Ballmer Says iPod Users are Thieves 1108
A 'music thief' (apparently) writes "According to Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft: "The most common format of music on an iPod is 'stolen'."
He appears convinced Microsoft will lead the way in Digital Rights Management and also believes Microsoft will steal a march on Apple in making the digital home a reality because Apple "doesn't have the volumes".
"There is no way that you can get there with Apple. The critical mass has to come from the PC, or a next-generation video device," he said."
Filty thieves (Score:5, Funny)
Quickie Slashdot Poll... (Score:5, Interesting)
1) Roughly what percent of your music collection is unauthorized files from P2P like Kazaa, FTP, etc.?
2) Roughly what percent of your music collection comes from sources like iTunes Music Store, eMusic, etc?
3) Roughly what percent of your music collection comes from shareable sources like Creative Commons-licensed music?
4) Roughly what percent of your music collection comes from rips of your own CDs?
5) Roughly what percent of your music collection comes from rips of friends' CDs?
(and what am I missing?)
Re:Quickie Slashdot Poll... (Score:4, Interesting)
6) Roughly what percent of your music collection is your own music?
7) Roughly what percent of your music collection is your friends own music?
So for me this comes down to:
5) 75% (6 MP3s, sent to my by friends, because they wanted me to hear those songs.)
7) 25% (2 MP3s, the one was mixed by a friend of mine who is sound engineer, the other one was performed by another friend of mine)
Ok, this boils down to eight pieces of music stored on my computer
Re:Quickie Slashdot Poll... (Score:5, Funny)
May I suggest a solution to this problem? Purely in the interest of protecting copyrights, of course.
If you think that you might ever write any music, then first, download every possible mp3 you can get from the internet. Listen to them regularly. This way, you can be sure that when or if you write your own music, you aren't infringing anyone else's music copyright.
But please, download all these mp3s only in the interest of protecting the RIAA members' copyrights. Think of the poor record labels.
Re:Quickie Slashdot Poll... (Score:5, Informative)
2) 0% (iTunes store only just opened in Germany)
3) 1% (The OpenBSD songs, + RMS Free Software Song)
4) 95% (most of it classic and Jazz)
5) 4% (note that this is legal in Germany, and AFAIK, Canada)
Re:Quickie Slashdot Poll... (Score:5, Informative)
To clarify things in Canada's case, here's section 80 from the Copyright Act [justice.gc.ca]:
Emphasis mine. What qualifies as an audio recording medium is specified in the Private Copying Certified Tariff [cb-cda.gc.ca]:
Standard PC hard drives do not qualify, so just ripping your friends' CDs to your own hard drive is not legal. Burning CD copies of them is.
Me, I paid the levy on my iPod, and put all of the music on it myself. Therefore it's all legal.
One more note: The revisions to the levy made last December were accompanied by an opinion handed down by the Copyright Board regarding the legality of P2P downloading. The decision [cb-cda.gc.ca] was that the Copyright Act does not address the legality of the source:
Of course, the conditions of Section 80 must still be met.
Re:Quickie Slashdot Poll... (Score:5, Interesting)
For me, about 90%.
Re:Quickie Slashdot Poll... (Score:5, Interesting)
However, Ballmer conceded it isn't going to be an easy battle to win. "Most people still steal music," he said.
Most people steal music? This informal poll might suggest a different story.
I'd love to know what numbers he's using to arrive at his assertation that "most people" still steal music. I seem to remember reading that many people have stopped downloading music from P2P sources [technewsworld.com] - they don't "still steal music," do they?
I don't know, it sounds like he's making a blanket statement to support his position without telling us how he intends to back his statement up. Perhaps he doesn't intend to?
Thomas Edison is to blame!!!! (Score:5, Funny)
So you see, children, much like the mythical "copyright" the whole concept of "recorded" "music" is a mental fiction and at odds with the natural order of things. Kill your iPod now!
or something.
Re:Quickie Slashdot Poll... (Score:5, Funny)
What operating system does most of this stealing happen on?
Oh my!
Re:Quickie Slashdot Poll... (Score:5, Interesting)
1. 0% (seriously)
2. 25%
3. ~ 5%
4. ~ 70%
5. 0%
I have no idea how many songs are on my ipod atm, but it's usually pretty close to full.
I can't remember the last time I downloaded an mp3 (not counting iTMS)... definitely not within the last 3 years.
My views on piracy basically shifted once I got a real/steady job (~ 3? year ago) and was able to afford buying what I wanted. When I had no money (college), I didn't really have any respect for intellectual property (as opposed to tangible/physical property), things that I could get easily on the internet, etc.. I needed/wanted things, but I just didn't have the cash. Now that I can afford to buy things, my pride actually grows because I enjoy knowing that *now* I can buy things; I don't *need* to pirate to get what I want. It's a sense of satisfaction knowing that I have solved my problems of once not having money, to now having money.
Some people are just cheap, or just like to steal for the sake of stealing. But a lot of people who do steal do so not because they are thieves but because they just don't have the finances to get what they want. Nowadays, ultimately a thief is a thief, but intentions are what differentiate a criminal from a normal person.
$.02, FWIW, IMO, etc
Re:Quickie Slashdot Poll... (Score:5, Interesting)
I have never respected IP, and still do not even though I could easily afford anything that I need (earn about $150k a year). It is a matter of principle to me:
First, the current "IP" companies are mostly immoral entities that want to retain their business models and priviledges at any price, even if that involves changing/buying laws and by that destroying our democracy.
More importantly and philosophically, the concept of Intellectual Property is a perversion to me that is contrary to human nature and civilization. Civilization and art was built by copying and impoving on ideas (only really seldomly by revolutionary novelties). Imagine the classical composers having been forbidden to "borrow" each others themes and ideas, or painters to get sewed when joining a new style such as impressionism.
The concept is absurd and sickening.
Up till 1900 the lack of IP has never prevented progress and inventions. After 1900: we don't know. IP proponents keep brainwashing us that without IP there would be no innovation, but who is to tell? I simply don't believe it when looking at 2000 years of civilization before 1900.
Also the software industry itself has been highly succesful and profitable even without patents and with quite weak copyright protection. One might even argue that only now, where IP is being introduced in the software industry, things have deteriorated.
Re:Quickie Slashdot Poll... (Score:5, Insightful)
Ballmer's rhetoric and the parent of this post are looking at the impressions that they have of what the music world is like. There is the corporate view where the customers are seen as more like thieves and rodents... much like the view taken by that of the monarchy of the people. There is the end user view which seeks as much usability/freedom as possible. Then, there is the Apple view, which is make it usable, but also do your best to keep it legit.
You do your best because you can't control your users' intentions. Using DRM to the point of making your music sound like sh*t(aka CD copy protection which has only a Windows usable crappy WMA file on it is SH*T. Thank god Sony is backing out of this mess. Maybe Final Fantasy and JPOP music will be usable on Macs again.)
What you are missing is the population of computer users who actually want to be law-abiding citizens and would purchase music if it permitted them the same freedoms that purchasing CDs(as defined by Philips) gives them. Ie, the ability to play the disc and/or its contents wherever and whenever they want.
You shouldn't have to pay extra to play it in your car AND your computer AND your portable, which is what folks like Ballmer, MS, RIAA, etc would ultimately like.
Re:ALL WHO ANSWERED THIS POLL (Score:5, Insightful)
I think you're missing the point here. Basically, this can never be anything like a representative suvey. This is because:
Re:ALL WHO ANSWERED THIS POLL (Score:5, Informative)
Bullshit. You don't know what you're talking about. Do you know why there are so many one hit wonders? So many excellent bands that never take off?
Because the record companies screw them over, and only the ones that manage to sell millions of one CD actually manage to go on. Most record contracts require you to sell a given number of CDs (depends on the size of your contract) just to break even with them, and most bands don't make this. With any of the big record companies, if a CD costs $10, the artist can consider himself fortunate if he gets 50c per CD. And then he gets taxed for that too.
It's people like you who cause the RIAA and MPAA to sue ordinary citizens. Freeloaders who show no appreciation or respect for musicians hard work (excpet maybe if you listen to Britney Spears - the sooner she goes out of business, the better).
Most - as in 99.999% of musicians are overworked and underpaid. Most can't afford the instruments they play on. It's only the handful at the top who gets pushed by the record companies, and all the sex_sells/idol/whatever other commercial crap, who make it really big financially, and that's only because they sell millions of copies.
Re:ALL WHO ANSWERED THIS POLL (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:ALL WHO ANSWERED THIS POLL (Score:5, Insightful)
It's the flawed system that promotes the greed of the corporation which causes the RIAA and MPAA to sue ordinary citizens. So-called 'piracy' is a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself.
Freeloaders who show no appreciation or respect for musicians hard work
Sounds likes you are describing the labels & RIAA to me.
Most - as in 99.999% of musicians are overworked and underpaid.
This was true long before Napster was born. In fact, it was true long before Shawn Fanning was born.
Re:ALL WHO ANSWERED THIS POLL (Score:5, Insightful)
My gripe is not so much how much CDs cost, but how much of it, or rather, how little of the money gets paid to the artist in the end. Let me give you a little inside info (I'm a musician, this is from first hand experience).
A record company will sign an artist, pay them a smallish amount to live off while they record a CD. Usually the deal will be for a couple of CDs, with a time limit. Then they will, ideally, promote the band, pay for the studio time, basicall cover all their expenses. This money is not for free or even in exchange for the band's work. It is a loan to the band, charged at interest rates that would make any loanshark worth his salt's eys water.
Now, lets say the band gets 50c for each CD sold. (For a yet unknown band, this is daydreaming. Some of the top guys, I'm thinking Sting, Celine Dion, Enrique, ect. - artists who often sell millions of CDs per album, might be able to negotiate a slightly better deal, but not much)
The band has to sell CDs until the money they owe the record label is paid in full out of their cut from the CDs. Many artists never manage this, so they remain in debt to the record company, who can (and do) use this to make each consecutive contract worse for the artist. Many artists never manage to repay everything. Sometimes, at the end of the artist's sell-by date, the record company might scrap the debt. Which would mean the artist never made much more than he/she needed to survive and cover their gear, while the record company made a small fortune out of them - remember the other $9.50 did not go towards paying off the artist debt, the record company made that clean.
So, yeah, the Record labels "lose" loads more out of music piracy than the artists, but the artist lose too, and compared to what most of them get paid, they lose a lot more. Most muso are certainly not overpaid, and it's a little unfair to penalise the musicians for the recording industry's greed.
Truth about the Music Business (Score:5, Informative)
Here's the truth about music and money. The typical contract signed by a band usually includes an advance. This isn't a signing bonus that they just get to keep. It's an advance on all future sales, minus all production and advertising costs, so in other words profit. Therefore if WB puts $2M into a project, it must gather that much in order to recover the costs. If you got $500K as an advance and only $1M was made from the effort, you are 100% responsible for paying that $500K back to WB!
Also, in 90% of the contracts signed by new bands, a three record deal is signed for the label. 100% of publishing rights from the first (usually the second as well) album goes to the label. Most bands don't survive the second album so it's usually a moot point.
So yes, $0.50 per disc means a lot to some of these bands. I personally think they should get a lot more, but the RIAA is in full support of the labels not the artist, but they still get something from our purchases.
Peace
Re:ALL WHO ANSWERED THIS POLL (Score:5, Insightful)
Nice attempt at painting with a broad brush there. Pity you're not accurate.
What is Microsoft but the biggest thief? (Score:5, Insightful)
Ballmer and FUD? Who would have thought?! (Score:4, Insightful)
I don't understand the "corporate America" distinction. Is he talking about people downloading stuff to their iPod from the computers at work and stealing it that way? Because just about every Windows user I know has a computer at least 50% full of stolen shit (usually including the OS itself). MSFT is somehow not supporting theft because they don't have an iPod clone and their OS has DRM? I would go so far as to claim that PocketPCs support piracy but MSFT didn't create the hardware they just created the software. I guess you have to do both to support the thieves.
Sorry, that doesn't make me think any less of the iPod and it certainly doesn't make me think any more highly of Windows.
Re:Ballmer and FUD? Who would have thought?! (Score:5, Informative)
Which means that corporate America (ex. the music industry) should start helping MS gain more market share in that market.
Re:Ballmer and FUD? Who would have thought?! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Ballmer and FUD? Who would have thought?! (Score:5, Interesting)
it has to do with the fact that the RIAA wants DRM, and the user doesn't. so Ballmer's looking after the corporate interests ahead of the user interests.
What's funny is that he doesn't realise that new entertainment formats are mostly demand driven. People don't like div-x (the old one, where you had to "connect" to get movies), people don't use it. Same with DVD-A and SACD. Invariably, formats with draconian restrictions on them don't work. And although he wants to label people thieves, there's a very good reason why the iPod is popular, and MS's DRM isn't. The irony is Ballmer himself points it out in the article - "My 12-year-old at home doesn't want to hear that he can't put all the music that he wants in all of the places that he would like it". This isn't about stealing, it's about fair use. 12 year olds just want to do whatever they want to do with their music - like the rest of us. If stolen, free music is the only way we can get there, then so be it. Why pay for restrictions, when freedom is quite literally free?
It makes me laugh, the 12-y-o son of the man running the most powerful IT company in the world gets it, but Ballmer himself doesn't.
Which oddly enough is a theme repeated in the second article - his vision for the digital home - which involves "converged devices that integrate video, audio and computer technology". He's pretty much ripped off Steve Jobs' digital hub strategy [macworld.com] from two years ago... and then he goes on to say: "There is no way that you can get there with Apple."
Sorry Steve, the only organisation you can be guaranteed to not get there with is Microsoft. It makes poor copies of good products, labels consumers who want freedom "thieves", and calls out organisations who innovate as not being good enough.
-- james
Re:Ballmer and FUD? Who would have thought?! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Ballmer and FUD? Who would have thought?! (Score:5, Funny)
Come on now, Steve (Score:5, Insightful)
Ballmer never let facts get in the way of PR. (Score:5, Insightful)
1. 100% Legal
2. DRM, but with restrictions that people can actually tolerate.
3. Sold over 130,000,000 songs to date (in less than 2 years since it's launch)
and that:
4. iPods are legal, and support a DRM format, unlike most MP3 players out there.(There is no problem with not supporting a DRM format either, are we all suddenly theives for not encoding DRM in our fair-use music rips?)
and also that:
Apple have supported more DRM in Quicktime before MS even bothered to see it as a market.
Then I really don't see any justifcation for any of the comments made about Apple computer. Sounds more like a technique to add some attention to his announcement.
Re:Ballmer and FUD? Who would have thought?! (Score:5, Informative)
2) Any new computer purchased from Gateway
3) Any new computer purchased from HP
4) Any new computer purchased from Compaq
5) Any new computer purchased from the company I work for
6) Any new computer purchased from GlobalComputer/TigerDirect under the "SysteMax" name
I really could go on and on. You sir, are in idot in the worst way; Or a troll. One of the two.
(Now, the above isn't to say that the users of said brand new computers won't 'borrow' some software from friends/family, but makes it a far cry less than "%100 stolded" as you had suggested. Rare indeed.)
Re:Ballmer and FUD? Who would have thought?! (Score:5, Funny)
A single red cent, no. Many thousands of red cents, yes.
Re:Ballmer and FUD? Who would have thought?! (Score:5, Informative)
That certainly rings true among the people I know - at least with regards to their home computers. 100% of them run pirated copies of WinXP, pirated photoshop, pirated Office, etc...
Personally I think the likes of Abiword [abisource.com] make a perfectly acceptable replacement for Word, at least for home users - and often times businesses would do just fine with it. I think Abiword is an upgrade from MS Word - others my not agree. But it's definitely faster to load, looks just as good (better in my opinion), uses less memory, and has more than enough features to keep home users, college students, and business people happy.
I'm not a huge fan of Open Office [openoffice.org] - not because there's anything wrong with it. It's just that I don't really need an Office Suite. (I imagine most home users don't.) But for those who do "need" it, I think it's a great substitute for the $300+ MS Office Suite.
For my own spreadsheet needs, I prefer Gnumeric [gnome.org] because it feels very light weight while still having all the features I need. Plus I think it looks great and it's a heck of a lot faster to load up than OOo. The only problem with Gnumeric is that there isn't a Windows port (that I know of).
I also have several friends who pirate the "Pro" version of Trillian. I finally convinced my friend to give the Windows Port of gaim [sf.net] a try and he has been using it ever since. Bonus - download the encryption [sf.net] plugin for gaim and have secure messaging.
I don't know enough about Photoshop and image editing to know if The Gimp [gimp.org] is an acceptable replacement. I've read several posts where people say it is *not* (an acceptable replacement.) I'll have to take their word for it. My image editing needs are very basic so gThumb [sourceforge.net] is about all I really need.
I have another friend who pirates FTP software. With the existence of FileZilla [sf.net], I fail to see the point. What can't FileZilla do?
A lot of people pirate WinZip. I have to admit that WinZip does have a pretty interface (if you use Windows), but if you don't want to pay for it, and you don't want to take the risk of infecting your Windows computer with a virus when you download a WinZip crack of Kazaa, then I recommend 7-zip [7-zip.org] as a free alternative. Also, the last time I saw WinZip (which admittedly was years ago) there were a few archive types it didn't handle.
There are so many great Free and Open Source alternatives available, even if you use Windows.
Get FireFox now [spreadfirefox.com]
Re:Ballmer and FUD? Who would have thought?! (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Ballmer and FUD? Who would have thought?! (Score:5, Insightful)
Pot... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Pot... (Score:5, Insightful)
Especially when you consider the fact that most iPod owners are Windows users, and the music they've uploaded was previously on their PC.
Part of the reason people steal music is money, but some of it is that the DRM stuff out there has not been that easy to use.
Found this quote interesting, does it really state that people want to use DRM to copy music at home, but can't quite figure out how to use it?
Re:Pot... (Score:5, Funny)
I guess that will be done by developers, developers, developers, developers...
He's got a keen business sense (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:He's got a keen business sense (Score:5, Insightful)
His target "customers" are people like the music industry which he is not alienating. He knows that users are stupid for the most part and will buy what's cheaper and more popular so he doesn't mid alienating them.
He's got the wrong business sense (Score:5, Insightful)
I think the higher-ups at Microsoft have completely lost the sense of how to do business in a healthy market.
That's why everything Microsoft does fails or produces massive losses when not being pushed by the PC domination.
Just look at Hailstorm. Or XBox. Or Windows/Alpha.
But... (Score:5, Insightful)
Wait for longhorn (Score:5, Funny)
Well, yeah right now most iPod users have pcs. Of course when Longhorn arrives, there will be a little problem uploading your music, and every now and then the entire iPod memory will be wiped.
You know that MS will be working hard for a solution...
From MS marketing, 2006:
"It's probably due to Apple's implementation of some standard."
"You could get a solution quicker if you switch to our new win-Pod(TM) that implements Microsoft standards. It uses a new version of Embedded Windows Media Player(TM). Here's a coupon for %75 off your purchase price, and we have a $20.oo rebate as well."
"But we'll keep working on that i-pod 'fix', don't you worry. When the 'fix' is in, you'll know it!"
Microsoft, The job isn't done until Lotus, Novell, Netscape, iPod won't run
Re:Wait for longhorn (Score:5, Funny)
Too late in the game (Score:5, Insightful)
Mad? (Score:5, Funny)
He really seems to love his [mac.com]...
All I have on my iPod... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:All I have on my iPod... (Score:5, Funny)
Must come from where? (Score:5, Funny)
I think he means: 'the critical mass has to come from windows'. Why? No technical reason, it's just because people at MS will have a temper tamtrum if this doesn't go their way.
Volumes/Next Generation (Score:5, Insightful)
Seems to me that Apple is a lot more successful in pushing large volumes of next generation devices than MS.
Re:Volumes/Next Generation (Score:5, Insightful)
I've not see anything exciting come from Microsoft in a very long time. I don't believe people are all that interested in the sort of "Digital Home" Microsoft seem to envision, either.
Taken out of context... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Taken out of context... (Score:5, Insightful)
This isn't about music piracy. This is about Ballmer taking a shot at Apple because they have a product which is user focused, whereas MS have a product which is RIAA focused.
Else, he would have just said that "more digital music is pirated than not". But he didn't, did he?
-- james
I'm either being synical (Score:5, Insightful)
Mp3s -> Mp3 Players -> ???? -> Profit ?
I may not be speaking for the masses, but the key thing about having my music in my player of choice (Archos AV340) is the fact that I can take the music from *any* source, and because I choose to download the mp3s rather than re-recording from original Vinyl, ripping from CD, remastering from cassette, 8track etc Is purely a matter of my taste and value of my time.
Prevent people from using music easily that they ALREADY LEGAL OWN in one format or another, and see that format/player go the way of the BETAMAX.
Owning an iPod I find I buy more (Score:5, Insightful)
Unreal. (Score:5, Insightful)
From the article:
"We've had DRM in Windows for years. The most common format of music on an iPod is 'stolen'."
Because everybody knows windows is all about security. If you put a pirated mp3 on a windows box, the drm system won't allow you to access it. All the windows boxes running eMule and Kaaza are merely figments of your imagination. They're iPods. Honest.
He doesn't get it (Score:5, Interesting)
The "stolen" format (Score:4, Funny)
type: audio-x/stolen
FUD and nothing more (Score:5, Insightful)
Just because someone COULD steal something doesn't mean they will, and doesn't automatically make the something stolen.
The most common format of music... (Score:5, Insightful)
Balmer, "iPod" can easily be replaced with "Windows" in your preceding statement. MP3 has been the de facto standard for music files for 7-8 years now, maybe longer. Were iPods around 7-8 years ago? No. What were they played on? Windows, under Winamp. The masses have understood how to rip their own (un-DRM'd) CDs since the turn of the millenium. Napster, Limewire, Kazaa, eDonkey and many more of flourished (til legal proceedings crush each) with trading of these files. I don't recall using my iPod to access any of these services. Oh yes, that's right. I used my Windows-running PC.
I know it's FUD, but this is just plain lousy FUD. Anyone with half a brain can see right through his attempt to link Windows with anti-piracy.
Nice quote... (Score:5, Funny)
"My 12-year-old at home doesn't want to hear that he can't put all the music that he wants in all of the places that he would like it," he joked.
Translation:
"When I tried to use my kid's iPod on a recent family trip, my son told me to shove my Barry Manilow CD up my ass."
What's his f'ing point? (Score:5, Insightful)
Uhh, yeah... And the most common format of music on a Windows PC iiiiiissss...........? Uhh huh, yeah.
So, if ANY company is accountable for music theft -- OBVIOUSLY it's Microsoft - they have the 'volumes,' right?
Bah!
So what? (Score:5, Insightful)
And then again
hmm...? (Score:4, Funny)
Yeah, and? (Score:5, Insightful)
Music is a commodity these days. It isn't special like it was in the 50's. People expect music at all hours, but it isn't priced right to meet the current usage of music, so people download the extra music they need to fill in the gap.
I don't see how Microsoft can claim any kind of moral superiority over Apple. Apple at least had the decency to offer reasonably priced legal music quite some time ago. Per-song pricing allows you to take a small risk to discover new music, or just get the 2 good songs on a modern pop album that are any good. MSN Music is a lot more recent.
I can only assume that Microsoft will be designing Media Software that will not play non-MS-approved content. Otherwise how can it tell whether a song you are playing is something you ripped yourself, or downloaded? Surely you could burn a CD and re-rip if Microsoft enforced that type of requirement?
These big companies are only pissed off because online music sharing allows people to discover new music that isn't on the big labels, and then spend money on that music instead of HypedTrash. Most studies show that music purchasing hasn't dropped since file sharing started, at the worst it fluctuated in line with the economy, at best it has actually soared over what it should have been.
Open Market (Score:4, Interesting)
If I am a criminal, why would I buy the device that makes my job/avocation more difficult.
In either case, why would I buy the device who's biggest cheerleader treats me with such disdain.
Consumers want too much (Score:5, Interesting)
... according to Ballmer.
"My 12-year-old at home doesn't want to hear that he can't put all the music that he wants in all of the places that he would like it,"
I don't want to hear that either.
The most common format of music on my WinXP box... (Score:5, Interesting)
So what if "[you've] had DRM in Windows for years" Microsoft? Windows did anything but halt the 13.6 million Napster users [wikipedia.org] "stealing" music, et cetera.
He is right (Score:4, Insightful)
Steve Ballmer is a Douchebag (Score:5, Interesting)
So Steve, STFU and GTFO. The reflected light from your forehead is blinding us.
Apple beat them to it (Score:5, Insightful)
The thought that Microsoft can compete with "better" DRM is laughable. Show me a user that will switch to another DRM system, because, you know - it's better at limitting your freedom better, so you should switch to it, you filthy thief, right?
My thoughts for Ballmer: good luck in alienating your potential customers!
Ha (Score:5, Interesting)
My roommate is a die-hard Microsoft fan. I don't just mean he uses Windows over Linux, either. I mean he will get compromised because of a failed update, have to reformat and reinstall, and he *still* favors MS. Why? Because of usability. Linux does not cater towards him and it certainly doesn't offer the gameplay. Mozilla/Firefox, despite what I try to tell him about security, is laughable. After all, why should he use a browser that takes 4 seconds to load a 2 second page?
Now, despite all of that, he uses iTunes. Why? Because where other "free software" fails, Apple does not. They provide a method for him to get what he needs when he needs it. And not only that, but he pays money hand over fist for services/music through iTunes.
So my question to Ballmer would have to be: If you've lost even your fanbois to Apple, who also has DRM, how exactly do you intend to actually gain a foothold in this market?
On a perfectly safe side note, the percentage of my "stolen" music collection used to be 100% MP3, now it's 80% MP3. Any MS representative want to take a guess as to what the other format is for my stolen music?
The biggest threat to MS (Score:5, Insightful)
Ballmer's appointment marked a switch from customer focus and innovation (all the GNU type people should go off and hate me quietly in a corner at this point) to concept focus and buzzwords. It's amazing to think that there was a time (early-mid 90's) when if I wanted a vendor who'd actually listen and do stuff, I wanted MS. Now, they literally can't make a single statement without chanting a mantra -- 'developers! xml! digital nervous system! drm!' and getting actual action from them is like blood from a stone. Actual development units remain largely unchanged -- but they simply aren't running the show now.
It's a tragedy of classic proportions, with Microsoft as the protagonist and Ballmer as the hubris that drives him to his fatal excesses -- and maybe IBM/Linux as the nemesis waiting around the corner.
I am _so_ not looking forward to everything being run by IBM again
MS Numbers (Score:4, Interesting)
Less than 1 billion..
The future is not MS PC on mobiles..
Its J2ME
hahahah (Score:5, Insightful)
I guess its a good thing that Windows users are responsible and would never do something like steal music and put it on an iPod... even though Windows makes up around 90% of the installed user base.
This makes no sense. (Score:5, Insightful)
Isn't this an admission of guilt? (Score:4, Interesting)
How do they get away with this shit?
You know, I'm tired... (Score:5, Interesting)
Dang, what makes them believe that they are entitled to millions and care-free lives by making a couple of template "songs" about fucks and drugs?
Hmm... (Score:5, Insightful)
But that logic doesn't follow, because iPod's "paid" format ("Protected AAC") contains DRM (though in Apple's implementation is probably more forgiving and transparent than some alternatives). The "stolen" format he must be referring to is, therefore, MP3, a format that is also supported by all portable music players that support Windows Media!
Since Apple's music store - which only works with iPod - has by far the largest market share of all online music stores, there is actually more legitimately purchased downloaded music (to say nothing of legally purchased CDs that have then been ripped) in use on iPods than on players that support Windows Media. If there are "stolen" MP3s in use on iPod, then there are stolen MP3s in use on ANY player that supports MP3 in the same proportions. And even if we concede that there might be physically more stolen music on iPods, in numbers of songs, it's only because iPods so ridiculously vastly outnumber any competitive player...not because iPods somehow magically enable more easy theft, when it's MP3 - not the iPod's "scary different non-Windows Media format", which IS DRM'ed - that constitutes the "theft", which is possible on ANY other player! [1]
So, to sum up: nuthin' but FUD.
[1] Except perhaps Sony's.
most MS software design is "appropriated" (Score:4, Insightful)
F- Him (Score:5, Interesting)
Just because you have an MP3 does not mean you are a thief. just because you bought an OS-less PC doesn't mean you are a thief. Just because I own a soldering iron and am an EE doesnt mean I'm some 'evil hacker'..
I have 25GB on my 4G Ipod and not ONE song isn't from a CD I own.. I have several PC's, and NONE run some sort of pirated Microsoft OS.. Either I own a license, or its running a 'free' OS...
I'm sick and tired of being accused of something I'm not, and then getting legislation passed that restricts my activities, and increases their market share/profit. ( generic statement, this applies to most any 'media' industry )
To hell with them all. See how little of my money they continue to get from me..
Who are the REAL thieves here? (Score:5, Funny)
Sure, it starts with stealing a march.. then it's an April, followed by May and June, and before you know it you're wandering around with half an ill-gotten year bulging beneath your jacket.. after that it's down the slippery slope to stealing days of the week, and even whole decades if the habit goes unchecked.
Now what's worse? Grabbing a few little MP3s for listening on the go, or depriving the whole world of entire chunks of history. I think we know who the REAL criminals are here.
Ballmer should pay more attention to his kid (Score:5, Insightful)
Digital Rights Management is all about preventing people from using the tools they have paid for in the ways they want to use them. Often, DRM prohibits perfectly legal activities.
Digital Rights Management is one of the most serious threats to the general purpose computer, and to the freedom it affords us. The general public must be educated to the fact that the purpose of DRM isn't to protect them, but to protect large corporations from them.
Mediums for music aren't responsible for thefts... (Score:4, Insightful)
Microsoft's player is dead in the water! (Score:5, Insightful)
It sounds to me that Microsoft's Portable Media Player will NOT play MP3s. However, if it ONLY plays DRM invested WMA files it will NOT sell.
The real failure (Score:5, Interesting)
Look at MS. People wanted web browsers. They made IE. People wanted a media player, they got one bundled that did a good job of streaming video. They wanted a mailer, the got one. Yes now that there are problems with them people are moving to Mozilla based products, but this is a failure of Microsoft. They didn't give the people what they wanted (they don't want to have to be security experts to be able to browse the web).
People want to be able to have digital media with as few strings attached as can be so they don't have to become DRM gurus to listen to their jams in the car. This is where Windows Media player fails and the iPod/iTunes succeeds. Jobs thought about what the customers wanted and then did all he could to give it to them, putting in just enough DRM to keep the RIAA happy.
So the Windows folks can think they will win by putting in as much monopolistic protection as possible for MS and the RIAA/MPAA but it will fail. It will fail for the same reasons that all the other media stores and players have to date. They didn't give peole what they wanted.
Uh-oh. You know what this means. (Score:4, Insightful)
The RIAA and MPAA hve done an incredible amount to UNDO what was purposely done - allow the consumer to copy their own stuff. But thanks to Billy G & co, there's this new notion of licensing vs. purchasing. So how long until you don't "buy" your CDs, you "license use of them?"
The whole thing stinks. This is bad news for the rights of the consumer.
...and this week on "How to Win Friends.. (Score:5, Funny)
Damn straight... (Score:5, Funny)
Yup. Just like USB. Oh, wait...
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
'Windows users are OS thieves' says Amigori (Score:4, Insightful)
As far as volumes are concerned, Apple sells pretty much every iPod they can produce. It was the thing on kids back to school want lists, it will be the thing on many people's Christmas lists, and it will continue to be the de facto standard for portable music players. Sony's new Walkman, what a joke! I'm not converting everything to their proprietary format. Everyone else? What do you see marketing campaigns on MTV, CNBC, CN, etc. for? Rio, nope. iRiver, nada. Dell, not really. Apple's iPod in clever, catchy ads. Apple's iTMS servers handle the demand smoothly and are never /.'d. And to increase volume, the main piece to worry about is the bandwidth, easy enough.
The article is merely propaganda for those who are too damn ignorant to understand. "DRM...years" "DRM...not been that easy to use" "My 12-year-old at home doesn't want to hear..." Sounds to me like he's shooting himself in the foot and doesn't understand what his customers want. Oh well, that's Microsoft for you.
Amigori
Way To Go Steve! (Score:4, Insightful)
Linux volume? Google volume? (Score:5, Insightful)
Earth to Steve B. (Score:5, Informative)
-Apple has already made a deal with HP for the HP branded iPod (now shipping) and bundling iTunes with HP windows machines.
-Apple have also integrated their device with BMW and VW Beetle cars and Alpine makes an adaptor kit for other vehicles.
-Virgin Airlines offers iPods to use in the first class lounge.
-Some cruise lines are looking at renting iPods to guests.
-Apple has Licensed playback software to Motorola for inclusion in their cell phones.
Apple already has that critical mass by having captured over 60% of the market even before HP jumped on the band wagon just through direct marketing to mac and windows users.
PS. You might also want to take note that the iPod is a status symbol today and many music stars like to brandish them in public (especially diamond encrusted ones). MSFT is not considered cool these days and your "developer, developers, developer" song combined with your monkeyboy dance are partly to blame for this.
PPS. Get some better antiperspirant when you go on stage 'cause large armpit sweat stains are uncool.
Unlike MS that paid up front for STAC? (Score:5, Insightful)
It's illegal, I don't care anymore! (Score:5, Insightful)
You know what? I'll even call a spade a spade - I don't have any intention of using iTunes at 99 cents. The record companies dropped the ball, and I am now used to getting for free what I had previously paid 18 bucks a pop for. Do I feel bad? Not in the least.
/. won't like this, but they'll have to accept the fact that we're quietly moving into an era where the consumer - the person that both the creator and the corps rely on - is being returned to his rightful place of power.
They dropped the ball when they made huge scenes at press conferences with Lars and Hilary standing side by side to fight the evil p2p'ers. They dropped the ball when they refused to work towards some mutually beneficial pricing scheme that would *gasp* give both artists and consumers a fair shake! Instead, they charge 1.00 a song, which can run you into paying MORE than you would had you just bought the CD.
Meanwhile, I can get the same thing for free. I provide the bandwidth, they have no packaging costs, why should I pay MORE than I would for the physical media? Because they say so? Fuck them. I know the IP apologists on
What's that? You want to "license" me your content and sign my rights away with a clickthrough EULA? That's so cute... fuck you. In case you haven't noticed yet, you are on the losing end of a battle that has been going on for almost 5 years now. The only way you'll win is to make it easier to buy your shit than it is to steal it. That means *gasp* reduced profit margins for the corps, and *2x gasp!* no more bullshit rockstar lifestyles for the golden idols!
This means that the creation of music, movies, etc. would become...*shudders*...ANOTHER NORMAL JOB that you would actually have to be GOOD at and keep IMPROVING on to keep your position! Holy shit, we can't have that now, can we?!
Don't get mad, get even... (Score:4, Interesting)
LOL! Microsoft calling others thieves? (Score:5, Insightful)
VAX32
Netscape code
Java (use, replace, then disable)
Stolen security and networking from UNIX
Apple's interface
Then there's the subtle criminal stuff like;
Forcing OEMs to be exclusive or charging more (blackmail)
Integrating players and browsers after agreeing with the Feds not to (contempt)
Swearing you could not de-integrate said featured in your court case in the US, then suddenly producing a RUssian and European stripped version within 6 months of losing your case there. (Perjury)
Having your CEO SWEAR that M$ never intended to block out Netscape from the browser market then discovering emails that said you actually did (more perjury)
Claiming you have a "more secure" OS than Linux when a 6 year old has found security holes (poor development, lying, stupidity)
Yep, when I think of ethics and upstanding citizens, Microsoft is the company I want preaching ethics to me! Could there be a larger group of assholes on the planet?
Re:Jobs Says Windows users are Dorks (Score:5, Insightful)
And unlike Ballmer in everything he's said in those two articles, Jobs would be damned right.
-- james
Re:In other news, (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Probably true (Score:5, Insightful)
And what does this prove? I could level the exact same claim at Windows users - most home copies of Windows are pirated (unless OEM) - and anyway, how does the music get onto the iPod?
Hmm, maybe via a computer. And Windows users are using the iPods too!
What MS embraces is less important than what consumers embrace, and they have a habit of not embracing restrictive formats. Like DIV-X (the old version, where you had to connect to get permission to play your movie); and DVD-A / SACD.
Jobs has said that he will open up AAC playback if the iPod market share drops below #1. Similarly, he will consider putting WMA playback on the iPod if the iTMS falls below #1.
But right now, despite the absolute lack of competition, the cheaper songs/players elsewhere - the iPod is #1, and so is the iTMS. Every time a consumer chooses either, they create a barrier for themselves to using another service. Who wants to change all their music formats, etc over?
Yeah, or Microsoft procrastinating in the OS market. Your analogy is flawed. Apple have created this market with one product - the product has defined the market. People don't want a music player, they want an iPod. And which music store is the only one to work with an iPod when they want to try legal downloaded music?
You guessed it.
Your point being? I think Ballmer's way off, and it is reflected by Microsoft's market share in this market. Consumers don't want MS DRM, and Apple has a better product all round.
-- james