myTunes now myFairTunes6, tons of features added

Oh, just in case you're interested: new version of myTunes (now myFairTunes6 to avoid confusion with the previous myTunes), v.0.2b, which allows for a simple media library browser, play/stop track iTunes DRM stripping from the app, conversion with metadata, and a teaser about a new version with 6x DRM stripping. Well, aren't we feeling a bit cocky now, hm? Still, nicely done.

[Thanks, Pete]

[Jeffrey903 @ Sep 5th 2006 11:39PM]

That 6x ripping seems awesome. Hopefully it will be out soon (and hopefully it will eventually get to be as good and as easy as the WM DRM stripper).

[Little Joe @ Sep 5th 2006 11:42PM]

gaaahhhhhhh

mac anyone???

[OPTICAL OUT PLEASE @ Sep 5th 2006 11:49PM]

Hahaa..im sure the movie studios are that much more eager to release their movies on iTunes. All it will do is encourage hacker to try harder to deDRM the movie files.

[TeleCustom @ Sep 5th 2006 11:55PM]

No offense guys, but it says on that forum post that it has nothing to do with "the old myTunes Redux" and that it had it's "Name change(d) myFairTunes6 to stop any confusion."

Just putting that out there.

[TeleCustom @ Sep 5th 2006 11:59PM]

WOOPS! stupid moment. got confused since I've been using myTunes Redux for 2 years or so. Appy-polly-logies my dear droogs.

[Proxy @ Sep 6th 2006 12:01AM]

No more protected songs :)

[sammy mazola jr @ Sep 6th 2006 1:32AM]

*This* is why we can't have nice things!

[Jamie @ Sep 6th 2006 4:10AM]

For gods sake, if you don't want DRM, don't buy the track. You could always do the old fashioned thing and borrow the cd from the library and copy it.

[Christopher Alexander @ Sep 6th 2006 6:12PM]

"You could always do the old fashioned thing and borrow the cd from the library and copy it."

or even easier go download a ripped copy of the cd, which is about the same as going to the library but much easier to do and easier to find the content.

OR pay for the music and then strip DRM so that you can listen to it on whatever you want as well as make sure you support the artist.

though downloading a ripped copy and giving 10% of what you would have payed for it DIRECTLY to the artist would probably earn them more money...

[tekdroid @ Sep 6th 2006 4:58AM]

Posted at 4:09AM on Sep 6th 2006 by Jamie [ ]
For gods sake, if you don't want DRM, don't buy the track.
---------

that would be making too much sense, Jamie :) Too many would stop believing they're killing DRM this way and then what would happen? Thoughts may shift...oh no. :p

[Jeff @ Sep 6th 2006 7:53AM]

"You could always do the old fashioned thing and borrow the cd from the library and copy it."

Except that many CD's also have DRM now, and in some cases (the Sony rootkit fiasco), it's far worse than anything you'd ever get through iTunes. And we don't even know what half of these systems are doing yet; millions of people were using those Sony CD's for more than a year before somebody figured out that they were installing rootkits without users' knowledge.

I still use CD's myself, but I consider it a lot more of a risk than downloading music (either legally or illegally) if you're worried about DRM or malware. Unless you're going to sit there and do a background check on every single CD you purchase before you purchase it (which basically means forgoing new releases for a while).

The labels brought this situation on themselves with their actions; don't get all high and mighty and act as if there's actually a label-sanctioned, non-DRM alternative out there. There isn't, at least not a reliable one that you can count on being DRM- and malware-free all the time. The labels took the non-DRM alternative and actually made it worse, in many cases, than DRM downloads.

Regardless, there has always been something to be said for sticking it to the man. Non-violent resistance has been the hallmark of many successful revolutions, both against the government and against unchecked corporate greed. I work for a small publisher myself (I won't say who) and you think we don't see how useless DRM is in the face of hackers? That doesn't (yet) mean that we don't use it, but I'd say the majority of the company knows it's pointless. Over time, as the luddites get forced out and/or retire and people move up in the ranks, you will probably see an attitude shift about DRM across the content industry. It won't happen overnight. But there is a definite sense among the rank and file at publishers that DRM is a colossal waste of time, effort and money (no, DRM isn't free).

[DJ @ Oct 2nd 2006 5:38PM]

As for the DRM on CDs, Philips is the _only_ company that seems to be defending fair use. When Sony and others started selling "CDs" with DRM added in Philips sued them saying they were violating Trademark use terms by labeling their products with the CD trademark. Philips argued that the CD standard does not include DRM and that Sony and others were producing non-standard CDs, a clear violation of the TM usage terms. Philips won. I also seem to remember Philips being one of the only companies to openly battle the MPAA and RIAA in refusing to implement DRM in its console CD and DVD recorders. My point is simply that you can be "fairly" safe in buying CDs so long as they have the "CD" logo on them. Also, Sony's rootkits only installed when you installed the multimedia software on the CDs, so disable AutoPlay like a good little boy.

[XiozTzu @ Sep 6th 2006 7:54AM]

If I decided to make software that removes copyright notices, post a copy of Engadget content to a foreign server, put in my own ads, then re-release the site calling it BetterGadget I bet that the Engadget crew would be pissed off.

So why are you clowns (Engadget) promoting software that does something similar to iTunes DRM?

Jamie has it right, why would you buy the content on iTunes in the first place if you didn't want/like the DRM?

[FSK405K @ Sep 6th 2006 8:41AM]

XiozTzu [ ]

Convenience. No putting the CD in, ripping it yourself, making sure the bitrate is to your liking, tagging the files how you like them, naming the files you like them. I personally have a stack of about 40 CDs I just haven't gotten around to ripping just because it's so annoying to do so when compared to click, click, click, charged $.99.

[Jonathon @ Sep 6th 2006 9:35AM]

@XiozTzu

Granted there are some external motives for software such as this, but here is where you are a little off. You can view Engadget in any browser that you wish (and if you use Firefox and no-script you don't even have to see the ads).

DRM (at least in the case of iTunes) would only allow you to read the site (play the music) in an Engadget browser (iPod). I don't/won't use iTunes because I know I can't get the music that I paid for onto another device that I also paid for. That said, this is a good thing because I am willing to pay for the content, but not when I'm locked in...

[David Muszynski @ Sep 6th 2006 9:53AM]

"Convenience. No putting the CD in, ripping it yourself, making sure the bitrate is to your liking, tagging the files how you like them, naming the files you like them. I personally have a stack of about 40 CDs I just haven't gotten around to ripping just because it's so annoying to do so when compared to click, click, click, charged $.99."

Nice try. I have no opinion one way or the other about stripping DRM, but that's wrong. Use iTunes and adding your CD to your catalog fully cataloged and tagged amounts to: Insert CD, click Import, there is no step 3.

[Matt @ Sep 6th 2006 10:53AM]

Well this is all very nice, but a more basic question:
Have you folks been able to get the software to work? I get a config error when I try to run the exe after decompression.

[Josh! @ Sep 6th 2006 12:50PM]

David- Step 3 is listen. :)

[FSK405K @ Sep 6th 2006 4:23PM]

As for creating filenames and folders when manually ripping music, it's essential. I had my music collection (150+ CDs) digitized long before iTunes came around, so I'm not going to rename and refolderize all of that just because iTunes can't be configured to match my archival system. And let's not talk about the terrible job of tagging the files that it does...MP3 Tag Studio all the way!

[tekdroid @ Sep 6th 2006 6:51PM]

Except that many CD's also have DRM now, and in some cases (the Sony rootkit fiasco), it's far worse than anything you'd ever get through iTunes.
---
Disable autorun. Simple.

Or just use the freeware Exact Audio Copy (EAC), running (& configured) at the time you put your CD in. No rootkits. Simple ripping. Take your pic from any codec, lossy and lossless. Freeware.

Another (paid-for) option is to use many (shareware) apps on the net that automatically disable nasty audio invasions and enable audio ripping through a special driver (think Slysoft AnyDVD, etc).

Rootkits/DRM on actual CDs has never been a real problem - except on systems of Average Joe, that is. Which would mean most systems out there, unfortuantely.

[Miniboss @ Sep 10th 2006 7:20AM]

"Jamie has it right, why would you buy the content on iTunes in the first place if you didn't want/like the DRM?"

Because it's cheaper than buying actual CDs in the store, it's instantaneous, and it's already ripped and everything for me. In case you haven't noticed, digital distribution is now a viable option. Unfortunately, Apple is simply strongarming consumers into using only their products. Some people would say they have a right, but these people only say that because Apple's EULA forces them to say that. If I recall correctly, businesses are generally more successful when they give their customers what they want. So when I want to play my iTunes music on, say, my Xbox 360, I'd actually like to do that. But I can't. Not because of any technological barrier really. Apple just doesn't want me using anything but their stuff.

If we have to deal with DRM (which I'm fine with), at least make it universal and standardized. Consumers generally only get screwed when there are multiple formats (HD-DVD and Blu-Ray), especially when they pick the "wrong" format.

[Justin @ Sep 13th 2006 3:09PM]

I can say I would enjoy software like this, I used to pirate music, then one day my conciense got the best of me and I decided to start buying it all again....

Now, iTunes is very easy, very convienent, and it is quite a bit cheaper if you don't care to buy entire cd's. However, I am now looking to buy a cheap mp3 player for my walking/biking commute, and it rather irritates me the cheapest screen-using mp3 player I can buy from mac is about 200 dollars...ouch...This leaves me to either get music a more-annoying way, or rip the DRM in order to get a much cheaper MP3 player that still has a screen (or just stuff it and buy a iShuffle)

And thats the best legal use of it I guess....those of us that enjoy iTunes, but can't afford/don't want and iPod...