New IMN Podcast Up and iTunes Fallout
The new podcast episode is up and running - download it here or listen at the site or WFYI.
Also, I wrote about the general iTunes move to DRM-free music on the other blog, and most of the articles I've read have been praising the move as an overdue move in the right direction (except for the 30-cent markup to buy out of the DRM for existing tracks). One of the other criticisms, though (and I don't remember where it is - I'll link if I can remember), came as a response to the decision to sell the tracks as 256Kbps AAC tracks instead of converting to MP3. While the latter format is more universal, the former provides better sound quality at equal bits rates. Additionally, now that the DRM is gone, it should be an easy upgrade for other media players and programs to handle it. I guess I just don't see that part as a penalty.
I do have to figure out whether it's worth the cost to de-DRM, though. I've not run into any problems with authorization yet, so I'm leaning towards no.
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January 9th, 2009 - 08:22
It’s great that they’ve made this step, but as long as they require me to install their crappy media player (which doesn’t work on my computer anyway) to buy music from them then I’ll pass. What’s the argument for locking down the iTunes store now that the music isn’t DRM’d? Why not put it on the web, or at least remove their encryption hashes so that projects like SharpMusique can work again. Without the DRM lockdown, it doesn’t seem like they are gaining anything from not allowing the most possible users… I can personally vouch for the fact that there a tons and tons (at least a dozen!) Linux users out there who would love to buy music from them now.
On the format side — AAC is great. I use both Amorak and Rythmbox at home – “sudo apt-get install libxine-extracodecs” and i was in business.
January 9th, 2009 - 09:29
Is it the media player aspect in specific or the software install in general? If you’re just referring to iTunes the player, I can understand where you’re coming from and agree. The only argument I would see coming from Apple would be the streamlined experience of the music coming from one program, being stored in one program, and going to their preferred device. It works for me, but everybody’s mileage may vary. And the others stores require some form of download to use their services (eMusic, Amazon).
January 9th, 2009 - 22:15
well, neither and both. the fact is that their player (and therefore their store) is unavailable to me on my home computers. which is fine, they don’t owe me access to their store, but i wish they wanted my money more. if there was a way to get to the store on Linux (say, over the web), I’d certainly use it.
eMusic, btw, does have a download manager — but it’s community developed, open source and actually optional (you can download individual songs without the manager now). more importantly, it is lightweight and doesn’t phone home.
Amazon’s download manager is closed, and sucks, but at least they offer a Linux version, so they are more successful at getting my money.