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Vlad!
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« on: January 13, 2009, 06:57:24 PM » |
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As you may have heard, Apple announced that the files you buy from iTunes will no longer be encumbered by DRM. This means that even if you don't have an iPod you can now play your iTunes files (I'm not sure if this was possible before since I use neither iTunes nor any MP3 player, but my understanding is that it required some shenanigans).
The good
You get your music in AAC format (AAC is superior to MP3 in many important ways, though it still involves patent licensing and is thus still far from perfect). You get your music without any DRM encumbrances. You can play your music on any portable device that supports AAC (which is every major portable device). You can drink your Apple kool-aid while still pretending to yourself that you're sticking it to the man.
The bad
Your iTunes e-mail address will be embedded into each song. This isn't actually too heinous, as it doesn't prevent you from doing anything legal with the song but allows them to track down the source if it winds up on file sharing sites. Of course this address can be stripped relatively easily so it's not going to stop hardcore music pirates, but history has demonstrated that nothing can stop hardcore pirates and trying will just alienate legitimate users.
The ludicrous
Apple charges you thirty cents per song to convert tracks you have already bought to the new AAC format (I would hope that it actually redownloads the music in the new format rather than doing a conversion because otherwise you're going to be losing a lot of sound quality). Thirty cents for songs you have already bought. This is why DRM and proprietary tethers like iTunes make me mad: they try to screw you at every turn and the law-abiding citizen has little recourse but to take it. What's worse is that you can't selectively convert songs; it's either all or nothing.
Anyway, how you deal with this is up to you (I'm really hoping that the legal system tries a case where someone claims justifiable piracy for downloading tracks already purchased from a pirate site for free instead of paying thirty cents a pop to Apple), but I think it's important that the public stay informed about these things and what the practical implications of the technologies we use every day are.
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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murlough23
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« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2009, 06:59:26 PM » |
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I think I'll stick with my existing method (piracy with the option to buy).  |
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Wildcatblue7
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« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2009, 07:15:04 PM » |
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...and Amazon still offers DRM-free files with no goofy embedding and does not require the use of iTunes. WIN.
Then again, I have an unhealthy prejudice against Apple.
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Vlad!
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« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2009, 07:24:25 PM » |
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...and Amazon still offers DRM-free files with no goofy embedding and does not require the use of iTunes. WIN.
Good call. I realize I stand to lose significant geek cred, but when I buy music I still buy the CD. I like feeling as though I'm getting something tangible for my money. So 20th century, I know, but what can you do? |
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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NinjaRob17
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« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2009, 07:36:37 PM » |
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I realize I stand to lose significant geek cred, but when I buy music I still buy the CD. I like feeling as though I'm getting something tangible for my money. So 20th century, I know, but what can you do?
Actually, that probably gains you significant geek cred (well, music geek cred at least). |
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bloop
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« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2009, 07:50:03 PM » |
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I like when anyone moves to DRM-free, but I can't say I buy a lot in iTunes or any other (legal) downloading service. A lossless downloading option (without paying a premium) would be good.
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Enjoy our pub. user/pw: thephorum Follow me on Grooveshark or Spotify. username: iceybloop |
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murlough23
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« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2009, 07:59:10 PM » |
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Then again, I have an unhealthy prejudice against Apple. I used to have this same prejudice, but I've found iTunes the program to be quite handy and visually pleasing. I've never touched iTunes the store. I realize I stand to lose significant geek cred, but when I buy music I still buy the CD. I like feeling as though I'm getting something tangible for my money. So 20th century, I know, but what can you do? It's good to know I'm not the only old-fashioned one who likes to have the "real thing" in his hands. As much as I may advocate "piracy", this need of mine to have a legitimate hard copy never goes away. |
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bloop
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« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2009, 08:02:03 PM » |
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I have only a few things from the iTunes store, from when I got a gift certificate.
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Enjoy our pub. user/pw: thephorum Follow me on Grooveshark or Spotify. username: iceybloop |
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enemy anemone
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« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2009, 08:26:12 PM » |
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I shun itunes and the itunes store. well, except the other year I bought an album (in mp3 format) from an artist's website. months later, the album was available on itunes, with an exclusive bonus song. I wanted this song very much but I didn't want to download and install itunes. so I obtained permission from my half-sister and her mom to use their account to buy the song. then I had to reencode it so it would play on my computer and ipod. a few days later, the bonus song appeared as a free download on a music blog. oh well.  but I got the song when I wanted it, and hopefully the artist got a penny or two. having to deal with itunes though--bleurgh. |
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murlough23
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« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2009, 10:00:10 PM » |
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I loathe the practice of re-releasing albums with "bonus songs". Usually it's drivel that didn't make the album for a reason, or it's remixes, alternate takes, or other non-essential material. if the artist has an actually halfway decent song, they should be wise enough to save it for the next album, or failing that, make it available a la carte without requiring the re-purchase of the album. (Or give it away to those who can prove the purchase or something.)
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Ian
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« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2009, 10:13:00 PM » |
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Forget iTunes, if I'm spending cash then discs are the only way to go.
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spacebrat311
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« Reply #11 on: January 14, 2009, 01:11:31 AM » |
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Forget iTunes, if I'm spending cash then vinyl is the only way to go.
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sup.
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Vlad!
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« Reply #12 on: January 14, 2009, 08:20:16 AM » |
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Forget iTunes, if I'm spending cash then capturing the artists at gunpoint and forcing them to perform live for me at will is the only way to go.
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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bloop
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« Reply #13 on: January 14, 2009, 11:46:15 AM » |
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I don't know how serious you are with the vinyl thing. I like the format a lot - I really do, but I worry about the hipster element that is definitely there. It's really just another way to listen to music, even if it is likely my second favorite format.
1 SACD/DTS/DVD Audio (surround is pretty cool, and they master SACDs in particular for audiophiles)
2 Vinyl
3 CD
4 lossy formats (mp3, aac, ogg, etc.)
It's kind of funny that because I find more opportunity to listen to my iPod than anything else, combined with the quantity of my collection in each (I have far more CDs than vinyls or SACDs, for example), the frequency I listen to each format is probably in exactly the reverse order.
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« Last Edit: January 14, 2009, 01:57:22 PM by bloop »
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Enjoy our pub. user/pw: thephorum Follow me on Grooveshark or Spotify. username: iceybloop |
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murlough23
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« Reply #14 on: January 14, 2009, 02:20:49 PM » |
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My audio equipment consists of chintzy headphones, slightly less chintzy computer speakers, an OK-if-you-keep-the-windows-rolled-up car audio system, and my wife's small boombox. So as much much as I love music, you can see why I don't really waste a lot of my time worrying about lossless audio formats. I'm more concerned with audio formats that are easily portable and that I can easily manipulate on a computer - which basically means CD for hard copy and mp3 for the computer (converted to WAV for editing and burning to mix CDs).
I've never messed with AAC and I don't know how easy/difficult it is to convert those for purposes of audio manipulation.
NP: "Taste", Animal Collective
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Vlad!
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« Reply #15 on: January 14, 2009, 03:04:22 PM » |
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I've never messed with AAC and I don't know how easy/difficult it is to convert those for purposes of audio manipulation.
The AAC format is more open than MP3 is and thus there's no technical reason why you couldn't convert it or manipulate it to your heart's content. However, it is currently inferior to MP3 in that respect just because it hasn't been around as long and thus doesn't have the sheer array of tools that MP3 has. Of course, ffmpeg/mplayer will handle it just fine and run on Linux, Mac, and Windows. A little bit of command-line fu and you're there. But if you use some sketchy GUI tool written in Visual Basic 5 by some kid in high school (or some overpriced proprietary software that you bought four years ago and haven't bothered to pay for the upgrades to) then time to find some new tools. |
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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murlough23
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« Reply #16 on: January 14, 2009, 03:07:45 PM » |
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(or some overpriced proprietary software that you bought four years ago and haven't bothered to pay for the upgrades to) We have a winner! Given that I do not know "command-line fu", I'll stick with my GUI, and thus with the most easily adaptable format available. |
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Vlad!
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« Reply #17 on: January 29, 2009, 01:40:40 PM » |
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Looks like Apple has fixed their fail. The thirty-cent charge per track is still patently ridiculous; I prefer to view it as a surcharge for using Apple's resources, and if you find a way to do it without burdening Apple then I will cast no aspersions upon you. Via TechReport. |
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If you don’t have freedom as a principle, you can never see a reason not to make an exception. There are constantly going to be times when for one reason or another there’s some practical convenience in making an exception.
rms
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