Offer all of it. mp3, ogg vorbis, and flac. Maybe I missed a popular one. In each lossy format, offer, 128, 192, 256, and 320 bit rates. Maybe only two of those bit rates.
Yes, this means 9 files (4 mp3, 4 ogg, and 1 flac) per file. But it won't affect your bandwidth much, since each person is only going to download one file anyway, maybe two if they try out the low quality ones before downloading the flac. Hopefully, space isn't a consideration for you. It usually isn't when hosting. And you can use a script to rip all of the songs in all nine formats.
Your customers/viewers/friends won't all be happy with the same format. Make them all happy by offering everything. There is little to no reason not to.
as the smoke clears, all i can see from here are newer, clearer, more restrictive laws with harsher penalties for the so-called thieves and pirates....
That's the first step. They fight back.
i don't know. but the whole "if enough of us do it, it will become legal" strategy doesn't seem to be working anymore.
It looks the opposite to me. We're winning. Maybe I'm just older, and can see more of it that you. These things take time. Don't stop. Don't buy from any companies affiliated with the **IA. If you feel comfortable breaking the law, continue to do so.
I'm not saying that jailing pirates is similar to racial discrimination, but the history of the civil rights movement is an excellent resource for learning how to change government. Read up on it if you have the time, you'll get a better understanding of the timeline and some of the challenges we might face. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_Rights _Movement_(1955-1968)
This is important. We fight for freedom. We fight for America. Don't stop believing.
How can we make the manufacturers take better responsibility? Apart from reading every review possible before making a purchase, what strategy do you have, or propose, for not being caught out?
If it don't work like it should, return it. It's much easier to review a product myself, anyway. If enough people returned shoddy (aka unfinished) products, manufactuerers wouldn't make shoddy products.
The sneaky part is that the RIAA is hiring these guys to break the law. Yes, that's sneaky, but it's entirely legal.
No it's not. It's never legal to ask someone to break the law. You might think your hands are clean if you pay someone to kill your wife for you, but they're not. You can still get in trouble.
...Consider this: What if, say, Apple (cause everyone LOVES apple) discovered a factory in the US that would make counterfeits. So they represent themselves as "investors" and contact this factory and ask them to make a counterfeit iPod. The company agrees. During production, Apple contacts the authorities, and has the plant shut down. I doubt many slashdotters would be crying about such a scenario, and it's very analogous to what's happening here.
If Apple asks someone to make iPods, they are not counterfit. They are OEM, or rebranded, or something like that. However, it is illegal to call the police when you have nothing to report besides, "These guys are making some product that I asked them to, and branding it with my brand, like I asked them to."
Sociopathy is, simply put, completely lacking the empathy and connection to other humans. It's being the only human in a single-player world full of generic NPCs. They're not your peers, they don't matter, their feelings don't matter, they're there just to be used, abused, manipulated, lied to, whatever gets you closer to your objectives.
Wow. I never really thought of myself as a sociopath. You really opened up my eyes. I can't explain why, but for some reason, I feel a lot better. Thank you.
No, making copies for evidence to be used in court is explicitly stated as fair use in copyright law. If they removed your song from the file they found on the pirate's machine, they would be unnecessarily tampering with evidence.
This security method is seriously flawed. It is supposed to protect users who would be scammed by phishing attempts. However, it requires users be moderately aware of what is going on security-wise. If somebody is security unconscious enough to get scammed by a phishing email, which requires quite a bit of unconsciousness, considering how often banks and the evening news warn against it, they will be unconscious enough to miss an image, which requires a moderate amount of unconsciousness, seeing as it is explained once, and only by one or a few banks, and maybe not as clearly as, "Never click on a link in an email message."
Everybody likes music. Some like it more than others, and we all have our individual tastes, but it isn't like talking about computers, or bicycling, or cars, where some like it, and some don't. You can get a lot more info from "What kind of music do you like?", rather than, "Do you like computers?"
I think both Microsoft and Apple are evil megacorps, but this does not reek of sabotage by either company.
If Apple wanted to undermine Windows, they would have said something along the lines of, "Due to the history of Windows (in)stability, we are holding off on supporting the ipod on Vista until Vista SP1 is released." Apple doing this would seriously hurt Microsoft, but they would hurt themselves too. And besides, they didn't do that. They're fixing this bug as fast as they can.
Similarly, Microsoft sabotaging iPod just doesn't make sense. Sure, they've done stuff exactly like that in the past, but only when they have a reasonable alternative to sell, and not against something which has more market share than they do (More iPods out there than Vista.)
I know, it's only natural to immediately think, "Microsoft/Apple must be at it again." After all, history supports it. But I think that this genuinely is an accident.
With the lack of parental control over minors and their cell phones, what precautions will be taken to stop the under-age abusing this system?
A teenage boy's "system" is his to abuse as he pleases. The telcos and governments have no responsibility, nor right, to get in the way. And the parent's have no desire to.
But I believe that it is best to concentrate efforts of eliminating censorship in places where the censorship is most profound.
I see your point, but I disagree. I believe it would be best for us (USA) to concentrate efforts at home. The better example we are, the easier it is for us to preach.
and your point about sticking to a 19th century business model is moot - everyone complains about the business model but no one offers a viable alternative that won't result in a significant contraction/reshuffling of the industry.
That is because, by definition, overhauling an entire business model will result in a significant reshuffling of an industry. To ask for anything else is absurd. However, if the **IA wants to survive, that is what it will take. Personally, I hope they die.
Is this type of switch-and-bait common practice in corporate America?
Yes, screwing over employees and customers is the de facto standard of Corporate America.
If you have gone through this nightmare before, any advice on how to respond to it?
I'm sure you are already aware of your options, and are only asking because you are hoping for a fairy-tale ending that can be spelled out on/. I don't have any non-obvious answers, but here are the obvious ones:
Don't work for this company.
Don't work for this company and sue for the money you are out because they refuse to honor an oral contract.
Take what you get from this company. Expect more of the same.
Work for this company and sue. Don't expect any promotions.
Work for this company, but only under the condition that they honor what they said they would. Fall back to another option if they continue to refuse.
Actually, "no joke is left unexplained", is not a self-referring truism, and therefore cannot be a self-contradictory truism. It is either true, or false, and in this case, false, although slashdotters do have tendencies to ramble on and on and on, explaining stuff, including jokes, that don't need to be explained, and nobody cares to hear them explained, and they write really, really long sentences that are mostly grammatically correct but with lots and lots of filler words.
I enjoyed reading about the galaxy imploding, though.
...opt for a trial by judge if you were innocent and a trial by jury if you were guilty...
Twenty years ago, I would have agreed. But things have changed. I don't trust judges. They seem to be pro-cop, pro-prosecution, anti-criminal/defendant. Some might be honest, but unless you really know what you're doing, I'd stick with a jury. There's less chance of twelve idiots in one place than one.
How 'bout this phrase? "A good lawyer is worth every Franklin."
Yes, ISPs are promising loads of bandwidth, and are unable to provide that bandwidth, for whatever reason. Like you said, they could charge more, so they could increase their bandwidth capabilities, or they can double-dip to buy more bandwidth. You left out the obvious solution. Promise less bandwidth. I like bandwidth as much as the next guy, but if you can only deliver so much, only promise that much. I'll understand.
The truth is, though, that ISPs see double-dipping as a huge, new profit source. That is why they are starting to do that.
...how does "non-net-neutrality" affect us non-Americans? Does it affect us at all?
Yes, it can. Without net neutrality, an ISP might decide to block all overseas merchants. Then your computer shop in Germany (for example) won't get many American customers. Or, they might not block it, but will make it painfully slow unless you pay them money.
Any 'internal' US policy that could drastically affect the lives and businesses of people outside of the USA should not be passed, or even allowed to be considered
Slashdot Mirror
Offer all of it. mp3, ogg vorbis, and flac. Maybe I missed a popular one. In each lossy format, offer, 128, 192, 256, and 320 bit rates. Maybe only two of those bit rates.
Yes, this means 9 files (4 mp3, 4 ogg, and 1 flac) per file. But it won't affect your bandwidth much, since each person is only going to download one file anyway, maybe two if they try out the low quality ones before downloading the flac. Hopefully, space isn't a consideration for you. It usually isn't when hosting. And you can use a script to rip all of the songs in all nine formats.
Your customers/viewers/friends won't all be happy with the same format. Make them all happy by offering everything. There is little to no reason not to.
That's the first step. They fight back.
It looks the opposite to me. We're winning. Maybe I'm just older, and can see more of it that you. These things take time. Don't stop. Don't buy from any companies affiliated with the **IA. If you feel comfortable breaking the law, continue to do so.
I'm not saying that jailing pirates is similar to racial discrimination, but the history of the civil rights movement is an excellent resource for learning how to change government. Read up on it if you have the time, you'll get a better understanding of the timeline and some of the challenges we might face. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_Rights _Movement_(1955-1968)
This is important. We fight for freedom. We fight for America. Don't stop believing.
If it don't work like it should, return it. It's much easier to review a product myself, anyway. If enough people returned shoddy (aka unfinished) products, manufactuerers wouldn't make shoddy products.
Every one of your arguments are so flawed.
No it's not. It's never legal to ask someone to break the law. You might think your hands are clean if you pay someone to kill your wife for you, but they're not. You can still get in trouble.
If Apple asks someone to make iPods, they are not counterfit. They are OEM, or rebranded, or something like that. However, it is illegal to call the police when you have nothing to report besides, "These guys are making some product that I asked them to, and branding it with my brand, like I asked them to."
Thank you.
It's like Homer said. You can use facts to prove anything.
Wow. I never really thought of myself as a sociopath. You really opened up my eyes. I can't explain why, but for some reason, I feel a lot better. Thank you.
No, making copies for evidence to be used in court is explicitly stated as fair use in copyright law. If they removed your song from the file they found on the pirate's machine, they would be unnecessarily tampering with evidence.
Very creative question, though.
This security method is seriously flawed. It is supposed to protect users who would be scammed by phishing attempts. However, it requires users be moderately aware of what is going on security-wise. If somebody is security unconscious enough to get scammed by a phishing email, which requires quite a bit of unconsciousness, considering how often banks and the evening news warn against it, they will be unconscious enough to miss an image, which requires a moderate amount of unconsciousness, seeing as it is explained once, and only by one or a few banks, and maybe not as clearly as, "Never click on a link in an email message."
Everybody likes music. Some like it more than others, and we all have our individual tastes, but it isn't like talking about computers, or bicycling, or cars, where some like it, and some don't. You can get a lot more info from "What kind of music do you like?", rather than, "Do you like computers?"
I think both Microsoft and Apple are evil megacorps, but this does not reek of sabotage by either company.
If Apple wanted to undermine Windows, they would have said something along the lines of, "Due to the history of Windows (in)stability, we are holding off on supporting the ipod on Vista until Vista SP1 is released." Apple doing this would seriously hurt Microsoft, but they would hurt themselves too. And besides, they didn't do that. They're fixing this bug as fast as they can.
Similarly, Microsoft sabotaging iPod just doesn't make sense. Sure, they've done stuff exactly like that in the past, but only when they have a reasonable alternative to sell, and not against something which has more market share than they do (More iPods out there than Vista.)
I know, it's only natural to immediately think, "Microsoft/Apple must be at it again." After all, history supports it. But I think that this genuinely is an accident.
A teenage boy's "system" is his to abuse as he pleases. The telcos and governments have no responsibility, nor right, to get in the way. And the parent's have no desire to.
I see your point, but I disagree. I believe it would be best for us (USA) to concentrate efforts at home. The better example we are, the easier it is for us to preach.
Ch@3p V1agr@ 0nLIn3!!!! NO pRe5cr1pt10n N3c355@rY!!!!!!
That is because, by definition, overhauling an entire business model will result in a significant reshuffling of an industry. To ask for anything else is absurd. However, if the **IA wants to survive, that is what it will take. Personally, I hope they die.
Yes, screwing over employees and customers is the de facto standard of Corporate America.
I'm sure you are already aware of your options, and are only asking because you are hoping for a fairy-tale ending that can be spelled out on /. I don't have any non-obvious answers, but here are the obvious ones:
Fable?
100.
Actually, "no joke is left unexplained", is not a self-referring truism, and therefore cannot be a self-contradictory truism. It is either true, or false, and in this case, false, although slashdotters do have tendencies to ramble on and on and on, explaining stuff, including jokes, that don't need to be explained, and nobody cares to hear them explained, and they write really, really long sentences that are mostly grammatically correct but with lots and lots of filler words.
I enjoyed reading about the galaxy imploding, though.
Twenty years ago, I would have agreed. But things have changed. I don't trust judges. They seem to be pro-cop, pro-prosecution, anti-criminal/defendant. Some might be honest, but unless you really know what you're doing, I'd stick with a jury. There's less chance of twelve idiots in one place than one.
How 'bout this phrase? "A good lawyer is worth every Franklin."
Slashdot has ads?
I think his wife would disagree.
What's the difference?
Yes, ISPs are promising loads of bandwidth, and are unable to provide that bandwidth, for whatever reason. Like you said, they could charge more, so they could increase their bandwidth capabilities, or they can double-dip to buy more bandwidth. You left out the obvious solution. Promise less bandwidth. I like bandwidth as much as the next guy, but if you can only deliver so much, only promise that much. I'll understand.
The truth is, though, that ISPs see double-dipping as a huge, new profit source. That is why they are starting to do that.
Yes, it can. Without net neutrality, an ISP might decide to block all overseas merchants. Then your computer shop in Germany (for example) won't get many American customers. Or, they might not block it, but will make it painfully slow unless you pay them money.
Are you saying we can't make any laws?