Writers Block Live

Apple just posted an article written by Steve Jobs, describing the DRM situation with iTunes, as he sees it. It’s a fascinating read:

www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughtsonmusic

So out of character for Steve and Apple to provide explanations like this, when they are usually so tight-lipped. I find it refreshing.

There’s an article on ZD Net this morning exposing a ridiculous new DRM schemes that’s being pitched to movie studios for use on standard DVDs. It makes the discs unplayable on Windows computers. That ought to go over like the proverbial ‘turd in the punch bowl’.

Here’s the dirt:

Protect DVD-Video – A slap in the face for PC and Media Center owners

I think this statement from Amazon’s UnBox website tells the whole story:

If your device is Plays for Sure compliant it may work…

May work…the mind boggles at the way Microsoft gives their products names which embody the exact opposite of what the thing does. Play for Sure, Windows Genuine Advantage, Windows Defender…doesn’t it make you feel all warm and fuzzy.

PS
Unbox looks to me to be another ill-conceived and half-hearted effort by the big studios to get people to pay higher prices for lower quality and less flexibility. Oh ya, give me some of that please.