Slashdot Mirror
Apple Declares DRM War On Sneaker Hackers
theodp writes "Nicholas Carr is not pleased that Apple has applied for a patent to extend DRM to tennis shoes and other articles of clothing. Apple apparently views tennis-shoe DRM as a way to head off a potential plague of sneaker hacking. 'Some people,' the patent application observes, 'have taken it upon themselves to remove the sensor from the special pocket of the [iPod-linked] Nike+ shoe and place it at inappropriate locations (shoelaces, for example) or place it on non-Nike+ model shoes.'"
Sliders, nice!
GENERATION 24: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social exper
I'm not an Apple fan because of their tendency to use proprietary standards, etc, but I can appreciate that they build a good user experience for people that are perhaps not as technically inclined. But I think it's definitely moving towards the point where you (as TFA says) are embarrassed to be an Apple fan. This sort of action is just petty.
We have laws for counterfeiting. We should enforce those instead of thinking up new redundant laws.
Problem is, this won't be the last time we hear of DRM being applied places it has no business being applied. The whole concept of DRM is a joke, invented b/c lawmakers were unwilling or unable to draft legislation that properly dealt with online filesharing and piracy.
Thank you Dave Raggett
You can't download an integrated circuit.
To get the chips, a pair of nikes must be bought, guaranteeing the revenue no matter what the electronics within are use for next.
I don't see why apple should care. I know I wouldn't give a damn if it were used on another pair of sneakers, modified to play old 8 bit game cartridges, or attached to tomahawk missiles.
The fact they do care is rather disturbing, as it reflects a general trend toward companies asserting ownership over your stuff. I'm not talking about copyrighted works either, i'm talking about everything.
They're walking a fine line, installing technologies designed to subvert people's right to modify and use their own devices for their own (sometimes unforseen) purposes.
You are allowed to sell something any way you wish, but if they sue someone for modifying their own shoes, I expect them to lose, as it's related to physical goods rather than copyrighted material.
VLC FOR MAC IS DYING! IF YOU DEVELOP, PLEASE SAVE IT!!
So?
As has been observed on Slashdot many times in the past, if I have bought [whatever], I can do whatever the hell I want with it.
So I feel the urgent need to own a pair of iPod compatible sneakers, and duly buy a pair. I can now;
Paint them purple.
Shred them with a razor blade.
Change the laces.
Remove a sensor to see what it is and what fun I can have with it.
Apparently not. Apple seem to think that they have some say on what I can do with my shoes. What are they smoking? DRM'd sneakers. FFS, give me a break.
Trying to associate Microsoft with "fun" is like trying to associate Satan with aromatherapy. -Tycho
Sensationalist shit. What will Apple do if you move your sensor to something else? NOTHING. War? What kind of war? All you do is void your warranty. It's just another patent application like millions out there. Christ, I'd expect this kind of crap from Digg, not from Slashdot.
here are tons of fake Nikes coming from Asia that are honestly way worse in quality, durability, and comfort.
Not to be confused with the REAL Nikes coming from Asia that are bad in quality, durability, and comfort.
I picked one up (though don't own Nike+ shoes, thank you very much). For $30, it's not a bad way at all to keep track of some reasonably accurate running data. Interestingly, I find myself much more inclined to move (and, indeed, move quickly) since buying one. I don't even look at the data, I just feel more inclined to exercise knowing it's being collected. One of those "it'll be good for something eventually" scenarios.
But if they think they're getting me to spend another $lots on Nike+ approved running shoes, fuck that. I don't care if Nike is subsidizing the cost of the device or if Apple has a contract or if Steve Jobs has a shoosh fetish. The day I give up my Adidas Sambas is the day I lose my feet.
I don't think Steve's insincerity with the whole "we hate DRM, but the producers make us!" thing was too subtle. He loves control, and the control over the hardware that legally runs OS X is actually helping them as a company. But the fact that they have DRM on most of their music (whether it's their choice or not) means that I buy 100% of my music from other sources, almost always Amazon. While the hardware control helps ensure quality, most of their software is based off of open standards (CalDAV calendar servers, IMAP email, UNIX/BSD running under the hood, etc) and almost all preference settings are stored in plist files, which are XML (rather strangely implemented XML, IMO, but XML nonetheless) and that has absolutely also helped strengthen OS X as a platform.
For all the control that Steve wants, most of it is against customer wishes these days. Early on people didn't even realize they were buying DRM-infected music from wherever, and they got burned when they bought that new iPod. Of course a lot of people have ended up with music encumbered by a different type of DRM as a result, but they're at least aware of it if not weary. Lots of geeks complain that they can't drag-and-drop music on to iPods without iTunes - it doesn't bother me, but they wouldn't have to lose the iTunes interface in order to add this as an option; nor would it harm them at all to enable more formats to play on the thing (especially open formats like Flac and ogg).
If they want to give me extra functionality when I buy a nike+ shoe, that's one thing. But if they want to break the thing if I'm not using one, fuck that. I just made the exact same rant a little while ago about DRM in games, and how the successful way to avoid piracy (if one could "pirate" a shoe) is to ADD value for people that DO purchase, not to attempt to remove value from those that don't as it almost always backfires.
How are sites slashdotted when nobody reads TFAs?
I always have mod points, I never spend all of them, finally a post so deserving, and Nada. Great post, that's the most I can do.
Web Developers: Celebrate to our roots! Animated Gifs and Tiled Backgrounds, dont let our history die!
Just because a company has applied for a patent doesn't mean that they intend to commercialize it. More than likely, some engineers just had an idea about how to ensure that only Nike+ shoes were used with the Nike+iPod sensor, and Apple's lawyers decided to preemptively patent it in case anyone else came up with it.
I just wish people would take a lesson from the Defcon badges and make stuff that encourages hacking.
(In before "Windows crap security encourages hacking" jokes.)
Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
A 'community of people who want to workout' can be very helpful to stay motivated and encourage each other. It can be be much easier to stick to an activity if you feel part of a group doing that activity. I'd be willing to bet there are people living near you who run as a group for that reason.
IThat just doesn't seem like the original intention of the patent system.
Actually - that is exactly what a patent is for (for a limited time) - and to cause the inventor to release details so others can improve when the time runs out.
>help build community
Most times I see "community" these days, especially in a "Web 2.0" context, I think it's a euphemism for gathering personal data for marketing purposes.
Not really. As you said, the original intent of the patent system was to encourage inventions and the spreading of knowledge through granting limited time monopolies. In this case, the patent has really nothing to do with inventions, so much as protecting uncreative business implementations from competition and interaction.
The ______ Agenda
I'd be interested in hearing how you've come to know that America is a socially inept country beyond your own observation. If that's all you have, my observations differ. Although, to be fair, I think most statements about America are as much about the rest of the world as they are about the US. This country really hasn't been here all that long and most people I meet still identify on some level with their ancestry - which by and large is made up of immigrants.
Aside from that I'd say that technology does much more to remove isolation than build it up. This conversation I'm having right now is deeper than many I'll have today with people speaking to me in person about weather, sports and gas prices or current events. Not all will be that way, but many. I'm not sure how missing out on a few of those would be detrimental to anyone.
And finally - to be really on topic. When I run I don't want to talk to anyone. I want to listen to music and think. I process things. There is absolutely no reason that every moment of our lives needs to be social. In fact, in order to be of some value socially, I think it is worthwhile to spend a decent amount of time reflecting and thinking - before we speak.
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
After several years, you want to develop that land. Since you allowed his to park there for years he can argue that he has your permission.
You can argue that he had your permission, but you have since revoked it.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
Well, that's what happens when a totalitarian regime gets into control. They make sure you only use the brands THEY want you to use. Want this phone? Only with that service. Want a shoe with this feature? Only with the brand shoe we tell you. And if you do anything different... lawsuit! I find it amusing that many of /.'s readers recognize this sort of thing (and hate it) when it's done by this company or that, but simultaneously want to vote into government offices people who will implement this sort of thing on a national scale. And I find it even more amusing that they don't recognize that their political opinions are actually exactly the opposite of what they want.
McCain/Palin '08. Now THAT's hope and change!
You mean it's much easier to guilt yourself into doing the something if you buy an expensive gimick and have to justify the purchase?
Money is the root of all evil?
Is this some mental-deficient's idiotic idea of a fucking joke? DRM on a goddamn fucking shoe? Are you fucking KIDDING ME??!?
Why god, why, does the sensor have to be buried in rubber and resin so your investment wears out with the soles of your $200 shoes (euros hurt). Oh wait... I just answered my question to god. :)
Um. The cost is the whole point.
By spending lots of money you're showing the world how committed you are to your workout regime.
You people should definitely stay away from jobs in marketing. Your "functional" versions of this product would bomb in the market place.
No sig today...
Either your sig is sarcastic, or you're suggesting that the candidate who is actually for net neutrality, and a transparent government, is the opposite of what I want?
Don't thank God, thank a doctor!