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Cory Doctorow On What iPhone's Missing Headphone Jack Means For Music Industry (fastcompany.com)

Posted by msmash on from the case-of-missing-headphone-jack dept.

Rumors of Apple's next iPhone missing a headphone jack have been swirling around for more than a year now. But a report from WSJ a few weeks ago, and another report from Bloomberg this week further cemented such possibility. We've talked about it here -- several times -- but now Cory Doctorow is shedding light on what this imminent change holds for the music industry. Reader harrymcc writes: Fast Company's Mark Sullivan talked about the switch with author and EFF adviser Cory Doctorow, who thinks it could lead to music companies leveraging DRM to exert more control over what consumers can do with their music.From the article:"If Apple creates a circumstance where the only way to get audio off its products is through an interface that is DRM-capable, they'd be heartbreakingly naive in assuming that this wouldn't give rise to demands for DRM," said Doctorow. If a consumer or some third-party tech company used the music in way the rights holders didn't like, the rights holders could invoke the anti-circumvention law written in Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Steve Jobs famously convinced the record industry to remove the DRM from music on iTunes; is there really any reason to believe the industry might suddenly become interested in DRM again if the iPhone audio goes all digital? "Yes -- for streaming audio services," Doctorow says. "I think it is inevitable that rights holder groups will try to prevent recording, retransmission, etc." Today it's easy to record streamed music from the analog headphone jack on the phone, and even to convert the stream back to digital and transmit it in real time to someone else. With a digital stream it might not be nearly so easy, or risk-free."Doctorow shares more on BoingBoing.

8 of 394 comments (clear)

  1. What it means for consumers... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Paying $29 for another dongle.

  2. Re:Easy solution by macs4all · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Don't buy an iPhone.

    Or any other phone, starting next year.

  3. What it will really mean by Kohath · · Score: 5, Insightful

    - You need a small adapter for your regular headphones. This can get lost. So don't lose it.
    - They can fit a slightly bigger battery in the phone, so it will last slightly longer
    - The phone can be thinner.
    - Headphone port will no longer break if you yank the cord sideways. It will no longer get plugged up with pocket lint.
    - You can get noise cancelling headphones that are powered by your phone instead of a separate battery
    - Charging while listening remains a question? How can you do it? Wireless charging built in? Y-adapter?
    - Apple will sell bluetooth earbuds

    - People who want attention will complain and make up stories about DRM
    - Other people who want attention will complain and make up stories about headphone lock-in (even though there's an adapter for traditional headphones)
    - Other people who want attention will complain about the horror of paying $12 of an adapter when they just bought a $600 phone
    - Other people who want attention will complain because it's Apple and everything they do is bad
    - Other people will defend because it's Apple and everything they do is awesome

    - Next year, no one with any practicality will care that much because there's a $12 adapter for regular headphones.

    1. Re:What it will really mean by geek · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Not sure where you get 12$ for an adapter. I don't think Apple has ever sold an adapter that wasn't 29$. Plus, it's a fucking adapter. One more thing to carry/get lost/deal with.

      Apple is always bitching about simplification. One button mice, as few cords as possible, thinner etc etc. Then to use their shit you have to buy a gym bag full of fucking adapters for it to work with anything else. It's ridiculous.

      That said, those who don't like it can simply buy something else. For me though the problem is that I hate Google more than Apple and refuse to be either companies bitch. I really miss my old feature phone.

  4. Re:Finally... by jeffmflanagan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's sad how people go off the deep end, and try to make everything about their personal crusade, like Cory has. People will be able to use headphone adapters, and even if that wasn't allowed, the signal can be intercepted at the earbuds.

  5. Re:Finally... by NatasRevol · · Score: 5, Insightful

    He's literally ignoring that Apple was the only company to ever fight against DRM in their products. Every other company just said, well they're they rights holders, they can do that.

    http://www.computerworld.com/a...

    Warner Music CEO Edgar Bronfman yesterday rejected in no uncertain terms Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs' suggestion earlier this week that the major music label companies should abandon digital tunes copy protection.

    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  6. Re:Idiotic Argument by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Those Devices will need wires going to the part that makes sound, that part is the point you can install what ever you want to capture the signal. Its like pointing a cam at a movie screen sure, but its better.

  7. Re:Easy solution by tripleevenfall · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've had 3 iphones in a row, going back to the first one.

    If the next one doesn't have a headphone jack, and there's an Android phone out there that does, I'll switch. I don't think I'm alone, either.

    There will be phones with headphone jacks out there because people want them. People want to be able to use any headset. People don't want to carry adapters around.

    It's a cash grab that delivers no additional value to users.