Microsoft music store to open next year

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Reality Check

Yes, FairPlay is part of Apple's AAC - it allows these songs
to be available - the studios would not release them
otherwise. Your options are to steal mp3s or get locked in
to WMA a closed license. FairPlay, by all accounts is the
most liberal DRMs available - you of course, have the right
not to choose it. Your only alternative is Microsoft's DRM or
theft. You can also buy a CD and Rip it.

As for AAC requiring an iPod - your choice remains.
Endorse AAC, an open codec, choose arguably the best
portable player in combination with the best reviewed
jukebox. iPods play every popular format except WMA (can
you blame them?) and as a hard drive it can store other
forms of data as well.

Please make the destinction between choice and the illusion
of choice. At the end of the day a choice is made for one
portable player. Apple has given you the option of well
designed portable player and a great jukebox all operating
outside the license of a convicted monopolist. The real
"choice" is not between one portable or another, but
between an open codec and a closed one. This war
represents nothing short of open access to the main
conduit for all digital creative content. Apples products
have been better, their corporate behavior has been better,
and their support has been better. Now they have given us
the opportunity to choose and support an open codec for
digital content. They have sweetend the deal with the best
digital music package available. Choose it or not, but if you
use and support a monopolist's licenses, you'd do better
not to impune Apple's record.


regards

Posted by: Harry Bardal   Posted on: 11/17/03 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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