NBC Wants What?
News Commentary. So let me see if I rightly understand. NBC would like Apple to make iPod/iTunes more closed? |
File this under the you can't please anyone category. Some people complain that Fairplay DRM makes Apple a monopoly. Apple sells more music than even Wal-Mart. It's all digital download and through Fairplay tethered to those zillions of shiny, little iPods. I don't buy the monopoly argument, but that's a topic for another post.
Now NBC wants back on iTunes with conditions. The biggest: Apple has to lock down iTunes against pirated content. I suppose Apple could make its DRM more onerous or only allow Fairplay content on its devices. But that would make iPod/iTunes even more closed. And it would increase Apple's control over content distribution, possibly establishing a real, dishonest-to-goodness monopoly. Does NBC really understand what it's asking for?
Maybe NBC deserves credit for recognizing the real benefits of Fairplay. Music labels have moaned for years about file trading and how much they need to protect their content. Hello, Earth to spaced-out labels, Apple has done more to propagate DRM than anybody. Apple did for music labels what they couldn't do themselves: Get consumers to willingly buy rights-protected content.
But all that handy rights protection also has put music labels under the control of Apple CEO Steve Jobs' thumb. They know it and don't like it. They tried to break the control by holding back most DRM-free content from iTunes and giving it all to Amazon. I love the AmazonMP3 store because of all that DRM-free content. In October, I converted my entire music library to DRM-free. But I'm one of the few.
On Tuesday, NPD released some startling research: Only 10 percent of AmazonMP3 store customers had previously purchased from iTunes. NPD also reported that iTunes sales were 10 times that of the AmazonMP3 store. Well, so much for the allure of DRM-free and higher bitrates. It's amazing how many iPod junkies love their crappy-sounding lower-bitrate, rights-protected content.
Labels have a quandary then. Do they all distribute DRM-free content through iTunes as another tactic for reducing the Fairplay lock-in? Or do they accept Apple's increased control as the cost of spreading rights-protected content across the planet?
Along comes NBC asking for even more rights protection and perhaps greater Apple control over digital content distribution. I don't know whether to applaud NBC execs for being observant about DRM benefits or laugh at their comedic, give-more-power to Apple farce.
Comments (9)
Hey NBC:
http://img145.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bigcupfk8.jpg
Posted by Jim L. | April 17, 2008 8:17 PM
So let's see....
They pulled that stupid walk last year and now they're willing to return if Apple make iTunes harder to use ?
The jokes just write themselves.
Posted by PamG | April 17, 2008 8:50 PM
Joe, I don't really disagree with you here, but as tech columnist it's unforgivably simplistic for you to put forth the idea that 256Kbps MP3 files sound better than 128Kbps AAC files (they don't). Perhaps if the MPEG/LA group had named their open-standard MP3 replacement "MP4" instead of "AAC", more people would understand that AAC is the successor to MP3 from the very same ISO-standard MPEG group (not Apple), but I would expect you to know better.
AAC at 128Kbps is at least as good as MP3 at 256Kbps at a fraction of the file size (not to mention the fact that Apple offers over 1M songs in a *far* superior 256Kbps AAC format, and unprotected to boot).
Amazon offers a fine service, but to portray iTunes' offerings as audibly inferior is uninformed at best, and disingenuous at worst. Which is it Joe?
Posted by David Dugan | April 18, 2008 12:32 AM
I'd be one that has never purchased from iTunes store. I use iTunes but I have either ripped my CD collection or purchased from Amazon MP3. The quality is better and it's just SO EASY to move things around between the devices that my family uses.
Posted by Pete | April 18, 2008 10:14 AM
Lock down itunes all you want, it hurts more than it helps. People who need to move files from one computer to another (i.e. Upgrade to a new one), becomes quite a hassle. Sometimes people want to re-organize their folders, sounds simple enough right? Well, if you do, good luck. You'll spend more time regretting it, than just letting itunes manage everything. You'll lose files you paid for on a regular basis and actually come to fear it's retribution for going against what itunes thinks about the way your files should be kept.
Download from other sites that let you keep the damn file and lets you create back ups in case of hardware failures! Heck avoid itunes at all costs! There are sooo many alternative players that not only function perfectly, but look just as sexy.
Posted by Lawrence Knowlton | April 18, 2008 12:33 PM
David Dugan wrote: "As tech columnist it's unforgivably simplistic for you to put forth the idea that 256Kbps MP3 files sound better than 128Kbps AAC files (they don't)."
I disagree, David.
256kbps MP3 or AAC sound a whole lot better than 128kbps AAC. I can tell the difference right away, particularly when there is piano or strings--higher frequencies. But I was a DJ way back. Maybe I would notice.
Flipside, there's not enough difference between 256kbps and CD audio to my ears.
Joe
Posted by Joe | April 18, 2008 1:59 PM
Most people do not have the ear to notice, they just want to get music they want at the most convenient way possible. If they cannot figure it out in a few minutes they will lose interest. That has what has made iTunes so popular.
Posted by Chris | April 18, 2008 8:04 PM
When I say ear, I mean training to know what they are listening for in a recording.
Posted by Chris | April 18, 2008 8:14 PM
I think that what Apple really needs to do, is to start telling the truth in their ads. Of course if they were to do that, they would no longer be able to sell any of their devices for the 80%-90% profit margin that they currently enjoy and they would have to shut down their business. On second thought that is what they should just do, shut down their business, they don't produce anything compelling.
Posted by James | April 22, 2008 6:06 AM