Some people think I'm anti-capitalism. I'm not. I just get upset when congressmen and FCC committee members attempt to mandate corporate expansion of power to secure campaign donations and guarantee corporate careers after their duties as 'representatives of the American people' expire.
The FCC has taken huges leaps in expanding corporate freedoms. Any search of slashdot archives will tell you that, in the past year, The FCC is responsible for: (1) giving broadband cable companies a monopoly by denying competitors access to their lines, (2) ruling that telephone companies can sell names and phone call information to affiliates, creating opt out marketing (Spam), and (3) current debates over broadcast flags that would prevent time shifting and sharing, requiring early adopters to replace their HDTV equipment.
The FCC is dominated by Republicans - 3 to 1 - because Bush is clever (contradiction?) enough not to appoint a Democrat to the vacant 5th seat. Since the committee chair is a Republican, Michael Powell, who has declared that Big Media doesn't need any restrictions, any agenda he dictates will become Republican agenda. He is guaranteeing for himself a fat paycheck from Hollywood after his low-paying job in the FCC is over.
Does anyone else feel that the FCC needs some drastic reform to ensure that the committee is turuely "independent" as it is officially touted?
This is just my personal take, but I expect many people will upgrade march 2003 when doom 3 is released and people realize the best cinematic experience is the one where they can control it.
also see movie studios mimic lucasarts and extend storylines into computer games.
Would it be absurd to imagine broadcast companies cushioning the blow of hdtv recording equip by inserting ads on the sides of the screen for 16:9 viewers on a 4:3 program?
This could indicate Sony takes stock in rumors that Microsoft will eventually charge exorbinant fees to encode digital media for their future "screw the little man" secure OSes
I can't wait to see the fine print on this and other future Sony PVRs.
"Sony retains the right to update firmware automaticaly, replace it with Windows without disclosure if it so pleases, track your information for Sony's marketing departments, and limit number of downloads that are not paid purchases of Sony digital media. If Sony wishes to change this agreement in any way, you are to praise them for protecting you from the true axis of evil: yourself."
I fail to see the benefit in buying PCs from media moguls.
Having immersive glasses splitting the screen in each lens is obviously the most private solution.
As for security, the technology will perhaps develop where ultra secure wi-fi workstations communicate with a chip in each user, identifying the users dna fingerprint to authorize access (only for the highest security operations, of course).
The bio/organic/nano-tech chip - I'm no engineer - would communicate with the computer using extremely close range wi-fi similar to bluetooth, updating the system with a user's vital signs. Nobody wants their system hacked by a corpse with cameras in their eye sockets!
Why DRM acceptance won't reach critical mass...
on
Microsoft News Update
·
· Score: 1
So, MS intends to limit any media you download to the shelf life of the computer you use to download? That would mean, if the article accurately presented it, consumers must repurchase movies, music, etc if they buy new computers.
DRM would restrict sharing that not only falls under "fair use" but would also stifle innovative products in the future. I can't imagine how incredibly complicated and expensive life would become for power users who have at least two of the following:
-desktop -laptop -handheld -next gen cell phone -mp3 player -home network
Even worse, Digital Rights Management would seem to PUNISH victims of:
-Stolen computers -Corrupt software or dead hard drives -Hacker attacks
If DRM ever took off, just imagine the countless file class action lawsuits against hardware and software manufacturers, ISPs, movie studios, and record labels! Someone has to be liable if, for some reason, you your copy of LOTR2 is lost because you couldn't backup the legit file you bought and downloaded.
IMHO I don't think people like the idea of becoming dependent on the reliability and security of hardware and software in an age of computing when products have more bugs and complaints than features, not to mention they'll become outdated before they reach the selves.
Another scenario is that digital media would suffer a quick death and retail stores would again be the kings of media.
In all this mess, if DRM is tweaked to avoid this unjust punishment to honest customers by creating a database to record your purchases in case of disaster, consumer's individual profiles would become statistical fodder for overzealous marketing vultures. Ugh. ____________
"Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards." -Aldous Huxley
Slashdot Mirror
Some people think I'm anti-capitalism. I'm not. I just get upset when congressmen and FCC committee members attempt to mandate corporate expansion of power to secure campaign donations and guarantee corporate careers after their duties as 'representatives of the American people' expire.
The FCC has taken huges leaps in expanding corporate freedoms. Any search of slashdot archives will tell you that, in the past year, The FCC is responsible for: (1) giving broadband cable companies a monopoly by denying competitors access to their lines, (2) ruling that telephone companies can sell names and phone call information to affiliates, creating opt out marketing (Spam), and (3) current debates over broadcast flags that would prevent time shifting and sharing, requiring early adopters to replace their HDTV equipment.
The FCC is dominated by Republicans - 3 to 1 - because Bush is clever (contradiction?) enough not to appoint a Democrat to the vacant 5th seat. Since the committee chair is a Republican, Michael Powell, who has declared that Big Media doesn't need any restrictions, any agenda he dictates will become Republican agenda. He is guaranteeing for himself a fat paycheck from Hollywood after his low-paying job in the FCC is over.
Does anyone else feel that the FCC needs some drastic reform to ensure that the committee is turuely "independent" as it is officially touted?
It's sad that this is being forced upon Americans so Michael Powell can land a cushy Hollywood job after he steps down from chair.
just read the sig. there has to be some happy medium between patented closed source and open source
This is just my personal take, but I expect many people will upgrade march 2003 when doom 3 is released and people realize the best cinematic experience is the one where they can control it. also see movie studios mimic lucasarts and extend storylines into computer games.
Slightly OT.. anyone know of .ape compatible players now or in the near future?
They could always take a page from /. and just charge to turn the ads off. :)
Would it be absurd to imagine broadcast companies cushioning the blow of hdtv recording equip by inserting ads on the sides of the screen for 16:9 viewers on a 4:3 program?
This could indicate Sony takes stock in rumors that Microsoft will eventually charge exorbinant fees to encode digital media for their future "screw the little man" secure OSes
Brain fart.
I can't wait to see the fine print on this and other future Sony PVRs.
"Sony retains the right to update firmware automaticaly, replace it with Windows without disclosure if it so pleases, track your information for Sony's marketing departments, and limit number of downloads that are not paid purchases of Sony digital media. If Sony wishes to change this agreement in any way, you are to praise them for protecting you from the true axis of evil: yourself."
I fail to see the benefit in buying PCs from media moguls.
Having immersive glasses splitting the screen in each lens is obviously the most private solution.
As for security, the technology will perhaps develop where ultra secure wi-fi workstations communicate with a chip in each user, identifying the users dna fingerprint to authorize access (only for the highest security operations, of course).
The bio/organic/nano-tech chip - I'm no engineer - would communicate with the computer using extremely close range wi-fi similar to bluetooth, updating the system with a user's vital signs. Nobody wants their system hacked by a corpse with cameras in their eye sockets!
So, MS intends to limit any media you download to the shelf life of the computer you use to download? That would mean, if the article accurately presented it, consumers must repurchase movies, music, etc if they buy new computers.
DRM would restrict sharing that not only falls under "fair use" but would also stifle innovative products in the future. I can't imagine how incredibly complicated and expensive life would become for power users who have at least two of the following:
-desktop
-laptop
-handheld
-next gen cell phone
-mp3 player
-home network
Even worse, Digital Rights Management would seem to PUNISH victims of:
-Stolen computers
-Corrupt software or dead hard drives
-Hacker attacks
If DRM ever took off, just imagine the countless file class action lawsuits against hardware and software manufacturers, ISPs, movie studios, and record labels! Someone has to be liable if, for some reason, you your copy of LOTR2 is lost because you couldn't backup the legit file you bought and downloaded.
IMHO I don't think people like the idea of becoming dependent on the reliability and security of hardware and software in an age of computing when products have more bugs and complaints than features, not to mention they'll become outdated before they reach the selves.
Another scenario is that digital media would suffer a quick death and retail stores would again be the kings of media.
In all this mess, if DRM is tweaked to avoid this unjust punishment to honest customers by creating a database to record your purchases in case of disaster, consumer's individual profiles would become statistical fodder for overzealous marketing vultures. Ugh.
____________
"Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards."
-Aldous Huxley