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Just a Thought - Is Apple Fostering The Criminal Element?
by
- March 29th, 2005Coming Of Age
I know a guy -I will call him Bob to protect his identity- who is a criminal; he's the scum of the earth!
If people knew what Bob was up to, mothers would clutch their babes to their bosoms when they see him pass by, and men would make public speculations about Bob's lineage, and offer him directions to subterranean hot spots.
Why is Bob such a low life, vile, pond scum swilling vermin?
Because he rips audio CDs he borrows for his local library into his Mac so that he can play audio books on his iPod.
I know, I know; makes you want to cross yourself, even if you aren't Catholic.
I still talk to Bob because, well, beyond this one intractable and utterly reprehensible fault, he's not a bad person. He helps his neighbors, opens doors for ladies (or at least those ladies who know nothing of the true nature of this beast), and he drives a car that gets 30 miles to the gallon. And I found that, if I concentrate really hard, I can look past Bob's ongoing transgressions and try to understand why this otherwise decent being would shame himself and his family by continually perpetrating such evil.
It's not that hard to understand, really: You see, Bob likes audio books. He drives 40 minutes to work each day, and to wile the time away in traffic, Bob likes to listen to King, Crichton, Brown, or Koontz.
Bob also loves his iPod, and takes it everywhere he goes. It's easy to imagine Bob reasoning that if he loves his iPod, and likes audio books, why not put the two together? After all, what harm is there in making a copy of a borrowed CD for personal use? (Bob tells me that he deletes the files of any copied audio book once he's done listening, so I guess he isn't a complete waste of protoplasm.)
I have to admit, I have, once or twice, entertained the notion of borrowing and ripping one of the latest best sellers from my local library.
I ride my bike to work, a 15 minute trip each way, and, while I love music, it would be nice to break up the beat a bit and expand my literary horizons. True, I could just listen to the CDs the library provides, but that's kinda redundant, and it's taking a step backwards. I have an iPod, dammit! I should be able to listen to anything!
So, I decided to take a look at what my library has to offer by way of audio books on CD. While I was browsing my library's fairly extensive collection, I noticed an advert on the library's Web site that offered downloadable audio books.
Downloadable? You mean they are pre-ripped? Cool!
I was overjoyed. Now, I won't have to sink to Bob's level, becoming one of the denizens of the underbelly of our fair city. I could proudly walk among my fellow men, listening to borrowed audio books and knowing that my criminal record will remain spotless, and that I'm supporting my local library to boot!
But as I read further my elation slammed on the brakes so hard that I actually heard tires squeal, and my brain slammed into my forehead with such force that I thought my eyes were airbags: The library only supports Window Media Player 9 or better. While I can play the downloaded audio books on my trusty Mac, my beloved iPod is out of the running.
"NO," I wailed, shaking my fist at the screen. Through tear blurred eyes, I read the words from the library's FAQ page. They seem to shout back at me, mocking me and my little white music player: "The iPod is not compatible with Windows Media Player files and therefore the downloaded audiobooks will not play on it."
What can I do? Buy another music player just so I can listen to the downloadable audio books my library offers? I don't think so! Again, I have an iPod, dammit!
Now I'm back to thinking with criminal intent, eying the library's audio book collection with jealousy and contempt. I wanted to march into the main branch of the library, demand to speak to someone in charge, grab the person by the ears, and give him or her a healthy dose of iPod reality!
How dare they only offer WMA 9 formatted audio books! Don't they understand that the iPod has more than 60% of the portable music player market? Don't they know that there are twice as many iPods plugged into the ears of its patrons that any other digital music device?
Then I thought, "Hold the phone there Sparky, I shouldn't blame the bespectacled librarians for opting for WMA, it is hardly their fault."
I mentally relinquished the imagined librarian's ears, apologizing while an imagined team of security guards, resembling rejects from a Conan, The Barbarian movie, pummeled me with night sticks into a mass of imaginary, yet submissive pulp.
The object of my wrath does not work at the Orange County Library's central office, he resides on the other side of the country. The fault lies squarely with the boys and girls at 1 Infinite Loop. And as much as I absolutely hate to admit it, Microsoft has done something better than Apple.
Big Redmond's media software is similar to Apple's AAC files with FairPlay in two ways that matter: Both can play high quality content, and both include a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system. But Microsoft's WMA is more open, it will allow you to license and author DRM protected content, whereas Apple's FairPlay makes no such offer.
While libraries could easily encode audio books into AAC, or even MP3 format, it would have no means of protecting the intellectual property of the authors and publishers of the audio books it offers. For them, WMA is really the only choice.
My library's system is cool, too, but you can tell it smacks of Big Redmond's 'good enough' credo. You can download and listen to an audio book for 3 weeks, and the DRM of WMA keeps track of the time, automagically prohibiting you from listening further once the time is up.
There's a somewhat cumbersome renewal process, which can extend your listening period twice, after which you will need to download the book again. I have to believe that an Apple-based system would be easier for the end user to manage.
But what's really nice about this online lending system is that users won't have to wait for others to get done with the material before they can get it -- everyone can download a copy as soon as it is available. Sweet!
Unfortunately, we iPod users have come up with the messier end of the stick this time. We must either become criminals, or watch as owners of somewhat less capable, and completely less cool music players take advantage of an absolutely stellar public service.
I have to believe this is the way of the future for audio books. Libraries all across America and around the world will be offering its members audio, and perhaps video content to download, making library material available around the clock. It's a great concept, and if Apple doesn't see that, then someone is asleep at the wheel (Buddy boy!).
As I see it, Apple has 2 options: Allow iPods to play WMA formatted and protected files, or offer to license FairPlay so that libraries and others can offer and manage protected audio content.
Actually, there may be a third option, too. Apple's iTunes (for Windows only) currently converts unprotected WMA files to AAC format. Why not go one step further and convert protected WMA files to FairPlay protected AAC files? That keeps all the control on Apple's side, leaving them to license the related WMA technology from Microsoft. This is a less glamorous, but nonetheless workable solution, and if there's one thing Steve Jobs loves, it's control.
I'm going to suggest to Bob that he write Apple and ask them to do something about this problem, and if you are in Bob's predicament I suggest you do the same. If Apple hears enough noise maybe they will do something.
In the meantime, once law abiding iPod owners, like Bob, are increasing the ranks of the criminal element. Only you can help them to stop their ungodly ways, Mr. Jobs. Please help Bob. Please help all the Bobs, before it's too late.
is a writer who currently lives in Orlando, FL. He's been a Mac fan since Atari Computers folded, but has worked with computers of nearly every type for 20 years.
You can send your comments directly to me, or you can also post your comments below.
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Observer Comments
Whoops, didn't log in. That "Paging Dr. Editor..." post was me (but not the "stat" one).
I've seen errors like this from the use of dictation software, whose output I imagine must be hell to sort though for all of the things that a spell/grammar checker won't catch.
As I say, no offense meant, I really thought you wanted to know.
QuoteAnonymous wrote:
Did you even look at the article, or is it just easier ask someone if they're a smartass, Mr.Editor?
Well what good does it do to say "I saw mistakes" but then not say what those mistakes were? That's not much help. Why even bother posting that if they're not going to say what you saw wrong?
OK boys, play nice!
We already know the brain chip in the ipod is capable of handling WMA formatted play. The question is, when will it be advantageous for Apple to turn the feature on? And by turning it on, do you lose Fairplay, or do they co-exist?
With 60% marketshare there isn't a reason to turn it on anytime soon.
Tue Mar 29, 2005 3:41 pm Subject: Re: play nice!
Quotechoard wrote:
OK boys, play nice!
We already know the brain chip in the ipod is capable of handling WMA formatted play. The question is, when will it be advantageous for Apple to turn the feature on? And by turning it on, do you lose Fairplay, or do they co-exist?
With 60% marketshare there isn't a reason to turn it on anytime soon.
I think Apple needs Microsoft's permission to do any of that. The question is, will they agree? Since Microsoft doesn't actually make a player themselves, it will be interesting to see if they say yes or not.
Their main goal is to get the Windows Media format as popular as possible. So I'd think they would. But you never know, they could have made deals with other player companies that would keep them from doing that. We'll have to wait and see.
The column says you could play the audiobook's on your Mac, but unfortunately, that is not likely the case.
If the library's audiobook files are encoded with WMA DRM, you won't be able to play them on Windows Media Player for Mac OS X (what an unfortunate name, but I digress). WMP for Mac OS X only supports unprotected files, not those with DRM.
Tue Mar 29, 2005 4:00 pm Subject: Ouch, the guy has a pretty good point here ...
and it's stuck inside pretty well.
The title of this headline is pretty simple to answer. "No. If Bob wants to violate copyright law, that's his choice, and Apple didn't make him do it - just like the company that built my crappy Neon isn't forcing me to drive without a valid inspection sticker."
Whether or not this is actually a copyright validation seems like it could be held up for debate, but what cannot be debated is the simple truth that this situation points out:
Right now, Microsoft's DRM is better suited to loaning content to the users than Apple's DRM.
This is absolutely true at the moment.
Could Fairplay be updated to add an expiration date to the content? I'm sure that could be done, but that still leaves the issue of the provider not being able to distribute protected content.
Could the library be sold the protected ACC files through Apple and given the right to authorize the loanee's iPod to play it for two weeks? Perhaps. However, I could see this as Apple involving themselves in monopolistic practices.
I guess it could be seen like this:
Fairplay was not created by Apple as a business model for media distribution beyond their music store. I really don't think Apple has the same goals that Microsoft does - "World Domination!" ... I mean, "Market dominance".
I have never heard Steve Jobs talk about the Fairplay system beyond the scope of purchased music and audiobooks. Maybe he's missing out on a whole world of business, but he also might have been told there was no real long-term business model in licensing a DRM that could easily be replaced by a cheaper one two years down the road.
This article brings up an important point quite clearly though.
I've been curious ... People often bring up the point that "WMA support on an iPod could be enabled with a firmware flip-of-the-switch."
But at the same time, as someone pointed out above, Macintosh Windows Media Player won't play DRM-encoded WMA files. Whether it's because of licensing issues, or Microsoft being stubborn, or what, I don't know. But I can't imagine, even if WMA support exists in iPods, that it could also handle the latest-and-greatest DRM Microsoft has wrapped around it ... More likely they'd only play unprotected WMA files, which seems to be a relatively valueless feature for an iPod to have anyway.
At any rate, theoretical concerns aside and practical considerations up front, I'd recommend serious audiobook listeners take a look at Audible.com (directly ... I haven't used them through iTMS). It's not free, but for a $20/month subscription you can select two audiobooks per month, download them from your personal library whenever you want at any of various compression rates, and although they're DRM protected to your account, they will play on Windows, Mac, iPod, and any number of other devices. I've found it worthwhile.
I am not an Audible subscriber (heck, I haven't even purchased an iPod yet), but I'm strong considering both an iPod and Audible. For others that are considering, remember that you can get $100 off an iPod with a 12-month subscription, and though this is a subscription service, you can keep the audiobooks your download indefinitely. So it's more like a magazine subscription (where you get to retain the issues) than something like Napster-to-go.
Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:23 pm Subject: Lies, damn lies...
...and, of course, statistics.
QuoteGuest wrote:
WMA files account for ~ 19% of digital music files, AAC ~ 4%. 19 > 4
I won't argue with your math (19 really IS greater than 4), but I will question your statistics: Where did you get these figures? You may very well be right, but without citing a source, it appears that you might just be pulling this out of your...well, let's just say you'd look a lot more credible if you did have a reliable source.
Then again, 79.6% of statistics are made up anyway.
Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:31 pm Subject: And why does he think Windows users wouldn't rip as well
Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:45 pm Subject: Only 30 miles per gallon?
Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:04 am Subject: AAC is a standard …
QuoteGuest wrote:
Get "HiJack Audio Pro" for your Mac and the whole basis of this article is senseless. There are always workarounds, and good ones at that.
There is no workaround for a protected WMA file. You can't play it on a Mac or iPod.
That is the basis of the article. A format that doesn't work on OS X or an iPod could become the standard format used for loaned audio content. The only hope that this won't happen is the fact that most portable music players are iPods so any format that doesn't play on them will have limited market share - at the moment.
QuoteGuest wrote:
I'd like to publicly apologize for any offense I may cause by this post, but time is limited and I haven't had time to be as polite as I'd like (seriously).
Are you kidding? I appreciate that kind of post more than I could possibly convey in writing.
I am a great editor for content, and a fair editor for copy (some of the time, at least), but I am the first person who will jump up and say I wish that our business model afforded us the ability to hire a real copy editor. It's the drive-by snipings that rile me, but I very much appreciate anyone who points out any specific mistake we (especially I) make.
Thanks for taking the time to offer these notes; the piece has been edited accordingly.
Bryan
Editor
TMO
Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:54 pm Subject: Correct about integration and customer satisfaction, but...
I'm not quite seeing how you are equating this being about innovation through market success.
Plenty of innovative products have ended up as monumental failures in the market. Apple is no stranger to that.
Plus, your description of "keeping the El Cheapos out of the loop" sounds a lot to me like using a monopoly to crush innovation.
Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:49 pm Subject: RE: Real Editor
QuoteGuest wrote:
Afforded you the abbility to hire a real copy editor? I caught every error in the article the first time I read it, not because I'm a "real editor", but because I simply read it. All that had to be done was to ask Vern Steward to proof-read his own article, or ask somebody else on the Mac Observer staff to read it once. That doesn't cost money. That's free.
You are absolutely right, it doesn't cost any money to have me read through what I write. You make the assumption, however, that I don't already read through what I write.
You'd be wrong, of course.
I do read my work, several times. But, as any writer will tell you, it is often hard to spot what to others seem like simple errors because the author is so close to the work: He knows what he wants to say, and when he reads what he has written, his mind sees what he wants to see, and continually overlooks errors.
Don't believe me? Read your post. I bet you read it several times before hitting the 'Submit' button.
Did you find the errors?
I'll point out one, only because it is extremely obvious, to me at least: My name is SEWARD, not STEWARD.
You offered a suggestion or two, now let me offer one to you: You might want to take your own advice to heart before posting next time.
Just a thought.
Vern Seward