Weblog of a “Switcher”

NBC-Vista copy-protection snafu reminds us why DRM stinks:
Handfuls of Windows Vista Media Center users found themselves blocked from making recordings of their favorite TV shows this week when a broadcast flag triggered the software's built-in copy protection measures. The flag affected users trying to record prime-time NBC shows on Monday evening, using both over-the-air broadcasts and cable. Although the problem is being 'looked into' by both NBC and Microsoft, the incident serves as another reminder that DRM gives content providers full control, even if by accident.

This is exactly the kind of thing that made me switch to Macintosh. Mind you, I don't use any of my Mac's to record television shows. In fact, the only device doing this at the moment is a Series 3 TiVo. However, if I were going to use a computer to record television, it would definitely be a Macintosh with Elgato's EyeTV systems.

I get the impression that this was a mixup and it wasn't meant to happen. I mean really, of all the shows to protect, American Gladiators? Clearly a fowl-up somewhere. However, it's a strong reminder, as Ars Technica says, that DRM is just not a good idea.

Actually, this story is more centered around DRM than it is about Microsoft Windows Vista. However since Microsoft is one of the leaders in screwing over it's customers by capitulating to the demands of IP holders like the MPAA and RIAA, it's more than related to me.

written by Dave M. \\ tags: broadcast flag, Drm, Vista, Windows

It's been quite a while since NBC decided to pull it's content from iTunes so that it could give away the content on it's own website and Hulu.com. I'm not really sure where the logic is in that since they wanted to control the price of the content being sold on iTunes. After being pulled from iTunes, NBC makes no money at all except for the income from the ads in the content.

So, now I read that NBC has worked out a deal with Microsoft to sell it's content through Microsoft's Zune Marketplace. For how much? You may have guessed it, $1.99!

Zune and NBC sitting in a tree:
Today, Microsoft announced that its Zune Marketplace would begin selling TV programming and guess with whom Zune’s sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g. Right, NBC Universal. And why? Because, much like Microsoft was more than happy to give music companies a portion of the profit from every Zune sale, the Redmond crew responded to NBC’s demands for variable pricing with a sycophantic “Please sir, may I have another?”

Am I missing something here? I'm guessing that Microsoft is going to allow NBC to set the prices of their content, but it's going to take quite a bit of an increase of the price to match what they would have made if they were still on iTunes.

Well, we all know just how intelligent NBC executives are.

Update (5/8/08): So here some new info on the Microsoft-Zune/NBC deal:

Microsoft May Build a Copyright Cop Into Every Zune | The New York Times:
First, Apple insists that all TV shows have an identical wholesale price so that it can sell all of them at $1.99. NBC wants to sell its programs for whatever price it chooses.

Second, Apple refused to cooperate with NBC on building filters into its iPod player to remove pirated movies and videos.

Microsoft, by contrast, will accept NBC’s pricing scheme and will work with it to try to develop a copyright “cop” to be installed on its devices.

So Microsoft tells NBC it will assume that all it's customers are theives/pirates and will check all content to see if content being played or moved to the Zune is pirated. I'm assuming that if it is, it will not allow the data to be transferred to the Zune or at least not played.

I wonder if it has to check every file including pictures. Can you imagine taking a picture of a television with the latest episode of Heroes on because you wanted to show off your television only to have Microsoft not allow you to display the image because the content is the property of someone else?

Now, pundits are saying that Microsoft is agreeing to this to appease NBC but wont actually do the work. However, if this is part of the contract, they will have to do this. Let's hope its not part of the Zune firmware. Otherwise, it's going to slow down the Zune player and make it work as well as Microsoft Media player works. Yuck!

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Apple, iTunes, Microsoft, Nbc, zune

Daring Fireball Linked List: April 2008:
"Counterpoint ★

Darby Lines:

Apparently Apple needs to also not check the box to install Safari by default. Again, the take home message here is that Windows users are so fucking confused by a checkbox that they can’t be trusted with the horrible responsibility of installing a browser."

(Emphasis added by myself)

Update: I originally titled this: Great quote from John Gruber (Daring Fireball). I later found out that the quote was actually from a Mr. Darby C . Lines that runs the site The Angry Drunk. (Sorry Darby!)

(Via Daring Fireball Linked List: April 2008.)

written by Dave M. \\ tags: Apple, apple software update, darby, darby c lines, darby lines, Daring Fireball, Gruber, lines, Software, the angry drunk, update

PC World - Business Center: Ballmer: Vista Is 'a Work in Progress':
"As PC users clamor for Microsoft to continue to support Windows XP, company CEO Steve Ballmer called the Vista OS 'a work in progress' at an annual Seattle event on Thursday."

I came across this article today. Gee, you think he might have told his user base this last year instead of waiting over a year to spring that quote on us. Heh.

This just strengthens the concerns that many Windows users are feeling now. Microsoft can't seem to get their act together. Even when it comes to marketing. (Sound familiar? President Bush and his staff?) One one hand, you have Microsoft sending out cheesy music video's pumping up their staff that, now that Vista SP1 is out, Vista is ready for prime time, and you have a major bigwig telling folks that "Vista is a work in progress". Doesn't fill me with any confidence.

It's stories like this that pretty much confirm my decision to switch over to the Mac and OS X where there is a huge amount of confidence in the OS and in Apple's products in general.

(Via PCWorld.)

written by Dave M. \\ tags: ballmer, not ready, Vista, Windows

Seriously?

Some folks in the comments at YouTube are saying it's a fake. Well, if it's a fake, someone spent a bunch of money to put it together. That was a "professionally" made video. Not some amateur with a video camera and video editing tools. Sets, actors, someone to write the song, etc...

I can see why it was internal, If I worked for Microsoft and had to answer to that video being put on television, I would shoot myself.

written by Dave M. \\ tags: in-house, marketing, Microsoft, sales, SP1, video, Vista, Windows, youtube