http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 3:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 3:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/I got a solution for ya: go buy the $18.99 10 track CD at a record store. You're an old fashioned & backwards thinking, Apple bashing and probably Zune carrying "reporter" that probably wrote an "apple will go out of business" article 10+ years ago. iPod is the market leader, so DEAL WITH IT!. ]]>Apr 2nd 2007 5:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 3:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
I believe the issues are that:

1. Apple hasn't dropped any DRM, it's EMI that did the dropping. Apple in fact gets zero credit for this.

2. Apple didn't "get rid of it's DRM", it's still there on all the other labels. To make your statement factual Apple would have to tell all the labels they are now selling content without DRM, regardless of what they say.

3. The real thrust of the article is that we shouldn't have to pay extra for something that we should have had all along.
]]>Apr 2nd 2007 5:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/

EXACTLY... who cares... there are way better players than iPod available anyways! (like the Zune and the Sansa) I am definitely not saying losing DRM is a bad thing ... I just agree that this benefits players like the Zune and Sansa more.

Soon people who were sucked into iPod ownership can branch out and try better (ie, innovative) products and not have to rebuild their library! They can still use iTunes!

This is a GREAT day for the consumer!]]>Apr 2nd 2007 6:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 6:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
I plan on buying some EMI released DRM-free iTunes songs in May to support the move. I'll be putting my money where my mouth is.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 3:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 4th 2007 11:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 4:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Voting is a right. Habeas Corpus is a right. Etc. Purchasing a commercial product on your terms rather than those dictated by the person who is selling it is nice, it's not a right. Get some perspective.

Also, all new Sony players play AAC, and more and more players are supporting that format which is actually more open than mp3, since you don't need to pay royalties to support it. Plus, you could easily drag your purchased DRM-free songs out of iTunes and into whatever software you use to load files onto your Zune... if you have one... somebody must. That's the point of DRM-free. Just because you bought it with iTunes doesn't mean you have to use iTunes to load it onto your device.

Anyway, you made some okay points, but some of your facts are way off, which makes your argument weak. Mind you, I'm sure you'll get a lot of support from the 14-year-old "iPod=sux0rs" people who always post on Engadget, but come on, you could do better.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 3:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
We believe cripple-free media is a right. Maybe not a constitutional-fight-to-the-death kind of right, but we believe it's a right nonethelesss. It's important to remember that Apple has a very real agenda here, and it's not always just about doing what consumers want. It is, though, *always* about doing what Steve wants, and I don't think he's committing -- I think he's tipping his toes in the water, and this piece is just calling it like it is.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 3:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
I think some Sansa players and Nokia phones and all of them Palm devices now also play AAC. Wikipedia has a list in their AAC article.

I agree, though, SJ and Apple have an agenda. I think that agenda is to make money and stay in business and it's a tightrope walk. Apple's tenuous market share could be lost with a misstep and, even while some complain about Apple's total control over user experience, it is also their greatest selling point. I think Jobs does want to sell DRM-free media, but he want to keep making money as well and he doesn't want Apple to lose its position in the market. I think the decisions one would need to make in order to fulfill these goals would be very difficult and they aren't always the decisions that would result in the immediate granting of every gadget-head's wishes.

That said, keep up the good work. I love your site and your podcast.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 4:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
Some day this will all have worked itself out, through the courts, fiscal interest, or an evolved open community. The issue needs to be pushed though, and it seems to me that engadget may be in a position to be heard. Blogging isn't really a small thing. And this isn't a small blog. Is it inconceivable that someone that could take the message may well read it here? Marketers crawl these things, I'd bet there are congressional interns, maybe even congressmen, certainly a chairman of the board or two.

Blogs are allowed to voice opinion. There's an editorial section in your newspaper. This article isn't written as fact, it's speculative and one perspective of fact. It's written in an appropriate voice.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 11:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
Other gadgets that support AAC include the Sony PSP and Nokia cell phones.

As a previous posted mentioned, lack of DRM means easy transcoding to other formats where required, and let's not forget much easier playback on PCs and media streaming devices.

I say bravo to EMI and Apple.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 3:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 3:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 3:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 3:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/its not an apple only format.
]]>Apr 2nd 2007 3:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
Apple must have chosen it for a reason back when they announced it was becoming standard, its not their fault that other PMP makes didn't follow suit, its a bit harsh holding them accountable for other companies choices, particularly when AAC isn't an Apple format, and is by no means controlled by Apple at all.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
Dan, you're a fricken' idiot. AAC is the audio format of MPEG-4. It's MPEG-4 Audio, an open standard implemented by an open standards body.

Seriously, man, educate yourself before ranting.

And no, "proprietary formats" doesn't equal "DRM." Windows Word is a proprietary format, but I can cut and paste content into other formats.

Everything you said was wrong.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 8:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
And given the Microsoft loss of the mp3 suit, even the old tried and true might have problems. At least Dolby invented AAC and holds all rights.]]>Apr 5th 2007 10:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
You guys really don't know a good thing when you see it. DRM-free music is not a right. That's just your liberal wet-dream. This is a first step in a very complicated situation. Anytime a big, money hungary company (which is surrounded by other money hungary comapnies) makes a pro-consumer move like this, stop your bitching and be happy it even happened.

And stop beating on Steve for changing his stance on the DRM issue. It's getting old. I don't see any other CEO's going out on a limb and posting open letters to an entire industry asking them to step out on a limb and do something that will benefit the consumer, and eventually, themsleves. No matter what the motivation, it takes balls to do what he did, and what he is doing.

Yes, you could argue he's doing it to ensure the longevity of his business. Maybe so, but what he's doing is something that is good for the consumer, and to be sure, something that is totally opposite of the norm and could very easily backfire.

Get off your high horse ENGADGET. I don't see you effecting any change worth writing about. ]]>Apr 2nd 2007 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
Bill Gates was the first major CEO to come out against DRM in public:

http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/14/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-part-xxi-gates-tells-consumers-to-ditch-dr/]]>Apr 2nd 2007 3:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/I don't see the Windows Media or Zune DRM going anywhere!]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
Also, I think that these files are at a high bitrate to make them easier to track. Unless someone does a conversion before placing it up on a Bit torrent network, these "larger" files will stand out like a sore thumb. This will make it very easy for Apple and EMI to scan the file sharing networks and quickly gage the percentage of piracy due to drm-free music.

If this turnes out to be the case, this could end up being one of the most hurtful blows felt by the DRM-Free community.

So my suggestion to everyone out there in internet land? DO NOT PIRATE THIS MUSIC. This is your test. If people screw this up, we will never see a DRM-free world...]]>Apr 2nd 2007 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
For that, I don't blame Steve Jobs at all. While it would be wonderful to live in a DRM-free environment and be able to use our content on every player of our choice, it's not really a step that Steve Jobs can take. Until the record labels get on board, he's as tied down as the rest of us.

Though he's still released the DRM-free tracks in a proprietary format, at least he's taken the initiative. I don't blame him for taking precautions for his business, because that's his right and he's smart for doing it.

The thing to see, mainly, is this: Though the key point that record labels make is that if the music is protection-free, it'll be pirated like hot-cakes, it's not really a valid point; there are very few tracks that are available exclusively through iTunes, and the others are already being pirated online anyway. They wouldn't be offering anything new, nor in a higher quality. That's just an excuse they give to keep people quiet.

Steve is taking the first steps, and he's making sure he doesn't fall totally for it; I hold nothing against him for that. It's smart business, and it's good for the people. If he refuses to take the next steps, it's a different story. But so far, he's the only man I see who has done something or allowed someone (EMI) to release DRM-free music.

And don't you fanboys and anti-Apple people forget that.

I love your article, Ryan. It should prove to people once and for all that Engadget is not Apple-biased, as they so often and droningly say. ]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
However, the tone is just wrong. Instead of encouraging the companies on their (fairly) bold step in the right direction, and encouraging consumers to show their support for a good opening move, it's full of dismissive and paranoid what's-the-real-agenda accusations. Well, Ryan has an agenda too!

Which, as I see it, is to dismiss the transitional nature of the move as being cynically motivated and not enough right now. It's either *all* DRM on *all* music, *all* videos, *all* Disney movie DVDs, and *all* fluffy bunny Disney toys is removed *now*, or Jobs is a big fat flaming liar.

It is also factually incorrect on a number of points. For instance, the article states Jobs only recently saw the DRM-is-bad light and that he preferred the lock-in that DRM gave the iPod. Actually, if you view the 2002 keynote where the iTunes Music Store was launched (it's probably on YouTube), Jobs said quite specifically that Apple asked the record companies to let them have the music DRM free. The companies said no. That statement is there, in black & white (color really), in a 2002 video recording. Of course, that's before Engadget existed, so how could Ryan be expected to research into prehistory!

The article also states not many players can handle AAC, and emphasizes its proprietary nature. Actually, AAC is the MPEG-4 advanced audio codec, the successor to MPEG-1's Layer 3 audio codec aka MP3. Both MPEG, both proprietary, and no, Apple didn't develop either of them. AAC is certainly not .wma.

It's also rather easy and fast to encode into MP3 from a DRM-freed AAC, if the device dates from before the many on-chip decoders which have support for it was built. A gadget expert who "would never buy an iPod" (quoting from the few Engadget podcasts I've heard) should know that.

Agendas and dismissive tones aside though, I do agree with Ryan's vision of a DRM free world. I feel I should be able to buy a DVD and have the right (and software makers be allowed to make easy to use software to do it) to copy it onto any video playing devices that I have.

And that goes for the anticompetitive DVD region encoding too, which I see as even more insidious. I would like to be able to buy a DVD at an airport in LA and play it on a London-bought laptop, and replace it with a Sydney bought DVD on the flight back. If you've actually tried that, however, you're in for a shock.

Another call to arms for you, Ryan!]]>Apr 3rd 2007 6:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
"And stop beating on Steve for changing his stance on the DRM issue. It's getting old. I don't see any other CEO's going out on a limb and posting open letters to an entire industry asking them to step out on a limb and do something that will benefit the consumer, and eventually, themsleves. No matter what the motivation, it takes balls to do what he did, and what he is doing."]]>Apr 2nd 2007 3:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 3:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 3:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 4:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 4:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
Also, iTunes can convert AAC to MP3 quite easily, and at such high bitrates a new compression won't hurt things much. So the whole "but it doesn't work with other devices" doesn't hold much water. If the iTMS used some really weird format that couldn't be converted you'd have something, but it's really, REALLY super-brain-dead easy to convert the AAC files to MP3 format, right in iTunes. Odds are if you care so much about keeping things in MP3 format you already have iTunes set to import to that format, so all you have to do then is highlight the songs you want to convert, and click on "Advanced" and choose "Convert Selection to MP3", and iTunes does the rest. Easy.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
some great point and good on ya for calling out Steve's reluctance to make his other businesses, DRM free]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Promote the end to DRM - I am with you, but please don't try to give this issue "Give me liberty, or give me death!" magnitude. It is music, which is the product of hard work. As a product, it is sold to consumers as the owner sees fit. If consumers don't like the product (or how it is sold) they don't buy it and the message is sent loud and clear that the owner needs to try something else. That is exactly what has happened with this EMI announcement.
If you live in the USA, you have a right to life, liberty, the persuit of happiness, freedom of speech, etc. You don't have a right to DRM-free music. Don't cheapen your true rights by overstating your position and coming across like a cry baby.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Go buy a CD instead.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
My point is that looking at this from a business perspective, it's not a purely pro-consumer move, and it's not a real commitment. It's a small step in the right direction, coated with a lot of hypocritical rhetoric, and that's what I'm calling out.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
So Bill said he doesn't like DRM. Did he really push for change? Did he do anything other than tell some bloggers what they wanted to hear?

I think some people forget that as a requirement, if Apple (or Microsoft) wants to sell Sony's music online (or BMG or any of the other label's) they are required by contract to use a DRM system. Sure, Apple can try and negotiate, but until now, no CEO or company has been able to get the music labels to drop their DRM requirement.

I say good work Steve. And hopefully things go well for EMI and the other labels become convinced that this is the way to go.

The other labels are viewing this as an experiment that they don't have to pay for. Either EMI will succeed or they will fail. If EMI is successful (read: they sell lots of DRM-free tracks) then the other labels will feel pressure to follow suit.

That is the only way DRM-free music will become commonplace. PERIOD. So if you Mr. Joe-consumer want to effect change,go buy some DRM-free tracks from iTunes and show the other labels that this is the ONLY way forward.

]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
I don't like DRM myself, but I feel stronger about freedom in America than getting music from Apple without DRM. I'll by it somewhere else, from someone else, if they can do it better. But as of right now, Apple's doing the best job, and I'll pay them for it.

If you don't agree, go somewhere else and buy your music.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
Surely the issue about DRM rests with the fact that if you go and buy the CD, you can rip it and use it any way you please. But because you download it you get all sorts of restrictions. If pirates really want to pirate, they can go to a local record store, buy a load of CDs and pirate away, this is how I have always got music off the internet, since before DRM existed as an issue. So from this, I think you can say that we have a 'right' to be able to receive the same usability for our music whether it's on CD or downloaded.

I agree wholeheartedly with what Ryan says in this article, and am glad to see engadget putting anlaysis onto this site. Keep up the good work guys.]]>Apr 3rd 2007 4:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
Ignorance is bliss!]]>Apr 3rd 2007 6:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
It's amazing to me how socialists view "rights". In America, we have afforded people freedom. It is up to them to get things done. The government simply affords the freedome to do things. In many countries, people do not have the freedom to go to school, get medical attention, etc. This is much different than the 'right' to it where in socialist countries, it would be paid for. Sadly the US is following this 'popular' trend. We're mixing up freedom and rights. We have a 'right' to life, so our goverment provides protection. When it comes to music, the creator and owner have rights, it's theirs, they can do with it as they please. If people don't want it, they won't buy it and don't have to. And they will go out of business. However, in a socialist government, not only are companies forces to make and sell their products in certain ways, but evenually the customer will be forced to only buy from them. It may not be that way now, but that is the socialist ideal.

If you as an individual want to do something, do it, don't depend on a government to force society as a whole to follow you in something you want to do.

THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THIS IS physical protection of one's life and health of self and property and to provide freedom as long as it does not harm others. This is the true purpose of government.

I'm getting tired. If you don't get it, you never will...]]>Apr 3rd 2007 7:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 3rd 2007 7:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 4:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Ryan (and the rest of the team), this article might hold some water, but i think posting it right now is too soon (IMHO). Give them a chance. It's a first step.

Also, I am not sure we should really be surprised that a corporation such as Apple, EMI or any other company out to make money, acts in their best interest. Even though I believe SJ has the consumer in mind more than most CEO's, he is still a corporate CEO and is charged with making the shareholders money.]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/
The biggest seller of digital audio playing gear in the world, Nokia, supports AAC on its music(and non-music)phones for some time. Another big seller of DAPping stuff, Sony Ericsson, also supports AAC. And also some Motorola phones (at least those using RealPlayer).

Out of a sudden, Apple and EMI can sell music that can be heard without problems on a bigger universe than just the tiny part of the market dominated by the iPod...]]>Apr 2nd 2007 4:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/apple-and-emi-ditching-drm-is-good-but-its-not-good-enough/Apr 2nd 2007 4:23PM