“It’s not enough to denounce crime and lock up criminals, say the social scientists. We must consider the root causes of crime. Which brings us to Apple Computer Inc., which is encouraging people to steal digital music files, and undermining its own success to boot,” Hiawatha Bray writes for The Boston Globe.
“How’s that? Apple’s iTunes Music Store offered the first easy way to buy music legally over the Internet. Surely that has helped to discourage illegal file swapping. But there’s a catch, as we saw last week when a rival music seller attempted to crash the iTunes party… Since his amazing comeback as Apple chief executive in 1997, Jobs hasn’t made a single major mistake — until now,” Bray writes.
Full article here.
This guy is probably just miffed that Steve didn’t go to the MacWorld Boston Expo.
Windows users steal music to begin with. As a Mac user…I dont. I buy them.
He makes no sense. He says it’s a mistake not to have Real be allowed this technology. He says without it, people are going to start dowloading from Kaaza.
Umm … People are going to continue going to iTunes.
WTF?! Dude – go back in your hole….
lol what people hate apple now just cuz they got best mp3 player out? well guess what i bought a 40g ipod today so stop that you ass lol
we need to blame people that copy music not the company that provides uss with mp3 player and music store, and its up 2 apple to deside who should sell the music that works on an ipod lol.
Give Apple a break they have to make sure that someone actually broke their user agreement before they do one of the following upgrade the firmware or file a lawsuit.
How do idiots like this actually get to keep a job as a writer? Apple creates the first major legal download market, and this moron thinks it’s perpetuating pirating.
Go back to writing poems for your mother, dude. She can at least make you THINK you’re a half-way decent journalist…
“But Apple’s not having it, because Steve Jobs is a jealous god who will have no false technologies before him.”
How much does that say about the author??
The writer would have a point if the REAL download service were in any way superior to iTMS, or cheaper, for that matter.
Also, most of the music on iPods is ripped from CDs anyway. (Just calculate: 3 mio iPods sold, 100 mio songs sold in total, that’s a measly 30 songs per iPod, even if all iTMS customers owned iPods). iTMS is, at the moment, just a nice way to complement one’s preexisting music collection with choice selections. Thus, a choice of download services is not a top priority topic for iPod users.
Right on, Hagar57. You’ve just made the most valid point in this whole “scandal”.
THIS ARTICLE IS THE BIGGEST LOAD OF SHIT I HAVE READ SINCE MICROSOFT LAUNCHED WINDOWS XP!!
So fairplay allows people to pirate songs eh???
What aload of bollocks!
This guy abviously bought a Dell DJ instead of an Ipod – unlucky sucker!!
LOL!
My email to the author:
Mr. Bray,
Your article “Apple music operation hits a sour note” is so much opinion, that you should be ashamed as a “journalist”. You say that Apple’s decisions create an “incitement to steal music”, which is completely moronic. That would be like saying “Ford won’t put BMW seats in my Taurus, so I’m going to go steal a BMW”. People who already have an iPod are not going to be firing up Kazaa just because they can’t purchase music from REAL. They will use the market leading iTunes Music Store. To try to make Apple look bad for offering consumers the first legit online music purchasing system, coupled with a kickass personal music player, all of which are rich in features, technically sound, and extremely user friendly is a very luddite attitude. What really gets me though is your lack of responsibility to your readers by reporting FUD, strictly based on your alliegance to Microsoft (or your disdain for Apple). As a journalist, you should have been told to leave your opinions out of your piece. What kind of stupid ass statement are you trying to make with: “But Apple’s not having it, because Steve Jobs is a jealous god who will have no false technologies before him”. Like I said, how about reporting the facts instead of bellyaching about someone else’s success. I would understand if Mr Jobs’ status as a CEO was in question, but I think all the reports about his (and the iPod/iTunes) tremendous success speak volumes, which is more than I can say about your ability to report news. Additionally, your writing is boring. Even when you try to write with a clever (albeit irresponsible) slant, I find your style a extremely dull.
Have a nice day.
I still don’t get it. The universal spreading of you can’t play Apple iTunes bought music on other players! I haven’t a clue on how this Harmony works and if it is user activated. ie: buy the Real music then open a Harmony app and convert the track the import to your iPod.
But the reality is anyone can buy a song from the Apple iTunes Music Store, burn the song to a cd in iTunes as an aif track. Then re-import the track back as an mp3 file and play it on any mp3 player they want to. Sony, Rio or iPod.
If people have to be tech savy to use Harmony, then just burning and re-importing is easier.
Haven’t seen Hiawatha expousing his views on Apple related stuff for a while. He never seemed to make much sense, indeed came over as excessively aggressive, so this piece is par for the course.
Crunge!
Go for it!
The guy is a typical example of a bad reporter.
The first rule of ALL reporting is that it HAS to be unbiased otherwise the ‘article’ (as I use this word with caution on such a badly written piece!) becomes just an opinion and not a acurrate peice of reporting.
At the end of the day the article is so inaccurate that he has shown himself up to his peers as to how badly a reoporter he is and unfortunately for the Boston Globe – it does no good to the image of the publication too as it gives the reader the conclusion that their reporters are totally crap and untrained in any journalistic skills whatsoever!
If this guy worked on a UK national paper he would have been sacked for the inaccuracy of this article!
Also – if he thinks APPLE is encoyuraging piracy how come the music labels arent sueing APPLE? or that there is no statements from ANY record labels in the article condoning APPLE?
The guy is just a 10cents hack looking for a new angle to rattle everyone’s cages – because at the end of the day IT ABOUT SELLING NEWSPAPERS and they will print any FUD to increase sales!
These people act as if Apple invented the music that is on their download service. I guess he forgets that iTunes is the largest music store so chances are Real has nothing that iTunes already sells. Plus, since the iPod is the market leader, most of those people are perfectly content using iTunes, the software that works seamlessly with the iPod. Why bother adding complexity and confusion to your music usage by using a second rate music store that offers the same songs and albums as Apple’s iTunes?
What an irrational prejudice article!
Here’s the link to the editor if anyone wants to complain about this guy!
letter@globe.com
Well this guy thinks iTunes is AWESOME! But he thinks the iPod sucks (yet he has bought 3 already) I think he should have dinner with the author.
http://www.edwinsucks.com
“Apple Could Be “Microsoft Of My Ass”
Among others. He’s funny and whacked. Like he says it sucks to be him.
Here’s my letter to the writer (bray@globe.com) and the editor (letter@globe.com):
————————————-
Not only are your arguments not very convincing, but they have no logic. You’re jumping to conclusions and twisting everything around. Apple is the source of encouraging people to steal music? And Kazza and other P2P networks isn’t? Just because Apple doesn’t want a competitor’s music to be on Apple’s *own* iPod doesn’t send the message that they want people to steal. You don’t know shit about technology.
You must be desperate to get more readers for the Globe. Then again, it’s writers like you that brings the Globe down in status and reputation. It will remain there until you’re fired. You shouldn’t even be a reporter. It really seems like you’re bought and paid for by Real.
Your editor must have been asleep at the wheel to let this biased and error-filled article to be published.
What about the software ripped from Apple and reverse-engineering? Isn’t that ROBBERY?
I think SJ et. al. are angry with the fact that someone, ILLEGALY, took their software and make some application based on it. As far as I know, “harmony” is a response from REAL to the negative from Apple to share with them their DRM. AND, INHO that response is the part that is not legal.
REAL is not respecting the RIGHTS that Apple has on their own software. Who is the burglar? That is the real point on REAL.
M$ or Apple it those not matter as long as you are free to choose whatever monopoly you want.
I don’t think Apple could have foreseen this issue but there should enable the mto take them to court anyway. Why doesn’t real player pay royalities to Apple and not tell them how to run their business… The other issue to me is that anyone who downloads from Realplayer has to pay a 9.95 subscription on top of what they download music or choose not to. They can’t make money so they get u on monthly service feeeeee.
Boston Globe must be very low in the press scale — avoid! Don’t even go there!
Some folks just don’t get it. I saw a poll here that indicates otherwise.
http://www.mac360.com/index.php/mac360/more/mac_poll_how_many_songs_on_your_ipod_legal_not_legal/
Surprisingly, 82% of those polled have over 1,000 songs on their iPods, and 78% of their songs are legal or mostly legal.
If anything, it appears as if Apple’s iPod and Music Store are encouraging “legal” purchases.
Hiawatha should go back to the reservation.
In other related news, consuming turkeys at the end of November causes water to freeze, fall from sky, and accumulate as snow in December…
This guy’s logic makes no sense. Why not say that GM, by offering a new model lineup every year, encourages grand theft auto? What utter hokum. I’d expect this sort of bad journalism from the NYT, not from the Globe. His boss will be getting an email from me shortly.
I think guys write stuff like this just to get a reaction, to get more eyeballs, more responses. It’s NOT journalism, it’s opinion designed to get your goat, elicit a response, NOT a reflection of sober thought.
What’s this guy talking about?????????????
haha.. that’s funny, i wrote a long email to this writer.. guy?..girl? who knows..
while this person doesn’t slam apple much, there is the implication that this whole real mess is going to force people to deal with free illegal mp3’s and forget about online drm’d music.
as if it’s all apple’s fault?
eh, no. apple is the only one really competing with the p2p networks (well, i’m canadian, so i haven’t been able to buy music from itms yet).
though i did call her on the, ‘oh look, apple’s technology has already been hacked’ thing. as if apple is low-tech, and real is… *snicker.. well.. you know..
real can get away with this.. but if it doesn’t have apple’s cooperation, i can’t imagine how it expects to license this “technology” with confidence. Anyone who does business with Real is in for a nasty surprise.
I have written off iTMS and have decided to ONLY STEAL MUSIC.
Kazaa…here I come. You were right. This argument between Apple and Real has got me so flustered I’ve given up hope and turn to the black market of underground file swapping.
What a dumbass this guy is.
Apple allows you to take any mp3 and play it on the iPod, no problem.
Apple allows you to take WMA (non protected) and convert it to AAC and play it on the iPod, no problem.
This issue has nothing to do with iTMS, nothing to do with audio format, nothing to do with ipod and nothing to do with iTunes/iTMS.
This is strickly about DRM and what access rights the RIAA want to allow the users.
Apple should stay clear of this and let the music industry get its story straight first. They are letting Apple fight their battle for them and Apple can only lose and the music industry can only win. All of this means losing for the consumer until downloaded music is the same as ripped from CD. Any format, any player, any time, any place the consumer wants. Until this happens, fights like this will continue (and there will be more) and illegal downloading will continue.
When I think of the iPod I touch myself.
he’s on crack
These people are on drugs. Lock them up. I’m paying cash for my music to use on my ipod. JEALOSY that Apple is doing well!!!!!!!
All these “attacks” on the iPod, itunes music store, Apple, Steve Jobs, blah blah blah is getting very very very very fucking boring. You all need a life
Folks, let me give you some first hand experience with Hiawatha Bray. I had the great dis-honor of talking with this gentleman on the phone about 5 or 6 years ago when the company I worked for at the time was releasing a product.
First of all, he is not a technologist by any means. he’s one of these people that just picks up bits and pieces here and there and tries to sound intelligent.
Secondly, he has no personality – or at least one that could be halfway considered “personable”. He’s an asshole on the phone too – even when you’re trying to help him with something.
Third, he is very married to the Microsoft way of thinking. You have to remember that clicking a mouse over the “START” button on his desktop is quite challenging for him. I can’t even imagine how he’d plug in an iPod and download a song. I’m sure he’d be on the phone with Applecare the moment that the computer wanted to upgrade the firmware on the iPod.
Don’t read this guy’s rubbish – just ignore him and maybe – just maybe – he’ll go away. *crosses fingers*
There’s nothing more pathetic than Anonymous Cowards posting ad hominems. So mature.
The Boston Globe is now being accused of practicing “yellow journalism.”
Here’s a link that blasts Bray, the Boston Globe, and puts them in their place:
http://www.mac360.com/index.php/mac360/more/apple_computer_encouraging_people_to_steal_digital_music_files
DRM is what’s encouraging illegal downloading. Any restriction that makes legally downloaded songs less convenient for normal users decreases their value and increases the value of unemcumbered songs. The record companies have only themselves to blame until they realize that any DRM beyond digital watermarks (even watermarks are limited to keeping honest people honest) is useless.
Here’s Mister Bray’s response:
“Sheesh! A little perspective, please. Think it through.
Real is trying to create a market in which its DRM becomes the standard,
because it runs on anything. In such a market, the incentive to steal music
is lessened, because there’s none of the current head-scratching about
whether this or that file will play on this or that player.
Apple wants a world in which iPod players can only listen to iTunes music,
or raw MP3s. All other DRMs are verboten.
So what happens if the only legal copies of a particular tune are available
only in a non-Apple DRM? iPod listeners will either do without–or swipe
the stuff. This would be equally true if Rio users wanted to listen to
something available only through iTunes.
It’s obvious that this approach encourages music theft. How much theft, I
dunno. But inevitably, some fans will respond by hunting up unprotected,
illegal MP3s of desirable files.
From the music industry’s standpoint, the best approach is a universal DRM
or at least multiple interoperable DRMs. Exclusivity only benefits
Apple–nobody else. And in the process, the company sets back the cause of
digital music.
That’s my column and I’m sticking to it!”
Enjoy.
Hahahaha.
Bray gets a little dose of his own and doesn’t like it.
Look at all the well-worded responses:
http://www.mac360.com/index.php/mac360/comments/42/
Hahahahaha.
(this is david vesey and I have approved this message)
He’s just another horse’s ass who, while trying to say something controversial about Apple, has to go out on a ridiculous limb to make a point.
Sort of like trying to stretch a chiclet to the moon.
Let’s face it, news is slow right now. Last summer all the journalists were atwitter about dead iPod batteries and failing iBook logic boards.
This summer there ain’t nuthin’ for them to get excited about.
So they try to make too much stew out of one oyster and
claim that Apple’s defense of its legal rights is an enticement to steal music by the frustrated public.
He’s just scrounging for hits n’clicks by tossing out headlines like “Apple Music” hitting a “Sour Note”.
But he’s going to have a hard time convincing the computer public that he has to defend poor little ole’ REAL from Apple.
REAL, one of the most despised companies in the business.
david vesey
It’s actually an interesting POV. All in all, a standard DRM and diversity and choice in the marketplace is the way to go.
I don’t know how old most of the posters are here, but if any of you have lived in the former Soviet Union, you’d have experienced this lack of choice firsthand. In that government system everything sold is generic. There is very little in the way of brand names.
Although in theory a good system (all things, all people equal) it unfortunately can not be headed by a human (power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely). Capitalism is based on “let the market decide.” While not a perfect system (as it fosters greed) it’s based on equal choice in the marketplace.
When it comes down to it, selling music players and “music” are completely different industries… musicians/labels don’t make and sell hardware(barring some large multi-division companies like Sony), and electronics manufacturers don’t make music. Therefore, historically, interoperability has not only been key, but it has been healthy and essential.
While some perhaps don’t see it this way, this article, although it is partly biased, makes an interesting point when he says: Only honest music lovers have to worry as they buy from RealAudio or iTunes or the new, legal version of Napster, about which music players will play which songs.
That’s true to an extent. People who have legally buy music and can’t play it will be frustrated. People who illegally fileshare will not be. Sure, it may not be the first thing MOST people think, but when it comes to purchased products, most people want it to continue to work. Imagine if your TV stopped working because the power company decided to change the voltage to work only with the electric companies TVs. If another company offered you a transformer (at the flick of a switch) to regulate and make it work, it would be awfully tempting.