Squeezer 0.6 released

I've just released a new version of Squeezer -- an Android application for controlling Logitech Squeezebox servers and their attached players.



Originally developed by Brian Brad Fitzpatrick up to version 0.5, this release features a wealth of new features, many of which are due to significant contributions by Kurt Aaholst. These include:

• Browse your music library by album, artist, song, genre, and year.
• Search across the library.
• Internet radio support (browse staff picks, search)
• Scrobble tracks if Last.fm is installed on your Android device.
• A revamped UI.

You can install Squeezer from the Android Market. It's free, and open source. If you'd like to contribute the main project pages are on Google Code Hosting at http://code.google.com/p/android-squeezer/, and the code is on GitHub, https://github.com/nikclayton/android-squeezer.

Moving in Switzerland? A plug for Kaylan Umzug

I recently moved apartment in Zurich, and wanted to take a moment to plug the service offered by the removal company that I used, Kaylan Umzug.

The provided a full service move; packing, furniture disassembly, hand-over cleaning with guarantee, rubbish diposal, and furniture re-assembly at the new apartment. And they were fast -- my 6 room apartment (approx 50m³ of material) was cleared in 4h30m (8a-12.30p), and it took the same amount of time to unload and reassemble at the new place (1p-5.30p). Despite having to get furniture up to the second floor in an elevator only large enough for four people.

Other things that I liked about the service:

• They provided a fixed price quote. Other companies that I spoke to quoted per hour. This always worries me, in that it gives them an incentive to proceed a little slower.
• There were no hidden charges in Kaylan's quote -- VAT and insurance were included. Other companies broke them out as separate items, or left them as small print (i.e., VAT was not included, the customer was encouraged to get their own insurance). Also, unlike other companies their quote included all the necessary packing material.
• Every other company quoted the move as taking two days. Kaylan did it in one (and were faster than their original time estimate.

Finally, they were towards the cheaper end of the quotes that I received. The quote broke down in to three components.

1. The move itself. CHF 4,560 (as already mentioned, inc. VAT, insurance, packing material, etc).
2. The cleaning. CHF 1,500. This was marginally more expensive than the quote from my regular cleaning co., but I was happy to pay the extra to only deal with one company, as well as not have two companies getting in each other's way during the move.
3. Rubbish disposal. CHF 600. I had approximately 8m³ of assorted junk that I no longer wanted and had failed to sell (or was too crappy to sell) that needed disposing.

Overall, probably the least stressful move that I've ever done. The worst part was hanging around while they efficiently moved everything, feeling rather like a spare wheel.