I am a partner at a little accounting firm. We have software tools that are absolutely essential to our tax, accounting write up and wealth management work (ie everything we do), for which there is absolutely nothing even remotely similar available on linux or OS X. If spend the overwhelming majority our time working in these applications, should we bend over backwards to hack someway to get these to work on their non native platform?
I have some responsibility over IT, and believe me if there were better alternatives to the Windows platform we would use them, however for a small business like ours I see no compelling reason to switch.
I'm actually thrilled about this development as it derails itunes music store as a complete entertainment solution - which it seemed like apple was heading towards with appletv and everything.
I'm in the overwhelming minority of slashdot people who actually thinks that drm is a good thing, however, I hate the idea of it being tied to platforms.
I'd like a DRM system that is independent of content creators, distributors or hardware manufacturers.
Piracy is like sneaking on an airplane with empty seats (and then as slashdotters so pride themselves upon perhaps throwing a couple of bucks at airline if they enjoyed the ride.) If enough people are sneaking on, the airline is not going to keep flying.
When we're talking about "the future" let's talk about faster wide area wireless networks, and not wifi capabilities.
I don't understand the draw of wifi on mobile phones. I'd rather have one high-speed single connection that is as broadly dispersed as EVDO currently is. For mobile use, when I had a PPC 6700, the evdo was nearly as fast as wifi and switching back and forth was a hassle.
Except I do remember seeing pictures of the treo in the keynote and other phones of that caliber. I can't imagine they are expecting less data use on the iphones the way they are marketing it - hence my surprise.
Did you actually try to put together a new phone plan package with that SmartPhone Connect etc? You can only use it with a Cingular 3125 flip phone. Any of the real PDA phones (iPhone equivalents) like the treos etc. require a $39.99 data plan for unlimited access.
I suppose you are also for governments providing versions of their documents in every language that any of its citizens speak? I think that's a much better analogy.
So long as so much music is missing from itunes that is readily available on CD, people will be buying CDs.
I personally also do not wish to be locked into apple's products for playback.
So for me it's emusic, if what I want is available there, (for cost considerations) or physical CDs if it's not on emusic (any major label stuff and lots of other stuff too)
It's true that symbian has tons of marketshare and I should have included that fact and everything else you included for that matter in my post (even if some of the data is from 2004/2005,) because my point is that it is extremely unlikely the iPhone's safari browser is going to become the standard for mobile browsing anytime soon, and the only explanation I can think of for the parent's enthusiasm, for which I see no basis in current reality, is a misty eyed love of Apple Corporation.
The killer app factor is ancillary to that point, and I wont even rehash it with you.
I absolutely hate windows mobile, but thinking that the iphone is going to ever have greater marketshare than windows mobile shows a lack of understanding about a lot of the people who are buying these phones.
With the release of windows mobile 5 and exchange 2003 SP2 over the past couple of years, anyone who has an up-to-date exchange server can provide over the air sync / direct push (for email, calendar, tasks and contacts) easily to any mobile user without the need for an additional server software (ie blackberry goodlink). MS has even copied the blackberry remote wipe feature.
I think the people who are buying and will continue to buy windows mobile phones are business users who are on an exchange server - and can run the cost of their data plan through their business - and I think that's a lot of people.
-Random access voicemail? Brilliant but not a killer app. -Widescreen Video iPod? I'd love one but that's a toy (and a bit flawed since it can only hold four or five movies anyway on what pre-subsidy is a $775 device) I'm looking at an Archos 605 for movies for when I travel) -Real browsing? Cool for certain, but not adequate reason to dump the blackberry or as a killer of windows mobile (windows mobile can render full webpages too even though it's not as cool as apple's solution) -The "calamari experience?" - yes I have google maps on my phone too - not as cool as apple, but not a killer app. (again windows mobile can do this too of course, not a killer app)
Incidently, the iPhone is the most glorious consumer device ever created, and I'd love the buy one to replace my blackberry, but even giving the multitouch typing virutal or whatever it is called the absolute benefit of the doubt, there is nothing about the iPhone that would justify me giving up access to my calendar and the rest of my outlook information. I have a Sprint blackberry so I'd also have to give up my unlimited tethered EVDO USB laptop internet access.
I don't see how anybody can think this anything but bad news for firefox. As part of the wannabe community who uses alternatives to microsoft products on Windows when possible, I think the marketing (as a "cool" Apple product) appeal of safari will result in it beating out firefox - especially with everybody so comfortable with itunes.
Drm to me implies control by the creator. It doesn't mean that artists and labels won't choose to offer their music for free or free with restrictions (E.g. To download for free for a week or a month). It just mean that the content creators set their asking price and the market can choose whether or not they will pay it. However, the only way for market pricing to be sustainable is if both parties are acceptable to the terms.
I don't believe I should be able to walk on an airplane that happens to have empty seats and then decide how much I feel I should pay for the ride once I've gotten to my destination - forcing my pricing preferences on the airline. However, I also am not limited to one airlines pricing scheme and am not forced to accept their price either.
If a band/label/tv studio think I need to buy a copy a song seperately for my cell phone, portable player, stereo, computer and car then I will simply choose not to buy that song more than once if at all. When they come asking for my old cds or mp3s that I've bought, I don't think i'll sign up if it isn't reasonably enticing and that example arrangement doesn't seem enticing.
My whole hope is that with content owners having confidence that their assets are safe and will provide a predicatable return:
1. more content would come onto the market (out-of-print material or material from other markets due the fact that there could be complete internet distribution, eliminating the physical side of distribution)
2. content would be more portable across the consistent drm system (e.g. watch a tv show on my widescreen iphone that I bought on my DVR
3. pricing could become more efficient - crappy top 40 music could sell for $2 a song, and a copy of the volcano suns album "bumper crop" could sell for $5.
As far as techinical integrity of the scheme, it seems to me that it is at least possible to create a system that would have a high success rate.
If it were supported broadly enough, and "just worked" I think people would understand what the goals were. Customers would understand that you would have products that were time limited (similar to radio and tv) and items that you would be able to keep.
I do believe these rights should be transferable on the secondary market for an unlimted amount of transactions (a universal system would make this more possible)
As far a perpetual copyright. I can see arguments for both sides (neither of which necessarily contradict my wishes for drm.) Real property rights are perpetual, but get dinged by estate tax if they are significant enough. Also, digital content that is purchased has the chance to be perpetual due to its digital nature or be sold (see above).
My sentiment exactly. That's why I support the wildly unpopular view that if it were possible to create a DRM system that was secure, the quality and amount of content available to consumers would increase.
I don't feel expert enough to know if this type of system would work or not, but I'd like to see some sort of intermediary manage individual rights across all hardware and content providers and have as many digital holes plugged as possible.
The big leap that probably needs to happen is the prevention of players from playing non-DRM'd files. There would have to be a transition - maybe media companies could allow customers to trade in existing DVD or redbook CD libraries for digital rights - customers could be induced in a variety of ways.
For the record, another unpopular view I have is that content creators should have be able to have "all rights reserved" and make as much money as they market will allow them to with their content. I'm also against monopolies though (like Microsoft seems to be - I don't think the RIAA is worth worrying about though)
-too much latency overall -poor phone quality, comfort, aesthetic -heavy -wanted to be able to search contacts and make calls without flipping keyboard out or using two hands. -didn't like rebooting everyday to get the email flowing again. -I looked like an ass while I was using it.
I bought a blackberry 8700 and I love it; it eliminated all of those issues. It's a bit bigger than a regular phone but the other benefits (email, calendar, big screen) are worth it.
Shouldn't a digital music store have *better* selection than what's available on CD media? (not worse, as it currently is on iTMS) When is stuff that is other wise out-of-print going to be available on iTMS? I'll take DRM in exchange for better selection.
Until then, it's emusic and amazon (if it isn't available on emusic) for me.
what's with all of the music that is "CURRENTLY NOT LICENSED FOR SALE IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and if I'm not mistaken, there's a very limited selection of what your group has to offer.
For now emusic and amazon (if it isn't on emusic) are the only ways I am currently buying music.
If we get to a point where there are $200 HDDVD/Bluray hybrid players and all of the major studios get on board with either HDDVD and/or Bluray and start regularly releasing new movies and legitimate classics/favorites, I'm definitely in.
The appeal of high definition to me is that I feel like if I am purchasing a movie in this format, the quality of the video and sound will be substantially to the point that I may never wish to buy another version of it again.
For every DVD I've bought since day one I've known I was going to want to replace it in HD if it was a movie that I really loved.
But in terms of quality approaching that of the original analog film medium, any format beyond 720p or 1080i is thus far pretty indistinguishable from each other, and certainly often beyond the original source.
if films begin to be shot in higher res formats, and there is a perceivable benefit (as there is with HD over SD) it will only affect new movies - i'm guessing the diminishing returns of quality beyond good HD and 35mm may have very limited appeal.
Slashdot Mirror
I am a partner at a little accounting firm. We have software tools that are absolutely essential to our tax, accounting write up and wealth management work (ie everything we do), for which there is absolutely nothing even remotely similar available on linux or OS X. If spend the overwhelming majority our time working in these applications, should we bend over backwards to hack someway to get these to work on their non native platform?
I have some responsibility over IT, and believe me if there were better alternatives to the Windows platform we would use them, however for a small business like ours I see no compelling reason to switch.
I'd like to use the iphone as an ipod and a phone and save $20 /month on the data plan. (save $480 and not give up that much) Any hacks for that?
I spent a lot of time at college playing this
I'm actually thrilled about this development as it derails itunes music store as a complete entertainment solution - which it seemed like apple was heading towards with appletv and everything.
I'm in the overwhelming minority of slashdot people who actually thinks that drm is a good thing, however, I hate the idea of it being tied to platforms.
I'd like a DRM system that is independent of content creators, distributors or hardware manufacturers.
Piracy is like sneaking on an airplane with empty seats (and then as slashdotters so pride themselves upon perhaps throwing a couple of bucks at airline if they enjoyed the ride.) If enough people are sneaking on, the airline is not going to keep flying.
When we're talking about "the future" let's talk about faster wide area wireless networks, and not wifi capabilities.
I don't understand the draw of wifi on mobile phones. I'd rather have one high-speed single connection that is as broadly dispersed as EVDO currently is. For mobile use, when I had a PPC 6700, the evdo was nearly as fast as wifi and switching back and forth was a hassle.
JP
Except I do remember seeing pictures of the treo in the keynote and other phones of that caliber. I can't imagine they are expecting less data use on the iphones the way they are marketing it - hence my surprise.
Did you actually try to put together a new phone plan package with that SmartPhone Connect etc? You can only use it with a Cingular 3125 flip phone. Any of the real PDA phones (iPhone equivalents) like the treos etc. require a $39.99 data plan for unlimited access.
I suppose you are also for governments providing versions of their documents in every language that any of its citizens speak? I think that's a much better analogy.
As far as I can tell you cannot get unlimited data for 19.99. You can get unlimited *messaging* for that price, but I'm not seeing it.
I am shocked that these plans come in less expensive than the equivalent plans for other att smartphones.
./
I guaranteed that there wouldn't be less expensive plans for iPhone people in previous posts on
I was wrong
So long as so much music is missing from itunes that is readily available on CD, people will be buying CDs.
I personally also do not wish to be locked into apple's products for playback.
So for me it's emusic, if what I want is available there, (for cost considerations) or physical CDs if it's not on emusic (any major label stuff and lots of other stuff too)
It's true that symbian has tons of marketshare and I should have included that fact and everything else you included for that matter in my post (even if some of the data is from 2004/2005,) because my point is that it is extremely unlikely the iPhone's safari browser is going to become the standard for mobile browsing anytime soon, and the only explanation I can think of for the parent's enthusiasm, for which I see no basis in current reality, is a misty eyed love of Apple Corporation.
The killer app factor is ancillary to that point, and I wont even rehash it with you.
I absolutely hate windows mobile, but thinking that the iphone is going to ever have greater marketshare than windows mobile shows a lack of understanding about a lot of the people who are buying these phones.
With the release of windows mobile 5 and exchange 2003 SP2 over the past couple of years, anyone who has an up-to-date exchange server can provide over the air sync / direct push (for email, calendar, tasks and contacts) easily to any mobile user without the need for an additional server software (ie blackberry goodlink). MS has even copied the blackberry remote wipe feature.
I think the people who are buying and will continue to buy windows mobile phones are business users who are on an exchange server - and can run the cost of their data plan through their business - and I think that's a lot of people.
-Random access voicemail? Brilliant but not a killer app.
-Widescreen Video iPod? I'd love one but that's a toy (and a bit flawed since it can only hold four or five movies anyway on what pre-subsidy is a $775 device) I'm looking at an Archos 605 for movies for when I travel)
-Real browsing? Cool for certain, but not adequate reason to dump the blackberry or as a killer of windows mobile (windows mobile can render full webpages too even though it's not as cool as apple's solution)
-The "calamari experience?" - yes I have google maps on my phone too - not as cool as apple, but not a killer app. (again windows mobile can do this too of course, not a killer app)
Incidently, the iPhone is the most glorious consumer device ever created, and I'd love the buy one to replace my blackberry, but even giving the multitouch typing virutal or whatever it is called the absolute benefit of the doubt, there is nothing about the iPhone that would justify me giving up access to my calendar and the rest of my outlook information. I have a Sprint blackberry so I'd also have to give up my unlimited tethered EVDO USB laptop internet access.
So what's the big deal?
Is someone who is willing to part with $600 for a great music player cell phone "price sensitive?" Come on.
My blackberry is pretty smart and it doesn't crash.
I don't see how anybody can think this anything but bad news for firefox. As part of the wannabe community who uses alternatives to microsoft products on Windows when possible, I think the marketing (as a "cool" Apple product) appeal of safari will result in it beating out firefox - especially with everybody so comfortable with itunes.
Drm to me implies control by the creator. It doesn't mean that artists and labels won't choose to offer their music for free or free with restrictions (E.g. To download for free for a week or a month). It just mean that the content creators set their asking price and the market can choose whether or not they will pay it. However, the only way for market pricing to be sustainable is if both parties are acceptable to the terms.
I don't believe I should be able to walk on an airplane that happens to have empty seats and then decide how much I feel I should pay for the ride once I've gotten to my destination - forcing my pricing preferences on the airline. However, I also am not limited to one airlines pricing scheme and am not forced to accept their price either.
If a band/label/tv studio think I need to buy a copy a song seperately for my cell phone, portable player, stereo, computer and car then I will simply choose not to buy that song more than once if at all. When they come asking for my old cds or mp3s that I've bought, I don't think i'll sign up if it isn't reasonably enticing and that example arrangement doesn't seem enticing.
My whole hope is that with content owners having confidence that their assets are safe and will provide a predicatable return:
1. more content would come onto the market (out-of-print material or material from other markets due the fact that there could be complete internet distribution, eliminating the physical side of distribution)
2. content would be more portable across the consistent drm system (e.g. watch a tv show on my widescreen iphone that I bought on my DVR
3. pricing could become more efficient - crappy top 40 music could sell for $2 a song, and a copy of the volcano suns album "bumper crop" could sell for $5.
As far as techinical integrity of the scheme, it seems to me that it is at least possible to create a system that would have a high success rate.
If it were supported broadly enough, and "just worked" I think people would understand what the goals were. Customers would understand that you would have products that were time limited (similar to radio and tv) and items that you would be able to keep.
I do believe these rights should be transferable on the secondary market for an unlimted amount of transactions (a universal system would make this more possible)
As far a perpetual copyright. I can see arguments for both sides (neither of which necessarily contradict my wishes for drm.) Real property rights are perpetual, but get dinged by estate tax if they are significant enough. Also, digital content that is purchased has the chance to be perpetual due to its digital nature or be sold (see above).
Anyway thanks for replying
My sentiment exactly. That's why I support the wildly unpopular view that if it were possible to create a DRM system that was secure, the quality and amount of content available to consumers would increase.
I don't feel expert enough to know if this type of system would work or not, but I'd like to see some sort of intermediary manage individual rights across all hardware and content providers and have as many digital holes plugged as possible.
The big leap that probably needs to happen is the prevention of players from playing non-DRM'd files. There would have to be a transition - maybe media companies could allow customers to trade in existing DVD or redbook CD libraries for digital rights - customers could be induced in a variety of ways.
For the record, another unpopular view I have is that content creators should have be able to have "all rights reserved" and make as much money as they market will allow them to with their content. I'm also against monopolies though (like Microsoft seems to be - I don't think the RIAA is worth worrying about though)
I ditched my htc sprint ppc 6700 because:
-too much latency overall
-poor phone quality, comfort, aesthetic
-heavy
-wanted to be able to search contacts and make calls without flipping keyboard out or using two hands.
-didn't like rebooting everyday to get the email flowing again.
-I looked like an ass while I was using it.
I bought a blackberry 8700 and I love it; it eliminated all of those issues. It's a bit bigger than a regular phone but the other benefits (email, calendar, big screen) are worth it.
For my needs the bb 8700 can't be beat.
Shouldn't a digital music store have *better* selection than what's available on CD media? (not worse, as it currently is on iTMS) When is stuff that is other wise out-of-print going to be available on iTMS? I'll take DRM in exchange for better selection.
Until then, it's emusic and amazon (if it isn't available on emusic) for me.
what's with all of the music that is "CURRENTLY NOT LICENSED FOR SALE IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and if I'm not mistaken, there's a very limited selection of what your group has to offer.
For now emusic and amazon (if it isn't on emusic) are the only ways I am currently buying music.
is it just me or does this seem a little "tin hattie"
If we get to a point where there are $200 HDDVD/Bluray hybrid players and all of the major studios get on board with either HDDVD and/or Bluray and start regularly releasing new movies and legitimate classics/favorites, I'm definitely in.
The appeal of high definition to me is that I feel like if I am purchasing a movie in this format, the quality of the video and sound will be substantially to the point that I may never wish to buy another version of it again.
For every DVD I've bought since day one I've known I was going to want to replace it in HD if it was a movie that I really loved.
But in terms of quality approaching that of the original analog film medium, any format beyond 720p or 1080i is thus far pretty indistinguishable from each other, and certainly often beyond the original source.
if films begin to be shot in higher res formats, and there is a perceivable benefit (as there is with HD over SD) it will only affect new movies - i'm guessing the diminishing returns of quality beyond good HD and 35mm may have very limited appeal.