There are moments in life when I am incredibly thankful for technology. One such example was a few years back, when I figured out how to control my laptop via my mobile phone using Bluetooth. Today, I had another such moment.
I've been enthusiastically following the Ashes online, usually via the BBC's Test Match Special radio coverage, Cricinfo's liveticker, Twitter, or a combination of all three. As my computer is inside, however, I've been missing out on the wonderful weather we've been having this week, and so I've been searching for a way to enjoy a day in the sun while listening to the cricket – the way it should done!
On Friday the solution was simple: turn the loudspeakers up, leave the front door open and lie on the lawn outside my apartment. Quite pleasant, but in the afternoon the sun's on the other side of the building, so betterment still possible.
Saturday I spent half the day watching the first round of the Bundesliga (including a trip to see Hoffenheim draw with Bayern Munich), so cricket was limited to Twitter updates via mobile in the afternoon.
Sunday – today – I figured I could safely spend on the riverbank, as Australia had essentially wrapped the game up two days and an innings early. Lying in the sun, I sighed and wished I had a magical radio that could pick up longwave signals from the island, recreating those carefree Australian summer days. Perhaps... perhaps my mobile could play the BBC? Pretty unlikely, but what the heck.. let's give it a go.
And, do you know what? It fucking can. Not the original Shockwave Flash stream, mind you, but the RealPlayer alternative. This is probably the only time in my life I've been thankful for RealMedia as a format, but who cares – I can lie on the banks of a river in Germany, and listen to the radio coverage of a match in England, on my phone.
If that's not awesome, I don't know what is.
I've been enthusiastically following the Ashes online, usually via the BBC's Test Match Special radio coverage, Cricinfo's liveticker, Twitter, or a combination of all three. As my computer is inside, however, I've been missing out on the wonderful weather we've been having this week, and so I've been searching for a way to enjoy a day in the sun while listening to the cricket – the way it should done!
On Friday the solution was simple: turn the loudspeakers up, leave the front door open and lie on the lawn outside my apartment. Quite pleasant, but in the afternoon the sun's on the other side of the building, so betterment still possible.
Saturday I spent half the day watching the first round of the Bundesliga (including a trip to see Hoffenheim draw with Bayern Munich), so cricket was limited to Twitter updates via mobile in the afternoon.
Sunday – today – I figured I could safely spend on the riverbank, as Australia had essentially wrapped the game up two days and an innings early. Lying in the sun, I sighed and wished I had a magical radio that could pick up longwave signals from the island, recreating those carefree Australian summer days. Perhaps... perhaps my mobile could play the BBC? Pretty unlikely, but what the heck.. let's give it a go.
And, do you know what? It fucking can. Not the original Shockwave Flash stream, mind you, but the RealPlayer alternative. This is probably the only time in my life I've been thankful for RealMedia as a format, but who cares – I can lie on the banks of a river in Germany, and listen to the radio coverage of a match in England, on my phone.
If that's not awesome, I don't know what is.
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