Hard News by Russell Brown

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

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  • matthewbuchanan,

    An editing function is top of the list of enhancements, should happen within the next couple of weeks. I've fixed your typo...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 163 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    Matt / Russell

    gotta say, love the site, web designer mysself this is going great, bring on an edit function.

    As for iTunes, boy do you have to mine for content. But the pricing is fantastic.

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I'd also have to request a link on the front page which takes you to the last page of these discussions. Save me one click!

    Does anyone know what the story is with itunes bought stuff being transferred to an mp3 player that isn't an ipod? Itunes help doesn't seem to indicate anything beyond 'you can transfer it to an ipod and it doesn't count as one of your computers'.

    The pricing on this is good, but, not so good for me if I can't get it working on my 'cheaper than an ipod' mp3 player.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • JP Hansen,

    I know with regular AAC / m4u files that I rip from CD, if I then change my importing preferences to MP3, I can select a track/playlist, and choose 'convert selection to MP3' (it's always 'convert selection to [your import preference])

    It's a bit of a pain, but then go to Lastest Additions and make a new playlist of the just-converted files, and then transfer them to a data CD or whatever.

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • JP Hansen,

    Meant to add - I have no idea if that's possible with the DRM protected files from ITMS.

    And thanks Matt - looking forward to the edit feature!

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Compie,

    Kyle

    a really bad hack that I know of is get a copy of Audio Hijack and rip the audio while it's playing on iTunes.

    clunky but works

    I can't live without AudioHijack. there's a copy of it on mac support if you are still on campus.

    Dunedin/Vancouver • Since Nov 2006 • 114 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    I beleive I transferred AAC files to my Motorola phone and they play fine.

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

  • John Holley,

    Two things. One, for Mac users, have a look DRM Dumpster which, according to their blurb is :

    the legal way to convert DRM tracks your iTunes music library to standard files. DRM Dumpster uses a CD-RW and iTunes itself to convert all of your DRM music files to files that you can use with any music player. With DRM Dumpster you can create MP3, AAC, Apple Lossles, AIFF, or WAV files from your DRM files. (At least in Europe)

    On the store in general, it's annoying that the content is restricted e.g. TV and Movies, and that you have to know how to search to find podcasts from the rest of the world e.g. Science Talk: The Podcast of Scientific American, which is a favourite of mine which I discovered via the US iTunes store.

    I know we are not the USA and there are copyright issues (can't seem to get free JPL podcasts) but we also are not Australia! :)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Mat Wiseman,

    I'd also have to request a link on the front page which takes you to the last page of these discussions. Save me one click!

    Isn't that what Last post by ... does?

    Since Dec 2006 • 8 posts Report Reply

  • Scott Fannen,

    Glad to see NZ has finally got on the Apple map - I live over in London now.

    The iTunes store does look a bit sparse but I'm sure it'll warm up. Having a more direct link to NZ music would be good. The first time I heard Fat Freddy's Drop (I've been away a while) was when it was the free download of the week on the UK iTunes music store!

    The podcast selection seems a bit odd given that it isn't charged for and the content is often not from Apple themself anyway - so you're missing a lot of the educational podcasts - having a learn Maori podcast would be a treasure. I need more than Olly Olsen to learn!

    Maybe we can see some of those NZ music videos that NZ on Air helps to make but nobody sees?

    I hope the NZ resellers have got improved wholesale pricing too - some of them do a wonderful job - especially when NZ seems at the bottom of the supply chain.

    Finally......

    Scott :)

    Warsaw • Since Nov 2006 • 14 posts Report Reply

  • Scott Fannen,

    It has to be pointed out that - in typical Apple fashion - TV shows and movies aren't even available in a large market like the UK (and despite the backward nature of some of the things in the UK, the Brits have really taken to the iPod). I wouldn't wait up!

    Scott :)

    Warsaw • Since Nov 2006 • 14 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Hard News PodCast - from iTunes?

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

  • matthewbuchanan,

    Isn't that what Last post by ... does?

    Yes it is, perhaps it's not obvious enough, but it's there.

    Hard News PodCast - from iTunes?

    Well, you could subscribe to 95bFM's Breakfast podcast, they include Russell's weekly Hard Word discussion with Mikey.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 163 posts Report Reply

  • matthewbuchanan,

    I beleive I transferred AAC files to my Motorola phone and they play fine.

    For clarification, there are two types of AAC files, protected (.m4p) and non-protected (.m4a). The latter will play on any device that supports the AAC format, the former will only play on Apple hardware (computers, iPods) as they're the only devices that currently support Apple's proprietary FairPlay DRM. That is, unless you use one of the above-described methods for removing the DRM portion of the file. The iTunes Store only sells protected files.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 163 posts Report Reply

  • Damian Christie,

    When I need to 'lose' the DRM on a file, or record something that only streams (research purposes people, research purposes), I use a nice free app called Goldwave (available at goldwave.com ).

    Sure, you have to make sure your computer doesn't beep or anything while the tune is playing through itunes/WMP or whatever, but apart from that it seems to work fine.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Isn't that what Last post by ... does?

    Woah, that's a link? Crazy...

    Cheers for the responses re getting it to MP3. I'll try them out.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    I ripped my AACs in iTunes so....

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

  • matthewbuchanan,

    I ripped my AACs in iTunes so....

    Yep, that means they're not protected files and will play anywhere that supports AAC playback.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 163 posts Report Reply

  • JP Hansen,

    Instead of recoring an audio file as it plays (and hoping nothing else beeps), there's always burning to regular audio CD and then ripping that.

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • tim kong,

    Wait.

    More importantly - why did Russell want/need Moby for?!

    ;-)

    Nice to see itunes up and running - didn't take too long to setup my account - and looking forward to perusing catalog.

    Very pleased that a proper online Apple store has opened as well.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    > More importantly - why did Russell want/need Moby for?!

    Well, he's just killing time until the next U2 concert, give the guy a break.

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Greg Wood,

    Rock. On. iTMS. !.

    Took seconds to sign in, and send Breaks Co-op as a gift to my superGirl, here in Singapore using our NZ Westpac card. At bloody last. And frankly awesome pricing!

    Now, hurry up the full catalogue of everything - and fix the search function. Yay.

    Now back in Aucktown • Since Dec 2006 • 86 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    So everyone is well sorted with mirrored disk, RAID configs or at the very least a USB backup drive right?

    With 20 Gbytes of legal music costing you $9k + labour you wouldn't want to be relying on one single nasty little Taiwanese platter to keep it alive for the rest of your music listening life...

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Matthews,

    So everyone is well sorted with mirrored disk, RAID configs or at the very least a USB backup drive right?

    Of course I have. I'm sure I've heard that you can redownload songs you've purchased as well. Not entirely sure if that is accurate though.

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

  • matthewbuchanan,

    Of course I have. I'm sure I've heard that you can redownload songs you've purchased as well. Not entirely sure if that is accurate though.

    Apple has been known to allow this in exceptional circumstances (or when the person concerned is, ahem, famous) however I don't believe it's part of their policy.

    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, it's trivial to re-sync either way (going from an iPod back to one's computer requires a third-party software solution of which there are countless dozens).

    If you lose your computer and your iPod in the one hit, best to start begging.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 163 posts Report Reply

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