If you’ve got a phone these days, you’ve got a music player. Why shlep an iPod or other MP3 player if you want to listen to music on the go?
Because you can get more music on an MP3 player than on a phone, of course. Unless you’ve got a really fancy phone with a big memory card, you’re limited to only a couple dozen songs on your device, and you’re constantly tethering your phone to your computer in order to get music on it. Ah, the hassles of modern life!
But …

Once there were “boomboxes,” those quaint suitcase-sized stereos that turned heads – and created headaches – whenever they were in the vicinity. Then music went “private,” as Walkmans and iPods provided walkers, runners, and bus and train riders with hours of musical enjoyment.
And now that we’re in the age of the “digital device,” the music player of choice for a new generation is – the cellphone! It’s all about “convergence,” using a single device for data, messaging, internet use, and of course, playing music and video. And because they’re …

The world is full of stars these days – movie stars, that is! Thanks to the internet, everybody and his cousin can now star in their own production, using techniques straight out of the Hollywood playbook. And not just plain-vanilla Youtube videos, either; the sites I have in mind will let you assemble your video and photos into a smart-looking production, accompanied by music or voice, and interspersed with special effects. These are the kinds of videos you see at friends’ weddings and Bar Mitzvahs, the kind you’ve always wished …

Elections are breaking out all over – there’s one in the U.S. next week, and now that the campaigning is over, our own politicians are busy analyzing the tactics used by Obama and McCain. It turns out that Youtube and other video sites were important forums for the candidates. Both sides produced slick-looking videos that were watched by millions, and supporters of each posted thousands of others. While any schnook can post anything on Youtube, the official videos for both campaigns were slick – just like their …

Digg it. Blog it. Youtube it. If you’re the type that has to know what’s going on today, right now, this minute – you have a problem. Just how are you supposed to keep up with what’s going on? Of course, you could just shut off the stupid computer, draw the shades, and curl up with a good book and a cup of tea. I’ll admit it sounds tempting! But such is life today; the action is online, and chances are something is happening somewhere right now that …