Monday, July 11, 2005

Podcasting - calming down now…

Well, I still think the workflow could be better, but perhaps “sucks” was a strong word…luckily there’s a way around.

Drag and drop - is it so hard? Adding Drag and drop to allow populating the Podcast playlist seems to me a no-brainer. Pick out a few podcasts, drag it over and drop. Everything else works that way, why not Podcasts?

Well, it could, but for reasons unknown to me, it doesn’t. Probably has something to do with commerce.

But there’s a way around that! Instead of just digging through the Podcast directory in iTunes, use Safari. If you see a RSS link, drag it into the Podcast playlist and automagically downloads based on your preferences…schweet!

Posted by admin on 07/11 at 02:08 PM
Posted in: Gadgetry  
(0) Trackbacks • Permalink

Thursday, June 30, 2005

iTunes & Podcasting - is it driving YOU nuts too?

I don’t mind the Podcasts embedded in the iTunes store.
Or that they’re set-up already for commercial content.

But…

The workflow sucks.

1) Click on the iTunes Store

2) Click on Podcasting section, or better - search for, say “BBC”

3) Okay - 6 items. Lovely. Let’s take them all.

4) Click on the first item - SUBSCRIBE.  (Jumps to Podcast subscription list)  Now, let’s add another…

..oh, wait. Where’s the back arrow? 

5) Go to step 1

Duh. This gets old fast. You could also avoid the interface and use the BROWSE button on top, but alas you still cannot select more than one item at a time.

Okay - I have a blog - here’s what *I* would do:

1) Click on Podcast directory - this should go to the split-panel browsing interface.

2) Drag the items I want to my Podcasts list. Assume that if I drag it there, I want it.

3) Oh wait - there’s no step 3!

If I want to unsubscribe, I can still do so as it works now. If it’s not free content, the UNSUBSCRIBE button should become a AUTHORIZE or PURCHASE button, which takes you to the Store since, duh, you’re THEN buying something.

Perhaps version 6.9.1…

Posted by admin on 06/30 at 05:32 AM
Posted in: IT notes  
(0) Trackbacks • Permalink

iTunes, Grokster and Podcasting - joys and dangers abound—UPDATED

I’m very happy to see Podcasting embraced by Apple (albiet I’d prefer it if they didn’t embrace it too tightly and allowed it a little more freedom of movement, bit that’s another post). The big question to me is: Does the iTunes store, as a transport and delivery medium, need to watch out for copyright infractions of it’s users?

How does Apple track if the broadcast fairly uses copyrighted material, whether it be audio, music or photos?

I’m not a lawyer so I don’t have a real idea on how the recent Supreme Court decision applies to systems outside the P2P sphere.

It may be that the analogy doesn’t really fit - iTunes uses a centralized server offers files for downloading and isn’t exactly a P2P since individual users can’t download without violating the iTunes Terms of Service. I’m sure the Apple “TOS” on iTunes is tight, on the user and creator ends, might cover this - they’ve got the best designers and some of the best lawyers in the biz (as long as a the CEO doesn’t give anything away ).

Still, we’re talking about the RIAA and the MPAA - I’d watch my back.

# UPDATE # - On this week’s “Click Online”, the BBC makes the point that a company is not in trouble if it merely learns that it’s software has been used to facilitate theft. I still see a problem if, after the company learns this, it does not act or acts insufficiently to defend itself against charges of continuing theft.

Posted by admin on 06/30 at 05:13 AM
Posted in: IT notes  
(0) Trackbacks • Permalink

Cory Doctorow is a big fat liar—UPDATED

Of course that’s wrong - if anything, I believe Doctorow and Boing Boing are anti-DRM-at-all-costs. But read on and you’ll see the point I’m trying to make.

As usual, BB and Cory Doctorow thought they had another whipping boy for their continual “no DRM anywhere” drone.

Apple pops out the Podcasting version of iTunes (version 4.9) and Cory is immediately on their ass:

-> Boing Boing: Apple adds DRM to Podcasting—UPDATED

Happily they corrected the body of the article - and posted a correction: Apple uses the MPEG-4 AAC format, which offers higher-quality recording vs. MP3. That they’ve added the “—UPDATED” blip to the old article title, which is a good move forward.

But…

The body title and, importantly, the HTML page title claiming DRM deception remains. Why should it matter? This way, almost all search engines will pop up the page maintaing the factually incorrect position ad infinitum, and collecting ad revenues for every inquisitive clicker that gets faked-out looking for the true facts.

They can smear Apple at will, fire it into the stream of consciousness we call RSS and later revise history to cover their asses. And we have to pay (via advertising) to find the real facts.

THIS is why blogging isn’t immediately journalism.

Want to be really fair? Change the title to “Apple does NOT use DRM on Podcasts - UPDATED” **and** post a new article pointing back to the updated article.

PS: There’s still no way to comment directly on a Boing Boing article - only permalinks and self-promotional linkbacks. The stone-wall remains up.

Posted by admin on 06/30 at 03:48 AM
Posted in: IT notes  
Permalink

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

2

Why Boing Boing can no longer just be trusted…

Cory Doctorow has this thing about any kind of DRM, and okay - that's his thing and I'm cool with it. It's all about choice, right? But Cory also likes the bully pulpit and can, in my opinion, stretch the truth a bit to fit his theories. A good example is the 21-song iPod, an amazing piece of FUD. If Boing Boing allowed for commentary, it'll be hammered right now.

Cory Doctorow is pushing the idea (founded by the tragically hip types at Downhill Battle) that the average iPod is a gaping hole filled with 21 paid songs and god knows what else. Could it be non-drm'd content, illegally gained? Could it be...SATAN's iPod?

Duh - try CDs.

imageThis is why I don't trust Cory Doctorow anymore - he completely ignores the obvious, that people are buying CDs again because of iTunes and the iPod...I mean, not a WORD about CDs. There were stats bandied about years ago, showing an uptick in CD sales, and while I can't prove it (or find a decent link right now) I do know from personal experience that I bought more CDs in the 2 years I've had an iPod than I have in the past 10 years. All kinds of content - some private lables, some mainstream, some regional, and more of the stuff I just love.

This is what chafes my botox'd-buttocks - Doctorow should know better. He's no idiot - in fact, I'd say he's insanely bright, but its infuriating to read crap like this on his blog AND then have no recourse to comment there. Enter the bully pulpit - "blogs are great! CC everything! And by the way, only my opinions count here." He help promotes this fabrication - this distortion of reality - syndicates it and then waits for others to pick it up. And via propagation, it becomes factual.

Well it's not. It's not even his lie - but he pushes it just like the local dealer, pushing anti-corporation, anti-drm FUD to a confused public.

Ultimately, Downhill Battle - which promotes its indie agenda, let's be fair here - is to blame. The chart above belongs to it, but its appropo since Cory's ignored the obvious facts, pushed the lie and taken their side.

Dude, if you want indie music, buy indie music - don't buy Brit or Boyzone or whatever. But don't call all iPod users thieves or ignoramuses or whatever point you're alluding to. It's insulting to our intelligence.
Posted by admin on 06/15 at 03:27 PM
Posted in: Personal  
Permalink
Page 16 of 21 pages « First  <  14 15 16 17 18 >  Last »