[gluteus maximus]

From CNET News

A year after iTunes began offering music without copy protection software from EMI, Apple is in discussions with the other three top recording companies about acquiring "open" MP3s, according to two music industry sources.

MP3s is a standard digital music format that compresses sound sequences into small files. The talks are still preliminary and no deals have been finalized, but one source said one of the major labels is close to a final agreement. Rumors have been swirling on the Internet for a week that Sony would soon be offering music without the controversial digital rights management software. The sources could not confirm this.

Spokespeople for Apple and the major labels declined to comment.

Should the deals get done, the songs offered by Apple's iTunes would no longer be restricted to playing on Apple devices, such as the iPhone or iPod. Right now, Apple uses FairPlay, Apple's proprietary DRM-scheme.

Read more here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10102414-93.html

[skyforger]

the funny thing is that Apple call if FairPlay

[johnnydoen]

Originally Posted by skyforger

the funny thing is that Apple call if FairPlay

Maybe because it would sound stupid (not to mention be bad for their business), if it was called f..kedfrombehindplay.

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by johnnydoen

Maybe because it would sound stupid (not to mention be bad for their business), if it was called f..kedfrombehindplay.

Now Johnny...........

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by gluteus maximus

From CNET News



Read more here: Sources: Apple, music labels talk DRM-free songs | Digital Media - CNET News

Thanks for the article, gluteus. While I haven't followed this as closely as I should, it seems that on-line purchasing of music and the DRM issue is completely at odds with purchasing music the traditional way; you buy and album or CD and it's yours (apart from all the legal copyright jargon that's always been on there). One thing I have never appreciated about Apple is how they want you to become completely dependent on them; buy their iTunes, play them on their iPod's, iPhones etc. I'm sure many people are aware of this type of software, but I ran across a software download that lets you convert any file formats. (AVS Audio Converter - convert audio files between any audio formats..) I'm not sure how this affects the whole DRM issue but maybe Apple is beginning to realize integration with other formats isn't such a bad thing. My music mentor always said he wasn't fond of Steve Jobs...

Martinman

[Ashleyj]

Originally Posted by Martinman

Thanks for the article, gluteus. While I haven't followed this as closely as I should, it seems that on-line purchasing of music and the DRM issue is completely at odds with purchasing music the traditional way; you buy and album or CD and it's yours (apart from all the legal copyright jargon that's always been on there). One thing I have never appreciated about Apple is how they want you to become completely dependent on them; buy their iTunes, play them on their iPod's, iPhones etc. I'm sure many people are aware of this type of software, but I ran across a software download that lets you convert any file formats. (AVS Audio Converter - convert audio files between any audio formats..) I'm not sure how this affects the whole DRM issue but maybe Apple is beginning to realize integration with other formats isn't such a bad thing. My music mentor always said he wasn't fond of Steve Jobs...

Martinman

It always puzzles me how Apple seem to get away with things like this.

I am not great fan of Bill Gates, but if Microsoft tried to do something like this then there would be huge public outcry and law suites everywhere.
Apple seem to be able to do what they like and get away with it.

We are in the process of setting up a system at work where the music is stored in flac format on a central server and this can be streamed to any room in the house at will, all of this can be controlled from an iPod Touch. My boss had been dealing directly of the developers of the application that controls it all where you can select what track to play in what room etc. But he still had to wait to buy it through Apple before he could use it, even though he had probably funded a lot of the development cost himself. Apple seem to screw everyone they have dealings with.

[skyforger]

Originally Posted by Ashleyj

Apple seem to screw everyone they have dealings with.

one more funny thing is that aboslute most of people are forced to deal with apple, just because they're not aware of other ways/alternatives

[gluteus maximus]

Originally Posted by Martinman

Thanks for the article, gluteus. While I haven't followed this as closely as I should, it seems that on-line purchasing of music and the DRM issue is completely at odds with purchasing music the traditional way; you buy and album or CD and it's yours (apart from all the legal copyright jargon that's always been on there). One thing I have never appreciated about Apple is how they want you to become completely dependent on them; buy their iTunes, play them on their iPod's, iPhones etc. I'm sure many people are aware of this type of software, but I ran across a software download that lets you convert any file formats. (AVS Audio Converter - convert audio files between any audio formats..) I'm not sure how this affects the whole DRM issue but maybe Apple is beginning to realize integration with other formats isn't such a bad thing. My music mentor always said he wasn't fond of Steve Jobs...

Martinman

Hi Martinman

Somehow I've always managed to avoid Apple - their computers, their software and their players, but it doesn't seem so long ago that they were the heroes and Microsoft the devil incarnate. Yet they've always tried to lock people into their products. And even when you warn people, they still go out and buy an iPod because it's a must-have fashion accessory, and buy their music from iTunes because it's easy, and then complain when they find it's not portable.

I'm not sure, but I suspect the software you mention doesn't remove DRM. There are other options though - see here: http://undrm.info/remove-DRM-protection/

gm

[Martinman]

Originally Posted by gluteus maximus

Hi Martinman

Somehow I've always managed to avoid Apple - their computers, their software and their players, but it doesn't seem so long ago that they were the heroes and Microsoft the devil incarnate. Yet they've always tried to lock people into their products. And even when you warn people, they still go out and buy an iPod because it's a must-have fashion accessory, and buy their music from iTunes because it's easy, and then complain when they find it's not portable.

I'm not sure, but I suspect the software you mention doesn't remove DRM. There are other options though - see here: http://undrm.info/remove-DRM-protection/

gm

Hi Gluteus

First, nice to say hi again, it's been a little while. Yes, what you say is true about historically they were the good guys and Microsoft the bad guys. Then, in a gesture to help turn things around, several years ago Microsoft gave them several (many, many) millions to help them get back on their feet. I believe it was a gesture where Microsoft felt both could have a place in the marketplace since Microsoft was the untouchable giant. Well, that's nice and off they went and came out with their colourful computers and started to turn things around. Now, they seem to have just become outright wankers, sorry, not nice people.

I bought an iMac last year and for the most part I like it. I've long run iTunes because I like the layout -- maybe I'm slow -- I always had a hard time with WMP. But I don't buy off iTunes and I download everything in MP3 format. That way, I'm safe in that if I do buy an MP3 player, I'm not stuck with having to buy an iPod. Now they've come out with this thing in iTunes called Genius. If you turn it on, it will send everything you have in your library to them; they say the idea is so they can recommend music to you based on what you have in your library. Like I'm going to give them that info. Next they'll have the RCMP, CSIS (our spy guys and gals) and who knows whom else at my door!

Thanks for the URL, just in case running my music in iTunes has made it all DRM encoded and I don't know it....

Martinman