Comments on: HMV, Virgin, music downloads

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 02:33:51 +0000

AAC is an open format pioneered by adobe.

the advanced audio codec is not “appleized” when it’s ripped from a cd in your home. only itunes “store” files have any DRM on them at all. Don’t use those and it’s standard AAC, playable by anyone who installs any one of numerous open source or proprietary players, including winamp.

I suggest you look at the fact that these player companies support WMA but refuse to support aac, I suspect some unfair contract terms on the part of microsoft.. but YOU GUYS AT P2Pnet just continue on PARROTING RIAA PRESS RELEASES that apple is this horrible evil corp for refusing to crawl under it’s biggest competitor’s thumb with ipod. Because I’m sure you would be just dandy having microsoft breathing down your neck to pay ever-increasing shares of your profit margin for WMA licensing.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 02:28:53 +0000

WMA is windows media audio.. apple did not build their ipod with support for their competitor’s format.

These services launched using WMA.. ALL THE WHILE KNOWING THAT IPODS ACCOUNT FOR OVER 80% of the market.

End of story.. apple is not to blame for refusing to voluntarily climb under the thumb of microsoft, especially when these services know the statistics on ipod adoption.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 23:58:02 +0000

“Remove the extra baggage and the music automagically becomes compatible with every single digital music player known to man, portable or otherwise.”

Actually, even without DRM, Apple’s default file format (an “Applized” version of AAC If I remember right) is not currently supported by a lot of players out there, portable or otherwise. Just an FYI.

Whe ripping CDs with iTunes one can specify the MP3 format. Even though the file size is bigger I strongly suggest using this option. Then your files will play on other players (and Apple has a bit less control over the fate of your music).

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 21:15:41 +0000

Hmmmm… Actually Apple is not completely to blame that those “services” are incompatible with its little overpriced gizmo. After all, the underlaying music is the same, and the package is just bytes in a computer file. The real problem here is spelled D-R-M, the “protection” mechanism that prevents legitimate customers to use their music the way they want to. Remove the extra baggage and the music automagically becomes compatible with every single digital music player known to man, portable or otherwise.

That, of course, doesn’t mean that I’m excusing Apple of any blame. They are just another tentacle in the head of the same ugly hag.

By: Reader's Write

Reader's Write — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 20:42:30 +0000

If we can’t purchase music tracks for the iPod (or for that matter, any general MP3 player), then we’ll just have to rip our own.

If they block us from ripping our own purchased CD’s, then we’ll circumvent this block and share with our friends.

The RIAA made the first move by sueing it’s own customers, we retaliate by refusing to purchase any RIAA owned music. They can blame it on anything they choose, the facts are the facts.