Microsoft DRM cracked

[Smith]

FwF, if even you are one of those who unconsiously put their music in copy-protection jail, I guess it was just lucky of me to happen to be using a good old CD ripper.

Yes, this was an interesting article to say the least. I have seen many changes here in the U.S. during my lifetime. All or most of them have been changes taking away something we used to have. Not liking the way things are going. Have a nice day Polonus.  I guess music is another way to take something away from us. 

Neal & polonus, I think intellectual property laws are one of the most important keys in the success of the independence of America.  It's rather sad to see they are begun to be abused, making us slavish consumerist cash-cow.  IMHO, before defending MS, I think Americans may need to think what they should be really proud of. 

[FreewheelinFrank]

Really, I didn't give it much thought when I ripped the CD's and just went with the default. At that time MP3 players didn't have WMA support, and I wasn't even thinking about buying a player. A few years later they came down in price a lot and started supporting WMA, so I stopped DRM protecting CD's I ripped and eventually got a player. Now I can drop any of my CD's to it, and also transfer them to a new computer when I upgrade.

Of course I'm not whiter than white- a few of the CD's that spent time spinning in my D: drive weren't actually mine. 

I'm afraid I've been a copyright criminal since back in the 70's when I got my first cassette recorder. 

[polonus]

Hi FwF,

The actual discussion behind DRM etc. is much broader. Stallman has the following to say about it: I quote:
Stallman: The collision that is coming is in your computer. The MPAA [Motion Picture Association of America] and the RIAA [Recording Industry Association of America] have been trying for years to deny you the control over the software you use and deny you control of your own computer. They have procured unjust laws such as the DMCA [Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998], specifically to prohibit you from regaining control.

Officially, MPAA stands for Motion Picture Association of America, but I suggest that MPAA stands for Malicious Power Attacking All. And RIAA stands for Really Intends to Alienate the Audience.

Those who seek to impose DRM [digital rights management] generally design it so that the public cannot escape from it. Whatever software they use to implement DRM, they will try to prevent you from changing it. Congress is now considering bills that would prohibit digital TV and radio receivers that are built in ways that the public can change.

The goal of releasing a program under the GNU GPL is to assure you the freedom to change the program. If the perpetrators of DRM achieve their goal, that implies ours has been defeated. So we must refuse to cooperate with them, and that means a collision. This collision course is the only ethical course for software developers.

DRM ought to be prohibited by law, but we cannot achieve that by changing the license of our software. What we can achieve is to prevent our software from being packaged such that you don't really have the freedom to change it.  end quote

polonus

[bob3160]

And just think, all of this started when they stopped us from downloading those little midi files.  :'(  :'(

[Smith]

FwF, I wonder if this makes me whiter than you are but I only buy music, which I like enough to pay.  Listening music is one of my important hobbies, which probably made me little more conscious of the licensing issue than some others are.  I have a habit of ripping my CDs to open-source formats.  Ironically, this also limits my choice of the players while this buys me some freedom in file-management.

Polonus, there seems to be a pattern in our politics.  The privileged like to limit freedom of the others since it keeps them privileged.  So, will Stallman be able to become Jefferson in software licensing?  My understanding of technology is very limited but I sometimes see there is a good reason they call it open-source movement.

[bob3160]

HI Smith,

I have a habit of ripping my CDs to open-source formats.  Ironically, this also limits my choice of the players while this buys me some freedom in file-management.

Have you ever tried using jetAudio to accomplish that task?

jetAudio6.2.6Basic is also available from MySharedFiles 

[Smith]

HI Smith,

I have a habit of ripping my CDs to open-source formats.  Ironically, this also limits my choice of the players while this buys me some freedom in file-management.

Have you ever tried using jetAudio to accomplish that task?

jetAudio6.2.6Basic is also available from MySharedFiles 

Thanks, Bob.  That's kind of you.  Yes, I tried it and I agree that Jetaudio is one of good choices:  it is an ease-of-use multimedia player, recommendable to many, capable of dealing with various audio and video formats.

Normally, though, I have been using CDex for a long time.  Some people prefer EAC and I don't blame them.  For playing, I use foobar2000, which is simple, quick, customizable and controllable through keyboard shortcuts.  Its basic function is simple but more hardcore options require some time for learning.

In any case, I store lossless formats in my HD and convert them to "portable" ones when necessary.