DRM doesn't matter until you want to buy a music player from someone other than Apple. Sure, nobody makes a music player that can compete with the iPod -- today. I don't expect that will be true the rest of my life. And all those people who subscribed to music services that went under and got screwed - they got screwed because the music on those services was DRMed.
Scot Mcphee
· 11 months ago
DRM sure does matter if I want to play anything bought from iTunes on my Squeezebox. Or use the tunes to DJ at club using Traktor. I find DRM very intrusive into my music listening habits. If Apple can kill it, iTMS just got a whole bunch more useful for me - they've got more content than most other stores.
Jesse Stay
· 11 months ago
It only matters if you're not just an Apple or Microsoft fanboy. If you're willing to choose one or the other it doesn't matter. However, I want to be able to play the music I have on my Mac on my Xbox, or the music and movies I have on my Windows machine on my Apple TV. It's not possible right now, thanks to DRM. As a consumer, I'm stuck in the middle of this stupid DRM war. I really just want to pick the best tool for the job!
zachlandes
· 11 months ago
Louis, I agree with you that DRM is largely a non-issue on iTunes songs. But the really cool thing about this is that it represents one more check box against the DRM Nazis. If enough major services and companies (of all types) abandon DRM then maybe the next time a major technology is going to come out, DRM hell can be avoided (HDMI compatibility, anyone?).
MG Siegler
· 11 months ago
Gotta disagree here Louis. For people like you and me right now who own all Apple stuff it doesn't matter much right now, but there is no guarantee that things will always be that way -- and there are still issues. For example, before I owned an Apple TV, I wanted to stream music from my computer to my TV via the Xbox, but I couldn't do it because Xbox won't play with iTunes DRM. Same issue arose when I tried to put some iTunes-bought songs on the Android phone.
Minor annoyances perhaps, but imagine if Apple does fall from its position of dominance in 5-10 years. We'll be stuck with all this music that will only play on their stuff. You'd hope they'd be good guys and eventually let you convert their DRM music into the non-DRM variety, but who knows if they would.
I haven't bought a DRM iTunes track in well over a year. I use Amazon's store, even though it's slightly more of a hassle, because it's DRM-free (and better quality, and usually cheaper to boot).
The general public at large does not care about DRM because they most either don't know what it is or don't have time to worry about such things -- they just want their stuff to work. But if by some chance Apple isn't the dominant media playing company of the future, they're going to be pissed off when the music they bought all those years ago on iTunes doesn't work anymore. Sure, they could burn them on CD and then re-rip them or use an illegal method to crack the DRM, but some people have bought thousands of songs on iTunes without realizing the potential bind they'd be in later.
On the smaller level, I really hope this is announced tomorrow because I can actually start using the iTunes Genius sidebar feature as intended. Right now I play a song, see what it recommends, and hop over to Amazon to buy it. Would love to cut out those additional steps.
andydavies
· 11 months ago
It doesn't matter to you because you've got a monoculture - you got a stack of products from the same supplier - whereas many people don't.
I've got an iPod, but I've also got a Sony Ericsson phone, and a SqueezeBox. They can all use use AAC but I prefer FLAC for the SqueezeBox.
I could swap the iPod and Sony Ericcson for an iPhone but as the bluetooth support in the iPhone is borked (no A2DP) I wounld't be able to play my tunes in the car - they come straight from my phone via bluetooth to the car stereo.
So DRM is a big deal to some of us - the lack of being able to by high quality music e.g. flac, online is a bigger one.
Phoebe_b
· 11 months ago
iTunes DRM may be a hassle for some people and not relevant, at least so far, for others. But DRM issues in the entertainment industry at large – for movies, television, games, maybe even books, as well as music – haven’t been satisfactorily resolved. There’s no end in sight to piracy or opposition to piracy by companies concerned about profit loss. Any move Apple makes on DRM is significant because it’s being watched by others and has wider implications.
mrshl
· 11 months ago
Maybe no one competes with iPod touch. There are certainly a number of solid competitors to the iPod. I use a Sansa. Plays mp3s, FM radio, and has a built in voice recorder. Got it for $35 off w00t. Works great with MediaMonkey's superior media player. Meanwhile, iTunes breaks my Vista machine. No thanks.
JoshMiller
· 11 months ago
I'm putting myself in the disagree camp here.
I imagine, like you said, you havn't had any problems because you're an "apple fanboy".
I have never own an iPod though I own two MP3 players, one Phillips, one Sandsa. I guess t's a good thing I didn't buy my music through iTunes though since I'd have been stuck buying an iPod.
Not to mention I prefer using Windows Media Player to organize my music. Also I'd have been screwed during the year long period where iTunes and Quicktime got jacked up and I couldn't use either (also couldn't uninstall or reinstall). Ok yeah, if I had a library of music to play I might have been more diligent about fixing the problem but I wasn't tied to that player or device so I didn't really care.
Phil Boiarski
· 11 months ago
Overheard at Best Buy, "Mom, that's cheap and clunky, I only want an iPod!"
joelheadley
· 11 months ago
I'm certainly an apple guy (fanboy, if you will), but am totally unhappy with Apple DRM implementations.
Why?
I don't have near the amount of content you've purchsed, but have experienced the inability to play music I pay for when I want. This generally happens after moving machines, or getting new devices. Just the other day, I had to restart my Apple TV to play a purchased movie. It appeared white during playback. I wasn't doing anything strange. That's when DRM really fails - when I want to play my content when I want.
ian
· 11 months ago
The fact that you don't care about DRM is because you are happy listening to "music" on an iPod. But is it not really music - compressed through crappy little white headphones. Over the coming years when disk space is greater people will move to lossless files which can be played on home hifi (www.sonos.com) and iPods with proper hifi internals ( see iMod www.redwineaudio.com) and decent headphones (take your pick Sennheiser, Bose, UltimateEars, Shure)
Ishak
· 11 months ago
Overwhelming responses here show that DRM draws vocal opposition from, but I would agree that Louis that it doesn't matter to most people. DRM makes stuff not work. That's why Macrovision is trying hard to keep DRM licensing out front while trying to provide interoperability. Apple has benefited greatly in cementing their ecosystem because of DRM. What did matter was ease of use. Now, can another company match Apple's ease of use irregardless of DRM? That's the next platform.
Eyebee
· 11 months ago
I do not like being tied to any brand. I might want to get a Mac, but not an Apple TV. I might like a Zune, but also like iTunes. While I hear what Louis says about DRM being a non-issue for him, he admits he is an Apple fanboy, and uses Apple hardware and software.
I have a large library of mp3s. Partly because, I took the time to burn my CD collection which I started in 1987, to mp3, along with some old rare vinyl, and partly because I get sent many CDs to review and play on the Internet Radio Station I an co-owner of.
I don't use iTunes, and I don't have an iPod. What I did get a year or so ago, was a Sandisk player. It works fine, supports DRM, and Audible (I am a member). I signed up for Napster. So far so good. However, I then bought a Blackberry Curve. I put an 8GB micro SC card into it, and I can use this as my audio video player. As both my car audio and the Curve has A2DP I can enjoy stereo audio in the car quite easily. However, I can't play any DRM stuff.
To cut a long story short, I cancelled the Napster membership some time back. I have purchased some DRM free) music via Amazon since then. I haven't bothered with iTunes, as I don't have, or need to buy, an Ipod.
Ben
· 11 months ago
So the point of your post is that a proprietary format doesn't matter as long as you use devices that support that proprietary format? Not very insightful.
Here's the counter argument - as someone who owns a bunch of devices that don't support Apple's DRM, DRM matters a lot. it's one of the reasons why until now I have bought exactly 0 songs from iTunes.
I'd rather order the CD and be able to rip (and re-rip) it into whatever format(s) I choose. Pay once, play many. The pay-to-upgrade path for iTunes doesn't end here, even if DRM goes.
Phil Glockner
· 11 months ago
I love my iPhone and iPod. And I won't install iTunes on anything but my Mac (I personally find iTunes on a PC to be a hunk of junk). But I do stream music from my Mac to my XBox 360 using Connect360, and to my Tivo as well. I can't play back DRMed content on either of these devices.
While the amount of music I bought from iTunes over the years isn't huge, it's still a consideration for me. And I find myself loath to have to buy all my music again just so I can stream it effectively. Anyway, those are my thoughts.
All Comments
Minor annoyances perhaps, but imagine if Apple does fall from its position of dominance in 5-10 years. We'll be stuck with all this music that will only play on their stuff. You'd hope they'd be good guys and eventually let you convert their DRM music into the non-DRM variety, but who knows if they would.
I haven't bought a DRM iTunes track in well over a year. I use Amazon's store, even though it's slightly more of a hassle, because it's DRM-free (and better quality, and usually cheaper to boot).
The general public at large does not care about DRM because they most either don't know what it is or don't have time to worry about such things -- they just want their stuff to work. But if by some chance Apple isn't the dominant media playing company of the future, they're going to be pissed off when the music they bought all those years ago on iTunes doesn't work anymore. Sure, they could burn them on CD and then re-rip them or use an illegal method to crack the DRM, but some people have bought thousands of songs on iTunes without realizing the potential bind they'd be in later.
On the smaller level, I really hope this is announced tomorrow because I can actually start using the iTunes Genius sidebar feature as intended. Right now I play a song, see what it recommends, and hop over to Amazon to buy it. Would love to cut out those additional steps.
I've got an iPod, but I've also got a Sony Ericsson phone, and a SqueezeBox. They can all use use AAC but I prefer FLAC for the SqueezeBox.
I could swap the iPod and Sony Ericcson for an iPhone but as the bluetooth support in the iPhone is borked (no A2DP) I wounld't be able to play my tunes in the car - they come straight from my phone via bluetooth to the car stereo.
So DRM is a big deal to some of us - the lack of being able to by high quality music e.g. flac, online is a bigger one.
I imagine, like you said, you havn't had any problems because you're an "apple fanboy".
I have never own an iPod though I own two MP3 players, one Phillips, one Sandsa. I guess t's a good thing I didn't buy my music through iTunes though since I'd have been stuck buying an iPod.
Not to mention I prefer using Windows Media Player to organize my music. Also I'd have been screwed during the year long period where iTunes and Quicktime got jacked up and I couldn't use either (also couldn't uninstall or reinstall). Ok yeah, if I had a library of music to play I might have been more diligent about fixing the problem but I wasn't tied to that player or device so I didn't really care.
Why?
I don't have near the amount of content you've purchsed, but have experienced the inability to play music I pay for when I want. This generally happens after moving machines, or getting new devices. Just the other day, I had to restart my Apple TV to play a purchased movie. It appeared white during playback. I wasn't doing anything strange. That's when DRM really fails - when I want to play my content when I want.
I have a large library of mp3s. Partly because, I took the time to burn my CD collection which I started in 1987, to mp3, along with some old rare vinyl, and partly because I get sent many CDs to review and play on the Internet Radio Station I an co-owner of.
I don't use iTunes, and I don't have an iPod. What I did get a year or so ago, was a Sandisk player. It works fine, supports DRM, and Audible (I am a member). I signed up for Napster. So far so good. However, I then bought a Blackberry Curve. I put an 8GB micro SC card into it, and I can use this as my audio video player. As both my car audio and the Curve has A2DP I can enjoy stereo audio in the car quite easily. However, I can't play any DRM stuff.
To cut a long story short, I cancelled the Napster membership some time back. I have purchased some DRM free) music via Amazon since then. I haven't bothered with iTunes, as I don't have, or need to buy, an Ipod.
Here's the counter argument - as someone who owns a bunch of devices that don't support Apple's DRM, DRM matters a lot. it's one of the reasons why until now I have bought exactly 0 songs from iTunes.
I'd rather order the CD and be able to rip (and re-rip) it into whatever format(s) I choose. Pay once, play many. The pay-to-upgrade path for iTunes doesn't end here, even if DRM goes.
While the amount of music I bought from iTunes over the years isn't huge, it's still a consideration for me. And I find myself loath to have to buy all my music again just so I can stream it effectively. Anyway, those are my thoughts.