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I could be in trouble if my neighbors here about this.

NPR:

It says a lot about SXSW’s size and scope that this “sampler” of the annual music festival spans six and a half hours, but here we are: 100 songs by 100 artists worth discovering at this year’s big event.

Handpicked from among thousands of artists, this genre-traversing playlist picks highlights, discoveries and future thrills from this year’s festival — and, for the next 30 days, it’s available for free download in its entirety, as one 813 MB zip file, right here.

As much as many of us hate the hype surrounding the SXSW conference, there is often some very good “undiscovered” bands and music at the show. Thanks to Dan Frakes for the heads up.

Oregon senator Ron Wyden (D) has sponsored a bill that would make it legal for customers to unlock cell phones at the conclusion of their contract.

You have to watch until the end. You won’t regret it. […]

I am not a good photographer at all, but I enjoy this site.

Groceries is the quickest way to compose shopping lists on your iPhone and iPod touch.

Just start typing – Groceries will instantly suggest the items you are looking for, and even detect amounts and units. Got a product that Groceries doesn’t know yet? Just add it to your list once, and you’ll never have to type that product’s title again. Composing a shopping list is just a matter of a few taps!

I really like the apps that Sophia Teutschler makes, Groceries included.

I’m happy to say that I’m heading back to Dublin, Ireland to speak at the Ull Conference in April. You can find out more information and buy tickets at the conference Web site.

Okay, I want one of these too.

If this doesn’t tug at your heart, nothing will. Be sure to watch to the end.

Some good pro tips for PR people looking to better hone their pitches to tech journalists.

This is what happens when Canadians leave their igloos in the spring.

The people you follow will be shown in your buddy list. Double clicking one will open a new chat window and start a new private messaging session like you would see on Omega. Sending and receiving messages happen very fast, usually within a second. You can drag files into the chat window, and they will upload to your account’s App.net file storage and be sent as part of a message.

I haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds interesting.

It’s always good to know if you’re having a problem with your Web site. Vigil can help you with that.

Okay, so the big news today on the Wall Street Journal is that Samsung is ramping up advertising ahead of a new product launch. That’s it, that’s the story.

You can go read that or you can watch pigs swimming, which I found more informative and entertaining than anything on WSJ lately. […]

There goes our plan to launch a Loop porn magazine.

The White House agrees with the FCC that the Library of Congress was wrong to make cell phone unlocking illegal.

Philip Elmer-Dewitt recaps the rise and fall of Andy Zaky.

I thought this was funny. They even put some funny text in the drop down menus.

It’s National Grammar Day, and a lexicographer has a bone to pick with people who take it too seriously.

Android is as bad as early Windows when it comes to security.

I joined Rene Ritchie last night to to talk about stupid Apple headlines going mainstream, journalistic responsibility, responsive design, what’s really challenging Apple, and vacationing down south in Montreal.

I’d like to thank G8R Software for sponsoring The Loop this week with CaptureNotes 2 and CaptureAudio.

CaptureNotes 2 for iPad is the full featured notetaking and audio recording application that provides users with the ability to write, type, Flag audio with markers and annotate PDFs during classes or meetings. Launching soon, CaptureAudio delivers more than a simple voice recording app, bringing the unique Flag marking feature of CaptureNotes to the iPhone. Notebooks are easily shared among team members. Likewise, recorded audio sessions can conveniently be shared between the two Apps, supporting both iPhone and iPad users!

CaptureNotes 2 & CaptureAudio are brought to you by G8R Software.

Gadling:

we’re all familiar with the rampant theft of towels and linen from hotel rooms – in fact, the problem is so widespread that some hotels have resorted to inserting tracking devices in their linens to stop the thievery.

However, it seems some hotel guests will steal just about anything that’s not nailed down (and some things that are). A poll of Britons uncovered a surprising array of goods pilfered regularly from hotel rooms.

I get the occasional towel and certainly the toiletries but the curtains? And who the hell steals the Bible!? Which part of the Commandment “Though shalt not steal” is unclear to these people?

Ron Johnson may have succeeded running Apple Stores but that hasn’t translated into success at JCPenney.

Dave Hamilton at TMO has some good thoughts to share on the new “Six Strikes” punishments American ISPs are getting ready to inflict on consumers who download copyrighted content. Make no mistake, this is bad policy. Like, War on Drugs … Continued

Groupon CEO Andrew Mason told employees it was his last day after the company reported abysmal earnings.