Dancing with the elephant

by Volker Weber

TC is right when he says:

Roxio won't gain many new friends with this update: Following discussions with Apple, this version will no longer allow customers to create audio CDs, audio DVDs, or export audio to their hard drive using purchased iTunes music store content.

Discussions with Apple? Sheesh.

Comments

Where's the problem? Just don't upgrade. Wouldn't know why I should anyway.

The problem is that Apple forces an ISV to remove features.

Since I don't buy from the iTMS, I am not affected anyway. If I would buy from the iTMS I would convert to MP3 the next second and would also not be affected. Until Apple removes the capability to play MP3 which they probably won't do.

@Stefan: The problem with 6.1 is that i also fixes a couple of Tiger-related incompatibilities. So i needed to upgrade.

@Volker: I don't like conversions from one lossy format into another lossy format. lossy + lossy = lousy. But the Toast thing is not too much of an issue because you can burn the DRM'd songs from within iTunes, of course.

I know that you systematically keep away from DRM'd music - which is slightly too anarchic from my point of view. Musicians should get the money they deserve (could be more compared to the labels and distributors, sure). Unless they publish their works under CC like with the recent CD from WIRED magazine.

I also don't buy much from iTunes. I prefer real CDs with uncompressed music. That's always the best foundation for ripping. BTW: Yahoo!'s new "Music Unlimited" offers 192 kpbs WMA - much higher quality than iTunes. I wonder when Apple'S gonna raise its bitrate...

It looks like the music industry has successfully brainwashed a lot of people. Using an open file format without DRM does not mean the artists don't get their money. But it does prevent the customer from being told how and where he can play the music he has purchased.

I keep text in text files (and not in Office) and I keep music in MP3 files. And I have a whole lot more "real" CDs than MP3 files. However, I don't use them anymore.

BTW: I just chatted with Wolfgang. He buys music from the iTMS. And he likes it.

He can authorize three (?) computers. One of them just broke and has been replaced, obviously before it could be de-authorized. Minus one now. How long do you think will he be able to listen to the music he purchased. What will happen, when he longer can?

Do you seriously suggest he would stop buying from the iTMS if the music he buys is not DRM-ed?

I don't feel brainwashed, my dear;-) Using an open file format without DRM DOES mean the artists don't get their money, because you can give the songs to all your friends then and put them up on P2P.

I also keep text in text files. And i still use my CDs - i still want the "haptic" experience (i should probably get back to Vinyl;-)

DRM is still in its early stages, sure - the broken PC that could not be de-authorized illustrates this perfectly. Also, there should be legal ways to privately sell music that you have bought online. It's gonna take some time to work these quirks out, but i think that is the way to go.

I don't feel brainwashed, my dear;-)

Such is the nature of a really good brainwash. ;-)

you can give the songs to all your friends then and put them up on P2P

Guess what happens after Apple releases new tracks on the iTMS. Perfectly DRMed but does change a thing. It only hurts paying customers. And it will hurt you too. I'll send you a link when you cry. ;-)

It's gonna take some time to work these quirks out

I can see them working really hard on these issues. Let me turn this around: Name one copy protection scheme that a) has worked and b) has served the paying customer.

Post a comment











Shall I remember this for you?




Use your full name and a working email address. Unless you want your comment to be removed. No kidding.



Recent comments

Volker Weber on BIS customers now getting instant IMAP e-mail at 10:38
Dirk Steins on BIS customers now getting instant IMAP e-mail at 10:26
Yury Kats on Site news: Chrome already accounts for almost 10% of page hits at 02:59
Volker Weber on BIS customers now getting instant IMAP e-mail at 23:04
Stuart Mcintyre on BIS customers now getting instant IMAP e-mail at 22:59
Volker Weber on BIS customers now getting instant IMAP e-mail at 22:09
Jan-Piet Mens on BIS customers now getting instant IMAP e-mail at 22:01
Ingo Seifert on Nur bei Regen at 19:53
Dirk Steins on Nur bei Regen at 09:01
Carl Tyler on Everybody's PIN Number: Revealed! at 01:09
Armin Roth on Everybody's PIN Number: Revealed! at 00:43
Frank L. Quednau on Everybody's PIN Number: Revealed! at 23:42
Volker Weber on Everybody's PIN Number: Revealed! at 22:00
Chris Linfoot on Everybody's PIN Number: Revealed! at 21:57
Jan-Piet Mens on Everybody's PIN Number: Revealed! at 21:39
Marco Klop on Synchronizing iPhone with ... Lotus Notes at 18:55
sunny gerscky on Pwnage 2.0 released at 16:00
Tobias Lange on Remember, it's always the cable at 13:16
Volker Weber on Remember, it's always the cable at 12:21
Ian White on Remember, it's always the cable at 11:56
Andy Brunner on Remember, it's always the cable at 11:37
Ben Rose on Remember, it's always the cable at 11:33
Ben Poole on It has only been less than two hours at 09:44
Frank L. Quednau on It has only been less than two hours at 09:29
Martin Hiegl on It has only been less than two hours at 08:27

Ceci n'est pas un blog

vowe.net is a personal website published by Volker Weber a.k.a. vowe. I am an author, consultant and systems architect based in Darmstadt, Germany.

rss Click here to subscribe

Hello

About me
Contact
Publications
Certificates
Frequently asked questions

Twitter Updates

More >

Poll

Can you bring a camera phone to work?

Getting poll results. Please wait...

Local time is 11:37

visitors.gif
149 visitors online

News

Other sources of news, imported into my own format to make them more accessible:

Heise Online
Schlagzeilen
Weather

Archives

As most of my articles roll off the front page rather quickly, I am making an archive of previous posts available here. You can also use the handy search box at the top of the page if you are looking for something particular.

Last 30 days
More archives

Got the T-shirt?

Got the T-shirt?
Are you buying from the US?

Systems Architecture

This site runs on an Apache web server on top of the Linux operating system. The content is managed with MovableType which is implemented in Perl. Last but not least the HTML code your browser sees is put together with PHP.

© 1992-2008 Volker Weber.
All Rights Reserved.

Impressum