Digital Rights Management gives the Music Stores the ability to control the music we pay for. One click, and the track can instantly be disabled, and with one click, our possible usage limited and restricted. Apple for example, limits most iTunes downloads to only being played on 5 computers, and transferred to iPods. Napster, limits most tracks downloaded on it’s basic subscription package to only being played on three computers, and no portable media players.

But is this legal? Is this fair? DRM controls things that we have bought. Imagine if you were to wake up, and find that your toaster, no longer accepts bread unless it is of a particular brand. Or what about if your radio refuses to play anything other that a certain station. Is that what you paid for?

My problem, is what about if one of the online music stores goes bust. What happens if they deactivate their DRM licensing server. Where does that leave the consumer?

Music should be provided to the consumer, so that they we can do what we want with it. If we want it on a cd, or on a MP3 player of our choice, we should have that option. Not the record labels or the music venders.

JK

So at the Apple event that took place a few days ago, Genius was released, a new feature that allows users to quickly find Songs matching the one they are currently listening to.

But is the service much help?

I’ve been using it for a few days so far, and although it shows promise, I really haven’t found it that much of a revolution.

Also, it’s not like it doesn’t take effort. It can be quite slow to update itself, and on automatic, you have to wait a week. For a Genius, it isn’t always that effective either; half of the songs it picks out of my Library of 1600 are nothing a like!

I can see scope though for it; especially on the iPod where it can be time consuming to flick through endless songs to find similar ones you’re in the mood for. However it seems that Apple won’t be releasing the update for older iPods, including my 80gb iPod Classic, which is practically identical to the new 120gb version. Why not? Is anyone really going to upgrade for one small feature like that????? If anything, it rather puts me off…

You can see the new iPod range at Amazon (UK/US).

JK