Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Remember where you heard it first ...

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  • Peter Darlington,

    Anyone with an iPod, however, has a little bit more security. If you lose either your computer or your iPod, then provided you have your entire library on both devices

    True but not really an ideal solution. Unless you own the largest iPods your library could easily outstrip it. Also, iPods are waaay too fragile as a data backup.

    Mirrored SATA plus USB drive as backup is the ideal and *coughs* hardly geeky at all...

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report

  • Compie,

    is it me or is the apple.co.nz site down at the mo?

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report

  • Sam M,

    The exact same configuration as that that I ordered about two months ago (and which took six weeks to arrive) is $700 cheaper on the Apple site and ships in 2-4 days.

    Someone please tell me whether I should be laughing or crying!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 72 posts Report

  • B Jones,

    Um. Not entirely thrilled with all the sign-in inconvenience. It decided my email addy was already being used (I figured when I registered my ipod a few months ago), then when I went through all the "forgot your password" rigmarole, it signed me in and told me my address was my flat of four years ago, which I've never used on this computer or any software on it.

    Either I signed on to something apple-related in my old flat and forgot about it (but what? Itunes is new) and they've saved it, or it's sucked information off my computer that's somehow survived through three Windows upgrades/reinstalls and two hard drive replacements. Weirdness.

    Fragile Ipods? My bro-in-law thinks he got a virus on his plugging it into computers in southeast Asia. The music's still ok but the other data folders are nowhere to be seen.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report

  • B Jones,

    Either I signed on to something apple-related in my old flat

    Suddenly flashes back to trying to download Quicktime to watch a Lord of the Rings trailer, all on a dialup connection....

    Mystery solved, conspiracy over.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report

  • matthewbuchanan,

    Unless you own the largest iPods your library could easily outstrip it. Also, iPods are waaay too fragile as a data backup.

    True on the sizing issue, and yes, it's a last ditch effort as a backup tool, but better than no backup was my point.

    Either I signed on to something apple-related in my old flat and forgot about it (but what? Itunes is new)

    All of Apple's services seem to be quite tightly integrated, so it's entirely possible you signed up for another Apple service and your details were remembered.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 163 posts Report

  • samuel walker,

    "processing album artwork"

    sweet sweet thing.

    they arnt gonna get much of my hard earned cash for drm corrupted music. but if they wanna add a massive dimension to my mp3 library by adding image files to all (or at least most, even lightnin' rod) of my music for FREE.......well, i aint gonna argure one little bit.

    Since Nov 2006 • 203 posts Report

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    I gotta say the 'local sounds' splash screen is naff.

    OMG - isn't it awful?

    For anyone who hasn't seen it, click here and prepare to be shocked.

    It looks like it was conceived by someone whose only experience of New Zealand was via a tourism ad and/or a South Island ski holiday. I'm guessing it was hastily designed by someone at Apple in Australia, because surely no New Zealand designer would produce something this awful.

    When I think of all the things that are great about New Zealand music, I do not think of Mt Cook and flags blowing in the wind. It doesn't even come close.

    I'm going to give Apple the benefit of the doubt consider this a placeholder. They have until the new year to put something decent up there. If not, I'll get angry.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    OMG - isn't it awful?

    actually the whole store is deadly dull...I can find absolutely nothing I'm even vaguely tempted to buy. Back to Emuisc and Beatport

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • Jeremy Baker,

    The more important change is the establishment of the Apple online store - and the consequent price reductions not only online but by all the other resellers in NZ for Apple products and Macs.

    I've bought a few things of iTunes that I couldn't find at my local music store already - i'm sure that is how things will work for me.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 10 posts Report

  • Jeremy Matthews,

    I think the real beauty of buying music through iTunes (or any other online store) will be once record labels have their entire catalogues available. Being able to browse into the Flying Nun category and order chronologically would be excellent.

    I don't see the point in buying it through iTunes when I can easily walk down to the shops and buy it for a couple of dollars more. I can see huge potential in buying either out of print music, or obscure stuff that would cost $40+ to get imported.

    Christchurch, New Zealand… • Since Nov 2006 • 29 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    speaking of backups, HDs etc.

    I was thinking of ripping my entire CD collection to iTunes (via an alias folder) onto a external FW drive.

    This way I could have all my music that I have on CD accessible to iTunes and portable (usable at home or work).

    I would not get rid of my CDs.
    A) I like CDs and have spent years collecting them.
    B) If the drive got toasted I'd be screwed.
    C) CDs have the full artwork.

    Anyway, if I used a 350GB drive for this and AAC 192 as the compression format, do you think I could fit 1300 odd full CDs onto to one drive with room to spare?

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • Gary Hutchings,

    Anyway, if I used a 350GB drive for this and AAC 192 as the compression format, do you think I could fit 1300 odd full CDs onto to one drive with room to spare

    Should fit, 192 VBR AAC seems to be about 7MB/5min,

    if you assume and average of 50mins an album, you get 70MB *1300 Albums= 91GB, so with a 350GB drive you have heaps of leeway for the longer albums/higher encoding rates if you liked.+ a bit for the cover art image to be imbedded,

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 108 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Cheers. I'd like the extra room for future music - ie. ITMS, original compositions as aiffs etc.

    Off to TradeMe then...

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Okay - probably time to get alarmed ...

    New Copyright Bill published ...

    It contains what at first glance looks like a major change in direction on Technical Protection Measures:

    “amend the provision relating to technological protection measures--- so that the prohibition against the making, importing, hiring, and selling of devices, services, or information designed to circumvent "copy protection" be expanded to cover devices, services, or information that circumvent technological protection measures that protect all rights provided to copyright owners (including communication, not just copying)”

    And ...

    “introduce an offence (carrying a sentence of a fine not exceeding $150,000 or a term of imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both) for commercial dealing in devices, services, or information designed to circumvent technological protection measures:”

    What, like region-free DVD players?

    The goes against the direction of previous MED discussion papers and I wonder if it’s a quid pro quo for the introduction of the format-shifting exception.

    And apart from anything else, it appears that I’d potentially be criminally liable for some of the comments in this thread!! I'm looking at you, Damian ;-)

    Fuck that.

    Not happy. I'll post on this tomorrow.

    Cheers,
    RB

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Ben Gracewood,

    Yup, looks like it's time to get emailing people! Here's my take on the whole affair, plus a copy of my email to Judith Tizard.

    Scary times.

    Orkland • Since Nov 2006 • 168 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    What?

    Did I say I was copying my CD collection to a HD?

    It wasn't me - honest.

    <:/

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • MercatorNZ,

    First: Whee! At last. I've been waiting with not exactly baited breath, but looking forward to an NZ iTunes store nevertheless. So I got in last night and had a rummage around. Bit disappointed that you can't really 'browse' the store and that there's sod all NZ content there but found the purchasing process went pretty smoothly. Hopefully more NZ content will come on stream over time - well maybe not, cos I'd rather have that at the best quality I can get it (see below). But in the meantime I'll stick with amplifier or my local Real Groovy for that kind of thing.... Nothing like having a collection of NZ discs, is there?

    Second: I was a bit nonplussed to discover the bit rate of the tracks available at iTunes is 128kbps AAC? What the...? Isn't that just a bit low? Is there anyone out there that can offer a qualified judgement on whether this is a bit sub standard or not? I mean, if I'm going to be paying for this stuff, should I not be able to get it at CD quality? Isn't the iTunes store meant to be an alternative to a physical store?

    A friend sent me a link to a petition to Apple on just this issue: it's at http://www.petitiononline.com/apple128/petition.html

    Anyway it was kind of fun to rumage about in the store and re-acquire some old faves that somehow I'd lost all those years ago when I took the plunge and let my vinyl collection go (Wish I'd kept all those pre-label flying nun discs I'd collected though).

    Nice to see New Order's 1988 Substance compilation there. I also saw they had The Cure's 1984 live Concert album. I wonder if it still sounds as cool as it did in the mid 80's when I was a wide-eyeliner-eyed-psuedo-goth just starting uni....? Actually, I never wore eyeliner and i was never a goth, but I did like that album.

    I thought it was great that you can now buy (Product) RED iPod Nanos at the Apple store too. If you buy one of those apple will donate money to get help desparately needed medicines into Africa to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The red nano's look cool and don't cost any extra, but it helps make a difference.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 1 posts Report

  • Ben Gracewood,

    Tomorrowpeople, you're golden. That's the key thing that the new amendment caters for: format shifting.

    Just don't try to format-shift your DVDs, because that's circumventing copy-protection mmkay?

    Orkland • Since Nov 2006 • 168 posts Report

  • Gary Hutchings,

    Seems they want to let you watch out of zone DVD's

    The focus of section 226 will continue to be on the link between circumvention and copyright infringement, and on the making, sale, and hire of devices or information rather than on actual circumvention. While actual circumvention may not be prohibited, any unauthorised use of the material that is facilitated by circumvention will continue to be an infringement of copyright. Consumers should, however, be able to make use of materials under the permitted acts or view or execute a non-infringing copy of a work. This is consistent with New Zealand's position on parallel importation of legitimate goods, for example, genuine DVDs, from other jurisdictions. New provisions are introduced to enable actual exercise of permitted acts where TPMs have been applied.

    But as always the nitty gritty is what is in the legislation clauses,

    Although one glaring red alert was that the format shifting will expire after 2 years, unless renewed. [Clause 44, new 81 (3)] WTF!! So I make a copy legally, and then parliament gets cold feet and it becomes illegal 2 years later, great!

    Time to get out the tin-foil beanie and black helicopter detector.

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 108 posts Report

  • Ben Gracewood,

    Oh no wait, I'm confused: I'm allowed to circumvent DRM, but I'm not allowed to sell stuff to circumvent DRM?

    mummy?

    Orkland • Since Nov 2006 • 168 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Thanks Ben.

    Um - DVD Regions?

    What are they?

    ;)

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • Ben Gracewood,

    If anyone thinks introducing anti-circumvention measures is a good idea, no matter how carefully worded they are, take a read of this document.

    "This document collects a number of reported cases where the anti-circumvention provisions of the DMCA have been invoked not against pirates, but against consumers, scientists, and legitimate competitors. It will be updated from time to time as additional cases come to light."

    Orkland • Since Nov 2006 • 168 posts Report

  • Damian Stewart,

    Jeremy wrote:

    Being able to browse into the Flying Nun category and order chronologically would be excellent.

    Only if you're not interested in the hiss/noise component, which is quite an important aspect of the older stuff recorded with a more lo-fi aesthetic. Noise and digital compression don't play nice with each other. I have some German dub-techno stuff (Rhythm & Sound, if you're wondering) that's built largely from drum machines and analog tape hiss and it completely refuses to encode in a way that captures what it's about..

    Russell: you're joking, right? Whereabouts does it talk about that?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 6 posts Report

  • Ben Gracewood,

    Although one glaring red alert was that the format shifting will expire after 2 years, unless renewed. [Clause 44, new 81 (3)]

    Man that is so pathetic. I had no idea the music biz was so influential in New Zealand. They obviously have Judith in their pocket.

    Orkland • Since Nov 2006 • 168 posts Report

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