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CNET News.com is carrying an article written by John Borland saying that the iPod undermines Microsoft's attempt to impose its Digital Rights Management solution to copy-protect CDs. In my opinion, this is a manifestly good development, and a reason for people to choose an iPod or an iPod mini over other types of portable audio players.
The article says that Sunncomm International and Macrovision technologies that have been implemented on copy-protected CDs has been less than successful, in large part because of Apple Computer's failure to support Microsoft's Windows Media Audio on its iPods. The article says:
Analysts said the move toward iPod compatibility is very important if copy protection for music CDs is to succeed.
"It's fairly critical," said GartnerG2 analyst Mike McGuire. "If the labels start hearing that the reason people aren't buying an album is because it won't work on the iPod, then you'll see some reaction."
The companies that produce digital entertainment should not be allowed to change the terms and conditions of distribution after a product is sold to the end customer. I think that any digital rights management system that becomes a monolithic standard in the United States would make retroactive license changes much easier. So, even if I weren't an iPod user, I would be cheering for Apple's and encouraging its current market strategy.
Posted by Dave Aiello in Portable Audio on July 12, 2004 03:48 PMI own the newest Ipod which just came out in aug of this yr and I am not real happy with it at all. I had problems with it from the start and I just got it send off for repairs. I put in an email to their service department and finally after about l2 days I got an email stating that their had been a glich in the service, no fault of mine. The directions were not clear and the service that picked it up help me clear this up even though they did not understand the directions as I did. I would gladly get rid of mine for 225 dollars and take the loss cause I can see that they did not do a good job on quality control, because they stand to make a lot of money off of the warranty, I was going to buy an Imac but I am not now, one the servicemen that picked up the Ipod made the statement that he owned one an would not recommend it to anyone.
Posted by: Archie at October 12, 2004 03:13 PM