On Sep 21, 2008, at 3:51 PM, Scott Bresnahan wrote:
Hi,
Please don't confuse the iPod with the iTunes Music store. Last I
checked, the iPod could play MP3s just fine, and there were several
open source projects that allowed you to manage your library on just
about any platform. I'd argue the iPod is no more closed than any
other MP3 player on the market today
Would you rather be tied to Windows DRM players....?
No, I wouldn't, and for many of the same reasons. Yes, the iPod can
play MP3's without iTunes. Of course, the talking menus seem to only
work with iTunes. That's a minor quibble, though. I would agree with
you about the iPod being "no more closed than other MP3 players" if
one can set it up to look like a USB mass storage device which you
could just drop your music onto. I don't know if this is possible or
not, but if it is, I withdraw that particular objection.
No arguments with Apples AAC DRM. But, since the iTunes store was
not accessible until a week or so ago, I have used the amazon store
to get my music. That's another example of how the iPod is not a
closed system--you have alternatives.
No, the Amazon MP3 store is an example of how music can be
successfully sold without DRM. I've bought several things from there
and have been very happy with them. Likely it would be the first place
I'd look for things, since by default their music is not DRM'ed. Too
bad they won't extend that same model to Audible. (See Cory Doctorow's
comments on this as related to his release of his young adult novel,
"Little Brother". You can't sell DRM-free content on Audible even if
you want to.)
