If you squint hard enough, you’ll see that the screen time displayed in the above iPhone image reads 9:42 AM. Apparently, that’s a theme:

I’ve noticed that in all the commercials, print ads and outdoor ads for the iPad, the time is always shown as 9:41 a.m. Then I noticed that the time in all the iPhone ads is always shown as 9:42 a.m.

I know that watch ads like to show the time as 10:10 so the watch hands are open to reveal the brand name, but cannot figure out why Apple likes times before 10 a.m. in its ads.

Furthermore, checking this blog’s iPod category, I notice that the standard iPod Touch image similarly sports a 9:42. So this is consistent across all of Cupertino’s touchy-feely product line.

The reason remains a mystery, as Apple apparently isn’t talking. The old 10:10 minute-hand/hour-hand watch timestamp is a tempting clue, but I’m not sure there’s any connection. I can’t imagine a rational reason though.

A minor stir was generated this week by reports that some major American universities were banning iPads due to strains the device causes on campus wireless networks.

If that sounds at all familiar, it should. Because two years ago, the then-new iPhone encountered the very same “banning” at Duke University and other college campuses.

Duke eventually fixed their glitch, so Cornell et al will figure out their current iPad aversions in due order. Maybe they can figure out how not to hire computer-science geeks who can’t build halfway decent wireless access points, while they’re at it.

No, it didn’t take long after getting my iPhone 3GS for me to file an iPod Random Tracks post. Battery-drain be damned, I’ve gotta keep the music flowing during the daily commutes!

So this is the first edition of this little shuffled-up tunestream report to come out of my telephonic device. I’ve still got my iTouch, and it’s still going strong; but I don’t see listening to music on it as much anymore. The iPhone will be my personal jambox going forward (and no need to change the name of this Category, since the media-playing functionality is called “iPod” in the iPhone’s OS).

And with that, let’s get onto the list: The last five randomized tracks to pour through the earbuds, with accompanying lyrical snippet from each.

1. “Mathematics”, Little Boots - Don’t know my Fibonacci or Pythagoras.

2. “Great DJ”, The Ting Tings - Don’t you feel you’re growing up undone?

3. “Fancy Footwork (Death To The Throne remix)”, Chromeo - And maybe do the twerk.

4. “Ice Cream (Van She Remix)”, New Young Pony Club - Treat that treats you so mean.

5. “Hot Hot Hot!!! (Extended mix)”, The Cure - But I like it when that lightning comes.

As with any techie-computer default setting, the “Sent from my iPhone” email signature has become a familiar sight in inboxes everywhere.

When the Mail app came to my iTouch, I naturally resented the inclusion of that inaccurate descriptor on my outgoing email messages. So I made a point of editing it to: “Sent from my iPod (not iPhone!)”. And the few people who noticed it got a kick out of it.

Now that I’ve got an iPhone, I suppose I can comfortably use the rest of the iNation’s default tagline. And yet, my previous declaration regarding my iTouch-origined email compels me to retain my previous qualifier. So then, my iPhone’s email signature reads as follows:

Sent from my iPhone (not iPod!)

For those that know my mobile-email history, it’s clear enough. For those that don’t, well, they’ll just have to wonder.

After a couple of years of toting around my iPod Touch, and thus being ID’d as a lookalike iPhoney/iFaux, I’ve finally taken the next logical step: I’ve gotten an iPhone 3GS.

And I have to say, Verizon Wireless provided the final push I needed to cross over. Their new pricing plans, which practically force you to add a data package if you want anything but a bare-bones phone, really soured me on re-upping with them. I rationalized that, if I was going to be forced into adopting a smartphone anyway, I might as well go with the only one I’d want. So once I reconciled that with the heftier phone bill — which I’d have had anyway, give or take a few dollars — the choice was easy. (I’d be very interested to find out if many others are abandoning Verizon thanks to this tactic.)

In a very real way, my time with the iTouch pretty well primed me for transitioning to an iPhone. The interfaces and applications are practically identical between the two Apple devices. Whereas a Droid phone would have required something of a learning curve (even with all the copycat touch features), the iPhone is just a continuation of what I’ve already been carrying in my pocket daily. Only better, of course.

So now, I’ve got a new toy, and a new provider in AT&T Wireless. I’m crossing my fingers on the coverage, being well-acquainted with the gripes. As for the handset itself, it’s mostly customized now, with my iTouch music, apps, contacts, notes, and photos all ported over. The main things to address now:

- Finding a decent ringtone. The on-board selection is surprisingly weak — or, perhaps, not so surprising, given that AT&T and Apple are in the ringtone-selling business. I just have to figure out which iTunes-purchased track I like enough/works best as a ringer. (A shame I can’t hack in a customized sound-snippet, as I used to do around the turn of the century.) (EDIT: Thanks to Gary for his tip on an iTunes-workaround for creating your own ringtone! I’ll have to try it — again, once I figure out which song I’d stand to hear chirping out of my phone a few times a day.)

- Search for new apps, including those that wouldn’t have made much sense on the iTouch but are suited for the iPhone (especially given the 3GS’ noticeably speedy rendering).

- Find an appropriate cover. I’d like one that has a built-in pop-out stand in the back, so I can actually prop it up on a flat surface and watch the screen while keeping both hands free. Depending on how the battery performs (the sales-tech claimed it’ll last two solid days between recharges; I’ll believe that when I see it), I’m also considering a combination protective casing and power-extending source.

While it’s probably true that “there’s an app for that” — no matter what “that” calls for — it’s not surprising that most people stick to a tried-and-true handful of favorite icons:

The average iPhone or iPod Touch owner uses 5 to 10 apps regularly, according to Flurry, a research firm that studies mobile trends. This despite the surfeit of available apps: some 140,000 and counting… The next generation of gadget users might prove different, but for now it is clear that people prefer fewer choices, and that they gravitate consistently toward the same small number of things that they like. Owners of iPhones are no different from cable TV subscribers with hundreds of channels to choose from who end up watching the same half-dozen.

For me and my iTouch, I figure I’m on the low end of that estimate. I play two games almost exclusively (although I’ve just picked up a new one, Bird Strike, that I anticipate will keep me occupied for a while), use Twitterrific pretty regularly, and fire up WifiTrak most days. Then there are the apps that come pre-loaded: I use Mail, Safari, Weather, Clock, and Notes all the time — but I’m not sure they count in this context.

When it comes to acquiring new apps, I do have a self-imposed restriction that keeps the additions low: They must be able to run while simultaneously allowing the iTouch’s music library to play uninterrupted. You’d think that would be a no-brainer, yet it seems like most apps — particularly games — don’t work this way. But since my primary use of the device is to listen to music, it’s a dealbreaker. Therefore, that simple requirement keeps me from overloading on page after page of apps.

But it’s nice to know that extra doo-dads are only a short download away. Even if I’ll never try, or even see, 99 percent of them.

So, yeah: The iPad.

I can’t say I’m not tempted. In some ways, this was the type of device I was wishing for when I contemplated buying the first-rollout iPhone in 2007, just for the wireless Internet.

That was before Apple followed up with the iTouch shortly thereafter. I snapped up that gadget shortly after its debut, and haven’t regretted it. But the lack of always-present Web access has been a mixed blessing, which is why I think I’m finally going to pony up for an iPhone in a couple of months.

So given that, I can’t really justify laying out $600-800 for an iPad. The bigger screen size would certainly be nice, but I like having the pocket-sized portability that an iPhone/iTouch provides. Of course, I’m constantly lugging around my man-bag anyway, but that’s beside the point…

I have little doubt that the iPad will be a success, without my participation. In some ways, it is just an overgrown iTouch — although, crucially, the built-in 3G signal makes it a true mobile Web device. But the capabilities Apple is packing into it — notably, the reworked iWork productivity suite — hint at bigger aspirations. Frankly, given the prior examples of trendsetting advances, I figure that Apple is giving us a solid preview of what the standard personal computer is going to look like some 5-10 years from now. As it is, the iPhone platform is already considered a “30-percent computing solution” for some; the iPad starts the march toward something closer to 100 percent.

So, given that, I can wait until the iPad and its descendants become truly mainstream. Not that I won’t be drooling with envy in the meantime.

I have to say, I spend an inordinate amount of time playing both Sumo! and Saucelifter! on my iTouch. While listening to music, usually — multi-tasking in everything, of course.

The games can’t be much more different, in either theme or mechanics. Sumo! is strictly a tap-and-count board game, nicely ported for touchscreen but hardly reliant upon the iPhone/iTouch interface. Saucelifter!, on the other hand, makes good use of the accelerometer for navigation, to complement the touch controls for action. You’re body-slamming belly-to-belly in one, and laser-blasting military armor in the other — all for fun.

If I’m going to endorse any iTunes App, I guess these two would have to be the ones. Neither is free, but considering how many hours I’ve spent playing them, I’d say they’re well worth the purchase price.

The trend has definitely set in: This is the fourth time in a row that the iPod Random 5 updates during holiday time. My iTouch must have a thing for commemorative events.

As luck would have it though, none of the songs that spewed from my music player jibe in any particular way with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. But I liked the sequence, regardless. So here’s the random shuffle-generated list, with the customary lyrical tease from each:

1. “No Time (Sh*t Robot Remix)”, The Juan MacLean - Saw you dancing with the human.

2. “My Love Is For Real”, Paula Abdul - Gave you excuses with each storyline.

3. “Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer) [Club Mix]“, Freemasons - Long as I’m moving it feels true.

4. “Play With Fire”, The Rolling Stones - Not in Knightsbridge anymore.

5. “Casey Jones”, Grateful Dead - Trouble ahead, trouble behind.

Once again, this latest posting of my latest iTouch shuffled-up output occurs on a monthly schedule. And once again, it comes just ahead of a holiday.

None of which is particularly germane to the particular songs that make up this Random Tracks lineup. But in lieu of a unifying theme amongst the following tracks, the backstory will have to do. Besides, the pre-Yuletide timing is rich enough context.

And with that, the most recent music to hit my earbuds, with accompanying lyrical snippets:

1. “Ghosts (Toxic Avenger mix)”, Ladytron - Doesn’t mean I’m sorry.

2. “My Love Sees You”, Beni - Sees you.

3. “Prophets Of Rage”, Public Enemy - But I’m past the days of yes-y’allin’.

4. “Paris Four Hundred (Etienne De Crécy Remix)”, Mylo - [instrumental]

5. “She Wolf (David Zafra Dance Mix)”, Shakira - This is lycanthropy.

Like a lot of current fashion, my new(ish) winter coat boasts of being optimized for modern-day personal tech, thusly:

One of the interior pockets has a built-in slit, designed to reign in those ever-present iPod/phone headphone cords. Run the cord through that tiny opening, drop the device into said pocket, and no more tangled-up hassles.

Good idea. So why did this coatmaker put a largely decorative button right near this cord-concealing action? It’s right there, on the outer shell of the pocket, in a perfect spot to catch the little bit of wire that’s still exposed. And yes, you guessed it — the earbuds cord connecting my head with my iTouch gets snagged on a regular basis. It’s maybe a little more organized than my usual shirt-pocket placement, but not much.

So much for forward-functional fashion. My search for the ideal ipod-cket continues…

When I bought a new videogame for my iTouch yesterday, I didn’t give much thought to whether or not the game’s soundtrack was also available for purchase. (In fact, one of my persistent gripes about App Store games is that too few of them allow you the option to override in-game music in favor of letting the iPod music play; but that’s something for another post…)

But indeed, the oddly-named hovercraft-racing game “Ground Effect” comes with an embedded iTunes link to buy the theme music. Here’s the philosophy behind the move:

Diefenbach, a really cool Danish indie band, have allowed us to feature an instrumental version of one of their most amazing tracks “A Rock in a Pond” as the soundtrack for “Ground Effect” from their album “Dark Spinner”.

[App developer Glenn Corpes] was really excited as an indie developer about the prospect of teaming up with an indie band; much has been made recently about the cross-promotional possibilities and it makes sense that if gamers habitually listen to music on their iPhones it would be shame not to use the opportunity as a game developer to introduce them to great bands they might otherwise have not been exposed to.

That last part is the heart of it: Providing an opportunity for exposure on the audience’s preferred platform. This is the same concept as what’s driving music sales via “Rock Band” and “Guitar Hero” console interfaces. You take your wares where the action is.

I’d be surprised if there aren’t more apps that meld this experience — not just games either. The ability to push sales of multimedia elements within an app could soon be a commonplace and expected aspect of iPhone/iPod interaction.

Along with a nearly-monthly frequency, this iPod Random Tracks category seems to be morphing into a holiday-time content well. Just as last month’s contribution came around Halloween time, today’s falls on Thanksgiving, oddly enough.

The songs that most recently came forth from my iTouch have nothing to do with Turkey Day. But that’s neither here nor there. The point of this exercise is to recount the randomized tracklist that the Shuffle setting yielded, along with a catchy lyric sample for flavoring. Hey, there’s a Thanksgiving angle!

And with that:

1. “Hot N Cold (Yelle remix)”, Katy Perry - Surprends moi, ou va t’en.

2. “My Back Pages”, The Byrds - I’m younger than that now.

3. “Music Has No Meaning”, Consolidated - But all we get is empty distraction.

4. “Money Ain’t A Thang (Bonus Track)”, Jay-Z & JD - I been spendin’ hundreds since they had small faces.

5. “The Have Nots”, X - This is the game that moves as you play.

Not long ago, I questioned the real demand for a Kindle in a smartphone world:

I don’t see how the e-book readers can compete, frankly. Why lug around an extra, oversized display screen when you can carry around your library in your pocket? Obviously screen-size is sacrificed, but most people are accustomed to reading off their phone screens by now. If anything, I see the Kindle, [Sony] Reader, et al becoming niche products, for those who can’t do without large-print reading; everyone else will do their e-book reading via iPhone/iTouch. The disruption comes from including the e-book capabilities in the price of the device, versus shelling out a few hundred dollars for a separate reader.

Today, my paper of record validates my view:

“These e-readers that cost a lot of money only do one thing,” said Keishon Tutt, a 37-year-old pharmacist in Texas who buys 10 to 12 books a month to read on her iPhone, from Apple. “I like to have a multifunctional device. I watch movies and listen to my songs.”

Over the last eight months, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and a range of smaller companies have released book-reading software for the iPhone and other mobile devices. One out of every five new applications introduced for the iPhone last month was a book, according to Flurry, a research firm that studies mobile trends.

For the record, I’ve yet to consume any books on my iPod Touch. I do read plenty of Web content on it, though. And write a fair amount via the virtual keyboard. I’m obviously not hankering for an e-ink screen…

At this point, this whole randomly-generated playlisting off my iTouch is becoming a monthly feature around here. Once every 30-ish days might not sound like a regular schedule to you, but to me, it reeks of an unwanted consistency.

And with that… The last five shuffled-up songs that emitted out of my earbuds. With brief lyrical sample, naturally:

1. “The Simple Life”, The Juan MacLean - I lost you to oblivion.

2. “Mama Said Knock You Out”, LL Cool J - Don’t call it a comeback.

3. “Metropolis (The Twelves Remix)”, Cicada - I would.

4. “Enter the Newground”, DJ Kentaro - Continue.

5. “The MC”, KRS-One - I black out and wake up to catastrophe.

It’s actually called The Commuter Tie From Thomas Pink:

The clever new design features a small yet subtle pocket on the reverse of the tie. The [iPod Nano-sized media player] is placed in the pocket to avoid having expensive devices on display or damaging the line of one’s suit. An extra fabric loop keeps headphone wires out of sight and close to the body, leaving hands free to pick up a daily coffee or answer that all-important call.

But I’m giving this hundred-dollar neckwear its proper, functional name in my above post title. Because I’ve long wished for a handy iPod-cket that doesn’t dictate my dress-shirt choices. Unfortunately, it sounds like the tie and pocket are too narrow to accommodate a full-sized iPod or iPhone, so that leaves me out. (Could a demand for hanging larger handheld devices off the neck usher in a return to the ultra-wide ’70s-style neckties? I’m simultaneously humored and horrified at the prospect.)

Anyway, I’ve already got far too many ties in my closet. I have started wearing them on a regular basis again after a long hiatus, but that probably won’t last. Although again, if said fashion accessory provides a good way for me to stash my iTouch, then I’ll gladly wear the old neck-noose daily.

It’s time: Another blog-chronicling of the last five tracks that randomly shuffled forth from my iTouch, including a lyrical sample from each song. Not so long after last month’s entry, either.

In fact, that little music-player was on such an uninterrupted hot streak today — precluding my usual fast-forwarding when an unfavorable song ticks up — that I’ve decided to extend the list. So instead of the usual five, I give you six musical samplings from my digital collection. Behold!

1. “Me Against The Music – Chix Mix (Bloodshy & Avant, No Madonna)”, Britney Spears - If you really wanna battle, saddle up and get your rhythm.

2. “Get The Fuck Outta Dodge”, Public Enemy - You’re straight from Babylon.

3. “Hit The Decks”, Cirrus - Oh my god.

4. “Funplex (CSS Extended Remix)”, The B-52’s - Chandalabra’s in a wonder bra.

5. “Anyway You Choose to Give It (Extended Mix)”, The Black Ghosts - But don’t think you can imitate the accent of fate.

6. “Look On the Floor (Angel City Extended Remix)”, Bananarama - Devil’s in your eyes and he’s looking at me.

What’s this, another listing of shuffled-up tracks off my iTouch? Barely a month after my last post on the subject? What gives?

Aside from my fondness for this randomized mix, I’m having a hard time waking up on this Saturday morning. Three cups of extra-strong tea haven’t done it, nor have various chores. So I’ll try a bit of blog-writing (those lyrical snippets accompanying each song title don’t count, of course), and see if it doesn’t clear the mental (and, following that, the physical) cobwebs.

And with that, let’s roll:

1. “Circus (Junior Vasquez Electric Circus)”, Britney Spears - Hope that you feel the same.

2. “20th Century Boy”, Placebo - Everybody says it’s just like Robin Hood.

3. “Pon De Replay”, Rihanna - Shake it ’til the moon becomes the sun.

4. “Personality Crisis”, New York Dolls - You got it while it was hot.

5. “Don’t Stop The Rock”, Chemical Brothers - Get up on it like this.

It’s been a while since the last shuffle-generated listing of my iTouch’s song output. Today, this curious sequence came out:

Two Britney Spears remixed tracks to start, followed by a couple of Michael Jackson classics (one remixed and one from the Jackson 5 era). It’s almost like the two pop superstars decided to go to war, right on my music player! And in the midst of that high-voltage pop playback, one-hit wonder Noel somehow snuck into the mix.

And with that, let’s roll the last five songs to randomly tick up in my earbuds, along with a semi-cryptic lyric snippet from each:

1. “Circus (A Crowd Electric Remix)”, Britney Spears - I’m running this.

2. “Womanizer (Mr. Vega Combined Power Rework)”, Britney Spears - Baby you got all the puppets with their strings up.

3. “Thriller (Villains Thrilla Remix)”, Michael Jackson - Tonight.

4. “Silent Morning”, Noel - I’m on fire.

5. “I Want You Back”, Jackson 5 - Every street you walk on, I leave tear stains on the ground.

This was bound to happen. Ever since I set the above photo of “Entourage” cast members playing dress-up The Bee Gees as the wallpaper on my iTouch, I’ve been regularly blasting “Stayin’ Alive” on my earbuds. When I see it on that little screen, it’s like a visual cue to break out of the usual track-shuffle and fire up the disco.

For all the sock-placement controversy this picture generated, affecting my everyday music listening is perhaps the cruelest cut of all.

Here’s a novel method of dealing with someone who’s blasting his/her iPod so loud that it’s audible to everyone else in the vicinity:

“Hey, mind if I listen?” the redhead said, and without waiting for a response, plucked the woman’s left earbud, placed it in her own ear, and began bobbing her head to the music. The iPod owner looked mortified. The car grew silent save for the blare. I looked at my wife, who had heard me rant about this so many times, she knew exactly what I was thinking: At last, someone was taking a stand.

Of all the daily discourtesies we endure as city dwellers, none to me is more irksome than headphone leak. You know, that treble-drenched drone emanating from iPods halfway down the subway car. What puzzles me is why people do not complain more often, why we don’t rise up in numbers and insist these people turn their music down, or else.

This protester was risking a possible ear infection by inserting an unknown earbud into her auditory canal, but that’s a small price to pay for making a stand. I guess.

Of course I’ve encountered this phenomenon before, many times. What gets me is when, improbably, I can hear someone else’s overflow leakage even though my ears are iPod-occupied. My fear is that I, in response, will up my volume, which will drown out the offending leaker’s noise but then create noise for others near me — a ripple-effect audio arms race.

Not that I’ve ever noticed dirty looks from fellow passengers over my volume. It’s hard for me to confirm whether or not I’m one of the offending leakers: Obviously, I can’t listen to myself, it’s awkward to ask a stranger, and I wouldn’t be listening on my iTouch when riding with someone I know. I guess if/when I encounter my first earbud-hijacking, I’ll know for sure.