Getting the new iPod Touch software update for free January 21, 2008
Posted by Wade Rockett in Apple.2 comments
This Engadget post says that people who bought the iPod Touch after January 1st should be able to get the new software update announced at MacWorld for free instead of paying $20. I can report that this was true for me.
I bought my iPod Touch on January 2nd at the Apple Store in Lynnwood. Yesterday I happened to be near downtown Bellevue so I stopped by the Apple Store in the mall and asked about the update being covered by Apple’s 30-day price protection. The sales clerk asked for my receipt, then entered the transaction as a return, crediting $21.78 to the card I bought the iPod with. Then I went home and bought the software update for that amount. Easy.
If the WiFi at my apartment was working I could actually use the new apps. But I did write myself a nice Note on it.
This is the one thing that drives me crazy about the iPod Touch. It has lots of great features that rely on WiFi. But how often are you connected to WiFi when you’re out and about? Almost never. And so I stare forlornly at my YouTube button, knowing that “Chocolate Rain” lies just beyond my grasp.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the device. But I still wonder whether it would have been better to get a Classic. I’m just glad I didn’t pay for the new update, given that I can’t use most of the new apps unless I happen to be within the radius of free, public WiFi. In the case of Google Maps that means I can only get lost or plan trips when I’m standing in a hot spot.
DRM-free music on iTunes May 30, 2007
Posted by Wade Rockett in Apple, Music.add a comment
It happened today! Sweet, sweet, high-quality DRM-free music on iTunes. They got the Stones, Dean Martin, David Bowie…the only less than awesome thing is that buying stuff isn’t, um, exactly working for me. Probably the system’s overloaded by music-loving geeks.
There are three songs I’ve already bought that are currently available for me to upgrade at 30 cents a song: Blondie’s “Sunday Girl”, Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy”, and Lily Allen’s “LDN”.
EMI goes DRM free, and the 99 cent iTunes song begins to disappear April 2, 2007
Posted by Wade Rockett in Apple, Technology.add a comment
“Apple said iTunes would make individual tracks available from EMI artists at twice the sound quality of existing downloads, with their DRM removed, at a price of $1.29, 1.29 euros and 99 pence.”
I’m glad that EMI decided to sell digital music without DRM. No, seriously. It’s awesome.
But on the other hand:
Imagine if every car was built with an onboard computer that prevented you from driving it on certain streets. The auto manufacturers claim that while it may seem restrictive, this onboard computer is actually a feature that makes the whole car manufacturing and owning experience better for everyone.
Consumers become dissatisfied. They think to themselves, I own the damn car, I should be able to decide what streets to drive it on.
So then one of the car companies–let’s say Ford–announces that you can now buy a car that does not have the onboard computer built in. Plus, it’s faster than the old type of car. And it costs more.
Consumers might rightly ask, “Since it doesn’t cost you extra to not put the onboard computer in a car, why am I paying more?”
To which Ford might reply, “You’re paying for the extra speed and functionality.”
“But that’s functionality that ought to be part of the car to begin with. You sabotaged it, and now you’re selling it back to me like it’s an extra.”
“Okay, then you’re just paying for the extra speed.”
“I never asked for a faster car. Just one that drives where I want it to go.”
“Look, do you want a car that drives on every street or don’t you?”
My guess is that this is the end result of a lot of backroom dealing, where EMI would only agree to sell its music without DRM if Apple agreed to sacrifice its policy that every song on the iTunes Music Store would cost 99 cents, no more, no less.
Now that there’s a leak in the 99 cent dam, how long before every song is $1.29?
An even bigger cliffhanger: Will EMI take a step further and stop suing file-sharing music fans through the RIAA?
UPDATE: Boing Boing has some more info. The price of DRM-free albums and music videos will not go up, and you can replace your old DRM’d tunes with shiny new ones by paying the difference!
Broken iBook, here I come! Yay! March 24, 2007
Posted by Wade Rockett in Apple, Technology.add a comment
I just cashed my reimbursement check from SXSWi. This gives me more than enough funds to buy Mac OS X Tiger.
The last four freeware programs I tried to install (recommended by MacBreak Weekly) all required Tiger. It’s time to upgrade.
I hope I don’t destroy everything in the process.
*gulp*
One tiny improvement can make a big difference October 10, 2006
Posted by Wade Rockett in Apple.add a comment
Hey! The new version of iTunes knows the difference between a song and a podcast episode!
This means I can play music in my collection without John C. Dvorak unexpectedly intruding into the mix.
Woo hoo!
DRM actually gets worse September 28, 2006
Posted by Wade Rockett in Apple, Technology.Tags: Apple, drm, ipod, itunes, Microsoft, zune
1 comment so far
I listened with surprise to the latest This Week in Tech podcast and its news that DRM is getting even crazier and worse.
DRM is technology that ‘wraps” around an digital version of a song or book or movie and keeps you from copying it or playing it on any device you want - the most prominent example being songs you buy on the iTunes Store, which can only be played in iTunes or on an iPod.
Apparently when you use the new Microsoft Zune player, you can send a song wirelessly to a friend’s Zune player. Cool! BUT. When you send it, the device adds DRM to the song that wasn’t there before, so that your friend can only play the song three times before it breaks. The problem is that the Zune does this to ALL audio files, not just songs. And many audio files (like the TWiT podcast) are made available under conditions that absolutely forbid this sort of monkeying around.
Meanwhile, the upcoming version of Windows Media Player won’t let you back up the licenses that enable you to play DRM’d media. So if your computer dies, you can’t save your music: Even if you backed up your songs, WMP won’t play them without the accompanying licenses to prove that they’re legit.
Not that Apple is off the hook here. Songs bought at the iTunes Store may only be played on a maximum of five authorized computers. Here’s what “About iTunes Store authorization and deauthorization” says:
Make sure you deauthorize your computer before you upgrade your RAM, hard disk or other system components. If you do not deauthorize your computer before you upgrade these components, one computer may use multiple authorizations. If you find you have reached 5 authorizations due to system upgrades, you can reset your authorization count by clicking Deauthorize All in the Account Information screen. Note: You may only use this feature once per year. The Deauthorize All button will not appear if you have fewer than 5 authorized computers or if you have used this option within the last 12 months.
Emphasis mine. I can only deauthorize all of my authorized computers once a year? I can understand setting up some restrictions so that people don’t cheat the system by rapidly authorizing and deauthorizing all of their friends computers, although it sounds like a lame way to share music. But why not once a week, or month? Bah.
