http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/ 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/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 10:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 10:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 11:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 12:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
I proceeded to show him how to 'easily get rid' (as Jon says) of Apple's DRM. He said that would be way too big a pain in the ass to do on the hundreds of files he already paid for.

Wow, an honest consumer who spent hundreds on music was being help up by DRM... who would have guessed?

]]>Jan 4th 2008 1:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 3:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 3:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
DRM is a problem. Sony non-drm'ed tracks are welcome!]]>Jan 4th 2008 5:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
It's easy to get music from one iPod to another without stripping the DRM. All you need to do is authorize the tracks on another machine. You can legally authorize purchased tracks on up to 5 different machines--more than enough for most purposes. Copy the files into the other machine's iTunes library, authorize the copied tracks by attempting to play them and then entering the username/password they were purchased with and then sync the second iPod to that library.

I hate DRM as much as everyone else but Apple has one of the more reasonable schemes I have seen if you don't mind being locked into iTunes and an iPod.

My preference is to purchase unprotected AAC tracks but my wife and I share protected tracks this way all the time with no problems.
]]>Jan 4th 2008 5:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 5:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 10:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 11:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 10:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 10:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
http://scienceblogs.com/cognitivedaily/2007/11/few_listeners_can_distinguish.php]]>Jan 4th 2008 11:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
Thanks for coming.]]>Jan 4th 2008 11:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 12:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
Perhaps we simply disagree on the parameters that constitute an audiophile. In my opinion, spending hundreds of dollars on equipment does not make one an audiophile. Rather, you must be of the type who are interested in spending $6,820 for a wooden volume control.]]>Jan 4th 2008 2:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 10:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 10:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 11:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
We'll just have to wait and see what DRM they put in place of DRM.]]>Jan 4th 2008 12:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 12:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
Sony finally figured out DRM sucks.]]>Jan 4th 2008 11:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 11:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 11:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
The MafIAA is funded in part by the record labels, but it does not specifically have anything to do with DRM being implemented by said record labels.

The MafIAA is only defending the copyrights to those labels from infringing use by the public at large. Just another TOOL (used by tools themselves. lol) that the labels use to beat us into submission. Getting rid of the DRM, just got rid of another tool that Sony could use to enforce the will on us all.

Even if all of our music becomes DRM-less, the MafIAA will still come after those that are sharing it on Kazaa or some other type of P2P that has a shared folder in its implementation.

That's how they found that guy, who famously, created the shitstorm surrounding the, "You can't RIP CDs" scandal.

I got some bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad news for you too. When the MafIAA DOES finally go away, it will ONLY be because they finally bribed enough US Senators to enact laws far more reaching and scary then the universally hated DMCA.

It's all profit driven remember? When they get their DRM transferred into actual LAWS that allow them to do what they want, why would they need to still spend money on the MafIAA? They will just refer infractions to the local district attorney.

What's scarier than the MafIAA? The Department of Intellectual Property Protections (DIPP). Invading your ISP's and personal machines to search for content. Guilty before proven innocent AND at risk of having your property seized and auctioned off.]]>Jan 5th 2008 6:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 11:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 7:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/]]>Jan 4th 2008 12:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
Purely convenience. I don't want to have to download another program, install it, use up system resources, give my credit card number to yet another company, and copy the MP3 back into iTunes if I don't need to.]]>Jan 4th 2008 12:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
Apple starts their own label. In addition to other modern bands, they get the Beatles recordings. Now, if Sony or Universal won't play nice with Apple, Apple won't play nice with them. The more bands they can get, the more effective this will be.]]>Jan 4th 2008 12:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 2:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 2:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
Yay Walkman phones?]]>Jan 4th 2008 11:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 12:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 12:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
Why would a consumer buy an iPod only format now, when you can purchase a 256-bit mp3 from Amazon that will play on every music device made?]]>Jan 4th 2008 1:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
iPod aren't tied to the iTS, but the iTS is tied to the iTS current DRM. most people buying other online music will still be using iPods. Amazon even boldly states that their tracks will play on the iPod.]]>Jan 4th 2008 1:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
Right, I agree. I'm saying that iTunes sales will begin to decline, not iPod sales.

People will still buy iPods, but now they have better options to buy their music elsewhere (DRM-free and in mp3 format from Amazon).

The bottom-line: fewer iTunes song sales = less money for Apple.]]>Jan 4th 2008 2:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
I think they probably make a lot more per iPod. While I haven't really come across anything conclusive, the general consensus is that at $.99/track, Apple is either profiting very little (a couple of cents per track), breaking even, or possibly even losing a small amount.

I would guess that selling a $300 ipod makes apple at least $100. So even if you figured apple made as much as $.10/track, which is almost definately more than generous, they would have to sell each iPod owner 1000 tracks to equal what they made on the iPod.

As such, I don't think Apple cares what you put on your iPod, or whether you buy it from them or not. They just want you to buy the iPod.]]>Jan 4th 2008 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 1:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
On the other hand, I would guess people tend to copy music files from one place to another a lot more than they create copies of thier movie and software collections. So the demand for a removal of DRM on these things are in a lot less demand by the public as a whole I would assume.]]>Jan 4th 2008 1:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/Jan 4th 2008 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
If everyone in America, and the world, actually UNDERSTOOD what a ROOTKIT is....... there would be pitchforks and torches headed to Sony headquarters. A good ol' fashioned tar and featherin'.

I always bring it up in posts, since it was one of the worst (and really illegal) actions of a company on the US public, and indeed the world.

I still don't understand how people did not go to prison over that. They installed software at the lowest level in a person's OS that affects their ability to use IP that they already owned. You actually have to install and AGREE to use DRM in windows. It's a deal that occurs between both parties up front. It may suck, but it is still out in the open.

FORGET interference in a contract (other IP agreements with non-sony Music), there was larger issues at stake. A Rootkit is now, and was, considered Malware. How the heck did Sony pull off covertly installing Malware on people's machines?

A Rootkit by its very NATURE is deceptive, covert, etc. It can't possibly be used for good at all. It's a tool used to hackers to compromise a system at it's lowest level that can actually bypass all known security tools, that are publicly available. You would have to search to find tools that can reveal a rootkit. I don't think Norton, McAfee, AVG, etc. have the capability of detecting rootkits. Even if they did, they're are ways to defeat even that. To ever be sure, you really have to access that OS from another clean system by inspection of it's hard drive in controlled conditions. Meaning, the OS is not running and the HD is most likely connected to a clean, temporary OS used forensically and then re-imaged when done to prevent any possible contamination of the tool itself. Extreme, I KNOW, but so are Rootkits.]]>Jan 5th 2008 6:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
Next up, Windows sans activation.]]>Jan 4th 2008 2:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
Windows is already heavily pirated. If Microsoft dropped activation, pirating would increase even more. The reason Apple can get away with activation-less OSs is because they make more money on the hardware anyway. Even if you pirate leopard, you still bought the Mac you are putting it on. Microsoft doesn't sell the computer to you, only the OS. They have to protect themselves somehow.

Maybe their implementation is bad, but for them it is a necessary evil.]]>Jan 4th 2008 2:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
So...It's a lot like DRM'd music, isn't it? Sure, it's there, but anyone can crack it, and it isn't stopping anyone.]]>Jan 5th 2008 12:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/04/sony-bmg-will-reportedly-offer-drm-free-music/
I've played tracks with different bitrates on a myriad of med-high end players and the 320kbps tracks always shine through, especially at higher volumes.

I don't see what the problem is...if you're *paying* for something, surely you should have the choice of what bitrate you want to get the file at.


I sometimes wish the rest of the music industry would just copy the model followed by most Russian mp3 outlets...well, minus the questionable legality of it all of course.]]>Jan 4th 2008 3:52PM