Technorama

I've long argued against using Apple's proprietary DRM beast that is iTunes, but I still know people who put up with the DRM and other problems because they like the UI. Now we have Miro, the free software media player which is fortunately a Joost killer. Also we have Songbird, this will suit those still using Apple's iTunes.

A few years ago i saw that VLC was popular, but not mainstream in the way that Firefox had become. We've needed a media player which can complete for a long time, and now we have two! What's a shame is that they both advocate Adobe's Flash format on their screencast pages here and here, that's a bit bad form after your great effort guys!

I myself am still using XMMS, loads in under 1 sec and doesn't take up much screen space. I'd give KDE's Amarok a go, but it takes 6 secs to load! eek.

Labels: Apple, Future, Music, Tech

While I prefer my Sony Ericsson to a solely music player with Digital Restrictions like Apple's ipod... I still find the song on the ipod advert quite catchy. If you want to buy it too, it's by a band called Feist, and the track is called 1234, get it from the hype machine!

Labels: Music, UK

Interesting article on BBC Business News, about Virgin pulling out of the DRM'd music market. Lots of good points, highlighting Virgin tried to sell MS's WMA DRM'd audio format tracks without success, and Apple didn't let them make their tracks compatible with it's market monopoly iTunes format. Sony made the same mistake as Apple with its Betamax format (proprietary and exclusive), loosing out to the open industry standard VHS system. Sony did the same again with it's ATRAC (proprietary and exclusive DRM format), gambling it could win the monopoly war, but unfortunately Apple beat them too it! Winner-takes-all attitude is bad for consumers, Apple and Sony should have a win-win strategy which helps them and consumers.

All the files people have paid for on Virgin Digital will now be duff, money down the drain. Who would want to trust a vendor which might do that now Virgin Digital have showed they are prepared to do it (and Google did it a few months ago too!).

This is why consumers shouldn't go with proprietary formats, DRM and systems by Apple, Sony or whoever else is offering them. Adopt open format standards, with built in interoperability which gives consumers the choice to listen to the music they've paid for how they like, and on the player of their choice! ;)

So thanks Apple, you've made Amazon DRM-free downloads from the big four labels possible!

Labels: Music

Consumers aren't pledging themselves to Digital Restrictions because they deserve better, they have rights too and shouldn't have to settle for second best. This BBC Digital lock's rights and wrongs article and video make some good points, like the fact that all the current "solutions" have different incompatible restrictions from each manufacturer, be it Apple, Microsoft, RealNetworks or any of the others. It's not a joined up solution -- it's a solution to a problem which doesn't exist, a solution which could simply create a lot of wealthy middlemen by taking a cut of the money we spend which should go to the artists. If anyone proposed Digital Restrictions as a business idea to the Dragons they would rip them to pieces pretty quickly.

The largest market share is currently with Apple. Their iTunes software and online shop shouldn't be used because it adds DRM to the tracks you purchase from their online shop, don't be fooled by the cute user interface and features.. read the license agreement, then do the right thing and uninstall it! Pass the world and get at least one other person to uninstall Digitally Restricted software like iTunes too!

Returning to the DRM problem, the music industry execs are currently forcing their artists too loose out on plenty of potential digital sales, which is a real shame for all involved. In the meantime online shops like Lavamus and AllOfMP3 are clearing up in the market. Artist really need to get their music execs to ditch the digital restrictions and sell their tracks in an accessible format which makes them the money they deserve. A lot better than lining Apple or AllOfMP3's pockets each day.

Artists deserve their money ! ;)

Labels: Future, Music