Category: Music

Reorganizing Music Again

On By Michel McDonaldIn MusicLeave a comment

It wasn’t that long ago, like a week or 2 ago, that I had to download all the cd’s from my Dell DJ mp3 player to my computer then fix all the tags then put them back on my DJ but when I did that I didn’t count on the fact that their file names had something to do with anything.  For example.  If a song says 01 Politik instead of Coldplay – A Rush of Blood To The Head – 01 – Politik then when I go to make a playlist I’m not going to know who the artist is or even which CD that song is from.

Yes, I am really anal about things like that lol.  I don’t know why, I just am.  But it’s not for no reason.  When I ride my bike sometimes there are songs that are way too loud or they don’t have any sound at all then I have to pull over in the dirt on the bike trail, pull the remote control out of the bike frame bag and push the next button.  I don’t want to have to do that because it slows me down and brings my average speed time down too.  It’s also annoying to be riding happily then all of a sudden a song blares into your ears and then they start to bleed lol.  Or you don’t hear anything for a minute before realizing you aren’t going to but the song is playing.  I don’t really understand how that song got put in there.  Also there is 1 song that is in there twice from Uncle Kracker.  I don’t know how that happened.

So, I’m downloading the music to my computer and I will reorganize the names and write down what is going into the playlist and look at each song with a microscope to make sure my ride is full of good music and not annoying music.

Actually, I’d also like to just add the popular songs from certain CD’s, the ones that made it to the radio, this way I can cut down on the amount of songs in my playlist which is typically between 550 and 600.  It’s not going to be easy to weed through them all though, it will take hours, possibly days.  Well, at least I have something to do lol.

Dell DJ Tweak

On By Michel McDonaldIn MusicLeave a comment

As I’ve stated in my previous blogs, when I got my Dell DJ Battery it wouldn’t fit inside the case but it still plugs in and works fine.  The only thing is, I have to stick it to the back of the DJ with a rubber band and the bottom isn’t on so I must have it in a neoprene camera case.  I would’ve prefered if the DJ was in a case that has a clear plastic front like they make for iPods and iPhones that have elastic to put around your arm.  This way I’d be able to change the song.  I would just have to cut a hole for the scroll wheel that’s all.  But this is fine.

I have a remote so I can pause, play, go to the previous song and the next, raise and lower volume and turn the radio on.  If I want to change whats playing I have to take the DJ out of the camera case.  Which is no problem.  I have 5 cd’s queued up all the time and they are all newish and what I want to listen to while riding my bike.

Well, here are the pictures that I just took of the DJ with the battery on the outside laying next to its case.  To see the full size of these pictures just click them.

Very Disappointed With Things That Came in the Mail Today

On By Michel McDonaldIn Cycling, MusicLeave a comment

Well, I finally got my packages today and I’m not happy at all.  The battery came way earlier than it should have and I was ecstatic about that but it doesn’t fit.  It’s too wide.  I plugged it in and it turned the Dell DJ on instantly but since the battery was dead it said low battery and shut off.

The frame bag is way too big, that’s why I bought the cheaper one because I thought it was going to be smaller.  It covers my drink holder, where will I put my bottle of water now?  I could shove it over so it doesn’t cover my water cage I guess.

The pump doesn’t do what it is supposed to do.  Sure it pumps the tire up but the gauge doesn’t show me how much pressure is in the tire.  What is the point of having a pump with a pressure gauge if it doesn’t work?

I can live with the big frame bag, I can even live with a pump that doesn’t do it’s job (gauge).  I just wanted a mini pump and that’s what I got with a bonus feature (that doesn’t work).  But the Dell DJ battery, that one I cannot keep and deal with.  That one has to go back and I’m back at square one.  No music.

I was just thinking, if I plug the battery in but then strap it to the back of the Dell DJ with a rubber band then charge it, I wonder if it will still work.  It will be a little bit bulky but at this point I really don’t care.  I just want my DJ back.

I’m calming down now, trying to find a silver lining.

Mp3 Fiesta

On By Michel McDonaldIn MusicLeave a comment

There is a website called Mp3 Fiesta that I go to get my mp3’s for my Dell DJ.  They offer songs for .40 cents each.  If you sign up I will get $50 free in my account.  All you have to do is click this special link mp3fiesta.com and sign up and my account will be automatically credited.  Once you’ve signed up you can send this invitation to other people as well to get $50 in free music.

Dell DJ

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gadgets, MusicLeave a comment

Ok.  I finally went to ebay and found a power seller who sells this battery for $10 with $7 shipping.  The total was$16.94.  I’m very happy that I bought this.  I was so worried I would have to pay $50 for a battery and then shipping on top of that.  Since it was so cheap, if this works I may buy another one or 2 just in case.

Dell DJ Battery On Hold

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gadgets, MusicLeave a comment

Well, since I bought the pump and frame bag for my bike I now have to wait on the battery for my Dell DJ.  In order to ride my bike I need stuff for it.  If my tire blows I can’t pump it up without the tools in a bag on my bike frame so the Dell DJ is a moot point because the whole reason I wanted to get a new battery was so I could enjoy music while riding the bike, if I can’t ride the bike then no reason for music.

There are a few other things I need as well like a new headlight and backlight preferably the kind that attach to the back wheel that turns on while you are riding the bike.  What can I say, I hate buying batteries.

I also need a bike shirt that absorbs the sweat and makes me cooler while I ride.  Cotton is so bad for riding a bike because it sticks to your skin.  It doesn’t absorb the sweat and then dry while you are riding.  Ok, don’t worry, I won’t subject anybody to bike shorts.  Believe me, it ain’t gonna happen.

I do need a helmet too though.  I know it’s the law for teenagers but it’s only common sense for an adult to wear one.  I tried buying one at this thrift store one time and Darrin laughed at me and it was a very nice one so if he laughs at me then it makes me not want to wear it which is a very dangerous way of thinking because if I got into an accident I’d DIE!

Hopefully when I get all that I need to ride then I will be able to get a battery for my Dell DJ.  I just can’t ride without music.  It’s so boring without it.  I do have a solar charger that plugs into the Dell DJ so that’s not a problem, the solar charger works as a battery.  But still, I’d rather have a proper battery.

Dell DJ Battery a No Go

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gadgets, MusicLeave a comment

Well, I got an email from that website about their Dell DJ battery and the one they sell is definitely for Gen 1 DJ’s and that will not work on a Gen 2 DJ.  They said that people have bought it in the past and found it did not work and had to return it and pay a restocking fee.  This sucks.

They told me to go to 2 websites pdaparts.com or pdasmart.com.  The first website didn’t have anything for Dell.  They had lots of batteries that looked like mine but they were specifically for iPods.  The 2nd website has a battery but it doesn’t specific generations.  It just says “DELL Digital Jukebox, DELL Digital Jukebox DJ, DELL Digital Jukebox Series”.  I emailed them asking if it will work on a 2nd Gen so I have to wait for their email.

The thing that really  bites here is that the battery from this other site batteryship.com is that they were only charging $25 for a battery plus shipping which was like $7.50 or something and it would’ve been more economical to buy 2 because they offer a 10% discount for the purchase of 2 or more.  So because their battery won’t work for me I have to go to pdasmart.com and that battery is a whopping $48.

It just occurred to me to check via part number and came up with 1 thing on eBay.  Someone is selling the exact battery I need and the starting bid is .99 cents and there are no bids.  I’m tempted to bid $30.  The auction ends the day before I get my check.  The only thing is if I buy it on eBay I have no warranty and no guarantee that it will actually work and not die within a couple of months.

Dell DJ Battery

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gadgets, MusicLeave a comment

Well today I finally got the balls to open up my Dell DJ to take the battery out so I can measure it in MM.  The battery that I found to buy is 50mmx85mmx2mm.  Well, my battery is 50mmx95mmx2mm so it’s actually longer than the one for sale which is fine.  This just means it will fit with some wiggle room hehe.  It couldn’t be more perfect.

Dell DJ Battery Replacement

On By Michel McDonaldIn Gadgets, Music, Products I LikeLeave a comment

Darrin bought me a Dell DJ for Christmas 2004 and during 2005 I was listening to it all the time everyday, on the way to the gym or sitting at my desk or even while doing the dishes.  I was always listening to it.  But over time the battery would die sooner than it was supposed to.  Sometimes it would even freeze up and I had to just wait for it to start playing again.  I couldn’t turn it off or do anything.  I just had to wait for it.

The battery is supposed to last like 5 or 6 hours or something and over time the amount of time it actually played kept going down until eventually it only played for half hour.  Now when I unplug it, it just dies immediately and gives me a screen saying the battery is low.

I’ve treated that Dell DJ like a baby by never dropping it or losing it.  I’m a good nerd, I respect my electronics enough that I don’t get them broken or stolen.

I’ve called Dell that first year when the battery started dying and they wouldn’t help me even with my warranty.  I was too late in renewing my warranty and so when I called for help they said sorry you don’t have the right warranty for this.  I was like dude, I have a $318 paper weight now.  Thanks a lot.  They were like I know, I can understand how frustrating you are but we can’t help you.  I was like well can I just buy a new battery and ship it to you to replace it and they said yeah for like $75 or something like that.  I’ve never had the money to do that.

Every once in a while I do a search on the net for Dell DJ Batteries and I found a website that has them for $24.95 + shipping and it has the tools to do it yourself.  It says it takes a few min but a testimonial says 10 min.  I don’t care, I just want a new battery and $25 is not a bad deal.  I will have to wait until I get some money because I’m tapped lol.

Elton John Concert

On By Michel McDonaldIn Celebrities, MusicLeave a comment

We are going to see Elton John in concert tonight. Darrin is so excited. I like Elton John but I really don’t know the lyrics to any of his songs except for Don’t let the sun go down on me and only because George Michael sang that song with Elton John. But I do enjoy his singing and I can’t wait to see him.