The latest example of this comes in the form of a DVD copy protection technology called Protect DVD-Video which actually prevents a DVD being played on a Windows PC using Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center Edition or any software players based on DirectShow.
Are most other media players covered under DirectShow? (WinDVD, for example?)
From a business perspective, it's unlikely that the industry would essentially canabalize part of their market (HTPC users, et al )in a move that would only temporarily set back piracy (clearly a workaround already exists). We live in a capitalist society, and despite popular scoffing, execs are not all stupid. This is a bad business idea from the inside out. I don't see it taking hold.
That's a really good point. I think, in the end, a business' job is to make the customer happy up until the point when it becomes unprofitable. I know that for Blockbuster Online, that means taking your word for it, no matter what. If a DVD I receive is broken, I can choose one of two option on the help menu: either I've broken it myself, or it arrived broken. It's on the honor system, but most of the time I'm going to choose the latter. So long as the movies play right MOST of the time, it would probably be wisest for Apple to just allow another free download if a problem is reported. It's an inconvenience to download again (a problem), but that would probably prevent the majority of people from taking advantage of the 'report a problem' option. A small percentage of people would still mooch, but the large majority would remain happy customers (or happier than if they had no recourse for a failed file), and one or two moochers would not drag iTunes into bankruptcy.
seriously, mate, groups can be statistically significant at populations of just over 30. Additionally, you can read the PEW research methods (as performed by Princeton Survey Research Associates International) here.(pdf)
Additionally, nursery is correctly spelled with an "s," and keep your stereotypes of women out of your posts, please, before I burn my bra.
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From a business perspective, it's unlikely that the industry would essentially canabalize part of their market (HTPC users, et al )in a move that would only temporarily set back piracy (clearly a workaround already exists). We live in a capitalist society, and despite popular scoffing, execs are not all stupid. This is a bad business idea from the inside out. I don't see it taking hold.
That's a really good point. I think, in the end, a business' job is to make the customer happy up until the point when it becomes unprofitable. I know that for Blockbuster Online, that means taking your word for it, no matter what. If a DVD I receive is broken, I can choose one of two option on the help menu: either I've broken it myself, or it arrived broken. It's on the honor system, but most of the time I'm going to choose the latter. So long as the movies play right MOST of the time, it would probably be wisest for Apple to just allow another free download if a problem is reported. It's an inconvenience to download again (a problem), but that would probably prevent the majority of people from taking advantage of the 'report a problem' option. A small percentage of people would still mooch, but the large majority would remain happy customers (or happier than if they had no recourse for a failed file), and one or two moochers would not drag iTunes into bankruptcy.
seriously, mate, groups can be statistically significant at populations of just over 30. Additionally, you can read the PEW research methods (as performed by Princeton Survey Research Associates International) here.(pdf)
Additionally, nursery is correctly spelled with an "s," and keep your stereotypes of women out of your posts, please, before I burn my bra.