Downloading Music Using the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

[The following blog post is part of a marketing programme. I am giving my honest evaluation of the product and service as an independent end-user, and am not affiliated with any individual or organisation.]

The newest technological baby in town is the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, a device which gives users free unlimited downloads for a year to the millions of music tracks available from the Nokia Music Store. Ripplevox has given me the wonderful opportunity to trial-test this baby for one month, with a free unlimited usage data plan, which really means that I'd get to download all the music I want without having to worry about the charges! Needless to say, I've been happily downloading music on the phone, and I must admit that it's been mostly pretty awesome.

Searching for Music

The Nokia Music Store interface is pretty similar to the iTunes Store interface, except that you won't be able to find video clips here. I can search for music by directly entering the song title/ artiste name, or by narrowing my search by genre on the store's main page. It would have been better if I could also search by album titles though.

After finding a particular song, there were times when I wanted to find other songs within the same album, but this wasn't always the easiest thing to do. I wish there was a direct link that allowed me to peruse other songs within the same album.

Downloading Music

Downloading music was a relatively simple affair. With the 3.5G connection, downloading a typical 3-minute track usually took less than a minute when I was stationary, and within 3 minutes if I was in a train. However, downloading was also susceptible to sudden losses of connectivity. And when that happens, sometimes, the interface would freeze up and you would have to restart the program again.

I like downloading entire albums, but there was no option to allow me to do that. I had to tap on each of the songs to put them in the downloading queue, and depending on the connectivity, can sometimes take up to 3-4 minutes. I would have liked to be able to move on to browse other music tracks in that time.

After the tracks have been downloaded, a little menu pops up to ask if you would like to listen to them. Tap "Yes" and you're on your way to enjoying the tracks!

This could be interesting...

I'm back!! It's been ages, I know, but that's how I am. I usually only write or post entries when I'm inspired or contemplative enough to do so, but seeing as to how invasive the internet has grown to become, I usually keep my most private moments or thoughts close to my heart or to the people close to me. The cycling trip has been most awesome. It brought me many good things, of which the best came in the form of a certain person from Saratoga, CA. However, if you want to know more about the trip, check out the website at http://www.hopkins4k.org/, because reliving the memories of the trip is not the objective of this entry. Alternatively, make an appointment with me and I'll show you all my photos.

I've spent the better part of my 6 weeks in Singapore rediscovering why I love this place I call home, but at the same time, finding out that there are things which I don't quite like. Here's the list.

What I Love about Singapore

1. Excellent town & city planning--I love how everything is in such close proximity and how each neighborhood is so self sufficient. I can get a hair cut, buy a pair of new glasses, shop for groceries, and do so many things, all within a stone's throw of my flat. The downtown area is gorgeous too. Every year, I come back and am overawed by the new buildings that keep springing up--the Esplanade looks simply resplendent against the backdrop of the Singapore river, while the new National Library looks completely at home amidst blocks of HDB flats and the Muslim mosques and Hindu synagogues in the Bugis area.
   
2. Delicious food--This summer, I rediscovered the simple joy of sitting at a hawker center, shabbily-clad, and tucking into a bowl of fishball noodles while making a mental note of the 101 other different local delicacies that are available at the SAME hawker center.
   
3. The multitude of things to do--This is such a cosmopolitan city that there're so many things to do! You can learn Spanish, dance Lindy Hop, catch world-renowned musicals and so much more, and the best thing is that you can easily take public transport to different places to do all of these things.
4. The low crime rate & high efficiency of the people--It's an awesome feeling to walk along brightly-lit streets well into the night knowing that the chances of you getting mugged or shot is relatively low. And to have things run so efficiently. I got all my vaccinations for my upcoming trip to Peru done within 15 mins, and all I had to do was to walk into the Travellers' Health and Vaccination Center at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
5. The thunderstorms--This may sound weird, but I actually love the torrential rain that comes with the thunderstorms here. It gets you thoroughly soaked, and there's a sense of freshness in the air after the storm passes.

What I Don't Like about Singapore

1. The multitude of people--I don't like having to jostle with throngs of people in the mall, or having to be packed like sardines into the train during rush hour. I love having space, and the population of 4.5 million makes me a little claustrophobic.
   
2. The lack of good biking roads--I cannot cycle in Singapore without spending half my time looking out for errant drivers or pedestrians and worrying that I'm going to get run over by the next bus that comes by.
3. Poor service standards--I miss having servers who greet you with a smile, are knowledgeable about what they're selling to you, and who still wish you a nice day even if you don't purchase anything. At least it seems like the service industry's doing something about it now.
4. The fickle weather--While I do love my thunderstorms, I also appreciate knowing what's coming. But then again, it was pretty comical watching the sun and the ominous rain clouds play hide-and-seek alternately while my mom frantically scrambles with the clothes she hung out to dry.

All images courtesy of the Singapore Tourism Board