The change in iTunes 4.0.1 does not change what you can
do with your Apple purchased AAC songs. It merely changes what is provided by the iTunes application.
Frankly, iTunes 4.0 was a really poor server for public use.
There are no access controls, or even logs. It was never
really suitable for anything other than sharing on the local network using Rendezvous.
Meanwhile, if you want to share your music, nothing
is stopping you. Your iTunes catalog is an easily
parseable XML file. Existing fully supported protocols
can be enabled to allow fetching both the catalog
and the files names.
It's all quite doable in simple scripting languages.
Don't gripe because the software that Apple is not providing you with your swipeware for free.
iTunes sharing was never advertised as being for
anything but Rendezvous sharing. In fact, it could
be argued the fact that it would *allow* outside
connections without explicit authorization to accept
outside connections was a bug.
The encryption/key issues can certainly be worked out if there is enough incentive.
There is also some basic principles of common law that
should prevent silently charging these things without
informed consent. After all, the credit card industry
makes a lot of money from consenting use of credit
cards, they don't want to kill the goose that lays the
golden eggs.
The real potential abuse is wirelessly probing for data.
What protection will these cards have against unauthorized
*initiation* of a transaction when the snooper does not
complete a transaction?
I can already see retail outlets claiming that they have
a legitimate reason to pre-scan your card to determine
your credit limit, so they can better help you in the
process of using all of it that is left -- oops, I mean
tailoring their advice to your needs.
"Innovative" definitely qualifies as hype. Unless just working
reliably and quickly counts as innovative. Otherwise the closest thing to an "innovation" are the flashback icons
in the browser bar.
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The change in iTunes 4.0.1 does not change what you can do with your Apple purchased AAC songs. It merely changes what is provided by the iTunes application. Frankly, iTunes 4.0 was a really poor server for public use. There are no access controls, or even logs. It was never really suitable for anything other than sharing on the local network using Rendezvous. Meanwhile, if you want to share your music, nothing is stopping you. Your iTunes catalog is an easily parseable XML file. Existing fully supported protocols can be enabled to allow fetching both the catalog and the files names. It's all quite doable in simple scripting languages. Don't gripe because the software that Apple is not providing you with your swipeware for free. iTunes sharing was never advertised as being for anything but Rendezvous sharing. In fact, it could be argued the fact that it would *allow* outside connections without explicit authorization to accept outside connections was a bug.
The encryption/key issues can certainly be worked out if there is enough incentive. There is also some basic principles of common law that should prevent silently charging these things without informed consent. After all, the credit card industry makes a lot of money from consenting use of credit cards, they don't want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. The real potential abuse is wirelessly probing for data. What protection will these cards have against unauthorized *initiation* of a transaction when the snooper does not complete a transaction? I can already see retail outlets claiming that they have a legitimate reason to pre-scan your card to determine your credit limit, so they can better help you in the process of using all of it that is left -- oops, I mean tailoring their advice to your needs.
"Innovative" definitely qualifies as hype. Unless just working reliably and quickly counts as innovative. Otherwise the closest thing to an "innovation" are the flashback icons in the browser bar.