Playfair

alternateorg on April 5, 2004

Sick of the hassle of only being able to play your Protected-AAC files you purchased from the iTMS on YOUR 3 computers? Want to share those files with your friends?

Looks like you need Playfair, the FairPlay DRM stripper.The playfair program is quite simple. It takes one of the iTMS Protected AAC Audio Files, decodes it using a key obtained from your iPod or Microsoft Windows system and then writes the new, decoded version to disk as a regular AAC Audio File. It then optionally copies the metadata tags that describe the song, including the cover art, to the new file.

Feel free to jack into my plug

alternateorg on November 22, 2003

iPod users share audio ports with iPod-enabled passerby, envision wireless sharing via Bluetooth and Rendezvous in the future:

Sharing an iPod through its headphone jack is also a crude, low-tech version of what some predict is the real killer application of future iPods: transforming them into short-distance broadcasting devices by adding Bluetooth or similar radio technology, coupled with Rendezvous, an Apple-developed networking technology that allows devices to discover each other automatically

Jobs Ramblings of Mine

alternateorg on August 24, 2003

Recently, on Daring Fireball, I read

[Steve Jobs’s] strengths are obvious. Since his return as CEO in 1997, Apple’s computers have gotten better (and better looking), their product line has been simplified, their software has gotten better, and the company has successfully entered new markets.

While I agree with this statement, I gotta admit that (as a crazy Mac user), I’ve become a little interested in the “product line has been simplified” comment. In 1998, this was certainly true, even before the iBooks came out. You had Powerbooks in 3 different speed configurations (all called Powerbook G3), iMacs in one configuration to simplify the buying process, and PowerMacs in (I believe) 3 speed configurations, and correct me if I’m wrong, but at some point I believe they mirrored those available in the Powerbooks. That’s it. No iPods, no eMacs, no speakers, no iSight, no software other than the OS and what we bundled with it (this may be incorrect, also). You had basically 3 product lines, in simple configurations.

And we all know that this saved Apple from their previous stance of having very, very similar product names applied to different products. Aside from Tai, can anyone tell me the exact system-level differences between a 6400, 6500, 7200,7500, 8400, 8500 and a 9500? All with random numbers and a slash after their names? Was my friend’s 7500/200 really that much better than my 6400/180? The answer is yes, but I couldn’t tell you why, then or now.

Now, Apple has a multitude of lines that don’t fit into the power user desktop/portable, consumer user desktop/portable line up. What’s the main difference besides form factor between an iMac and an eMac? A 1st generation iPod at 10gb and a 3rd generation iPod at 10gb?

I guess my question is… is Apple perhaps too diverse these days? I understand the reasons behind the financial need to branch out into the videoconferencing and music player/PDA-ish markets, but is it going to cause problems down the road when Apple isn’t known as a computer maker, but an all-inclusive experience-maker?

And too a lesser degree, this:Is the fact that Apple makes the best peripherals for their OS and hardware going to drive them back into their well-known tendency toward proprietary connections and protocols (AppleTalk, ADB, vs TCP/IP, USB, etc)? If so, that’s almost definitely a bad thing. You already need a DVI adapter to use a new Cinema Display on a computer without ADC. Now, admittedly, they include this adapter with the display, but the fact remains that it runs on a proprietary connection.

Thoughts? Am I just being one of the many, many armchair analysts on the internet that seem to focus solely on Microsoft and Apple? Should I chill out and watch a movie instead?

iTunes Music Store

alternateorg on April 28, 2003

Most of Alternate’s readers know this already, but some may not:

1, Apple’s new music store available in iTunes 4. 1-Click downloading/purchasing of songs for $.99 each or albums for $9.99. AAC-encoding and 30-second streaming previews. Available today.

2. New slimmer iPods with new control buttons available in 10Gb, 15Gb and 30Gb configurations, 0.62″ thick. Shipping May 2.

More details are available at the Apple website.

HDD100 < iPod

alternateorg on April 8, 2003

Philips HDD100:

  • Ripoff of the iPod interface? Check.
  • Ripoff of Apple’s brushed metal interface on website? Check.
  • Using a transfer protocol half the speed of FireWire without power capability? Check.
  • No contacts or calendar functionality? Check.
  • Probably a lot cheaper than the iPod, in both actual price as well as look and feel? Check.

iNapster?

alternateorg on March 4, 2003

From the LATimes (Link here, free lengthy registration req):


Top executives at the major record companies have finally found an online music service that makes them excited about the digital future – but it’s only for Macs.

The new service was developed by Apple Computer Inc., sources said Monday, and offers users of Macintoshes and iPod portable music players many of the same capabilities that already are available from services previously endorsed by the labels.

….

Sources said Apple will make the songs available for sale through a new version of iTunes, its software for managing music files on Macs. Users will be able to buy and download songs with a single click and transfer them automatically to any iPod they’ve registered with Apple.

Hrmmmm… Would I buy music online if it were a service offered via iTunes? Maybe, but probably not. I guess it would really depend on how easy it is and what the pricing structure is. Tai and I were discussing this and decided something like $40/year would possibly entice us but that the RIAA would most probably mandate a $40/month subscription, which would be way too expensive to be worth anything.

Who wants to bet this is why iCommune got shut down so quickly?