It would be interseting to a torrent site start listing where to mail compensation directly to the artist/creator, maybe include a public rating system where the users determine what they consider is a fair value too.
Add in an anonymous way to pay, to protect them from the **AA's attorneys/spies, and someone will notice...
Imagine if AllofMP3.com started mailing checks directly to the artists, bypassing the labels. I bet the checks would still get cashed, with a big smile on their faces too.:D
Not buying their stuff IS NOT the solution. That is doing nothing. If it was a solution, we would have had an effect long ago. There are BILLIONS of consumers on this planet - how many know what DRM is and what it does?
99.9% of consumers have no idea or care less about DRM and what it does. This is the exact opposite of the feelings of those who do care. They do not yet realize the implications or the restrictions. They buy a CD and listen to it on their CD player. Their DVDs work in their DVD player. They buy an MP3 and listen to it on their iPod. End of story.
In a few years they may realize that MP3 isn't going to be playable on their new fancy phone with a zillion features and won't transfer to their new googlePod (gPod) or their new PC or laptop. The new HD/Blu-Ray player won't even play CDs and it's possible some DVDs or HD-DVDs may not work if they've already been used in another piece of equipment. Their Windows Media Center Vista2 won't play it either, due to it's DRM. You won't be able to rent video games anymore at blockbuster, because games will be locked to a single game console.
But by then the RIAA/MPAA or whatnot has their money and they've legislated their DRM to be a part of life and law.... Is this what you want? Go ahead, don't buy their stuff - let everyone else suffer.
If something is not done now, by those who do understand the implications, nothing will ever be done.
Having the attitude that nobody is forcing them to buy their stuff is asinine. You have to stand up and make yourself HEARD!
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
The initial price was raised to $130, but they stated after the initial production runs of about 5 million they will be able to profitably market them at $100.
Demand should be high, even tho it's ugly as sin - so pricing should come down within a short time - if the profitmongers don't hold it at $130 that is...
Actually, it's probably a good move and focus for SONY to explore. The PS3 is also a media center and has the functionaility of a computer. WebTV never really took off, but in this context it may. Toss in a plug-in to handle caller-id on the TV screen and/or VOIP and this box will become the center of every owners home.
Interfacing with every computer, the net, cable, IPTV, VOIP, games, PSPs, bluetooth phones, PDAs and who knows what else. A lot of possibilities there as well as a vastly expanded market for SONY.
It would be interesting to see them go the other route tho, and offer PS3 card/Blu-Ray drive combos to install in our PCs. I'd love to be able to play some of my PS3 games on my PC - or possibly even my laptop on the road.
It will all fail if SONY neglects their core gamer market, the pricing has already turned many noses up - so it's time for their PR department to get out their and justify the wait and price for the PS3, and now.
DLP typically have a 170 degree viewing angle (almost perfect) and run $1000 less than the same size LCD. Repair involves replacing the bulb (around $150) every 3-6 years. Lightweight (60 lbs) and thinner than the old projections (12-14 inches).
LCD pixels burn out - a few aren't a big deal, more get annoying.... LCDs are thinner. (4-5 inches) Typically a 180 degree viewing angle.
Plasma is best for larger screens - 60 inches plus, but Plasma gas leaks over time causing dulling - replace your TV time.:( Pricing is about the same as LCD. Typically a 180 degree viewing angle.
I have a 42 inch SONY WEGA - retails around $1500-$1800 right now - I love it and am happy to have saved over $800 over an LCD or Plasma.
Yea, I know this sounds sick, I know I'm rambling, but think about it... First off, birdflu is a remote possibilty, especially on a pandemic level. It is possible still. We have the fear factor implanted. Fear always equals profit.
AIDS has the fear factor too, but not enough 'wealthy' people get AIDS anymore, so it's not as profitable as it used to be.
Ok, so Tamiflu hasn't been proven tpo have worked as a cure successfully. 2 in 14 people living doesn't sound much better than just dealing with the bird flu without Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not being distributed as a vaccine, nor has it been proven to work as a vaccine. The makers of Tamiflu held out as long as they could to keep profits up, and will rake in even more dough now that they can make it cheaper. Our government(s) support the notion of Tamiflu as our best defense at the moment.
Think any lobbyists had an influence on this?
Treating AIDS was even more profitable though, and if you have AIDS you may fare better with bird flu than the average victim. I bet the pharmaceutical companies have considered it too - for the 'shareholders' of course. BAH.
Anyway, how long before we see them come up with the idea of treating AIDS with bird flu. They'll probably figure out a way and place to test it - get some moderate success - convince the public via it's corrupt politicians it's fiarly failsafe and make it happen. Treatment immunity will be granted swiftly. BOOM. The AIDS cure (aka birdflu derivitive) will mysteriously mutate and spread, passing bird-flu worldwide in a matter of months.
The billions of dollars in Tamiflu stockpiles will be useless and the public will demand a solution, any solution.
A 'Get AIDS Quick' solution will of course be ready for mass consumption, and most likely for free. The drug pushing son-of-a...... er 'pharmaceutical companies' will be happy to give you AIDS free in order to get you hooked on the lifetime of AIDS cocktails, won't they?
Ok, I can MAYBE understand 20% for packaging on a traditional CD, although it seems hard to justify $2 (based on a $10 CD price) to pay for a piece of 1 cent cardboard for the liner and a 20 cent plastic case. Maybe they pay someone $1.79 to put the CD in the package? lol
What I don't understand is the 15% for 'breakage' - how can that be justifiable? Do 3 out of every 20 CDs mysteriously implode? I caqn't remember EVER breaking a CD accidentally or otherwise and I am rather abusive with them - I sracth the heck out of them because I don't put them inot their cases a lot.
Maybe the musicians should expand the lawsuit for the extortionist charges they are paying on their CDs too for 'packaging' and 'breakage'.
Honestly, maybe we should start blaming the IDIOT musicians who sign these recording contracts for agreeing to such inane charges for THEIR content.
Sprint forces you to sign a contract to get their 'plan' not just the phone. You are also forced to use a 'Sprint' phone - whether you get it from them or eBay. The SIM cards are disabled and not used in US Sprint phones. There is no way around the contract.
They even require a new contract if you 'change' your plan at any time.
The big 3 US cellphone providers have the markets so locked down now, it's as bad as the oil companies. You have no choice. You are stuck buying their crap without the features every other country enjoys. You get locked into their networks and their features - no choice.
Wait til voip cell phones start hitting the markets as wifi becomes more available....
Fear is the number one tool used to eliminate freedoms, no matter how small.
Hitler used very similar tactics to rise to power and advance his own power once he had risen. Fear and the 'Patriot' factor were his strongest tools in the manipulation of the German society. Freedoms were lost as well as untold lives, all for the 'homeland.' The rest of the world sat back and let it happen too, just like now. The current administration must have some sort of Nazi handbook....
I wonder how many more are going to die this time.
Let's come up with another law no individual is going to want to follow if they don't want to.
Drug Laws - if someone wants to do drugs, they do them - period. Wasted enforcement.
Seat Belt laws - if someone doesn't wear their seatbelt - they don't. Wasted enforcement.
Prostitution laws - if someone wants a hooker, they get one. Wasted enforcement.
Remember the sodomy laws, it was illegal to be gay?!
Now the government wants to come out with 'Privacy Laws' - if someone wants to be private, they will. Not only wasted enforcement, but yet another cut into personal freedoms, just like the above laws.
Imagine how much better the country would be if we took the 'drug war' money and used it for education and free substance abuse treatment? Have you ever tried to find an open bed in a rehab? It's not possible for less than $6 grand a month! The affordable and state sponsored beds are usually a 3-6 week wait, if not more.
Picture the amount of taxes they could generate off taxing pot - an easy extra 250-500 BILLION a year. ($2+ a joint tax x 1 per day times 365 days x 20 million users).
Tax prostitutes and make another 200 billion or more...
Bye Bye deficit.
This is a FREE country (except you pay taxes lol), as long as you do not harm another person PERSONALLY, then you should be free to do as you please. Our congress, an uneducated public and 'fear' have led to the slow and increasingly often removal of freedoms one after another - all 'to protect us' ??
Why are we still continuing to let this happen?
I have sites ranked in Google, I am glad I do. Their pageranks occasionally change altering my position - I adapt. That's my responsibility to myself and my site. I do not sue, for I have no right.
Google serves web results for the search engine users, not for the websites. Sure they connect the two, but they are trying to serve the person(s) searching - that is what they do. It is what makes them the most popular - relevant search results.
As others have mentioned, most people do not like linkfarms or referral sites, people hate even clicking a link and ending up there. I know I do too - I wanted results, not someone elses biased attempt to get the most referral revenue. (I realize Google could be viewed as similar with 'sponsored results' but at least I know that up front and can bypass or ignore them.) In the end, I use Google because Google serves me - not Kinderstart or any other web site first.
Sony Online Entertainment (provider EQ, Matric Online, SWG as well as various PS and PSP online titles) released an interview recntly that sheds a little light on this....
http://www.gamergod.com/article.php?article_id=353 8
Since when did 'Freedom of Speech' apply to private entities?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
It says CONGRESS, ie the government can make no law - not the people, business or my dog. Wikipedia can block whoever they feel like blocking for whatever reason they choose to, as long as it does not violate legislated civil protections (Race, Religion, Sex, etc.). Being a congressional staffer, Congressman or even the President does not give them them any extra rights.
If I did not like what you did or said in my house or business, I could toss you out and never let you in again. You can't sue me because I let everyone else in or let them say what they want. It's MY house or business, not yours, I get to make the rules, not you. Wikipedia IS NOT the government, and IS NOT subject to giving anyone freedom of speech.
It's actually because of people's misconceived perception that 'Freedom of Speech' means NOBODY can stop you from saying or doing whatever you want wherever they want that Wikipedia is having this problem. Everyone wants their versions/facts/opinions to be told, not necessarily every version/fact/opinion or even the correct versions/facts/opinions. Apparrently the politicos in DC and their staff think Wiki is going to let them - wrong. Private entities, like Wiki, need to make rules, enforce rules and take action to stop abuse in order to preserve itself and it's integrity.
Nevada is still the only state which requires identification, upon request, by law. It's been like this for a long time now, long before the terrorism fears of today. This probably stemmed from the heavy influence of gambling, but the law exists and Nevada residents aren't doing anything to stop it, yet.
Time Warner ALREADY does provide DEDICATED bandwith for their voip service.
It is allocated a specific portion of the cable pipe's spectrum (seperate from the internet service), just as the cable TV is allocated it's own dedicated portion. The high speed internet portion of the pipes bandwith is the only shared portion (with your neighbors) and would be the only option for any competiting voip providers at this time.
Now just because they already do this (because they can with their big fat pipes) does not mean it's detrimental to the other providers, but it does give them the option....
Thanks mate! In the US the term 'dearer' isn't really used. We just say 'more expensive'.:)
I did check the dictionary after posting tho, and your use is correct. I'm just a stupid American tho, whada I know?
AMEN!
Great insight and exactly what the 'founders' of this country wanted this country to be! Unfortunately, the far-right are becoming more and more fanatical. They are creating their own Christian form of the Taliban and trying to mold American society into accepting it.
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Since when can an EXECUTIVE BRANCH of the US Government agency declare tax rates?
This has to be unconstitutional. Whats next? The DOJ taxing traffic tickets?
It would be interseting to a torrent site start listing where to mail compensation directly to the artist/creator, maybe include a public rating system where the users determine what they consider is a fair value too.
:D
Add in an anonymous way to pay, to protect them from the **AA's attorneys/spies, and someone will notice...
Imagine if AllofMP3.com started mailing checks directly to the artists, bypassing the labels. I bet the checks would still get cashed, with a big smile on their faces too.
Not buying their stuff IS NOT the solution. That is doing nothing. If it was a solution, we would have had an effect long ago. There are BILLIONS of consumers on this planet - how many know what DRM is and what it does?
99.9% of consumers have no idea or care less about DRM and what it does. This is the exact opposite of the feelings of those who do care. They do not yet realize the implications or the restrictions. They buy a CD and listen to it on their CD player. Their DVDs work in their DVD player. They buy an MP3 and listen to it on their iPod. End of story.
In a few years they may realize that MP3 isn't going to be playable on their new fancy phone with a zillion features and won't transfer to their new googlePod (gPod) or their new PC or laptop. The new HD/Blu-Ray player won't even play CDs and it's possible some DVDs or HD-DVDs may not work if they've already been used in another piece of equipment. Their Windows Media Center Vista2 won't play it either, due to it's DRM. You won't be able to rent video games anymore at blockbuster, because games will be locked to a single game console.
But by then the RIAA/MPAA or whatnot has their money and they've legislated their DRM to be a part of life and law.... Is this what you want? Go ahead, don't buy their stuff - let everyone else suffer.
If something is not done now, by those who do understand the implications, nothing will ever be done.
Having the attitude that nobody is forcing them to buy their stuff is asinine. You have to stand up and make yourself HEARD!
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
Well at least an African accent is easier to understand than an Indian one... Maybe customer service will improve.
Hopefully the African comprehension of the English language is better too.
Ok, so how come all the spam blockers don't just block the entire Taiwanese IP range?
:)
Anyone care to disclose the ranges?
The initial price was raised to $130, but they stated after the initial production runs of about 5 million they will be able to profitably market them at $100.
Demand should be high, even tho it's ugly as sin - so pricing should come down within a short time - if the profitmongers don't hold it at $130 that is...
Actually, it's probably a good move and focus for SONY to explore. The PS3 is also a media center and has the functionaility of a computer. WebTV never really took off, but in this context it may. Toss in a plug-in to handle caller-id on the TV screen and/or VOIP and this box will become the center of every owners home.
Interfacing with every computer, the net, cable, IPTV, VOIP, games, PSPs, bluetooth phones, PDAs and who knows what else. A lot of possibilities there as well as a vastly expanded market for SONY.
It would be interesting to see them go the other route tho, and offer PS3 card/Blu-Ray drive combos to install in our PCs. I'd love to be able to play some of my PS3 games on my PC - or possibly even my laptop on the road.
It will all fail if SONY neglects their core gamer market, the pricing has already turned many noses up - so it's time for their PR department to get out their and justify the wait and price for the PS3, and now.
Google could handle or build a distributed streaming system, in a timely fashion, with all it's dark fiber couldn't it?
DLP typically have a 170 degree viewing angle (almost perfect) and run $1000 less than the same size LCD. Repair involves replacing the bulb (around $150) every 3-6 years. Lightweight (60 lbs) and thinner than the old projections (12-14 inches).
:( Pricing is about the same as LCD. Typically a 180 degree viewing angle.
LCD pixels burn out - a few aren't a big deal, more get annoying.... LCDs are thinner. (4-5 inches) Typically a 180 degree viewing angle.
Plasma is best for larger screens - 60 inches plus, but Plasma gas leaks over time causing dulling - replace your TV time.
I have a 42 inch SONY WEGA - retails around $1500-$1800 right now - I love it and am happy to have saved over $800 over an LCD or Plasma.
Good Luck.
Yet another waste of time by our elected morons.
Yea, I know this sounds sick, I know I'm rambling, but think about it...
First off, birdflu is a remote possibilty, especially on a pandemic level. It is possible still. We have the fear factor implanted. Fear always equals profit.
AIDS has the fear factor too, but not enough 'wealthy' people get AIDS anymore, so it's not as profitable as it used to be.
Ok, so Tamiflu hasn't been proven tpo have worked as a cure successfully. 2 in 14 people living doesn't sound much better than just dealing with the bird flu without Tamiflu. Tamiflu is not being distributed as a vaccine, nor has it been proven to work as a vaccine. The makers of Tamiflu held out as long as they could to keep profits up, and will rake in even more dough now that they can make it cheaper. Our government(s) support the notion of Tamiflu as our best defense at the moment.
Think any lobbyists had an influence on this?
Treating AIDS was even more profitable though, and if you have AIDS you may fare better with bird flu than the average victim. I bet the pharmaceutical companies have considered it too - for the 'shareholders' of course. BAH.
Anyway, how long before we see them come up with the idea of treating AIDS with bird flu. They'll probably figure out a way and place to test it - get some moderate success - convince the public via it's corrupt politicians it's fiarly failsafe and make it happen. Treatment immunity will be granted swiftly. BOOM. The AIDS cure (aka birdflu derivitive) will mysteriously mutate and spread, passing bird-flu worldwide in a matter of months.
The billions of dollars in Tamiflu stockpiles will be useless and the public will demand a solution, any solution.
A 'Get AIDS Quick' solution will of course be ready for mass consumption, and most likely for free. The drug pushing son-of-a...... er 'pharmaceutical companies' will be happy to give you AIDS free in order to get you hooked on the lifetime of AIDS cocktails, won't they?
It's always about PROFIT.
Ok, I can MAYBE understand 20% for packaging on a traditional CD, although it seems hard to justify $2 (based on a $10 CD price) to pay for a piece of 1 cent cardboard for the liner and a 20 cent plastic case. Maybe they pay someone $1.79 to put the CD in the package? lol
What I don't understand is the 15% for 'breakage' - how can that be justifiable? Do 3 out of every 20 CDs mysteriously implode? I caqn't remember EVER breaking a CD accidentally or otherwise and I am rather abusive with them - I sracth the heck out of them because I don't put them inot their cases a lot.
Maybe the musicians should expand the lawsuit for the extortionist charges they are paying on their CDs too for 'packaging' and 'breakage'.
Honestly, maybe we should start blaming the IDIOT musicians who sign these recording contracts for agreeing to such inane charges for THEIR content.
Sprint forces you to sign a contract to get their 'plan' not just the phone. You are also forced to use a 'Sprint' phone - whether you get it from them or eBay. The SIM cards are disabled and not used in US Sprint phones. There is no way around the contract.
They even require a new contract if you 'change' your plan at any time.
The big 3 US cellphone providers have the markets so locked down now, it's as bad as the oil companies. You have no choice. You are stuck buying their crap without the features every other country enjoys. You get locked into their networks and their features - no choice.
Wait til voip cell phones start hitting the markets as wifi becomes more available....
Fear is the number one tool used to eliminate freedoms, no matter how small.
Hitler used very similar tactics to rise to power and advance his own power once he had risen. Fear and the 'Patriot' factor were his strongest tools in the manipulation of the German society. Freedoms were lost as well as untold lives, all for the 'homeland.' The rest of the world sat back and let it happen too, just like now. The current administration must have some sort of Nazi handbook....
I wonder how many more are going to die this time.
Let's come up with another law no individual is going to want to follow if they don't want to. Drug Laws - if someone wants to do drugs, they do them - period. Wasted enforcement. Seat Belt laws - if someone doesn't wear their seatbelt - they don't. Wasted enforcement. Prostitution laws - if someone wants a hooker, they get one. Wasted enforcement. Remember the sodomy laws, it was illegal to be gay?! Now the government wants to come out with 'Privacy Laws' - if someone wants to be private, they will. Not only wasted enforcement, but yet another cut into personal freedoms, just like the above laws. Imagine how much better the country would be if we took the 'drug war' money and used it for education and free substance abuse treatment? Have you ever tried to find an open bed in a rehab? It's not possible for less than $6 grand a month! The affordable and state sponsored beds are usually a 3-6 week wait, if not more. Picture the amount of taxes they could generate off taxing pot - an easy extra 250-500 BILLION a year. ($2+ a joint tax x 1 per day times 365 days x 20 million users). Tax prostitutes and make another 200 billion or more... Bye Bye deficit. This is a FREE country (except you pay taxes lol), as long as you do not harm another person PERSONALLY, then you should be free to do as you please. Our congress, an uneducated public and 'fear' have led to the slow and increasingly often removal of freedoms one after another - all 'to protect us' ?? Why are we still continuing to let this happen?
I have sites ranked in Google, I am glad I do. Their pageranks occasionally change altering my position - I adapt. That's my responsibility to myself and my site. I do not sue, for I have no right.
Google serves web results for the search engine users, not for the websites. Sure they connect the two, but they are trying to serve the person(s) searching - that is what they do. It is what makes them the most popular - relevant search results.
As others have mentioned, most people do not like linkfarms or referral sites, people hate even clicking a link and ending up there. I know I do too - I wanted results, not someone elses biased attempt to get the most referral revenue. (I realize Google could be viewed as similar with 'sponsored results' but at least I know that up front and can bypass or ignore them.) In the end, I use Google because Google serves me - not Kinderstart or any other web site first.
Sony Online Entertainment (provider EQ, Matric Online, SWG as well as various PS and PSP online titles) released an interview recntly that sheds a little light on this.... http://www.gamergod.com/article.php?article_id=353 8
What are you talking about?
Since when did 'Freedom of Speech' apply to private entities?
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
It says CONGRESS, ie the government can make no law - not the people, business or my dog. Wikipedia can block whoever they feel like blocking for whatever reason they choose to, as long as it does not violate legislated civil protections (Race, Religion, Sex, etc.). Being a congressional staffer, Congressman or even the President does not give them them any extra rights.
If I did not like what you did or said in my house or business, I could toss you out and never let you in again. You can't sue me because I let everyone else in or let them say what they want. It's MY house or business, not yours, I get to make the rules, not you. Wikipedia IS NOT the government, and IS NOT subject to giving anyone freedom of speech.
It's actually because of people's misconceived perception that 'Freedom of Speech' means NOBODY can stop you from saying or doing whatever you want wherever they want that Wikipedia is having this problem. Everyone wants their versions/facts/opinions to be told, not necessarily every version/fact/opinion or even the correct versions/facts/opinions. Apparrently the politicos in DC and their staff think Wiki is going to let them - wrong. Private entities, like Wiki, need to make rules, enforce rules and take action to stop abuse in order to preserve itself and it's integrity.
I say, "Way to go Wiki!"
Nevada is still the only state which requires identification, upon request, by law. It's been like this for a long time now, long before the terrorism fears of today. This probably stemmed from the heavy influence of gambling, but the law exists and Nevada residents aren't doing anything to stop it, yet.
Time Warner ALREADY does provide DEDICATED bandwith for their voip service. It is allocated a specific portion of the cable pipe's spectrum (seperate from the internet service), just as the cable TV is allocated it's own dedicated portion. The high speed internet portion of the pipes bandwith is the only shared portion (with your neighbors) and would be the only option for any competiting voip providers at this time. Now just because they already do this (because they can with their big fat pipes) does not mean it's detrimental to the other providers, but it does give them the option....
Thanks mate! In the US the term 'dearer' isn't really used. We just say 'more expensive'. :)
I did check the dictionary after posting tho, and your use is correct. I'm just a stupid American tho, whada I know?
Can an aussie please translate what the heck 'dearer' means to American? :) I think he means 'cheaper' but the context is confusing me.
If its private and confidential, keep it on paper (preferably typed with a typewriter). What's a typewriter?
Scary thing is.... AOL now comes FREE with RoadRunner (Time Warner's Broadband offering).
AMEN! Great insight and exactly what the 'founders' of this country wanted this country to be! Unfortunately, the far-right are becoming more and more fanatical. They are creating their own Christian form of the Taliban and trying to mold American society into accepting it.