It seems that we're headed to a pay-per-view/listen/read/play business model. What's more, it seems that in this game of Rock-Paper-Scissors, Big Media lobbying always beats the Vote.
I'm tired of hearing the "It's THEIR property, if you don't LIKE it, don't BUY it, it's not your ENTITLEMENT to free entertainment," et.al. argument.
What these Joe Public (and even Joe Slashdot) morons don't grasp is that yes, it IS our property! When someone writes/sings/films/programs something, it IS THE PROPERTY OF THE PUBLIC.
However, they are given, as an incentive to KEEP creating these useful things, a limited monopoly. This was formed by the Congress, by the will of the people. However, thanks to the media cartels becoming bigger and more influential than the actual voting block, the "limited" part is sent right out the door. So even though the people gave these rights to the content creators, they now find themselves unable to take them away...even though the numbers clearly don't lie (Isn't it like 60 million fileheads in the US?)
The public has lived up to their part, by saying "yes, we'll pay you for these things."
However, those in "the business" haven't lived up to their end of the bargain - eg; releasing control of their works to the public domain in a limited, reasonable period (95+ years ain't it, folks. I don't care how big-media friendly you are, 95 years isn't within "the spirit of the law" by any stretch of the word...)
And human beings DO have an ENTITLEMENT to be entertained and have fun! Music, words, and images belong to ALL of us. They do not belong to any one person. It is certainly right to give incentive and rewards to those who can MANIPULATE these forces, but to say they can do no wrong, simply because it is "theirs" is bullshit, plain and simple.
I drive a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon V6, so I'm probably not the target audience for this. But at the same time, I'm not one of those high school ricer morons who wouldn't even know how to use an ipod.
Easy solution, cheap, too - get the belkin adapter and a simple tape adapter. Plug the belkin into your lighter slot, and the tape adapter into the belkin. Then, insert tape.
Plug the ipod into the lighter, and it's all set. All you have to do is take out the ipod, same as the BMW model. Unless you smoke or have a tone of tapes you like to hear, this is a far cheaper solution that is just as good.
Yes, the wires are visible. But you're talking about one, maybe two wires. They can easily be bundled into neatness using a velcro tie. These fit easily under my car's ashtray console, where nobody can really see. The only thing that is visible is a small wire coming down from the tape adapter, into the belkin. If you want to buy a 1000+ solution, or a 60,000 car to rid yourelf of one wire, be my guest. I don't have that kind of money to spend on such trivial matters.
On the same topic, though - if you're a digital music freak, and you are buying a BMW anyway, you might as well go for broke.
I write reviews professionally, over 350 in a 2 yr period. I don't exactly have a secured contract like an editor with gamepro/spot/IGN would have, but I do well enough for myself, and it beats working at MCd's for the summer.
I can honestly say that before I began doing so, I was MUCH less jaded. I could get enjoyment out of, and even beat, games like Oni, Star Wars Starfighter, and Gunvalkyrie. Every game except the worst of the worst (ala Kabuki Warriors, et.al;) had something in it that made it worth looking at, if not a purchase.
Believe me when I say that this is no longer the case - after playing games like:
Big Bass Fishing, Celebrity Deathmatch, New Legends, Clone Wars GBA, WWE Crush Hour, Die Hard, T3: ROTM, Drake, Spongebob, Jimmy Neutron, Ecco PS2
I find it hard to give any games but the absolute best my time or money for "personal" gaming. I complete far fewer games, and play for less amounts of time. Games just don't hold my interest for as long as they used to, something I'm convinced is a result of turning my obsession into a job.
I'm not complaining - I love what I do, and feel blessed to be able to do it in lieu of a "real" job. But it's very disheartening to play through crap games by the truckload, with the knowledge that there are actually people who BUY these things, keeping the market for them well-oiled with dollar bills.
This is a bit different than being a FPS superstar making 100's of k a year, but it's in the same ballpark.
It is cheaper nowadays to buy the dvd instead of seeing the film in theaters. If the dvd sells badly, it will be blamed on piracy, even though it's just a case of most people not wanting to pay again to own...erm...license what they already saw.
If the movie flops, piracy will again be blamed, even if it is a case of most people not wanting to pay more for a 2 hour "lease" on the content then they would for an indefinite "lease" on it.
No matter what the entertainment industry gets, it will not be enough for them until they control our culture (what's left of it) in its entirety.
The market simply will not bear these outrageous DVD/cable subscription/movie ticket prices any longer, and they are trying to find a scapegoat.
DVDs are going to eventually go the way of CDs, for the exact same reason - we are being made to shell out a purchase price that is at least 5-6 times over the manufacturing costs. It's greed that is killing these people, not piracy.
As to TV shows, basic cable (read: non-dish/digital) is a joke. It's not even worth having any longer. I don't even think of watching cable any longer, when I want to see something, I load it up over my xbox ftp. There's no reason for me to watch american idol 57 when my computer has 3 seasons of family guy on it.
The entertainment industry has to change or die, simple as that. How many times can consumers (we're not even customers anymore) be expected to pay out higher and higher prices for the same content? (you pay for the subscription to HBO so you can see The Sopranos, then you pay a ridiculous amount of money to see it again, ala boxset.)
Sorry, mp3. It's been nice knowing you! I like the smaller space req. of mp3 files, but if it comes down between that and being able to listen to DRM-free music, I'll just play AAC. If AAC goes this route (as a format standard, not talking about itunes, which I STILL won't use because of DRM) then I'll just use some other format.
That, or download the inevitible cracked player off of suprnova that removes the DRM tags.
There is no way these people can win. But if they want to keep trying, let them - the more they spend on futile copy protection, the less money to sue us with;)
More people like "you". Now, since I have no idea who you are or what style of music you play, I can't well judge you personally, but I would suggest that the only people who are going to stop playing music because they can't make millions of dollars off of it are those who really shouldn't be making music in the first place (Britney Spears, all this "Nu Metal/Gangsta rap" nonesense.)
You state that you play and record music because you love it. But you can't pay for it. Well, that makes little sense - I play video games because it is my hobby, similar to what making music is for you. I write for the same reason, to use a creative analogy. I have never made a dime off of my writings, but I continue to do it because I love writing. If you "can't afford" to sustain your hobby, that says more about you than it does me.
You, and all these bands who have come out against file sharing in general, seem to EXPECT to make money off of their hobby, and that is something that very few people can do. You are in fact among these few...yet you complain, because the current market won't allow you to live this bullshit ideal of a "rockstar lifestyle".
You may not have commercial success on a Britney Spears/Whiny Emo Rock boys/Illiterate thug level, but that doesn't mean that you don't make more than most musicians. Quit bitching, or find a new, more profitable hobby.
This shit is way off base - Kazaa? That virus-laden piece of trash? "Topsites"? Aren't those the fake sites that promise me LORD OF THE RINGS NEW GREAT QUALITY - JUST VOTE FOR US IN ORDER 1 2 3!
Please. Bit Torrent, Win MX, and DC++ are the future. The fact that these people still quote Kazaa as the file sharing service of choice when there is far more material on DC++ alone is very indicative of how little of a clue these so-called "experts" and "tech editors" really have.
Maybe I'm missing something (64 as opposed to 32 bit) but I'm running an OC'd 3000 to 3200 that clocks at 2.21 ghz. I got it for a good 175. Why would I want to upgrade yet?
Oh, you mean like every fag in america having a parade every friday to shove their deviant way of life down our throat?
First Amendment
That's bullshit, and here's why: If I had a "Straight pride parade" or a "KKK power parade" that involved shaking my almost-naked body in front of children while making out with the person next to me, I'd be cited for "lewd conduct"
Someone does the same thing to a person demonstrating at a gay pride parade, and it's a "hate crime" or being "prejudiced". I'm all for equal protection and first amendment rights, but there is a double standard when it comes to gays/straights.
I remember the days when the only people who had to give a damn about copyright laws were those who held 'em and the big piracy rings who infringed upon them and sold the bootlegs in Times Square.
The big arms race of the new millenium seems to be for everyone to horde everything they can under the umbrella of copyright/trademark/patent. I'm surprised you can masturbate any more without signing away the rights to your bodily fluids. It is sad that because of a world controlled by a handful of wealthy political interests, we have to sign/click a waiver/EULA for almost anything we do. I do not envy the world my children will inherit.
Well, this IS slashdot. Which means anyone who gives anything from Apple less than a handjob using the English language as lube is damned to "flamebait" status.
Slashdot Mirror
I'm tired of hearing the "It's THEIR property, if you don't LIKE it, don't BUY it, it's not your ENTITLEMENT to free entertainment," et.al. argument.
What these Joe Public (and even Joe Slashdot) morons don't grasp is that yes, it IS our property! When someone writes/sings/films/programs something, it IS THE PROPERTY OF THE PUBLIC.
However, they are given, as an incentive to KEEP creating these useful things, a limited monopoly. This was formed by the Congress, by the will of the people. However, thanks to the media cartels becoming bigger and more influential than the actual voting block, the "limited" part is sent right out the door. So even though the people gave these rights to the content creators, they now find themselves unable to take them away...even though the numbers clearly don't lie (Isn't it like 60 million fileheads in the US?)
The public has lived up to their part, by saying "yes, we'll pay you for these things."
However, those in "the business" haven't lived up to their end of the bargain - eg; releasing control of their works to the public domain in a limited, reasonable period (95+ years ain't it, folks. I don't care how big-media friendly you are, 95 years isn't within "the spirit of the law" by any stretch of the word...)
And human beings DO have an ENTITLEMENT to be entertained and have fun! Music, words, and images belong to ALL of us. They do not belong to any one person. It is certainly right to give incentive and rewards to those who can MANIPULATE these forces, but to say they can do no wrong, simply because it is "theirs" is bullshit, plain and simple.
Yeah, and don't forget that under PATRIOT and "executive privledge", almost ANYTHING can be considered "terrorism."
Easy solution, cheap, too - get the belkin adapter and a simple tape adapter. Plug the belkin into your lighter slot, and the tape adapter into the belkin. Then, insert tape.
Plug the ipod into the lighter, and it's all set. All you have to do is take out the ipod, same as the BMW model. Unless you smoke or have a tone of tapes you like to hear, this is a far cheaper solution that is just as good.
Yes, the wires are visible. But you're talking about one, maybe two wires. They can easily be bundled into neatness using a velcro tie. These fit easily under my car's ashtray console, where nobody can really see. The only thing that is visible is a small wire coming down from the tape adapter, into the belkin. If you want to buy a 1000+ solution, or a 60,000 car to rid yourelf of one wire, be my guest. I don't have that kind of money to spend on such trivial matters.
On the same topic, though - if you're a digital music freak, and you are buying a BMW anyway, you might as well go for broke.
I write reviews professionally, over 350 in a 2 yr period. I don't exactly have a secured contract like an editor with gamepro/spot/IGN would have, but I do well enough for myself, and it beats working at MCd's for the summer. I can honestly say that before I began doing so, I was MUCH less jaded. I could get enjoyment out of, and even beat, games like Oni, Star Wars Starfighter, and Gunvalkyrie. Every game except the worst of the worst (ala Kabuki Warriors, et.al;) had something in it that made it worth looking at, if not a purchase. Believe me when I say that this is no longer the case - after playing games like: Big Bass Fishing, Celebrity Deathmatch, New Legends, Clone Wars GBA, WWE Crush Hour, Die Hard, T3: ROTM, Drake, Spongebob, Jimmy Neutron, Ecco PS2 I find it hard to give any games but the absolute best my time or money for "personal" gaming. I complete far fewer games, and play for less amounts of time. Games just don't hold my interest for as long as they used to, something I'm convinced is a result of turning my obsession into a job. I'm not complaining - I love what I do, and feel blessed to be able to do it in lieu of a "real" job. But it's very disheartening to play through crap games by the truckload, with the knowledge that there are actually people who BUY these things, keeping the market for them well-oiled with dollar bills. This is a bit different than being a FPS superstar making 100's of k a year, but it's in the same ballpark.
On the other hand, it can't possibly be any worse than the original...CAN IT?! ;)
If the movie flops, piracy will again be blamed, even if it is a case of most people not wanting to pay more for a 2 hour "lease" on the content then they would for an indefinite "lease" on it.
No matter what the entertainment industry gets, it will not be enough for them until they control our culture (what's left of it) in its entirety.
The market simply will not bear these outrageous DVD/cable subscription/movie ticket prices any longer, and they are trying to find a scapegoat.
DVDs are going to eventually go the way of CDs, for the exact same reason - we are being made to shell out a purchase price that is at least 5-6 times over the manufacturing costs. It's greed that is killing these people, not piracy.
As to TV shows, basic cable (read: non-dish/digital) is a joke. It's not even worth having any longer. I don't even think of watching cable any longer, when I want to see something, I load it up over my xbox ftp. There's no reason for me to watch american idol 57 when my computer has 3 seasons of family guy on it.
The entertainment industry has to change or die, simple as that. How many times can consumers (we're not even customers anymore) be expected to pay out higher and higher prices for the same content? (you pay for the subscription to HBO so you can see The Sopranos, then you pay a ridiculous amount of money to see it again, ala boxset.)
That, or download the inevitible cracked player off of suprnova that removes the DRM tags.
There is no way these people can win. But if they want to keep trying, let them - the more they spend on futile copy protection, the less money to sue us with ;)
All your bits are belong to EA.
Don't buy EA, for great justice.
One more reason to get hosting based outside the US, if your site does anything but blindly wave the flag and speak the newspeak.
More people like "you". Now, since I have no idea who you are or what style of music you play, I can't well judge you personally, but I would suggest that the only people who are going to stop playing music because they can't make millions of dollars off of it are those who really shouldn't be making music in the first place (Britney Spears, all this "Nu Metal/Gangsta rap" nonesense.)
You state that you play and record music because you love it. But you can't pay for it. Well, that makes little sense - I play video games because it is my hobby, similar to what making music is for you. I write for the same reason, to use a creative analogy. I have never made a dime off of my writings, but I continue to do it because I love writing. If you "can't afford" to sustain your hobby, that says more about you than it does me.
You, and all these bands who have come out against file sharing in general, seem to EXPECT to make money off of their hobby, and that is something that very few people can do. You are in fact among these few...yet you complain, because the current market won't allow you to live this bullshit ideal of a "rockstar lifestyle".
You may not have commercial success on a Britney Spears/Whiny Emo Rock boys/Illiterate thug level, but that doesn't mean that you don't make more than most musicians. Quit bitching, or find a new, more profitable hobby.
"Fiscal 05" means April 04...at the earliest.
This shit is way off base - Kazaa? That virus-laden piece of trash? "Topsites"? Aren't those the fake sites that promise me LORD OF THE RINGS NEW GREAT QUALITY - JUST VOTE FOR US IN ORDER 1 2 3! Please. Bit Torrent, Win MX, and DC++ are the future. The fact that these people still quote Kazaa as the file sharing service of choice when there is far more material on DC++ alone is very indicative of how little of a clue these so-called "experts" and "tech editors" really have.
Maybe I'm missing something (64 as opposed to 32 bit) but I'm running an OC'd 3000 to 3200 that clocks at 2.21 ghz. I got it for a good 175. Why would I want to upgrade yet?
Insert here.
until MS sues this guy for DMCA/copyright/IP/patent/trademark infringement?
First Amendment
That's bullshit, and here's why: If I had a "Straight pride parade" or a "KKK power parade" that involved shaking my almost-naked body in front of children while making out with the person next to me, I'd be cited for "lewd conduct"
Someone does the same thing to a person demonstrating at a gay pride parade, and it's a "hate crime" or being "prejudiced". I'm all for equal protection and first amendment rights, but there is a double standard when it comes to gays/straights.
I remember the days when the only people who had to give a damn about copyright laws were those who held 'em and the big piracy rings who infringed upon them and sold the bootlegs in Times Square. The big arms race of the new millenium seems to be for everyone to horde everything they can under the umbrella of copyright/trademark/patent. I'm surprised you can masturbate any more without signing away the rights to your bodily fluids. It is sad that because of a world controlled by a handful of wealthy political interests, we have to sign/click a waiver/EULA for almost anything we do. I do not envy the world my children will inherit.
Strangely, this all makes sense...maybe I have a future in marketing ;)
Release ALL SIX as one big giant 20 disc set with extra features and the original triliogy and the special editions!
Yes, but the enemy (ACLU) of my enemy (George W. Hitler) is my friend.
Well, this IS slashdot. Which means anyone who gives anything from Apple less than a handjob using the English language as lube is damned to "flamebait" status.
IANAMBBIPOOTV
I am not a molecular biologist, but I play one on TV.
Amazing how US governmental organizations only "reign themselves in" when massive corporations benefit as a result...
When was the last time someone who "liked" you asked for money, every year, to continue seeing them? My girlfriend.
Shit, mod parent insightful. ;)