Apple and its C.R.A.P.
p2p news view / p2pnet: "Steve Jobs believes in his heart (or should I say admits) that all of your music should be kept somewhere on an Apple device," writes David Berlind in ZDNet, quoting Jobs from a San Jose Mercury News item.
The quote goes: "It’s really the home stereo reinvented. Music is not on CDs in your cabinet. It’s on your iPod,” and Berlind continues, "So, what else is in your iPod?" - answering, "Well, for starters, it’s full of Apple’s proprietary CRAP. C.R.A.P., in case you missed some of my previous blogs on the topic, stands for "Cancellation, Restriction, and Punishment." I’ve even made a video about it. CRAP is my personal acronym for DRM (Digital Rights Management technology).
"Originally, I wanted CRAP to stand for Content Restriction, Annulment, and Protection. But Richard Stallman at the Free Software Foundation convinced me to change its meaning to "Cancellation, Restriction, and Punishment" and ZDNet’s readers sided with him."
Yup.
To digress, as we’ve posted many a time, iTunes is NOT a corporate music download site. It’s a (now) self-funding promo/delivery vehicle for iPod.
And given that iTunes is the ONLY successful corporate download site out there, even if it isn’t a corporate download site, ergo, there’s as yet no such thing as a "booming" corporate online music market, contrary to claims emanating solely from the Big Four record labels and lamescream media.
Back to Berlind, "First of all, if you want to by music by most major artists one song at a time (the way you should be able to by music) and you want it to be able to play on an iPod, then the only place you can buy that music is from Apple’s iTunes Music Store (IMS)," he says. "Music sold through IMS is stuffed in an wrapper that’s made out of Apple’s proprietary CRAP. Currently, there are only three things that can legally cut through Apple’s CRAP to playback the music: the iTunes software, an iPod, or an iTunes phone from Motorola.
"In other words, Apple is solely in charge of when and where music that’s purchased through IMS can be played back. It has also refused to license its CRAP to other hi-fi companies. For the last year, I’ve been arguing that much the same way Apple is using its CRAP to dominate digital music and video playback in the technology market, that it will soon start to nudge the traditional hi-fi manufacturers out of the hi-fi market."
So, "it gets to decide whether or not CRAP-wrapped content will work on the gear that’s sold by the traditional home entertainment companies," continues Berlind.
But, "since the home entertainment market is a growth opportunity for Apple, especially if it can kick all the traditional players out of the game, why would Apple ever let those companies play? It doesn’t. And to the extent that Apple allows some iPod accessory companies (ones that aren’t a threat to its master plan) to participate in the iPod ecosystem, Apple charges them an exorbitant tax. Now that Apple is competing against some of those very same companies, it gets to operate in a tax-free environment while the competitors must pay to play. The real name of Apple’s CRAP is FairPlay. But how fair is that? Now that IMS has a virtual lock on the online a la carte digital music sales market, does Apple’s refusal to license its technology on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms (a practice that could foreclose on competition) constitute a tying violation that trust-busters should be paying attention to?"
Berlind adds that when he first wrote Apple would use CRAP to, "lock home entertainment players out of their own business," a few people wrote to him to say Apple would never do that".
David, a company that’s capable of using teenaged RIAA victims in a sick iPod/iTunes advertising campaign, and which’ll sue its own supporters, is easily capable of this.
Now, "Apple is going after the home entertainment market and it will use its CRAP to keep the competition at bay. This time, you didn’t hear it from me. You heard it straight from the horse’s mouth.
"So, HorseCRAP anyone?"
(Thanks again, Julie ; )
Also See:
ZDNet - Jobs iPod Hi-Fi: Home stereo reinvented?, March 1, 2006
CRAP? - DRM - a load of CRAP, February 25, 2006
advertising campaign - New Apple Intel ad, January 17, 2006
sue its own supporters - New Apple Asteroid trouble, September 13, 2006
March 4th, 2006 at 4:26 pm
You seem to conveniently forget that you can burn all of your DRM’ed iTMS tunes to CD or DVD and play that music back on thousands of different computers, CD and DVD players.
There are stores that sell music with no DRM that works on almost all MP3 players.
All other DRM’ed music stores lock out iPod as well.
Apple did not require DRM to sell music, the IRAA did. Let’s blame who is really responsible for the Apple lock in. Let the IRAA fix the mess by forgeting about DRM. As if that will happen.
March 4th, 2006 at 4:38 pm
Since digital copying is as easy as it is, you will never see content providers, i.e. movie studios or record companies release product without copy protection. They know what will happen, rampant “sharing” of music and films over P2P networks. What part of this don’t you all get? The stuff isn’t free. Nothing in life is. Trying to couch your indignation in some sort of “they’re interfering with MY rights”, freedom of ownership rhetoric is childish horseshit. Grow up, get honest and pay for your entertainment.
March 4th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
I thought this story would be about the iPod and the Hi-Fi. Instead the writer got off a tangent about the iTMS, which has limited global relevance… the majority of iPods worldwide is used for ripped MP3s. Blame the RIAA for your local restrictions, not Apple.
March 4th, 2006 at 4:58 pm
If you don’t like what Apple is doing then don’t buy their products, simple as that.
March 4th, 2006 at 5:09 pm
The author of this article is full of crap. Apple isn’t the one requiring DRM, it’s the RIAA. So you have an 2 options, an iTunes Store allowing downloadable music, or no iTunes Store. The opensource crowd needs to “catch a clue” that opensource will never include copyrighted works. It won’t happen, they need to LEARN that DRM isn’t a bad thing, in fact, it works rather well with iTunes. They also need to LEARN Apple isn’t the culprit here, (if there even is one), it’s the RIAA, go complain to them, and leave Apple out of it…
March 4th, 2006 at 5:16 pm
“They know what will happen, rampant “sharing” of music and films over P2P networks. What part of this don’t you all get?”
Lawl.. so that doesn’t already happen now? Releasing non copy protected CRAP isn’t going to change a thing.
March 4th, 2006 at 5:20 pm
It takes one to suck up to the RIAA and cough up their demands, so yes, Apple is a problem here. Apple is only interested in selling Ipuds, they don’t care if there is any DRM or not as long as they have some marketing vehicle to do it.
Opensource will always include copyrighted works, even if people have to go to the P2P networks to get it. Saying “never” sounds like you work for the RIAA or something. I can watch DVD’s right now on Linux, in the future Blu-Ray will be on that list as well for sure.
March 4th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Get real!
You’re whining and bitching but its clear that you miss out on a few important things.
FIRST and foremost, as other readers have pointed out (as well as a billion other sites), DRM is NOT Apple’s idea. It’s the RIAA! So that effectively kills your first complaint. You don’t want DRM, take it up with those assholes in the music industry or even better, load up a P2P application on your machine, and download all the music for free and load it up anywhere you like.
SECOND, why the f**k should Apple allow other companies to profit from ITS OWN PRODUCT/INNOVATION? It’s so easy to whine and bitch but the fact is, where the hell were all these bullshit companies we have out there? Starting with the worlds biggest shitbox…MicroSHIT that can’t find it’s own ass with its own two hands when it comes to releasing ANYTHING that works properly, NO ONE has even stepped forward to this LEGAL digital music market before Apple. How come? No one has ever stopped anyone from proposing a solution. But NO ONE did. Apple did, and not only that, but the solution they proposed is the absolute best one for years to come. Years ahead of the garbage that has suddenly infested the market as all those losers try to desperately catch up with the pathetic junk they try to sell. Just goes to prove how many useless companies we have out there. When someone comes out with a brilliant solution; it immediately becomes clear how much garbage we’ve been exposed and worse (have accepted because there was nothing better).
THIRD, this is BUSINESS. If you have nothing better, TOO BAD. Get lost. Survival of the fittest is and always has been the name of the game. Can’t handle it; find something else to do.
Besides, WTF would you want anything else but an iPod. There is nothing remotely close to being anything good out there. Is it simply to prove a point?? Get real.
So again, quit the whining; the real asshole is the RIAA not Apple. No matter who gets into this legal digital age; there will ALWAYS be some form of restriction because that’s the retarded LAW.
March 4th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
All the Apple fanboi’s are coming out of the woodwork I see.
It was Apple who agreed to DRM the shit just so they can have a marketing vehicle for their precious iPud. All the CE companies can stand up to the RIAA/MPAA, but they suck up like they are giving them candy. So whos fault is it really?
March 4th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
eMusic sells music (even singles) that can play within the Apple “CRAP” system. Although a different and limited selection, it’s still a choice.
Any home entertainment mfr can include a dock for iPods (that’s where Apple collects its fee) or a SPDIF input for Macs/PCs, and play within the “CRAP” system, since the iPod or iTunes software decodes the “CRAP” and outputs an unencoded stream.
And any cell phone maker can partner with Apple for its iTunes software.
Yes, in the latter two, Apple remains in the system but they are a business after all.
March 4th, 2006 at 6:59 pm
Nothing to do with being a Fanboy.
This is about getting the facts right and common sense!
Any company on the face of the planet has to agree to bullshit RIAA rules and regulations. Stand up or no stand up; unless the LAW changes, this shit goes. And while its there, I’d much rather have an Apple product than any of that garbage that’s out there. Yes it IS garbage!
March 4th, 2006 at 7:14 pm
Spike - what, are you fourteen years old? Apple wants to give the world great music, and they have finally found a workable combination so everyone benefits. If you don’t like music, then don’t get an iPod. If you just want to steal, continue your 14 year old behavior and “reasoning ability”. Apple is not at all part of the problem… they are the ones that finally solved this whole issue! iPods will continue to be the best way to get “legal” music, and soon, “legal” movies. So you can act like a 2 year old and not understand the larger picture or go steal some more music. That’s what you really want, you are a thief, that’s all.
March 4th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
You should be aware of a word that applies to this quite nicely,
Complicity
1 : association or participation in or as if in a wrongful act
2 : an instance of complicity
If Apples iTunes is such a powerful entity in the world of online music distribution (e.g. 1 billion downloads etc), then by extension they have a certain amount of influence in how these ’songs’ can or should be assembled, protected and distributed. If so, they could tell the RIAA et al to take a flying leap until they are ready to do business in a more bi-partisan method…also, they could partner themselves with more independent labels, diversify themselves away from such a reliance on mainstream ‘CRAP’…or just remain complicit.
It’s not really about something for ‘free’…it’s about protecting existing consumer rights, fair use and maintaining a small modicum of respect for your customers. Instead we’re going down a road where things that we’re accustomed to - like portability of media from device to device is slowly eroded; the ability to tape a television show (time-shifting) vanishes; industry entities enter your home through broadcast flags, auto shutdown of devices if the mere perception of impropriety is suspected and a litany of other malfeasance.
With the current political environment, corporations and the ever-growing power of consolidation coupled with the resultant diminished choice for consumers I would think more people would have the fog of blind brand loyalty (or political loyalty) lifted from their sight, but sadly we seem to be marching down a path where 20 years from now we’ll all look back and go, “What the hell happened to our freedom of choice as consumers and more importantly our freedom to choose in a larger sense as members of a democratic society, not a corporately mandated one.”
And before you say it, yes this isn’t Apples responsibility per se, but it would be admirable, and in-step with their philosophy to innovate in a way that improves the experience for the consumer and not for the bottom line of some corporation whose only intention is to profiteer off the erosion of rights and freedoms for both the artist and consumer.
TT
March 4th, 2006 at 9:03 pm
Apple HAS been doing a good job at keeping those assholes at bay by NOT accepting to raise the prices! They do what they can, but they can’t change the law or pull miracles. I hope to God, the music industry goes down on its knees just so that we can get rid of those greedy fuckers that have been screwing users over all these years!
March 4th, 2006 at 9:26 pm
Apple is just beginning to develop enough clout. Because of piracy, Apple was able to get certain concessions in the beginning: 99 cent pricing, singles unbundled from albums, CD burning (and reripping without DRM), unlimited iPod downloads, music sharing over LANs. Look at MSN music, they didn’t hold the line on singles being unbundled by allowing artists who refused to do so to still sell albums. Apple refused for the longest time - I think there are some now, haven’t looked closely lately. Apple also refused to allow the CD packagers to make a DRM that the Mac would respect.
Apple failed at having no DRM at all, and at allowing users to move iPod music back onto computers.
As it is, the labels are moving against Apple because Apple won’t give in on the pricing issue. Apple is plying a compromise space. So yes, we should tell Apple what we really want, but let’s not destroy the store and wind up with zero leverage against the labels.
March 4th, 2006 at 9:28 pm
What CE companies are standing up to the RIAA/MPAA?
They cave on DRM on CDs. They cave on broadcast flag on VCRs, DVD players, etc. Nobody but Apple even dared to stand up a little bit.
March 4th, 2006 at 9:31 pm
It’s better than the real crap out there.
Besides, Fairplay’s not hard to crack if you really want to.
ex2bot
March 4th, 2006 at 9:49 pm
Sorry I live in Canada, pay a fortune on levies for blank CD’s, I’m free to download all the free music I want in this country. Its not my fault that your country is corporately owned and suing everyone for sharing music.
March 4th, 2006 at 9:52 pm
Pretty funny that you call me a thief. I am not depriving anyone of their property. Your logic is flawed. I don’t intend to pay a dime for a lossy compressed DRM’d up the ass download. Apple is a joke, they aren’t making a cent off Itunes, the RIAA is raking in all the cash from them. Its people like you that should be working for the RIAA instead with that thief logic. Not everyone lives in the United States.
March 4th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
And besides you prick, I don’t use Windows nor OSX. Wouldn’t ever touch that shit with a 10 foot pole. DRM C.R.A.P can suck my ass.
March 4th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
Apple has no say if the RIAA wants to raise the prices, whatever the RIAA says goes, unless somebody steps in. Did you hear about the RIAA being investigated now by the DOJ? Don’t think that will help, as we all know the RIAA is up their asses. You’ll be seeing raised proces at ITMS in no time.
March 4th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
“RIAA being investigated now by the DOJ”
yes that is correct regarding the DoJ’s investigation in to possible collusion within the industry regarding price-fixing, however it has no bearing on his statement re Apple’s holding strong on the 99 cent price barrier, from a moral perspective at least…and besides, I question whether Apple’s motives are in the best interest of the consumer or in the best interest in using iTunes as a vehicle (or loss-leader) in order to promote sales of the iPod. That is a question I’d like to adress in more detail as well as reply to the previous 2 posts regarding my original post in this thread. But, I have to hit the beer store before it closes, so until then.
TT
March 4th, 2006 at 10:12 pm
Apple approached Sony before this whole thing started to partner Sony said no. Apple also approached MS on using AAC as a standard format (AAC is not owned by Apple/Fairplay the DRM is). MS said no. MS said they had no interest in the music download market…until they saw Apples success as a threat to their home entertainment strategy. MS’s offerings are all DRM’d. In fact they were much more restrictive than Apple’s & still are. Even when MS got into the game they did not support playback of MP3’s (& are probably still trying to kill this standard). They thought they could just bully their way into the market. They thought wrong. The DRM is easily removed from music bought from iTunes…burn a CD…it’s gone. I don’t need to have an iPod to use iTunes. I don’t need to buy music from the iTunes music store to put music on my iPod. There are plenty of formats that iTunes encodes music to. It doesn’t do WMA although itunes can turn WMA unprotected into AAC, MPS, etc. . Why should Apple give MS a handout (Knowing how MS operates)? That would just be stupid. Let them work for it. Infact if WMA doesn’t catch on soon MS will have to eat it’s young (partners). By making their own integrated products. Some partnership. This is a non issue being brought up by people with the mentality of 12 year olds.
On another note.Here is what PC mag had to say about the iPod HiFi
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1933838,00.asp
March 4th, 2006 at 10:16 pm
Whether Apple’s motives are good or bad it doesn’t matter because it works and seems to be making a lot more people comfortable in BUYING music. I’m sure there are no Angels out there, but Apple’s stand is much more Kosher than that of the music industry.
March 4th, 2006 at 10:22 pm
Spike; take it easy.
The quality of music on the Apple is extremely good; much better than any CD I have owned.
Besides, most people like yourself feel that way based on principle, and I agree with you. But there are many things in life that function the same way unfortunately and there is nothing you, me, or anyone can do about it. Unless you set the rules and laws, you have to make the best of it. HOWEVER, mass pressure is changing, and I’m sure Apple has definitely set a change in motion but I don’t think that music, movies, whatever will ever become free. It makes no sense. Sure there will always be better P2P networks, and many will use them…this will NEVER go away, but there will be a slowdown as prices are forced to go down, and people simply chose an itunes like way, simply because its less of a headache.
I hate the RIAA, I hope to God someone nukes these fuckers right off and makes sure that no more abuse takes place.
March 4th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
Ummm, last time I checked Apple is a BUSINESS. As so they want to make some money, you know that stuff that keeps businesses, well … in business. What an amazing surprise they would want to keep a market THEY CREATED to themselves! It would make much more sense to let everyone else profit off their work wouldn’t it? Idiot.
If you want to have “choice” of (crappy) other stores and accessories then you can always buy one of those fantastic (
) WMA devices from Microsoft et al. can’t you? Apple isn’t stopping you do that is it? Vote with your wallet if you have a problem. I’m sure it will make a great deal of difference! Were you to do that make sure you aren’t green with envy you can’t have access to any of the best accessores, stores and hardware on the market though won’t you.
Or maybe expand your childish interpretation on the way business works? Baby.
March 4th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
Apple is only in this powerful position because customers put them there. There have been dozens of other attempts to sell CRAP using Windows Media DRM, but they have mostly failed. Why? I’d argue that Apple has an easier to use system. Remember, “we” chose iTunes over those other stores. I’d also argue that FairPlay, which we all accept is restrictive, is actually less so than the permenently embedded DRM from those other guys. They don’t let you burn non-DRM versions onto a CD like Apple does.
I’m taking my own stand against DRM. I will not buy a “copy protected” disc masquerading as a CD and I will not pay for a lossy compressed 128 bit digital file with internal or external DRM.
March 4th, 2006 at 11:56 pm
OK, I have some questions here. Never used iTunes, never will. I don’t want anymore DRM’ed CRAP on my computer beyond what it came with, but my questions are these:
I see everyone here saying that the RIAA is forcing Apple to use the DRM, which I believe, BUT hasn’t Apple also signed deals with independent labels?
Does Apple put the CRAP on these tracks as well?
If so, then it would seem Apple is as much to blame as the RIAA. An imperfect marriage maybe, but a marriage nonetheless.
March 5th, 2006 at 12:06 am
I don’t and I won’t.
March 5th, 2006 at 12:56 am
Haha, nice one, that oughtta shut the fanboys up for a bit.
March 5th, 2006 at 2:07 am
Ok maybe not illegal, but almost…
If Apple never entered the music player and online store market, MS would own these two markets through its digital player licensees, and through the tie-in between WMA and Windows.
MS would have forced its licensees to drop the MP3 format, with the help of the RIAA and blessing of the DOJ, “in the name of fighting evil piracy”. Conversion tools would be available, just like these ATRAC-only Sony players.
In a planned move, Sony would admit defeat against MS and would adopt the WMA format for their players. (Why do you think Sony sold CD’s with WMA and not ATRAC?)
Then, trying to plug another hole in their system, they would concert themselves to impose CRAP on all audio CD’s, and would include WMA audio on all CD sold. Eventually, with all audio players sold supporting WMA, classic unprotected Red-Book audio would be dropped, and only WMA CD’s would be sold.
But that didn’t happen…
Forget about the RootKit scandal, the real reason why Sony and other are backing off of CRAPified CD’s is that they cannot provide the music in Apple’s format that can play on the iPod, because it would be declared the winning standard, and they don’t want that, MS have better plans for them and Apple is too liberal for the music cartel. And they cannot provide both WMA and AAC on CD’s, plus uncompressed audio since it wouldn’t physically fit.
Sure Apple is currently happy about the side effects of CRAP in their music store. Yes they lock-in people that buy FairPlay music, tough you can legally burn the music to CD’s that play on any standard CD player, and that you can re-rip if you want.
But do you think Apple think seriously that this go on forever?
Apple is using the side effects of CRAP to its benefit, because it can, and others can too. It’s not illegal and if Apple didn’t do it, MS would.
They have to use some of the same strategies MS can use if they want to compete with them in this market.
What if Yahoo! music started to offer the same catalog as the iTMS but without CRAP? That would enable them to reach the iPod market without having to have Apple’s permission.
Do you think that:
A) Apple would go see the RIAA and say “Yahoo! must have CRAP to protect the artists against evil piracy!”.
B) Apple would go see the RIAA and say “If Yahoo! can sell music without CRAP, we have the right to do the same, in the interest of the consumers.”
If you answered A, then you likely don’t really know much about Apple, think Steve Jobs is some kind of evil pro-CRAP CEO.
If you answered B, it shows that you have a better understanding of the situation. And you know that Steve Jobs said many times that people will always get around CRAP anyway. And you also know that SJ started to get interested in electronics when he started to sell/build Blue-Boxes to screw phone companies. People that answered B also likely understand that Jobs was joking when he said “Don’t pirate, you wouldn’t want to burn in hell!”.
You anti-CRAP idealists don’t achieve much by boycotting CRAP. The majority will fall in the CRAP trap, whatever you say or do. Apple is in a position where they can strong arm the RIAA, they have much more influence on the course of history than any of you idealists will have. It’s much more feasible to steer people into the iTMS and to steer them into a boycott.
With this unplanned competition in CRAP formats, the RIAA has to rethink its position. Removing CRAP from all music sold would solve their “problem” of Apple dominating the market.
You know, it’s like voting. If you don’t vote because you think the system is crap, then don’t be surprised that things don’t go your way.
March 5th, 2006 at 2:11 am
Ok just I typo I had to correct:
“It’s much more feasible to steer people into the iTMS -than- to steer them into a boycott.”
March 5th, 2006 at 3:25 am
poor Spike, lives in Canada and has no ethics nor understands compression. The music up on iTunes sounds great. I highly doubt you or “anyone” could hear the difference in AAC tunes compared to a CD. You are talking about MP3, not AAC, Apple is the gold standard when it comes to quality, they don’t put up crap on their site, you are just too uneducated to understand what is happening. And no, Apple makes TONS of money off iTunes, they and the media just want you to think otherwise. RIAA gets a cut too, Artists too, or if they go direct through iTunes, Artists get even more. Spike, you simply don’t understand what is happening. Your ignornace shows in every comment you have made to this Article/Page. Please learn, get some ethics, and lets us know when you wisen up.
March 5th, 2006 at 4:30 am
No they don’t make TONS of money off of iTunes. They make tons of money off of iPods. There is a difference. Got a link to back up your claims?
March 5th, 2006 at 5:22 am
“Apple is the gold standard when it comes to quality”
End of discussion, you’re just another fanboi.
“nor understands compression”
You shouldn’t say things you cant back up. An MP3 encoded with LAME with -q0 sounds just as good as the AAC codec. The problem with MP3 is there are alot of shitty codecs that make the format sound inferior when in reality it isnt when used with the proper encoder/decoder combo.
I hear the difference between shitty compressed audio compared to a real audio CD yes. Just because you cant because you’re using one of the most crappy sounding portables out there (the iPud), which makes use of shoddy output capacitors when they should be using a push-pull amplification circuit is a laugh.
You seem to misjudge me, I been in audio electronics for over 15 years. No not just using the stuff, but reparing, building and testing among other things that interest me in the eletronics field.
For you to compare a CD to an AAC that there is no difference is a laugh and just goes to prove that you bought into the Apple marketing regime. And to say that Apple makes money off iTunes is a complete and utter joke. Maybe you should get a clue instead of talking out of your asshole.
March 5th, 2006 at 10:26 am
duh.
March 5th, 2006 at 1:02 pm
Seems like a large number of the P2P Apple haters out there are no more than thieves who steal music and get angry that there are actually people out there who have some sort of moral basis to their life. Get it straight. People who steal the stuff without paying aren’t some sort of hero Pirates, sort of like digital Johnny Depps. They are no better than the losers who break into peoples houses and take their stuff or who shoplift. They have the morals and behaviour (and often the spelling and grammar) of 12 year old boys who think they are tough because they can steal stuff. OOOOhhhhh what heroes.
Tossers!
March 5th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
The quality of music on the Apple is extremely good; much better than any CD I have owned.
hahahahahaha
March 5th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Here’s another one who just fell off the turnip truck. It seems a large truck dumped over in this vicinity.
Why are you even here? RIAA payroll?
Might as well get an education while you are here.
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=11662
March 5th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
Either you need your hearing checked or you’re just stupid.
Which is it?
March 5th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
Actually, shoplifting leads to the loss of a physical piece of property. When you download something, the person you dled it from still has it, so nothing is really lost.
Also, downloading is just like sharing cds with friends (which from the last time I checked is pretty legal (you know, fair uses and unregulated uses of the the product that you have purchased). Downloading is just sharing CDs with friends that are not in close proximity to you and on a slightly larger scale.
Finally, the only people “losing” (but it has never been proven, and it has been shown though that downloading music leads to an increase in music sales (ie: small bands, Audioslave and Napster, etc)) would be the record company since bands are ripped off and are lucky to make pennies off of a CD sale (after they finish paying back the label for the recording costs, etc). The real money is in touring for the bands, and downloading presents an opportunity for them to get exposure and bring people into their shows.
F*ck calling everybody pirates. The real pirates are the guys selling copies of Windows and bootleg DVDs in foreign countries or on street corners in the city.
March 5th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
I hope you don’t mean crack by burn and rip. Loss in quality ftw.
March 5th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
and do you have any links showing they don’t? fact is, steve won’t do something unless it has value. apple probably makes 15 cents or so per song, that’s a ton of money. YES, they want you to believe otherwise to bluff competition, so lots of people have been lulled into thinking they don’t. but knowning apple well, it’s a no brainer that they are actually making a “TON” of money off the itunes store. you are probably forgetting the initial costs to set up the itunes stores were rolled into the per song profit, while those expenses are quickly being depreciated, thus even more profit for apple.
March 5th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
duh… why pay to have to go though extra work?
March 5th, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Why is pirating windows different? I am just sharing it with a few million close friends aren’t I? I own it. I bought it. You’re a fucking nipplehead. Grow Up.
March 5th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
Didn’t think you did. Just use the Google search at the top, type in iTunes, and run a site search. You’ll get so many links it will keep you busy all afternoon.
March 5th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
Yeah…really tough work around. Another fucking nipplehead.
March 5th, 2006 at 6:27 pm
spike has no idea what he is talking about. AAC rules over any LAME codec using MP3. and no, you cannot tell the difference if you were asked in a blind study to compare a CD to AAC sound sample.
and no the iPod is regarded as the very top in audio quality of all MP3 Players. what you probably aren’t doing is listening through a dock, but through cheap headphones, through the line out port, so no wonder you are confused. the dock connector has no limitation on quality. why don’t you get one of these and report back to us. thanks!
http://www.sendstation.com/us/products/pocketdock/lineout-fw.html
March 5th, 2006 at 6:30 pm
linux is either for “idiots”, or people that have yet to use “OSX”. linux is dead in the wake of OSX, the use of Linux is dropping like a rock because of it. the future of Unix is here:
http://www.apple.com/macosx
March 5th, 2006 at 6:33 pm
So, now we should spend even more money?
Man, they got you hook, line, and sinker.
March 5th, 2006 at 7:03 pm
It’s neither.
I think you’re just too dumb, too cheap, or too much of a fucking peasant to know the difference between good and ugly.
Go back to your sheep, farm boy!
March 5th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
no, it’s just for people that “think” they can tell the difference, it’s only $25, plus it gives you a real firewire port, so if you are poor i guess you could complain, but if you are not, it doesn’t matter.
http://snipurl.com/n7j3
March 5th, 2006 at 7:34 pm
Wow we have a winner here.
March 5th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
March 5th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
Apple’s marketing dept is damn good. Thats one thing I can praise.
March 5th, 2006 at 7:38 pm
Lets see, like releasing an overpriced ghettoblaster? Oh, I guess this is a new thing to all you Apple geniuses.
March 5th, 2006 at 7:40 pm
I think its just a single jackass here being a moron. He’s been bashing me in the upper posts as well.
March 5th, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Ooh, that hurts!!!!
March 5th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
No. Unlike you, I’m smart enough to recognize the tactics the corporate world uses to bleed people dry.
You call me the farm boy? You’re the one with the wool pulled over your eyes. I wonder where your face is buried?
March 5th, 2006 at 9:07 pm
Is it just me or has everyone simply forgotten the reality of downloadable music?
Yes, Apple has had 1 billion tracks move over the system in about three years, and they are within their right to celebrate that.
BUT- ONE BILLION + tracks are downloaded off of P2P everyday, meaning that Apple has aproximately less than one percent of ALL music downloads. Yes, the legality is questionable but that is not stopping snyone. So, what do we know from this?
1. that Apple is therefore nowhere near a monopoly.
2. that DRMless mp3 is still the file format of choice (a format the ipod and itunes has no problem with BTW)
3. that any discussion of the ramification of drm is pretty much an academic one with no real bearing on reality.
4. that people who whine about the emergence of DRM are completely missing the boat when it comes to what is actually being downloaded.
5. that the handful of lawsuits that RIAA did pursue were pretty much useles anyways.
6. that you really do have choices (and I’ve yet to see any actually compelling arugement with real evidence and not FUD that points to the contrary).
7. that everyone loves to pick on Apple but MSFT and SONY and REAL all get free passes on the subject of DRM.
Basically this and all other screes about DRM are much ado about nothing. Come back when p2p no longer exists and you really no have no other choice, until then find something real to talk about.
March 5th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
Get back to the porn sites Spike you 12 year old loser.
March 5th, 2006 at 10:55 pm
Finally a comment with some substance to it. Just two things I disagree with:
1. M$, SONY, and REAL are not getting any free passes here on their DRM, they’re just not what this topic is about. It was an Apple article.
2. P2P will always exist in one form or another. It continues to evolve everyday.
The reality of downloadable music is quite clear. The RIAA got into the game way too late and they should be happy they’re making any money at all from it. Their list of blunders is neverending.
March 6th, 2006 at 12:45 am
Actually, you don’t buy Windows. Come back to me when you know what the f*ck you’re talking about. You are only buying a liscence to use Windows on 1 machine that you own.
March 6th, 2006 at 2:19 am
I feel saddened by the way Apple, M$ and Linux users seem to fight all over the place, it’s a schoolyard argument, just like politics. For example, when John Major (former Conservative leader in the UK) said “If you don’t think the Civil Service is the best in the world… …then you should!”. In this day and age, we should have learned that if we stick together, we can achieve anything. Regardless of race, colour, creed, or what damn OS we use. The fact of the matter is, we all support things that don’t do what we want them to do, yet we follow them because something is right in our own eyes. As soon as we drop this “my dick is much bigger than yours” routine, we will become much stronger against DRM/RIAA/MPAA and whatever else we think is absolutely un-needed, and frankly, coming to this site, we all should do. IMHO, Apple is good at one thing; spreading dissent amongst those of us (the public) that should be working with each other to stop such utter nonsense coming to the fore. Please think about what I’ve said, and continue this conversation without cheap shots at me, for I won’t reply to this again. THINK for a second, about where the real argument lies, it is not between those that think Apple is god, and those that don’t.
With thanks,
Personal OS user with generic WMA/Mp3 player (which sounds better than my stereo system)
March 6th, 2006 at 4:56 am
poor spike, can’t catch a clue. apple’s iPod HiFi is the best bang you can get in the audio world right now, even Audiophile and PC Magazine are raving about the robust sound and point out that BOSE is now a 2nd rate player to Apple. looks like you have some reading to do!
http://www.apple.com/ipodhifi/
March 6th, 2006 at 5:14 am
“In other words, Apple is solely in charge of when and where music that’s purchased through IMS can be played back. It has also refused to license its CRAP to other hi-fi companies. For the last year, I’ve been arguing that much the same way Apple is using its CRAP to dominate digital music and video playback in the technology market, that it will soon start to nudge the traditional hi-fi manufacturers out of the hi-fi market.”
Really should get the facts straight. The above complaint applies only to playback on portable MP3 devices. iTunes has remarkable music sharing and playback ability. Any networked computer can play your tunes, and any iTunes equiped PC/Mac on a wireless network can play to any audio device with an Aux input via Airport Express. You should do this anyway to play iTunes or internet audio at home. Friends can come over and share tracks from their laptops on the living room stero or surround sound system–very sociable. Coffee shops could do the same hosting DJ nights from patron laptops (instead of portable MP3 players) through the store’s sound system. Clearly no danger to hi-fi manufacturers.
March 6th, 2006 at 7:59 am
As if I need porn, aside from you, the only pussy you’ll ever see in real life is a cat on 4 legs.
March 6th, 2006 at 8:09 am
Haha, BOSE? Anyone can beat BOSE, _ANYONE_! If you think any real true Audiophile’s use BOSE you gotta be fucking kidding me. Its a shame you never actually get to hear sound from JBL studio monitors and a NAD amplifer daily like I do. Maybe then you’ll discover the true meaning of music, instead of your overpriced, overcompressed, and overhyped CRAP. Let me tell you, AAC/MPEG-4 audio has been around since 1997, if it were that much better, we all would of found plenty of M4A’s in our life instead of MP3’s.
Read this link you jackass, get some real information instead of just pulling information out of your ass. Its pretty ironic that he uses Macs to do the testing too. Its a shame that all the ITMS files use AAC @ 128kbps.
http://www.xciv.org/~meta/audio-shootout/
March 6th, 2006 at 8:25 am
Another great comparison for the jackass…
http://www94.homepage.villanova.edu/william.entriken/encoding.pdf
This PDF compares the quality of various audio compression codecs run with various parameters. Overall, of all the audio encodings attempted which produced output at the same sample rate as the input, constant bitrate MP3’s produced the highest quality files, exceeded only by variable bitrate MP3’s at bitrates above 224kbps. In all cases AAC produced inferior quality results.
March 6th, 2006 at 8:28 am
And another since this Apple zombie only reads his AAC info from Apple.com.
http://www.recordstorereview.com/misc/aacmp3part2.shtml
http://www.recordstorereview.com/misc/aacmp3.shtml
March 6th, 2006 at 8:36 am
There are a number of companies that are bad in my books.
Intel = Makers of the fucked up HDMI interface and HDCP protocol.
Sony = Rootkits and retarded sales tactics, (that caused them to lose out bigtime in the MP3 player market), and finally, Blu-Ray.
M$ = Thinks they can always continue selling cars with the hoods welded shut.
REAL = Who cares about REAL, I never hear anything about this company anymore.
Cisco = Making insecure products and trying to throw people in jail who disclose vulnerbilities, and them helping China out on something China cannot do alone.
I could go on and on.
March 6th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
poor spike, forgot to look at the date on his link. 3 years old! AAC cleans MP3’s LAME clock at this point in the game. He also forgets about price when discussing BOSE and Apple’s HiFi Speakers, he compares it to JBL and NAD Amp setups which totally overlooks price. such a poor debater, give it a rest spike, all you know how to do is steal music, but when it comes to quality, you are clueless.
March 6th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
When it comes to Quality, you’re just another victim of the Apple marketing moguls. Its a laugh that you say my audio equipment overlooks price, thats because it actually brings something for the price, something you’re missing out on. As if anything Apple doesn’t overlook price either for very little in return? I bet you’ll even say that those Apple cinema displays are far better then the top end models from Dell that cost a few hundred dollars less. BOSE is garbage and Apple is garbage, end of story. I guess just because your god Steve Jobs says hes an audiophile means that any piece of audio crap he throws at you must be audiophile quality as well. You’re just a dead giveaway anyhow, you can’t even get it straight about the difference between copying, fair use and stealing, but rather taking a line out of the RIAA propaganda books. Copyright Infringement is NOT stealing. You call me clueless? What are you, an RIAA lawyer?
March 6th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
Jesus no wonder why Apple is so successful. Its customers are all sold on features and looks and are nothing more then a brick when told the truth.
Meanwhile I’m sure the latest P2PNET posting is sure to have you bashing there too. See you there bitch.
March 6th, 2006 at 11:00 pm
your ip has been tracked and sent to the riaa, you are a theif, nothing more.
March 6th, 2006 at 11:08 pm
some people just have an overdeveloped sense of taste, style plus are good with investments. apple plays well to those people, where as whitetrash as yourself fancies junky equipment, poor quality and not skilled with money matters. Apple gives you the most “value” long term. any product they makes works better than 99% of competing products, plus you get back far more $ than average products on resale. It’s why the “smart money” buys apple, which you clearly haven’t evolved far enough to understand this quite yet. Someday you’ll grow up and will only buy Apple products, but until then, you will not understand the higher order of products that can be purchased.
March 6th, 2006 at 11:18 pm
Don’t have time to read ALL this claptrap, but it’s pretty funny that you use a link from Apple to defend how good an Apple product is. Gee, they wouldn’t be biased, would they?
March 6th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
“Coffee shops could do the same hosting DJ nights from patron laptops (instead of portable MP3 players) through the store’s sound system.”
Hope those coffe shops have a BMI or ASCAP license…
March 7th, 2006 at 12:24 am
LOL i’m shaking in my boots!
March 7th, 2006 at 12:25 am
Apple being biased? Nah that couldn’t be right.
March 27th, 2006 at 5:32 pm
if you can’t use any other language besides cursing, then why even bother opening your yapper? stuff your keyboard in a potato sack and go milk the cows, farmer John.
the author has some valid points, so don’t freak out here,
secondly p2p software is illegal, einstein, here we’re talking about legal ways to get the music, so chill out there too monkey boy.
and not allowing other companies (such as toshiba and sony and samsung - notice, no micro$**t listed) is business? so was hitler’s idea to exterminate the jews, hey maybe we should bring that one back too? the only thing i agree with u is that microsoft is crap, but i bet u’re using their crap right now to read this, so don’t even bother playing a political hero junkface
May 10th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
I dont get it.. I am using ITunes and its strore and I am very satisfied. When I go to a Store and buy a CD, I get a CD which I can copy/rip/whatever, unless it is copy protected (what most of them are).
When I buy an Album on the ITMS I can make 5 CD’s of them, each plain redbook audio without any copyprotection. Sure, AAC only plays on ITunes and the IPod, but its just too easy to make a normal CD of an album in ITunes.
Insert CDR, click ‘burn’ thats it.
I Agree, its a bit more work if I want mp3’s of them because it means I have to rip my just burned CD again, but besides that theres no technical Barrier to do so - I can even do that within ITunes. Its a DRM with build-in workarounds!
Its just a bit more Work.
Compare that to Sonys rootkit or to those “listen as long as you pay” services that are out there. In my oppinion “Fair play” is quite fair, click ‘burn’ and voila you are back in the good old nineties : no copyprotection, no hassel.