7 June 2004
After reading 400+ postings on the release of VeriTouch's iVue Personal Media Player, I thought
it would be useful to provide some factual information about our product to Slashdot readers.
As the inventor of the iVue, and a musician since the age of 9 when I got my first drum practice pad, my goal in developing our device was to first and foremost protect the rights of creative artists working in the film and music industries.
VeriTouch's vision goes back to the Sony Walkman, which I first witnessed being used by one of the MASH television stars in San Francisco around 1979. It was hard to believe the quality of the sound coming out of those earbuds, and it totally blew my mind that this tiny device was pumping it out!
The iVue project has taken almost four years to complete, and we hope to bring to users worldwide an unparalleled power computing device that can offer stunning quality playback of first-run entertainment media delivered wirelessly.
The Register news story had some erroneous information in it.
To begin with, no one has access to, or can retrieve any user's fingerprint information. In fact, fingerprint information doesn't truly exist anywhere, just cryptographic keys that manage the security of delivered media files to the player.
The headline "RIAA wants your fingerprints", then, is not based in fact and it is a shame that this got published.
VeriTouch has labored to ensure that at all costs, the customer's privacy is assured and that no private information (especially biometric) can ever be conflagrated.
In fact, the customer is empowered in this delivery because they can encrypt and lock any file or data that is stored on the iVue! That means that if it is left on the seat of a cab, no matter because no one but the owner can unlock and use the player.
We are simply doing away with passwords by making it possible to simply "push the button", and unlock music, videos, video games and other entertainment content that is delivered.
Microsoft, Apple Computer, Real Networks and many others have and enforce DRM technology in the delivery of entertainment media.
VeriTouch is doing the very same thing with a novel and decidedly different approach.
The fingerprint authentication takes place locally on the individual user's device, and is used to unlock content that is ordered from wireless service providers and delivered to the player for viewing or listening.
Yes, the content is encrypted and can only be played back by the customer who has paid for it. Different users can register on the same device, if required, just like any other user account with its own permissions and privileges.
To summarize, the iVue protects recorded works by ensuring that original content in the studio can be locked, and that distribution of it can be managed so that artistic IP does not end up on file-sharing networks, or illegal copies manufactured and sold.
First-run distribution of newly released movies, music and video games can be enabled with the system by virtue of its strong security.
Having the security onboard will not, in our view, detract at all from the user's experience in purchasing and downloading digital entertainment via wireless distribution providers.
Slashdot Mirror
7 June 2004 After reading 400+ postings on the release of VeriTouch's iVue Personal Media Player, I thought it would be useful to provide some factual information about our product to Slashdot readers. As the inventor of the iVue, and a musician since the age of 9 when I got my first drum practice pad, my goal in developing our device was to first and foremost protect the rights of creative artists working in the film and music industries. VeriTouch's vision goes back to the Sony Walkman, which I first witnessed being used by one of the MASH television stars in San Francisco around 1979. It was hard to believe the quality of the sound coming out of those earbuds, and it totally blew my mind that this tiny device was pumping it out! The iVue project has taken almost four years to complete, and we hope to bring to users worldwide an unparalleled power computing device that can offer stunning quality playback of first-run entertainment media delivered wirelessly. The Register news story had some erroneous information in it. To begin with, no one has access to, or can retrieve any user's fingerprint information. In fact, fingerprint information doesn't truly exist anywhere, just cryptographic keys that manage the security of delivered media files to the player. The headline "RIAA wants your fingerprints", then, is not based in fact and it is a shame that this got published. VeriTouch has labored to ensure that at all costs, the customer's privacy is assured and that no private information (especially biometric) can ever be conflagrated. In fact, the customer is empowered in this delivery because they can encrypt and lock any file or data that is stored on the iVue! That means that if it is left on the seat of a cab, no matter because no one but the owner can unlock and use the player. We are simply doing away with passwords by making it possible to simply "push the button", and unlock music, videos, video games and other entertainment content that is delivered. Microsoft, Apple Computer, Real Networks and many others have and enforce DRM technology in the delivery of entertainment media. VeriTouch is doing the very same thing with a novel and decidedly different approach. The fingerprint authentication takes place locally on the individual user's device, and is used to unlock content that is ordered from wireless service providers and delivered to the player for viewing or listening. Yes, the content is encrypted and can only be played back by the customer who has paid for it. Different users can register on the same device, if required, just like any other user account with its own permissions and privileges. To summarize, the iVue protects recorded works by ensuring that original content in the studio can be locked, and that distribution of it can be managed so that artistic IP does not end up on file-sharing networks, or illegal copies manufactured and sold. First-run distribution of newly released movies, music and video games can be enabled with the system by virtue of its strong security. Having the security onboard will not, in our view, detract at all from the user's experience in purchasing and downloading digital entertainment via wireless distribution providers.