I do agree that Apple should aggressively work toward this, and they should absolutely drop the "all-or-nothing" mentality with DRM on the iTunes store, because dropping all DRM at once won't work. They definitely need to start somewhere, even if it's with relatively unknown artists and/or labels
Bang on. There's a lot of obscure catalogue sitting around that should be on emusic, but it isn't because the major labels think that if they sell a non-DRM file the world will end.
Last year, Warner Music took ownership (from Rupert Murdoch) of the great New Zealand (formerly) indie label Flying Nun Records, home of the Clean, Chris Knox and others - 430 releases. The 25th anniversary of the label passed last year. The good thing to do would have been putting the catalogue on emusic, where someone might actually discover it. But no, Warners would rather not sell music at all than sell it without DRM...
We actually seem to be better served in New Zealand. Heroes started here shortly after the show came back from hiatus in the US, and I can see The Daily Show four nights a week, within hours of it first airing (it felt weird not having to torrent it when that started).
Television New Zealand is about to launch a day-after download service with similar pricing to the iTunes Store. Unfortunately, it's all trussed up in Windows Media DRM and the files die after a week. TVNZ also can't sell imported programmes until they air here, which might be months after the torrents hit the wires. Given that our broadband sucks ass and their market is existing downloaders who are used to keeping up with the zeitgeist, I think they'll struggle.
All of the replies claiming that this law is reasonable, I think have overlooked a few key things:
All good points. And the interesting thing is that while the format-shifting exception has been there since the first discussion document in in 2001, the anti-circumventiontion stuff came in relatively late and has not been well justified. The impression is that the change is a result of lobbying from (a) music industry interests, who strongly opposed format-shifting, (b) US trade interests (there is a desire for a FTA with the US). This is a shame, because NZ's policy development in these areas is generally pretty good, and certainly much better than Australia's. I compiled a timeline here:
Apple has the benefit of closed formats, so what's to stop them from providing an "enhanced video" file that implements the DVD features. I'd like to believe that they'd have the foresight to handle the Special Features issue.
If they're smart, they'll do just that. It doesn't seem like it would be hard to make in a QuickTime environment.
Another interesting question is whether whatever solution Apple presents - and it could involve any or all of iPod, iTunes, Mac Mini, Airport and Front Row - will also let you play your (ahem) otherwise-acquired video. After all, part of the appeal of the iPod was that it happily played MP3s as well as the AACs Apple wants you to use.
The bad photoshop work isn't really the story here. It's just what got him fired from Reuters. In one example and yet another, this photographer is acting more as a Hezbollah propaganda operative than a news photographer. He was responsible for one of the most used photos from Qana with the dead child being held up, and as recently as yesterday had a picture on Page 1 of the NYT of an injured Lebonese civilian. He's basically the Peter Parker of Lebanon. It's wouldn't be hard to get the best photos if you were working with the terrorists who control the region!
Uh-huh. And exactly what's your basis for deciding he's "working with the terrorists" rather than being a freelancer trying to juice up his photos? The only possible explanation for the extra-flares job is to make a prettier picture. What dreadful calumny do you think it embodies? That the Israeli air force can - shudder - fire three missiles at once?
The Beirut shots being brandished by Powerline are either the same thing or - just like the news reports say - the area was bombed more than once in nine days.
In fact, it's very hard to see that either picture is actually "staged". The first is a long shot and has lots of people and smoke still rising in the background; the second has an unidentified woman walking past the wrecked building on a clear day.
Is it the fact that there's a person in it? Dude, every photographer in that line of work knows to get people in the picture: it makes the image more compelling and gives you scale. Check out the descriptions of agency photographs: there's a lot of "woman walking past [insert newsworthy structure here]".
Assuming that the child in Qana was actually dead, there's nothing wrong with that newsphoto. It's a powerful image, which is why so many media used it. Just like the pictures of Saddam's statue being toppled in Firdus square were powerful. Only those were arguably more misleading.
Given that there are about 35 people in the world who haven't seen one version or another yet, how worthwhile is any King Kong remake? I can't wait for Jackson to move onto another project like The Mote in God's Eye or the Foundation trilogy.
It's not as if it's some desperate idea from the studio. Jackson has wanted to remake King Kong since he was a kid. He tried to make it before LOTR - but Miramax yanked it because there were too many monster movies that season. Now he gets to make it with a much bigger budget and a better cast.
Do you yknow the original? It's campy as all hell, and I expect Jackson's will be too. It's not going to be just another monster movie.
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I do agree that Apple should aggressively work toward this, and they should absolutely drop the "all-or-nothing" mentality with DRM on the iTunes store, because dropping all DRM at once won't work. They definitely need to start somewhere, even if it's with relatively unknown artists and/or labels
...
Bang on. There's a lot of obscure catalogue sitting around that should be on emusic, but it isn't because the major labels think that if they sell a non-DRM file the world will end.
Last year, Warner Music took ownership (from Rupert Murdoch) of the great New Zealand (formerly) indie label Flying Nun Records, home of the Clean, Chris Knox and others - 430 releases. The 25th anniversary of the label passed last year. The good thing to do would have been putting the catalogue on emusic, where someone might actually discover it. But no, Warners would rather not sell music at all than sell it without DRM
We actually seem to be better served in New Zealand. Heroes started here shortly after the show came back from hiatus in the US, and I can see The Daily Show four nights a week, within hours of it first airing (it felt weird not having to torrent it when that started).
Television New Zealand is about to launch a day-after download service with similar pricing to the iTunes Store. Unfortunately, it's all trussed up in Windows Media DRM and the files die after a week. TVNZ also can't sell imported programmes until they air here, which might be months after the torrents hit the wires. Given that our broadband sucks ass and their market is existing downloaders who are used to keeping up with the zeitgeist, I think they'll struggle.
All of the replies claiming that this law is reasonable, I think have overlooked a few key things:
All good points. And the interesting thing is that while the format-shifting exception has been there since the first discussion document in in 2001, the anti-circumventiontion stuff came in relatively late and has not been well justified. The impression is that the change is a result of lobbying from (a) music industry interests, who strongly opposed format-shifting, (b) US trade interests (there is a desire for a FTA with the US). This is a shame, because NZ's policy development in these areas is generally pretty good, and certainly much better than Australia's. I compiled a timeline here:
http://publicaddress.net/default,3778.sm
Also, our Rastafarian Green MP made a pretty savvy speech:
http://publicaddress.net/default,3802.sm
As others have noted, the bill now goes to select committee, where it will undoubtedly be amended. The question is how and how much.
Apple has the benefit of closed formats, so what's to stop them from providing an "enhanced video" file that implements the DVD features. I'd like to believe that they'd have the foresight to handle the Special Features issue.
If they're smart, they'll do just that. It doesn't seem like it would be hard to make in a QuickTime environment.
Another interesting question is whether whatever solution Apple presents - and it could involve any or all of iPod, iTunes, Mac Mini, Airport and Front Row - will also let you play your (ahem) otherwise-acquired video. After all, part of the appeal of the iPod was that it happily played MP3s as well as the AACs Apple wants you to use.
The bad photoshop work isn't really the story here. It's just what got him fired from Reuters. In one example and yet another, this photographer is acting more as a Hezbollah propaganda operative than a news photographer. He was responsible for one of the most used photos from Qana with the dead child being held up, and as recently as yesterday had a picture on Page 1 of the NYT of an injured Lebonese civilian. He's basically the Peter Parker of Lebanon. It's wouldn't be hard to get the best photos if you were working with the terrorists who control the region!
Uh-huh. And exactly what's your basis for deciding he's "working with the terrorists" rather than being a freelancer trying to juice up his photos? The only possible explanation for the extra-flares job is to make a prettier picture. What dreadful calumny do you think it embodies? That the Israeli air force can - shudder - fire three missiles at once?
The Beirut shots being brandished by Powerline are either the same thing or - just like the news reports say - the area was bombed more than once in nine days.
In fact, it's very hard to see that either picture is actually "staged". The first is a long shot and has lots of people and smoke still rising in the background; the second has an unidentified woman walking past the wrecked building on a clear day.
Is it the fact that there's a person in it? Dude, every photographer in that line of work knows to get people in the picture: it makes the image more compelling and gives you scale. Check out the descriptions of agency photographs: there's a lot of "woman walking past [insert newsworthy structure here]".
Assuming that the child in Qana was actually dead, there's nothing wrong with that newsphoto. It's a powerful image, which is why so many media used it. Just like the pictures of Saddam's statue being toppled in Firdus square were powerful. Only those were arguably more misleading.
Given that there are about 35 people in the world who haven't seen one version or another yet, how worthwhile is any King Kong remake? I can't wait for Jackson to move onto another project like The Mote in God's Eye or the Foundation trilogy.
It's not as if it's some desperate idea from the studio. Jackson has wanted to remake King Kong since he was a kid. He tried to make it before LOTR - but Miramax yanked it because there were too many monster movies that season. Now he gets to make it with a much bigger budget and a better cast.
Do you yknow the original? It's campy as all hell, and I expect Jackson's will be too. It's not going to be just another monster movie.