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It seems the message should be encouraging Creative Commons and GPL for those that choose that route, and respect for those that don't.

The typical "RIAA vs. freedom" spin turns a blind eye to all the small independents that also sell their work, and not just musicians, but software developers and so on.

I make software for playing music over the Web (Andromeda) and I'd like the RIAA to make it clear whether it's ok for me to let my mom listen to my music via Andromeda, but when the EFF seems to endorse copying music, it feels like they must also endorse copying software.

Furthermore, the typical "compulsory" models offered as replacement to the current system seem to require everybody's PCs to report back to a central agency with a running record of what files are consumed -- and that seems like just the sort of thing the EFF should be PROTECTING us from.

I have an old AT&T P100 with 64 ram with 2-1GB SCSI drives running Apache, Squid (configured for proxy use and url filtering acl's), Squirrelmail, SSH (port forwarded from router), Samba, and using some PHP scripts to serve NFS shared MP3's via some PHP scripts. It actually runs pretty decent on a four person lan. The unit started at RH 7.0 but is now 7.3 with nothing connected but one rj45 cable and a power cord with nothing X. It has been averaging 120+ days between reboots with a max over 200. My fileserver is a P200 with 256MB ram also running RH7.3 but its only real purpose is Samba, IMAP, and Fetchmail. Sustained file xfers with Samba to a W2K machine can do about just over 5MB/sec which is not bad for my DMA33 controllers. If you do not need to sit at a machine and use a GUI, you can easily get by with very old hardware.

> Nobody these days makes a living manufacturing vacuum tubes

Ever hear of Sovtek tubes? They are used in guitar amps and effects pedals. Some people insist that tubes make audio signals sound "warmer" than the same signals routed through solid-state circuitry.

I think people choose Andromeda because they like how it works, how it looks, that it's easy to set up and maintain, that there's loads of docs on the site, and that I personally answer each and every email.

I'm also trying to help promote some users that welcome public traffic: check out the spotlight.

I think people choose Andromeda because they like how it works, how it looks, that it's easy to set up and maintain, that there's loads of docs on the site, and that I personally answer each and every email.

I'm also trying to help promote some users that welcome public traffic: check out the spotlight.

The "What Jobs taketh away.." article refers to Andromeda, a $35 web-based file streaming program.

There is a free GPL'd alternative, ZINA (Zina Is Not Andromeda) as well as other solutions. A search of freshmeat.net for "jukebox" will reveal even more...

W

I also just put up a doc with OS X tips including info about configuring it to serve directly from your iTunes folder, as well as configuring it to serve M4A and M4P files, like those from the iTunes Music Store...

-Scott

I also just put up a doc with OS X tips including info about configuring it to serve directly from your iTunes folder, as well as configuring it to serve M4A and M4P files, like those from the iTunes Music Store...

-Scott

I looked EVERYWHERE for a web based frontend to my mp3s. The best software I found was Andromeda.
It seems to be the most intuitive interface for guests to play with too...

I have an old PC ("the server") that has my music collection and is wired to my stereo, and wired to my LAN.

I mostly work on a wi-fi laptop.

I use remote desktop software to control what's playing on the server. That way, no matter where I am, I can control what's on the stereo, using any audio source available to the server (whether it's my software or services like Rhapsody or other Web sites or Internet radio).

You can use pretty much any remote software, such as WinXP's Remote Desktop or PCAnywhere or VNC (I have some notes about that here).

Next, you could also make that same server-based collection available for playback over your LAN -- and even out over the Internet (if you have enough upstream bandwidth).

Andromeda lets you do that, provided you're running a Web server that can do PHP or ASP.

That all might sound complicated, but it's not, and it's really convenient.

My 2c, -Scott

Sorry if that was too much of a self-serving plug.

There's no reason why you couldn't do the same with video files.

btw, I made Andromeda and if you're interested in trying this sort of thing, please let me know...

Shift did a story on my MP3 software Andromeda>. Derek Martin, the reporter, spent a huge amount of time back-and-forthing with me via email. Nice guys, too bad...

I make software that turns collections of MP3 files into streaming web sites. I've got lots of bands, but I've recently been looking for "spoken word" type content - dramas would be SO cool! If at all interested, check out Andromeda and get in touch! -Scott

bah! cablecasting!
you wanna be a media-consumer, that's fine... but there will be commercials involved.
I suggest you download something like andromeda and stream your own content to yourself!
It can stream video and audio files that you have to any PC on your LAN. My setup is that I have a 300GB server in my bedroom which has TV-out. This is hooked up to a cheap wireless audio/video transmitter (2Ghz)(available at x10.com) which sends the signal clearly to my TV & Surround system in the living room. Even the crappiest DivX looks unbelievably crisp at TV resolution!

Not exactly the same thing, but you might take a look at Andromeda which (along with Apache/PHP) lets you stream your MP3/OGG/etc collection. I made Andromeda, so sorry about the self-plug, but I do have a bunch of OS X'ers running it. Also, I do charge for Andromeda (it's my job). Anyways, I hope you check it out... -Scott

It's $20/month for 200MB, no set up and the first month is free. I know about them because their service works with Andromeda.

They're good guys.

Please let me suggest my app, Andromeda, which uses the web. I do ask that people pay for the software, but I've put years of work into it, and I think you'll find it to be a good thing.

-Scott

The best trance stations on the internet went down because of this law, and my music selection has hurt since.

Fuck internet radio stations. Make your own playlist. They may have killed mp3.com's personal jukebox, but they haven't yet killed fair use (completely).

One other tip I'd like to toss into the soup: remote desktop software (VNC, XP's Remote Desktop, pcAnywhere, etc...) can be quite handy for remotely controlling audio on a server. For instance, I keep a spare PC running Andromeda in the corner, wired to my stereo, and I remotely control it with my laptop over wi-fi. One neat thing about that approach is that it'll work with any audio source (such as other web sites, Rhapsody, internet radio, etc).

-Scott

I'd recommend keeping your current setup, getting a mouse-remote from x10, and using a web-based app (1 file!) called Andromeda which dynamically creates playlists of audio & video files and streams them to your default player. It's awesome! This whole setup will cost you like $30 or so, and you'll be able to control your music with a remote :)

They are both big big business, and they are simply jockying for the best sweetheart deal. No doubt the Content Providers will, before long, be paying some sort of 'tax' to the Bandwith Providers to help break the P2P networks.

If you're at all technical, you should think about running your own Internet standards based server (ie. http, ftp, etc). If you want to make your files available via a streaming site, I hope you take a look at my approach, Andromeda.

But no matter what you eventually decide to do, to have control you have to take control.

Bandwidth: the asymmetric nature of most home-based high-bandwith networking options is intended to make it easier for us to be consumers rather than producers of digital content. This is especially bad because it quite litereally makes it harder for indepenedent voices to be heard.

However, many of the high bandwidth providers, AOLTW for one, are also content providers, and are perfectly happy to keep the bandwidth deck stacked against independents.

Tip jars: Don't work. In the context of discussing P2P networks, the concept of tipping the artists often comes up. People don't part with their cash voluntarily. That goes for software, and it goes for music. Sure some people do, some times, but the practical percentage is so small as to be negligable.

Fairtunes is/was the leading centralized tip jar, founded by Slashdot regular Matt Goyer, now sold to Musiclink. It got lots of great press and feedback. Go there and search for tips to your favorite artist.

Personally, I think of myself (an independent programmer) as not entirely different from a independent musician. I tried for years to rely on a tip jar, but despite having tens of thousands of daily users it never paid for more than coffee.

Potential: In any case, the new infrstructures bring huge potential for positive change, but in my opinion that infrstructure also needs to do much better job of getting money to change hands, in order to garner real power, and tip jars won't cut it.

It's true that I'm trying to sell my work, but please don't think that makes me evil! I don't think I'm all that much different from the independent musicians who you hopefully support. It all part of my diabolical plans to pay my rent.

On an entirely different note, I'm on the BBC today. Neat!

-Scott

You;ll get a snazzy, streaming web site, dynamic generated from your collection. Keep it to yourself, or let your friends in. It's your choice.

I'm just curious if you would consider my software Andromeda more friendly for your network. It's not like the main P2P networks insofar as you can't really use it as a mass anonymous downloader.

However, you can use it to stream your collection over a local network and/or over the Internet. Basically, it bulds a complete streaming web site from a collection of MP3 files. PHP and ASP versions are available.

There's no spyware, it doesn't need to talk 'outside' of your network, and it transfers over http so there typically aren't firewall hassles.

Best, -Scott

In fact, Clear Channel used Andromeda to share their 9/11 archives with other stations.

Basically, Andromeda builds streaming web sites from collections of MP3's, OGG's, etc. You'll need a web server that can do PHP or ASP.

I really wanted the GPL to make sense for Andromeda but the more I thought about it, the less sense it made for me.

It was incredible fun, and quite interesting to see how the graffiti layered up (all stages were saved progressively).

If at all interested, I've got some lingering info about Curator on my personal page (Curator is about the 3rd project down)

Well, Andromeda does have a built-in logon feature. You can also require authentication through the web server (note that not all players can authenticate - for instance WMP and Real can, but Winamp can't).

"those that COPY the music will most likely NOT violate copyright law, since the law in most countries states that you have the right to copies for your own use WITHOUT owning the original"

Copying copyrighted material is indeed a violation, certainly here in the US, and that's where USC is, after all.

"That's what the extra price paid on blank media is for"

Actually, my understanding is that the price factored into blank cassettes was basically a concession granted to the entertainment companies to keep them from fighting the introduction of tape decks that could record.

Actually, my understanding is that the judge in the Napster case wrote in her decision that it was not only a violation to copy files, but also to make them availabe for copy.

However, if your files were stored on your PC, and you walked over to another student's room and remotely played music from your room, I don't see how that could be construed as a violation (either legally, or by the scool).

If that sort of thing sounds like something you might want to do (remote playback) you might want to take a look at my sofware Andromeda which turns your collection into a streaming site that you can access over the network.

That's exactly the thing about *all* of these P2P networks - there's always an obvious target. If you want to keep your collection of files online (for yourself, your friends, or whoever) serve it yourself.

And if you want to serve it over the web, you might take have a look at my software Andromeda which builds a complete streaming site from a collection of files. (PHP or ASP)

Works great alongside FTP.

A handy tip: consider posting your MP3 files as mono. You'll have the same fidelity as Hi-Fi, but at half the file size. And there will still be a good reason for your fans to 'upgrade' to the CD.

And because of that, Andromeda can also run on ISP hosted web servers. In fact, lots of independent musicians are doing just that to help promote their music. I think that's really great, and so I feature them back on the Andromeda site.

Personally, I'd love to see more successful independent musicians on the web...

I have PHP and ASP versions for Windows, Unix/Linux, and Mac OS X. (you will need a web server)

The high-bandwidth provders are stacking the deck with asymmetric services that guarantee that when you participate in 2-way, end-to-end communications you remain more of a 'listener' than a 'speaker'.

I've written software that makes it easy for independents to serve their audio, but without reasonably priced upstream they can't be heard.

I think people don't fully understand that the current high-bandwidth offerings are already 'limiting' their speech.

However, for those that are comfortable issuing their work under the GPL this seems pretty grim. After all, the vast majority of GPL projects are smaller-scale, less visible works by independent programmers, and possibly a few friends. And so what is the little guy supposed to do? Hire a lawyer? If there's no reasonable way to fix such a situation, that basically means that anybody can come in, and sell your code.

Sure some name-brand lawyer might come and rescue XVID, but will they come rescue you? And at best, Sigma Designs turns around and publishes their source? My guess is that even if they did that XVID would still be pissed.

I've got to say, today leaves me relieved that I never GPL'd my software.

Hey thanks! Bold of you to cite your site on /.

If you want your collection included in the Microbrowser, let me know.

-Scott

For those that just want to avoid the p2p networks, and instead serve their collection to themselves and to their friends, I humbly offer my software Andromeda, which can be used to stream MP3's and other files. It runs on a web server with PHP or ASP, and works on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. If you want to control your own media archive, it might do the trick.

Anyways, one of the first gigs I got was free work for a non-profit arts group here in NYC (Gen Art). I was able to build my portfolio, and make useful contacts that led to paying jobs.

Sometimes it sucks to not have stable finanaces, and sometimes it's great to have a flexible schedule.

Simple case: /. has its own GPL engine for this site. Futhermore, sites like Plastic have deployed that same engine, and put it to commercial use.

Now, let's just *pretend* that /. is having some financial problems. Doesn't it seem like it would be good if /. could have more secure financials by selling copies of its code?

I work full time on my MP3 streamer Andromeda and I tried begging for donations for years, but less than 1% ever give anything voluntarily.

Not every 'free' project is going to have the good luck of finding a sugar-daddy to pay the bills. How is an independent programmer supposed to buy food?

Why does that matter? Because it limits the ability of independent voices to be heard. I make software for streaming audio and video and there's nothing better than seeing independent music coming from independent sites, but because bandwidth is typically lousy upstream, those sorts of sites are much less common than they should be.

We've got all this great tech (audio software, digital video, a common network, etc.) but without decent upstream you can't effectivly get your work out.

It seems like we're never going to have reasonably priced upstream bandwidth, and that pisses me off.

If the cable/dsl providers were mostly selling symmetric rather than asymmetric services, I'd bet that those same users would be much less likely to restrict access. Furthermore, I think the providers are well aware of that, so don't expect symmetric service to become common anytime soon.

If you capture MPG's to Andromeda's folder, they'll automatically show up in the web interface, and you should be able to stream them over your network. (I already play collected videos to my Wi-Fi enabled laptop)

From my experience MPG is more stream-friendly than AVI (which wants to fully download).

Seems like it could be pretty cool...

Hey, it's a reasonable question. First, I should point out that the free evaluation of Andromeda is fully functional. Probably the best way to answer your question is to just take it for a spin.

Ok, for starters, Andromeda is multi-platform. PHP and ASP versions are available for Unix, Windows, and Mac OS X.

It's very easy to set up: it's all just a single file, and you don't need to know any coding at all to get it to work.

As for specific features, some people like the built in search, others the "what's new" feature, others still that you can add folders as well as MP3's to the playlist. Also, Andromeda works with OGG, MPG, WMA, and many other formats.

The main Andromeda site itself is richly documented, and there are handy features there like an interactive skin editor.

For the non-English speaking, the Andromeda software includes translations for about 35 languages.

It's not like I'm Microsoft, and the $35 goes a long way to supporting active development. I really believe that it's also important to make Andromeda a financially stable project in order to guarantee its long-term progress. We've all read the threads here recently about free sites packing up - I don't want Andromeda to share in that fate.

It's a good thing to toss a little support toward an independent developer working on good software. But that, of course, comes from an independent developer ;)

I say just try it, and see for yourself...

I keep an old PC hidden behind the couch, wired to my stereo. It's running Andromeda, which manages and serves MP3 collection. I remote control it via my laptop over Wi-Fi. It's pretty neat, actually...

Or, ahem, Andromeda which streams on demand.

Though, I've got to say, I don't really see the performace value of a DJ clicking play.

And what's with this new-fangled "Rock and Roll" music? Somebody tell those "Beatles" to get a haircut.

Score one for the good guys. I'm pleased to say that MP3 jukebox thingie was listed at the Vorbis site long before the good news hit. It couldn't happpen to a nicer fish. -Scott

You should seriously consider whether your goal might be (gasps!) to make some money off your efforts. You can always GPL later, but you can't un-GPL.

So far, I decided not to GPL my project but I've still received tons of positive feedback, much of which has become incorporated into the code.

If you really value control, and you don't like the thought of your baby being forked or sold without your consent, you ought to at least consider not GPL'ing.

-Scott

If you're in a band (or have friends that are) and use Andromeda to stream MP3s (PHP or ASP) and would like a steady flow of traffic, please let me know. -Scott