What is Digg?Sponsored by Dragon Age: Origins
Join the Dragon Age: Origins development team on Facebook view!
facebook.com/DragonAgeOrigins - EA presents BioWare's new dark fantasy epic Dragon Age: Origins. '9/10' from Game Informer.
75 Comments
- unloud, on 10/12/2007, -9/+54Why the hell would anyone put out enough energy to specifically hate a company?
- thejokell, on 10/12/2007, -1/+38"Why now? Could it have something to do with the iPhone?"
Curious how this open letter came out soon after Norway declared iTunes illegal because of the DRM system. But no, it couldn't have anything to do with that. It's the iPhone! - jackcheng, on 10/12/2007, -4/+35DRM gets in the way of Apple/Steve's "it should just work" approach to user experience. As Apple introduces more devices which can play back digital content, having to authorize every single one of them becomes increasingly more of a hassle.
- narula, on 10/12/2007, -5/+22(1) He already said it in the letter. FairPlay has been defeated repeatedly. There are always workarounds to DRM. The legal obligation that each of these penetrations creates a huge risk to Apple if they can't resolve it quickly.
(2) Apple has achieved the goal of market dominance via mindshare of those of us who happily use their products, marketshare of those who don't know the difference (where Googling=web searching - iPod=digital music player), and certainly the mindshare of Wall Street investors.
(3) But most importantly, the iPod/iTunes brand (in general) has been marketed as the most visible and easy way to buy music online
(4) What would happen if Apple provided DRM-free access to their library for the same prices? What would happen if they provided higher quality content for premium prices like allofmp3.com? Apple's focus could safely shift technical resources working on DRM to other related projects that will demand their attention.
(5) The risk of a DRM-free content model to Apple is that a small startup could come along and innovate better and faster and sink their ship overnight. But that's certainly a more conventional risk that can be battled in conventional ways. Technical innovation will be meaningless without innovation in business model and product design innovation - so Apple will need more resources for these projects (see #4). And of course these resources won't be busy with the technical, legal, marketing, and product design headaches around a DRM system, so they might be able to work on cooler things that make consumers happy. - cannibaljp, on 10/12/2007, -5/+20to answer the question posed by the title:
no.
thank you for your time. - __J__, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16"Steve Jobs is calling on the recording industry to unlock music and set consumers free. Why now?"
It might have something to do with the lawsuits in Europe (that he references in his letter)... Just a guess... - monkeyrun, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15Yeah Microsoft licensed and abandoned Play4sure already ...
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+18Steve wants to get rid of DRM because I used the Apple iTunes Feedback form a couple of months ago and said that DRM sucks.
That's almost as stupid as this article. - unit101, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14What does DRM have to do with the iPhone not being able to buy songs wirelessly?
- chrisrcary, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9My question exactly. I've been a Mac user since I started using computers (I didn't know Windows until middle school) and I am irritated by this rampant Mac "enthusiasm." There is no real connection between Jobs' DRM letter and the iPhone, unless it is the same connection between his letter and the iPod, which I still don't see, other than it is an eyesore in his clean "it just works" horizon.
- fugrank, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12@unload
does the name sony mean anything to you? - deepdish, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11Stop saying MS licenses PlayForSure and that works out fine.
It doesn't. I know several people who have signed up with free trial memberships with Napster which uses MS Playforsure. They downloaded well over 100 gigs of songs and then ran a little program that stripped the PlayforSure DRM out of the songs. They then quit their free trial membership and walked away paying nothing and 1,000s of songs.
Nothing like has ever happened to Apples DRM. Yes, there are programs that can strip out the DRM, but you have to actually buy the songs first. - ocsurfreport, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Steve Jobs wants to get rid of DRM because EU is about to ban iTunes because of the laws in the EU protect the consumer. First France then Sweden now up for review for the whole EU. Can’t lose the whole EU market because the Government here in the US fails to protect it’s people all the time.
- laurentlasalle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7It has absolutely nothing to do with the iPhone. Maaaaaaybe if you stretch it to the extend that Steve wants the device to share music with others, and that the fact that the Zune puts DRM on files that didn't have any protection pissed off consumers from the start.
His letter has more having to do with the lawsuits in Europe than anything else... - streak, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Why isn't Steve using his shareholder power at Disney to unlock its movies sold through iTMS?
- superpixel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6unloud: Why the hell would anyone put out enough energy to specifically hate a company?
Because some people don't have better things to do with their time. Because it's easier than finding a charity, a hobby, a life to live... That's my guess. I gave up really understanding this nonsense long ago. I'm no lover of MS, but I don't really hate them-- there are a lot of amazing people working there. hating a company is silly.
Back on topic, it makes sense Apple would tie this to the iPhone. - loggia, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Steve is very good at making extremely cogent arguments when they benefit Steve.
And then making completely different arguments, still extremely cogent... when they benefit Steve. - chris9902, on 10/12/2007, -10/+15but it's been ok for the first 2 billion songs why stop now?... that's right, because you'll have too.
you see Steve knows that iTunes DRM is in trouble in Europe and he's just trying to look like the hero by saying "we don't want DRM" before all that news about Norway goes mainstream. He's a smart man... I ***** liar but a very smart man. - cleverboy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6This is a stupid article. You don't have to read sinister intent or "ulterior motive" into Steve Jobs' letter, to see exactly what Jobs is getting at.
Jobs never wanted DRM in iTunes in the first place, and many people who didn't realize this keep scrambling to make their worldview of the malevolent "iTunes monopoly" continue to work. Much like the RIAA read Jobs article and thought, "Oh, Apple wants to spread support for its DRM to other vendors! Great!" Apple sells receptacles for media in the form of iPods and soon Apple TVs and iPhones. iPod + iTunes will always be tethered together, because that's the way it was designed to be. This "lock in" crap has been a pain in the ass, and causes Apple needless extra expense on a store simply meant to deliver content easily to their devices.
Unfortunately, content holders would have to take a leap of faith, and willfully ignore Microsoft's ire if they were to quit on DRM now. Moreover, Apple is in the tough position of generating "customer confusion", were they to move to a "part DRM" philosophy on content delivery. As it stands, when they changed the video resolution for TV shows from 320x240 to 640x480, it was done globally. Were they to implement a half-assed "free music" policy, it would instantly fragment their store from their "one size fits all" mindset... which also complicates even offering alternate audio qualities (though I have ideas on how this could be implemented as global user-preference, preserving their "buy now" button).
For those that like it, iTunes is a very very simple philosophy for a potentially complex and confusing product value proposition. I'd love to see Apple toss DRM out of the window. Will it happen? To me, that answer can only be found in some Zen type solution.
The ONLY potential allure non-DRM has for the iPhone, is that Apple can't allow the "purchase/download" functionality on the iPhone, because that would effectively make it a "computer", one of each accounts' 5 allottments. By keeping the "purchasing" off of it, Apple maintains its status as a "pod" or "delivery/playback only device". Were DRM to go away, it would definitely remove the need for a "distinction", and pave the way for Apple to add that functionality. Until then, the device can only be a glorified remote control as it relates to music purchasing.
God, I need to launch an Apple blog. - drjekelmrhyde, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6@unloud
people do it everyday on here you got the Sony hate club and the Vista hate club - tuzziel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Artists are pissed already by marginal rates in their contracts. It seams like the only profiteers from the DRM are the lucky few shareholders of those big labels and some up high employees. Also if DRM is enforced than every MP3 anywhere in your possesion puts you in legal danger. Apple sees this, their try to avoid DRM and I agree with them (on this issue).
- Jiffylush, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Maybe this article is useless, why on the hell would someone get paid to produce this?
See, I am not the only one who can bring up obvious questions and not answer them, now how to get CNN to pay me for it... - KSUdesigner, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6I agree, I don't think that DRM is the problem with the iPhone being able to purchase straight from the ITMS. I think the problem is likely coming from the fact that Cingular would want some type of revenues from the content being downloaded through their service (partly to make up for the bandwidth costs, partly because they are greedy bastards like any other business). The problem on the iPhone isn't DRM, the problem is Cingular.
- monergism, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Speculation isn't news.
- pevensen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I agree this has nothing to do with the iPhone. Even if there was some clause in the agreement that defined a "computer" vs an "iPod" and the iPhone features caused it to be classified as a computer, one could still authorize the iPhone as another computer one your account and be approved to play downloaded song, and also have the ability to download songs as an authorized computer.
- cagedog, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3His open letter about DRM has nothing to do with iPhone and everything to do with Norway. I'm surprised the article didn't mention the legal troubles at all.
- KDX200rider, on 10/12/2007, -7/+10@unloud
Are you kidding? If this was Bill Gates the negative response would be 100x more negative, but because it is Apple, it is OK. - KiDD420, on 10/12/2007, -7/+10Yea, teens are pretty stupid...
- HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Absolutely true. However, presence or absence of DRM wouldn't change this. If the cell providers want Apple to force you to buy from them, they can force to make it happen, whether the songs are DRMed or not, simply by not allowing songs to be loaded over Wi-Fi, Syncing or Bluetooth.
- danimbrogno, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Honestly I don't care what his motivations are, Steve Jobs is a big name and if he's going to throw his weight around to provide DRM free media to the public then he IS a hero.
- HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Note to author:
The iPhone has WiFi. The cell companies in no way have the market for getting content onto the iPhone cornered.
I can dock it or if I don't want to connect it to anything, use WiFi. I can even do it remotely at a zillion coffee shops around the country. - NinjaBoy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5If itunes goes without DRMS I'll buy a ton of them, hell i'll even by an ipod. First company to provide me with DRM free music gets all my money from that point on. Its simple. Because i use Linux shouldn't mean that i cant play music I BOUGHT.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"Are you kidding? If this was Bill Gates the negative response would be 100x more negative, but because it is Apple, it is OK."
No not really, just like any company there will be a vast amount of blind hatred/bitter sarcasm and blind worship. you happen to fall under the bitter sarcasm group. Don't think just becaues this is Apple they don't have their own cheerleaders for faliure. I could sit her all day an dname a few people who troll apple threads all day long just so they can feed the illusion of feeling better about themselves for whatever reason set them off in the first place. - SilentSpyder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Yea I agree too, I think his letter has some to do with the European thing and maybe ease of use to the customer.
- TheUngod, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4It is funny, however, that Norway isn't making DRM illegal, just the iTunes version of it. DRM may suck, but by default doesn't lock in customers to one player. Jobs is trying to look like a nice guy while argue his side of the story, while never answering to the real issue people have with his system. He's trying to sound like the victim who's on the side of all the customers, but he's just being a used car salesman.
- PlaidPhantom, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5"but it's been ok for the first 2 billion songs..."
No, really it hasn't. But there's really been no choice, if Apple wants the *AA to go along with them. - Capta1nA, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4@ If itunes goes without DRMS I'll buy a ton of them, hell i'll even by an ipod. First company to provide me with DRM free music gets all my money from that point on. Its simple. Because i use Linux shouldn't mean that i cant play music I BOUGHT.
ever buy a CD? - Mark4212, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Is DRM anything more then an annoyance. If you want you iTunes songs DRM free, simply burn them to a CD, and import them as MP3.... DRM gone. Same holds true for DVD's although it is even more a nuisance since it takes about 50 times longer to do.
- paulmdx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2True, however Apple can force music downloads for the iPhone via one wireless connection only. Cell providers are desperate for a decent kill app for data usage. Forcing Apple into this would make a lot of sense. Let's be honest, Apple are subject to a fair amount of pressure already, having tied the phone to one network.
- Kolar, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It has absolutely nothing to do with the iPhone or any other product. Jobs knows that the RIAA are control freaks and will never give up DRM so Apple will do nothing but blame the music industry and watch the money roll in. It's in their best interest.
- superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3If DRM is in trouble in Europe, then so is all online music sales until the music companies chose not to use DRM.
But here's what happens if Apple pulls out of Norway:
1) Microsoft moves in. But not with the Zune, since that would have the same issue as the iPod/ITMS. Instead only PlaysForSure devices inetroperate.
2) Great! Now everything interoperates. Only consumers can't use iPods. And they can't use Macs or Linux systems to play music purchased from the "interoperable" PlaysForSure store. So Norway demands Microsoft produce a full Windows DRM capable player for Mac and Windows.
3) Oops! Now Microsoft has to pull out of Norway, and people simply go back to stealing. Online music sales are dead. - gsnedders, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6Then how come he was speaking against DRM before any of this started in Europe, going back to shortly after the iTMS was launched?
- switchblog, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1CNN missed the story. The Beatles Deal is the catalyst of all of this. Apple is now free to be "in" the music business. Before they were "sort of" in the music business. Now they can promote bands, sell iPods with music preloaded and will probably start doing more band-specific iPods, starting with the Beatles.
It was the final piece of the puzzle in Apple's music strategy.
The letter about DRM was a wake-up call to the music labels. Apple has nothing to fear from the labels any more, so they can point out that it's very convenient that European countries are complaining about iPod lock-in when it was European labels that forced the issue. And, the lock-in only exists for a small percentage of songs on the iPod. Apple never wanted the DRM and it won't hurt them at all if it goes away.
With the Beatles deal, Apple is now in the music business. They have the social currency, the moral high-ground and even the business model. The iPod model worked, and Microsoft's "Plays for Sure" didn't. Microsoft has even ditched it's "Plays for Sure" model and tried to copy Apple's iPod business model with the Zune. The sincerest form of flattery indeed.
It won't be long before bands are clamoring to be represented by Apple.
CNN would have had a small story if they knew the difference between WIFI and EDGE and the fact that the iPhone has both. The big story is the Beatles deal. - shovelandfork, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I lik the theory that this has nothing to do with the iPhone and a lot more to do with the trouble that Apple's DRM is facing in various courts in Europe.
- danielwsmithee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I don't have different feelings about exxon. I have a lot of good friends that went to work for Exxon. Sure the company has made some drastic mistakes, but which major company hasn't. I know both Apple and MS, have of course their mistakes didn't have the impact as Exxon's.
- dgh1973, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Where in the hell was this lame idea dug up? They'll be able to put fair play on that just like any other device.
Besides I don't think that letter was the "rallying cry" to remove DRM like everyone seems to claim it was. It struck me as more of a response to the European trouble saying "we'd rather not have it but it's not really our choice, sorry" kind of thing. - drjekelmrhyde, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Bill gates said the same horseshyt back in DEC
http://www.macnn.com/articles/06/12/15/gates.drm.causes.pain/ - HugoMe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It's not about the iPhone . It's about the Mac. Apple would be in a very shaky condition if Vista succeeded to impose their proprietary DRM to customers so that the entertainment industry embraces it. in order to prevent M$ to buid another monoppoly, AAPL needs to prevent Vista DRMs to become widely accepted. So fight the DRM.
And incidentallly, Jobs is right that DRM is harming iPOd and online music business - danielwsmithee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Correction "know" they are better then you. Sorry I couldn't resist.
-
Show 51 - 79 of 79 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is