Longhorn's Copy Protection Standard 558
hype7 writes "The Register is reporting that Microsoft have attempted to force a last-minute CD protection standard on the recording industry in order to ship it in Longhorn. From the article: "Any such deal would see Microsoft support 'an industry-wide copy control platform' built in to its next-generation Longhorn operating system, with the computer giant instructing labels that the compatible secure CDs must contain additional multimedia content, such as bonus tracks, 'as a quid pro quo for adding effective [DRM] into the consumer experience'". It looks like everyone except the consumer is going to win on this one - Microsoft controls the secure format, the RIAA gets a secure format, and the consumer loses all their rights for the "quid pro quo" of a bonus track."
bad news for macintosh (Score:5, Informative)
Since copy-protected discs are not standard CDs, Apple Computer says they are not meant to be played on its products. In addition, repairs required to undo damage caused by such discs may not be covered by its warranties.
Apple designs its CD drives to support media that conforms to (published Compact Disc) standards. Therefore, any attempt to use nonstandard discs with Apple CD drives will be considered a misapplication of the product. Under the terms of Apple's one-year limited warranty, AppleCare Protection Plan, or other Apple Care agreements, any misapplication of the product is excluded from Apple's repair coverage.
Some copy-protected audio discs are causing Mac OS computers to start to a gray screen. In some cases, the discs will not easily eject from the computer.
Re:Encryption Circumvention Devices? (Score:5, Informative)
The copy protection will be defeated, just like any safe can be opened, it's just a matter of time and effort. So let's go ahead and crack their safe, and when we get the huge steel door open, we'll find the safe contains a bright and shiny TURD.
What's the point of preventing people from copying shitty music?
-paul
IANAL (Score:3, Informative)
Re:I don't see the logic (Score:5, Informative)
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There is always another way to rip the audio from CDs. So Microsoft builds copy protection into their OS. Who cares. It wont stop me from making backups of my CDs.
It could actually, or at least make it extremely difficult. The article says it's not clear what method Microsoft is pushing but it could be the "Secure Audio Path" concept (which would protect content all the way to a computer's speakers, making it impossible to make digital copies by recording from the soundcard). In that case Microsoft would likely mandate hardware changes or hardware wouldn't be certified as usable with Longhorn or simply Longhorn would refuse to accept it. Even if you use Linux if all the hardware you get enforces the copy protection in the hardware it's going to make it really difficult to rip the audio from those CDs.Sources for New Music (Score:2, Informative)
I agree about mainstream-marketed music. I do still find new music that I like, but mainly through other sources. I'll sound like an Amazon-shill for saying this, but after rating a few of my favorite CDs at Amazon, they've been pretty good at finding other stuff that I like and sometimes end up buying.
Also, the NPR radio station KCRW in Santa Monica, California, plays some interesting new music during their Morning Becomes Eclectic program. Certainly not everyone's taste, but new, fairly diverse, and generally not mainstream. If you're not lucky enough to live within range of their antennae, they broadcast on the web [kcrw.com] in MP3, RealAudio and Windows Media formats. There's a simulcast, a news-only stream, and a music-only [kcrwmusic.com] stream.
Re:garage bands (Score:5, Informative)
- Forced Exposure [forcedexposure.com]
- Rough Trade [roughtrade.com]
- Post Everything [posteverything.com]
Radio stations:- Resonance FM [resonancefm.com] <-- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
:-)
- WFMU [wfmu.org]
- WCSB [wcsb.org]
Please add more suggestions (or point out if any of these outlets suck).Shameless plug (Score:5, Informative)
Re:And this will work how exactly? (Score:2, Informative)
1. Never install the software on the disc. This is critical, as sometimes they install drivers that intentionally mess with ripping operations. If you have installed it, remove it.
2. Use ExactAudioCopy to rip the disc. Sometimes you have to use the Advanced functionality it offers to be able to read the disc.
In this particular case, EAC will read the disc fine if you enable Actions -> TOC Alterations -> Detect TOC Manually. One of the tracks will be a data track which you can ignore, the rest of the tracks will be audio, which should rip fine (if you remove the malware that the disc may install on your machine).
Re:And this will work how exactly? (Score:4, Informative)
"Janus" (Score:5, Informative)
Re:And this will work how exactly? (Score:2, Informative)
No... That's wrong: never install software from an untrusted source! This means the RIAA, magazines, "gratis" software, and *anything* that wants to automatically install on your computer.
Always disable the autorun function of your CD.... It is unsafer than the black hole that goatse.cx represents... (/HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Serv ices/Cdrom set the value Autorun to 0)
Re:garage bands (Score:3, Informative)
http://www.bleep.com/ [bleep.com]
Lots on content from the UK's premier indie labels, plus all of Bjorks back catalogue, all available in unencumbered high quality LAME MP3's
WalMart's retreat (Score:5, Informative)
Remember when WalMart was supposed to push Linux into the mainstream consumer market?
Well, there are three remaining, pathetic, Microtel Linux/Linspire desktops being sold off Walmart.com and the link is like an afterthought. The Sun JDS is history. Open WMP 10 and you'll find Walmart.com added to the list of online stores.
Re:I'd give it a try if... (Score:4, Informative)
Ok, here's the list: RIAA Membership [boycott-riaa.com]
Re:"Janus" (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Let's just Stop giving them Money (Score:3, Informative)
Personally, I've been doing just that. I also let retailers know why I buy some music and give other music a pass. A Boycott is a "drop in sales due to piracy" unless you actually let people know that you're boycotting the RIAA
Obligatory links: