.streamtheworld.com/pls/WXRTFM.pls
WXRT:  http://5483.live.streamtheworld.com:80/WXRTFMCMP3
WXRT HD2 feed: http://provisioning.streamtheworld.com/pls/WXRTHD2DIALUP.pls

Some players work with different ways to access WXRT Chicago’s 2 feeds. I tried this latest app today because Radio Riel put all six of their streams on it: TuneIn.

This after painstakingly (or not so painstakingly) adding all my scattered, hard to find music URLs to Clementine (desktop and laptop) and failing to save them correctly. Up to now, Radio Riel has hosted their streams on several different sites, using different kinds of URLs, some of which didn’t work with inworld radio tuners (reminds me, need to get a copy of my working list out of Second Life and update it). Music is essential for me when building or sorting inworld, and of course any socializing I do is usually has music too. It’s also becoming essential during my RL workday, and while messing about with triangles in Patterns. So that’s why I keep on searching for the perfect music app.

TuneIn is a pleasure to configure. It has a TON of streams and it suggests other similar stations. Custom URLs can be added at the bottom of the favorites list. I even found podcasts galore, including some to do with Second Life (this one was blogged by Bryn Oh in 2010). Mostly I was tickled to find a bunch of public radio shows I don’t always catch when they’re originally broadcast, such as RadioLab or On the Media. There’s a lot of other content to explore; I even found a Sci Fi podcast from Krypton Radio, which is run by people from Second Life. Much music to Tune In to, so my workdays will be a lot more pleasant.

#LindenLabs Update for #LLPatterns Thursday 18OCT with NEW SHAPES OOOH

Posted on by October 13, 2012

Linden Labs announced a pending update to their Steam-based alpha game, Patterns.

Our first update is right around the corner. We’re going to be updating to a bigger world, adding more shapes to find in the world and – based on your feedback – we’re adding the ability to place formations on your own creations as well as ours. We’re also fixing plenty of bugs.

This won’t make Second Life Marketplace merchants happy, who’ve been trying to get some needed features and fixes done for… years, really. And it won’t make content creators happy either, who’re unhappy about weird server issues or the dumbing down of the JIRA bug reporting system. Both groups may wonder if LL paying more attention to the new games (see also Creatorverse) and the coming integration with Steam means even less attention paid to their marquee product. But I’m happy, because I’ve become quite fond of Patterns as a relaxing time-waster, and I’ve also found all the Starene shapes there seem to be. I’ve got 2 active games; the original where I’ve Hoovered up every bit of building material within reach, and an “enviro” one where I’ve taken the minimum amount required to build bridges and break into pyramids. I’m delighted at the prospect of new stuff to find and explore. Link: Patterns | Its your universe to shape

Great Big Band Music From @RadioRiel While Getting Stuff Done, New Items on the #SLMarketplace

Posted on by October 7, 2012
Reply

Finally had a chance to stop whingeing and Get Things Done.

A tribute to the works of H. G. Wells - virtual lamps

The Crystal Egg Floor Lamp and Desk Lamp Set – direct from the extraordinary STEAM 7 hunt!

The tripod object can be used as a lamp – click to turn the lamp on and off. You may see something mysterious happening… look closely. Peer into it from different angles. What is that? The transparencies bug may bite, peer closely and from a distance until you can almost see…. click! What’s that?!? BRRRRRR-INNNNNNNG!

Enjoy. Just for fun, I made a desk/tiny size lamp, too. All in 15 glorious prims!

Each lamp includes “projection” lighting just for fun – to see this effect, you should have graphics set to “Ultra.”

via Second Life Marketplace – @LC@The Crystal Egg Floor Lamp and Desk Lamp Set

Whew! I had a little backlog to deal with – a few minor products that were in the pipeline that just needed product images (never my strong suit, my workflow needs some help). The last two months have been busy in Real Life(tm) what with Western Summer Adventures by Aeroplane, Horseless Carriage, and Dieselpunked Rail. Not only that, but the typist now works from home and has a fearful commute in the mornings dodging a small and very insistent cat in the hallway instead of innumerable cars on the tollway.

Also added to my Marketplace shop today:

Kahili Hawaiian Quilt

Second Life Sculpty Pet Bed

Traditional Victorian-era Hawaiian quilt design recalls the days of Hawaiian royalty – pets, petites, or tinies will sleep like little kings and queens.

“Kahekili” are the yellow or red feathered column-like staffs carried before Hawaiian royalty and people of noble birth. They have come to symbolize royal quality and are common in Hawaiian arts and crafts designs.

Ooops, typo. It’s “Kahekili.” I’ll fix it “in post.”

Round Pet Bed Ku’u Hae Aloha Hawaiian Quilt

Sculpted prims in Second Life: Round pet bed with Hawaiian quilt design

Traditional Victorian-era Hawaiian quilt design recalls the days of Hawaiian royalty – pets, petites, or tinies will sleep like little kings and queens.

And yet another pet bed – which will work for tinies and petites too, of course. But these are probably the last ones I’ll make. Maybe one more rustic one… the idea for them came from a really elaborate lucid dream the typist had, who was IN Second Life, sculpted boots and all.

Round Pet Bed: Dali Clockwork

Simple, sophisticated sculpted round pet bed – includes mattress pad and coverlet with clockwork styling in the Dali style for pampered pets.

Petites and TINIES, too, HOOO!

There are some unfinished hats, and I may think about doing some simple hat-friendly late Victorian/Edwardian hairs, too. Nothing that would make the cut at Hair Fair, and not as elaborate as my neighbor Naergilien Wunderlich’s very historical hairstyles. Just something that doesn’t end up having a bun poking out of the back of one of my hats, that’s all.

It was very nice today – I had time to work in the shop rearranging things and thinking about a redesign based on a few authentic general mercantile or “dry goods” stores I’ve actually visited. I also chatted with some new and old friends – and decided to prop the doors of the shop open as long as the weather remains decent in far northwestern Steelhead St Helens.

The Crystal Egg lamps are on display in the shop – floor lamp is at the back wall, and the desk lamp is on my little “cubbyhole desk” under the stairs. Feel free to play with the radio station. 😉 I had a great time listening to Radio Riel’s program tonight, Gabrielle Riel’s monthly live show “Songs from the Nightingale.” A lot of the time I’ve been busy in Real Life(tm) fooling around with computers and laptops and iPads and so on has been getting various Aetherweb radio tuner-things to play nicely, and the first thing I do is to load all the Radio Riel stream URL’s. It’s a big part of what keeps me sane during the typist’s workday – music is a necessity now while waiting for Things to Happen, workwise. So thanks, Radio Riel, you are wonderful. And necessary.

Shoot, it’s midnight. More stuffs to do tomorrow.

Weekly Tweets 2012-10-07

Posted on by October 7, 2012
Reply
  • @neddings Hah! Well, somebody has to do it. #
  • @isfullofcrap Rest that wrist. Are you allowed elbow-bending? #
  • @isfullofcrap Very robotic! #
  • @isfullofcrap ROWR! #
  • Oh, hell. I signed up for Patterns because I am a hopeless dope. Now I'm stuck waiting for the activation. #
  • Sigh. Got key, need update graphics drivers on this old laptop. #
  • Hokay! Finally decided my laptop can't run Patterns. Installed on desktop. Here I go. #LindenLabs #
  • Who else besides me was playing #SLPatterns until frickin 3am? Just me, then? Thanks, @rodvik, need moar coffee. #
  • On the other hand, I'm now considering the tensile strength of cantilevered jasper and double-pyramid buttresses. #LLPatterns #
  • @elora_annette Really? Hmm! Well, I had lots of pink screen and couldn't see ANY graphics. But it looks great on the desktop. #
  • For virtual pets and petites on Second Life: Round Pet Bed Ku'u Hae Aloha Hawaiian Quilt https://t.co/Dh0s3TsD #
  • It's Always Summer Somewhere in Second Life: Summer Adventure Hat https://t.co/Cflryo1g #
  • For virtual pets and petites in Second Life: Round Dali Clockwork Pet Bed https://t.co/0x9Dvy3w #
  • There's an Easter Egg in there: #SecondLife Crystal Egg Floor Lamp and Desk Lamp Set https://t.co/zGC2qMAg #
  • HOOO! Got things done, new products listed on #SLMarketplace chatted with friends, listened to great music on @RadioRiel. #SecondLife #
  • @MickeyETC Thanks so much for the RT. It just made me laugh. Now we need to see Psy do the Hamster Dance and the circle is complete. #

Hamstah Gangnam Style – Only in #SecondLife

Posted on by October 6, 2012
2

First of all – HELLO GUYS, my First Life got… not exactly busier, but more stuff engaging my limited attentions spanz.

Second of all, I am happy that this exists:

Why? Because it combines two things that make me furiously happy: whimsical Second Life-style creativity, and that crazy Psy guy, Gangnam Style.

OPP! OPP! OPP! OPPA GANGNAM STYLE.

Third of all, I’ve been neglecting my friends. Bad Lela, no! No!

Fourth of all, I’ve been ignoring my shop. I did participate in STEAM 7, but the month of September flew by as in Real Life(tm) I started working from home (same job as before, just not in a cube/carrel farm). I’ve been inworld to pay rent, and that’s about it. I have to make some decisions about what it is I really want to do as a business owner; I’ve literally been dabbling half-assedly in it. And I’ve been stressing out about the tremendous lot of Stuff I Should Do, so instead I play hours of Free Cell (because that is a guaranteed win every time, my friend).

Yet on the other hand, when I’ve actually put the time in to make some little trivial thing, I’ve enjoyed myself. More on that later. But soon, a new product will go up on the Marketplace.

 

 

Fifth, last night I stayed up until 3am playing around with Linden Labs’ new little alpha game, Patterns (available via Steam, currently for $9.95). Why? It’s oddly engaging, it’s relaxing, and there’s no stress. You figure out the rules, you bust stuff, you make stuff, you test materials for tensile strength, you die a lot and figure out how to make bridges and complex shapes to get you where you want to go.

Daniel Voyager has a lot more First Look videos at his site – check them out. It’s been an interesting experience and I look forward to relaxing, finding new shapes, and playing with some of the ideas I have. For instance, just now I made a weird balancing thing out of clay, which wasn’t up to the stress, so I pushed it off a cliff. Bye-bye, bad art! Next time, I’ll use one of the stronger materials. There’s this “Nak” stuff that grows on trees and is quite musical. There’s a possibility in there for some kind of wobbly balanced upside-down pyramid thing that place music when it falls over.

The graphics are primitive in a way, but it’s supposed to be simple building blocks. It’s oddly soothing. I wonder if the very retro-style control graphics mean they’re planning a tablet or smartphone version of the game – it would be a good timewaster on the right size tablet, but movement is easier with a mouse.

Weekly Tweets 2012-09-02

Posted on by September 2, 2012
Reply
  • I just used #Shazam to tag Little Black Submarines by The Black Keys. http://t.co/sS9N3s7i #
  • @revpaperboy Eeesht, that's not good. #
  • @isfullofcrap Well, I haz a happeh for the Flickr button returning. It worked in Dolphin, but streaming media doesn't. #
  • @AbelUndercity Have fun! #
  • @isfullofcrap Complete and total fustercluck-o-Rama? #
  • LOL listening to @radioriel playing Animal Magic. Save the Essex Lion! @prof_elemental #
  • "Jeffrey, fetch me my blunderbuss." Poor Jeffrey, always fetching stuff. #
  • …cont) http://t.co/zeVB7BYs #
  • RT @xeni Uninsured comic artist @llaurappark draws the moment she opens thyroid cancer surgery bill. I know that feel, bro. (cont… #
  • @AbelUndercity Thought it was a turkey, but who's counting? #
  • @lhavenst He'd have to be, but he never speaks so its hard to tell. #
  • @AbelUndercity Sounded like a turkey, but I just had a turkey sammich for lunch. Related? Possibly. #
  • @m_ethaniel @AP The local SLC affiliates routinely changed the television schedules around to keep "family hour" pure when I was a kid. #
  • @lointaine @m_ethaniel So not surprised. I remember when SNL was "removed" from the schedule, picked up, and then it was a huge hit w/ teens #
  • Ooweee, got the STEAM7 hunt items, ready to go out now but may add a separate desk size giftie. #
  • Help, help, the baby-fascists are being repressed! http://t.co/j2MOIOEw #
  • @lizzwinstead If only it werent a workday! Also, too, I don't think I'll be able to wear my vagina costume on the train. #
  • RT: @GinnyRED57: Ha! Funny! Song is about an African immigrant who talks funny and becomes American. Very funny. Too funny? #CurrentTV #
  • @JC_Christian I didn't know the Kool-Aid came in Postum flavor. #
  • @JC_Christian since I grew up non-Mormon in Utah in the 60's, I'm somewhat horrified by all of this. It's like junior high, but with nukes. #
  • I think the only thing not loathsome about these people is letting the kids play in the balloon drop. #RNC2012 #Current2012 #
  • @WendellPierce I know, how do they do that? Is it magic beans? #
  • A Catholic archbishop praying for a Mormon ex-bishop.Doesn't he realize the LDS used to call the Catholic Church the Whore of Babylon? #
  • I guess both churches hated teh ghey more than they hated each other #gaymarriage #gayrights #sinedie #RNC2012 #
  • Important #clownbitches educational opportunity for @isfullofcrap (not spam, its a YouTube clip) http://t.co/HK5aQcTF #

Phoenix Firestorm – Flickr Uploader Fixed At Last!

Posted on by August 28, 2012
Reply

I’ve been watching this issue on Firestorm’s JIRA for a month or two, and it appears that the Flickr uploader has finally been fixed.

UPDATE: Ooops, the release was withdrawn, something about a bug. It’s not affecting me, but I’ll have to download the fix once THAT is released.

New in 4.2.1.29803
– Skin improvements to Starlight, Vintage, Metaharper, FS High Contrast and Ansastorm.
– New windlight sky settings, including Ambient Dark, Grey and White and a new Tron Legacy series.
– Added pathfinding LSL functions from Linden Lab.
– Ability to disable group chat on a per-group basis!
– Snapshot uploads to Flickr (thanks to Katharine Berry and Exodus Viewer for that work).
– Temp uploads from snapshot floater.
– Cool new SLurl command line feature!
– New toolbar buttons for ground sit, sound explorer, asset blacklist.
– Our own less intrusive “Rebake terrain” button next to no build/no script/no push icons in menu/nav bar.
– Improved AO handling with other animating inworld objects.
– Ability to join our support group from Help menu.

via Phoenix Firestorm Blog: Firestorm Update 4.2.1.29803

I… probably won’t take their advice about doing a clean install. It’s late tonight, I just want to verify that the uploader is working for me, so…

IT WORKS!! HOORAY!

My Workshop

My Workshop (surprisingly organized, if I do say so.

And now, time for bed. The typist, who now works from home will have a rough commute tomorrow morning dodging the cat and procuring a bowl of Cheerios. She has yet to log in for work wearing her nightshirt and fuzzy slippers, but if I don’t let her get to bed, tomorrow could be a new low in workplace attire.