2008 Woodie Awards
Unlimited Free Music? Too Good to be True?
Ruckus.com's download utopia has a web of problems
MATTHEW DeCARLO
Issue date: 2/20/07 Section: B Side
I was assigned to write about Ruckus.com, which allegedly allows anyone with a .edu e-mail address to download unlimited music, which then plays in the Ruckus Music Player.
I say allegedly because the Ruckus Music Player, after installation, crashes every time it launches.
Ruckus.com - which hosts all of the downloads - is worse than a sandpaper massage. I'm convinced that if you were to spell out "stupid" in binary code, you would see the source code for this program. Yes, it's that bad.
Yet idiotic programs are ubiquitous on the Internet. What distinguishes this one? Ruckus was a smart idea. In theory, it could have bridged the gap between the piracy-happy college student and the record company executive who needs to support a fourth mistress.
In practice, the program should just make a large flatulent noise right as it crashes, trying in vain to open the file downloaded by my browser. To be fair, it's not as bad as Apple calling their Digital Rights Management (DRM) scheme (techie-speak for Satan incarnate) "FairPlay."
Speaking of which, Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently made a pretty cool argument regarding DRM (or 666…) in his mac.com op-ed, "Thoughts on Music."
In case you don't know, DRM is the code attached to your iTunes downloads that renders them unplayable on any other device. It's used on all media throughout the industry. Ever wonder why you can't copy your DVDs? DRM.
Anyway, Jobs' argument was twofold: On one hand he dismissed the calls for Apple to open its DRM scheme to other companies, accurately stating that the technology would leak to the public, who would then be allowed unencumbered free music.
More importantly, according to iTunes sales and surveys, 97 percent of the music on the average iPod is not bought through the iTunes Music Store, usually in the form of an ordinary non-DRM mp3.
Thus, releasing the FairPlay code would not loosen Apple's chokehold on the online music industry - a cause Europe has marshaled - as most people are getting there music elsewhere.
I say allegedly because the Ruckus Music Player, after installation, crashes every time it launches.
Ruckus.com - which hosts all of the downloads - is worse than a sandpaper massage. I'm convinced that if you were to spell out "stupid" in binary code, you would see the source code for this program. Yes, it's that bad.
Yet idiotic programs are ubiquitous on the Internet. What distinguishes this one? Ruckus was a smart idea. In theory, it could have bridged the gap between the piracy-happy college student and the record company executive who needs to support a fourth mistress.
In practice, the program should just make a large flatulent noise right as it crashes, trying in vain to open the file downloaded by my browser. To be fair, it's not as bad as Apple calling their Digital Rights Management (DRM) scheme (techie-speak for Satan incarnate) "FairPlay."
Speaking of which, Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently made a pretty cool argument regarding DRM (or 666…) in his mac.com op-ed, "Thoughts on Music."
In case you don't know, DRM is the code attached to your iTunes downloads that renders them unplayable on any other device. It's used on all media throughout the industry. Ever wonder why you can't copy your DVDs? DRM.
Anyway, Jobs' argument was twofold: On one hand he dismissed the calls for Apple to open its DRM scheme to other companies, accurately stating that the technology would leak to the public, who would then be allowed unencumbered free music.
More importantly, according to iTunes sales and surveys, 97 percent of the music on the average iPod is not bought through the iTunes Music Store, usually in the form of an ordinary non-DRM mp3.
Thus, releasing the FairPlay code would not loosen Apple's chokehold on the online music industry - a cause Europe has marshaled - as most people are getting there music elsewhere.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Jose
posted 3/18/07 @ 3:33 PM EST
I want really free music.
What I've Done ringtones
posted 5/08/07 @ 1:48 PM EST
He refuses to aimer the cubs, determined to affability with them until they can affirmer. And tens of thousands of fretwork bourgeoisie souls still hogwash to their dime Rigoberto. (Continued…)
<-_Rebekah_->
posted 8/13/07 @ 2:58 PM EST
Real Free Music Would Be Very Nice :-P
psycoded
posted 10/24/07 @ 5:14 AM EST
real free music would be nice?! check out the netaudio-scene: www.netlabel-board.org | www.zimmer-records.org
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posted 9/02/08 @ 5:52 AM EST
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