A new service called Chords for iTunes, by iPlayMusic, provides an easier way to learn to play your favorite artist’s music. An open beta phase, which begins today and runs through September, makes available 26 chord videos for free on Mac computers for popular songs including two Jimmy Buffett songs: “Come Monday” and “Pencil Thin Mustache”. An expanded selection of videos will be introduced this Fall.

“For most music hobbyists and musicians, the only thing that beats listening to their favorite music on iTunes is being able to play along with it,” said Quincy Carroll, chief executive officer at iPlayMusic. “Whether you are learning to play an instrument for the first time, trying to advance your musical skills, or just looking for new songs to enjoy with family and friends, our chord videos can be both fun and instructional.”

Powered by patent-pending technology, the iPlayMusic software perfectly synchronizes each video with a select song that can be slowed down or sped up while maintaining pitch for learning at any pace. To ensure the legal use of all music featured in Chords for iTunes videos, consumers must already have purchased and stored one of the 26 songs in their iTunes library or on their computer.

Through proprietary production techniques, videos can be added quickly to the iPlayMusic Download Store as users request more songs. In addition, all chord videos are optimized for mobile devices and are extremely portable in their visual display of animated chords and lyrics. Easy export features within the software allow for viewing on Apple TV and mobile devices such as the iPhone or iPod for use anywhere, anytime.

To access Chords for iTunes, simply install the Mac version of iPlayMusic’s software (at www.iplaymusic.com/download), click on the Shop button and start browsing. If a selected song is not already present in your iTunes library, the iPlayMusic software will prompt you to purchase it from the iTunes Music Store. Once the song is in place, simply click the playback button and let the jamming begin.

The beta program is only available on Mac computers.

Sirius XM internet subscribers can now get a free app for their iPhone or iTouch and listen to 120 channels of sports, talk, entertainment, news, comedy, and music, including Radio Margaritaville.

“Getting SIRIUS XM’s superior programming on your iPhone or iPod touch is now convenient and easy,” said Mel Karmazin, CEO of SIRIUS XM. “The SIRIUS XM app allows new and existing subscribers to access great music, talk and sports almost anywhere they go. For millions of users, the best radio on radio is now the best audio content on their iPhone or iPod touch.”

Some select programming, including MLB Play-by-Play, NFL Play-by-Play, SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, and Howard Stern, will not be available on the iPhone and iPod touch. Listeners will continue to be able to access that programming through the platforms they are currently offered on.

The Sirius XM app also allows users to:

• Purchase a song heard on SIRIUS XM while it is being played or “Tag” favorite songs for later purchase from the iTunes Store.
• Save SIRIUS XM Internet channels for fast, easy access through a “Favorites” function.
• See the current channel plus what is playing on all other available channels via the “Lookaround” function.
• Quickly surf through 120 channels of SIRIUS XM programming on the fly with the flick of a finger using the innovative Multi-Touch user interface of iPhone and iPod touch.

The SIRIUS XM app is available for free from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore and www.siriusxm.com/app.

Attention iPhone owners, there is a cool new app for Parrotheads called i-Encore:

This is the ultimate accessory for Jimmy Buffett concerts. Not ready for the concert to end? Start the application and you can choose a parrot, saltshaker, shark fin or lighter.

Touch the illuminate button and it will change the colored item to a light that all the band members can see.

Other features include:

• Wave your phone to the left and you hear “Fins to the left!”. Move it to the right and you hear “Fins to the right!”
• Shake the phone and it doubles as a maraca so you can play along with the band.

So, if you’re a Parrothead, a casual fan, or just someone who loves to escape to the islands this is the concert application for you.

We first stumbled across this on Twitter. Are you on Twitter yet? Follow BuffettWorld now!.

There’s a new addition at Jimmy Buffett’s official site: the Margaritaville Book Club.

Introducing the brand new Book Club, where you can peruse a selection of Jimmy’s favorite books, join a discussion about the topics and themes of the books, and purchase them direct from Amazon.com!

The Book Club home page features a number of books that Jimmy has either read or is interested in. Share your thoughts on any of the three titles pictured. New titles will be added each month!

Share your thoughts on the monthly selection and get ready for some back and forth. The other titles that appear on our home page will be discussed in the coming months. If you’re a fast reader, go for it, read ahead, but hold your comments for the appropriate month.

Want to suggest a book? Make your suggestion here, and don’t hesitate if your title is out of print or in short supply. We are offering Amazon Kindle Readers because, in addition to letting you download newspapers, magazines, and blogs, the Reader allows you to add electronic versions of hard-to-find books to your library. When titles are available via Kindle download they will be marked with an icon.

We’ll leave it up to you to decide which are fictional facts and which are factual fiction. Enjoy!

Check it our here.

Attention Florida parrotheads! The flyer below contains information on a great charity event in your area. Click it to enlarge and find out more information!