[Discuss] MP3 Players

[R. Langkamer]

On 7/3/07 9:08 AM, Adam Parkin wrote:

> Steven Kurylo wrote:
>> The music is not "hidden" in any way.  What it does do is give all the
>> mp3's a fixed length file name and limits the amount of files per
>> directory.  I've even connected my ipod to a friends windows computer
>> and copied the music to from the ipod.
> 
> That's true you can do this, but if you use iTunes to copy the music to 
> the iPod then (at least on the Shuffle) as you pointed out, the 
> filenames will be *obscured*.  IIRC it makes the directory containing 
> all music hidden as well (ie sets the "hidden" file attribute) which is 
> easy enough to get around, but is another example of how Apple is making 
> their intentions clear -- it's not intended to be a device which you can 
> use to copy MP3's from one machine to another.
> -- 
> -- 
> Adam Parkin


	The truth is though, it's not Apple setting the DRM guidelines, it's 
the "content owners". I think Apple has done an excellent job of making 
a system that works for the general populous, unlike the other "empire". 
And now, Apple has drawn a new line in the sand with their DRM free 
offerings from EMI (and this should grow to be more than just EMI). Now, 
I've still made my decision to buy CDs on the cheap and rip those as 
opposed to buying digitally, but if there is an album I just have to 
have and I can no longer obtain a CD version, I will buy digital.

	As for removing the DRM on the purchased files, there once was a little 
engine that could. IIRC, it was called jhymn. The developer stopped 
circa version 6 of QuickTime though and then moved on to other things. 
Too bad really because that leaves the only method (that I know of) to 
remove the DRM is to burn the lossy file to and audio CD and then rip 
that audio CD into a new lossy file. Those with ears to hear will know 
that this is not a good solution. The aforementioned opensource software 
ripped out the DRM and left the file intact as is. That's a great solution!

	As for sharing files using an iPod, a user can enable "disk mode" and 
then they simply drag files to the iPod or they can use one of the many 
iPod rippers to get what is on the iPod off onto another computer. I had 
found a great one that worked in windows only and left the binary on the 
iPod (though, being windows and all, you always had to install the 
needed DLLs even though you were suppose to not have to - go figure).

	At least iPod don't suffer from the "squirt" disease. ;)

-- 

www.langkamerit.com