Comments | keenman: Short DRM Rant

keenman

Short DRM Rant

Apr 23, 2008 01:52

I am *so* freaking sick of DRM. DRM is the main reason I refuse to use the iTunes music store. (They've made their DRM-free tracks traceable, containing such things as e-mail address and full name of the purchaser so that's not even an option.)

And if you think that this would never happen to [insert company here], there's this article as well ( Read more... )

Comments 9

zinear April 23 2008, 22:57:59 UTC

I think iTunes will let you burn your music to a CD. You can then rip the CD as normal MP3 files--and I don't think at that point that the personally identifiable information remains. The very paranoid might argue that Apple might encode personal information into the audio, but how that could consistently survive compression is beyond me.

But, nonetheless, I do understand your point. :)

keenman April 24 2008, 00:29:51 UTC

Yep, you're right: the only problem with that is that a lossy algorithm is used both ways, so there's a loss of quality. Yeah, not that big of a deal, but a pain nonetheless. :-(

flytiw April 24 2008, 03:12:32 UTC

No wonder Apple got a low rating for environmental practices - wasting a CD just so your ITMS tracks will play on non-ipod mp3 players is stupid. Easier just to steal.. err borrow the track in mp3 format from somewhere else. The other alternative which I've used on the handful of itunes tracks I have is to use a program like Total Recorder to capture the track to .wav. Although that still requires a d/a conversion cycle, most itunes tracks don't sound great to start with, so no big loss other than wasted time.

keenman April 26 2008, 18:25:15 UTC

Yeah, I've found I'm not downloading music much anymore - I think I've finally reached the point where I have enough variety that I don't get bored with my playlists. Time is a pretty important factor: when I'd bought those tracks off iTMS, I had all intention of ripping them to a CD but I never got around to it.

I've also noticed that I don't really notice the difference between anything higher than 128 kbps except for classical music.

Thread 6

Agreed! caumann April 25 2008, 01:36:57 UTC

The only major plus for me is that Apple isn't Microwhatsit. A part from that, they are no better. If it's any consolation, iPhone sales in Europe are really low, given the phone's price, the high monthly service provider fees, and the fact that Nokia is much more popular in Europe.

Keep your stick on the ice!

Re: Agreed! keenman April 26 2008, 18:14:59 UTC

Actually, I'm likely going to get an iPhone myself when 3G support is out - though I'm not 100% sure yet. The whole "going to Canada and accidentally paying an arm and a leg from data fees" scenario still concerns me.

instynct April 25 2008, 07:43:50 UTC

DRM unfortunately refuses to die and far too many opportunistic software makers keep telling the RIAA how new technology X will solve all of their alleged piracy problems. Thus layer after performance sucking layer is added to media and only certain players will play certain things.

Unfortunately if you think DRM is bad in music, here comes video. Such sneaky schemes like PVP-OPM is actually one of the key reasons I still have not upgraded to MS Vista.

keenman April 26 2008, 18:20:33 UTC

I know - it's so frustrating. My hope is that enough frustrated customers and bad publicity will come out so that it'll end up being totally inviable as a marketing concept. Maybe I'm dreaming.

I'd totally forgotten about that whole 'DRM-friendly hardware' fiasco with Vista - I'm still on XP myself. I'll have to keep that in mind myself if I ever choose to upgrade.