Portable Planet

I was recently informed that squirting is apparently a growing phenomena among users of Microsoft’s Zune.

Apparently, I am out of the loop when it comes to thisrelatively new but fascinating process. Or at least, that’s what Tianna Lynn told me the other day. How embarrassing.

Here’s how the process is described in the latest issue of Newsweek:

What’s a song-squirt? It’s the first, and currently the only, application of the wireless connectivity built into every Zune. Squirting is a tune-sharing feature that works like this: with built-in Wi-Fi, your Zune can alert you to every other Zune within 10 meters, to which you can then send a song (or a podcast or a photo). If the potential recipient accepts the tune, in 10 or 15 seconds it’s in his or her Zune.

The catch is that the squirt is fast-dryingin three days it goes away. Or, if the recipient plays it three times within that period, it evaporates after the third spin. This is because Microsoft cut a lousy deal with the record labels, which still regard innovative digital schemes as potential piracy threats. My guess is that people will be turned off because the songs expire so quickly.

It saddens methat in this day and age, such things as benign as squirting have to be restricted. Hopefullywe can eventually live in a worldwhere a personcan squirt whenever they want and for as long as they please.