I have been meaning to write this post for a looong time. I blame both Twitter and Facebook for my recent blog laziness!
So, about 2 years ago I started to (as my brother so terms it) "macify" my life. This is no joke. I have 2 Apple Powerbooks, 2 Apple TVs, 2 AirPort Extremes, 1 iPhone, and 1 semi-active iPod (I have about 4 dead ones collecting dust someplace). This is not taking into consideration that my girlfriend, Cindy, also has her own Powerbook, iPhone, and active iPod (she has 3 dead ones as well). Our consumption of iTunes content generally runs between $150-$300 a month.
I will state up front that there have been more good experiences making this move then bad ones. However, there are several issues that I feel compelled to write about. This is constructive criticism for the folks at Apple. If I am incorrect in my points of views, I welcome feedback, comments, etc.
So there you have it. I got that off my chest. Here's hoping that Apple monitors the blogosphere for consumer feedback!
So, about 2 years ago I started to (as my brother so terms it) "macify" my life. This is no joke. I have 2 Apple Powerbooks, 2 Apple TVs, 2 AirPort Extremes, 1 iPhone, and 1 semi-active iPod (I have about 4 dead ones collecting dust someplace). This is not taking into consideration that my girlfriend, Cindy, also has her own Powerbook, iPhone, and active iPod (she has 3 dead ones as well). Our consumption of iTunes content generally runs between $150-$300 a month.
I will state up front that there have been more good experiences making this move then bad ones. However, there are several issues that I feel compelled to write about. This is constructive criticism for the folks at Apple. If I am incorrect in my points of views, I welcome feedback, comments, etc.
1. iTunes
This is the center of my angst with Apple. I have become a power consumer of content offered through iTunes as I enjoy its vast and diverse catalog of media. Furthermore, I like that the content may be viewed via my AppleTV, Powerbook, iPhone, and iPod. Here are my beefs: iTune’s Digital Rights Management SUCKS!!!!!!! When you get to the core of Apple's DRM policy, users are essentially leasing (not owning) the content you purchase via iTunes. Now this is not a major issue except when you take into account price and accessibility. First, when you are paying $.99 (songs) to $14 (movies) for digital media content you are paying a premium! Think about it....at that spend level, you are not paying much more then you would pay to own the actual CD or DVD. You get the benefit of on demand content and Apple gets the benefit of the margins it makes off of selling content without the costs associated with traditional distribution channels. Here is the catch, because you are leasing instead of owning you are severely restricted in its portability (you have very limited ways in which you can move and/or share the content). To add insult to injury, Apple then ALSO makes you responsible for archiving the content you do "lease". If you’re hard drive crashes and you lose your iTunes library...your fault. If you think about it, Apple is having its Cake and eating it to.
It really is only a matter of time before users get fed up with this double standard. Apple, to get ahead of this issue I would suggest that you either change your DRM to allow users to OWN the content they buy from you or to provide services around the content they LEASE from you. If individuals are afforded ownership of the content, then they should have the rights unlimited portability and access to that content. If they lose it, then it’s their issue. If your DRM path continues down the lease path, then you should offer all of the content ever bought via iTunes via a web service. You should host the content on remote servers and allow lessees the ability to stream or download (with accessibility/portability restrictions) at will. If users lose the content, they can easily go to their account and retrieve a duplicate copy. Hell, I imagine that users would even be happy to pay a monthly fee for this type of service. I know that I would.
2. iPod
Guys.....the avg. 1 year life span on these devices is getting really, really, really, OLD! Fix your quality control or be prepared to lose your dominant market share to someone who does care.
3. iPhone
Steve Jobs, you almost got the "Douche Bag of the Year" award when then first iPhone was released and it could not use standard earphones. Thanks for fixing that in the 2nd Generation models. This device is solid across the board except for the service provider. AT&T SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One more point re: iPhone. Your online/offline buyflow is a JOKE! Let me see if I get this straight. You cannot buy iPhones on the Apple website, but you can buy the AT&T Service Plan. You are required to go into a Apple Retail store to pick up the handset you tried to buy via Apple.com (WTF??). You can buy the handset and the service plan via AT&T's website---just not your own. You can also buy the handset and service plan via AT&T retail stores. However, if you buy the handset via an Apple Store then you have to wait to go home to set up a AT&T service plan via your iTunes Application. Am I straight on all of this??? Is this really the best way to sell this phone???
4. Apple TV
LOVE THIS DEVICE!!! I am contemplating canceling my cable service as I get my most of my TV/Movie programming from my Apple TVs (The only thing keeping this from happening is live sports broadcasts and Cindy's infatuation with DVRing scheduled TV programming (NO COMMENT)).
One suggestion: put a on/off button on this thing! What engineering braniac decided against a power option on a consumer electronic device??? There are often connectivity and/or sync issues that arise with Apple TV. The best way to fix those is to power it off and on. The only way to do that currently is to unplug the device.
This is the center of my angst with Apple. I have become a power consumer of content offered through iTunes as I enjoy its vast and diverse catalog of media. Furthermore, I like that the content may be viewed via my AppleTV, Powerbook, iPhone, and iPod. Here are my beefs: iTune’s Digital Rights Management SUCKS!!!!!!! When you get to the core of Apple's DRM policy, users are essentially leasing (not owning) the content you purchase via iTunes. Now this is not a major issue except when you take into account price and accessibility. First, when you are paying $.99 (songs) to $14 (movies) for digital media content you are paying a premium! Think about it....at that spend level, you are not paying much more then you would pay to own the actual CD or DVD. You get the benefit of on demand content and Apple gets the benefit of the margins it makes off of selling content without the costs associated with traditional distribution channels. Here is the catch, because you are leasing instead of owning you are severely restricted in its portability (you have very limited ways in which you can move and/or share the content). To add insult to injury, Apple then ALSO makes you responsible for archiving the content you do "lease". If you’re hard drive crashes and you lose your iTunes library...your fault. If you think about it, Apple is having its Cake and eating it to.
It really is only a matter of time before users get fed up with this double standard. Apple, to get ahead of this issue I would suggest that you either change your DRM to allow users to OWN the content they buy from you or to provide services around the content they LEASE from you. If individuals are afforded ownership of the content, then they should have the rights unlimited portability and access to that content. If they lose it, then it’s their issue. If your DRM path continues down the lease path, then you should offer all of the content ever bought via iTunes via a web service. You should host the content on remote servers and allow lessees the ability to stream or download (with accessibility/portability restrictions) at will. If users lose the content, they can easily go to their account and retrieve a duplicate copy. Hell, I imagine that users would even be happy to pay a monthly fee for this type of service. I know that I would.
2. iPod
Guys.....the avg. 1 year life span on these devices is getting really, really, really, OLD! Fix your quality control or be prepared to lose your dominant market share to someone who does care.
3. iPhone
Steve Jobs, you almost got the "Douche Bag of the Year" award when then first iPhone was released and it could not use standard earphones. Thanks for fixing that in the 2nd Generation models. This device is solid across the board except for the service provider. AT&T SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One more point re: iPhone. Your online/offline buyflow is a JOKE! Let me see if I get this straight. You cannot buy iPhones on the Apple website, but you can buy the AT&T Service Plan. You are required to go into a Apple Retail store to pick up the handset you tried to buy via Apple.com (WTF??). You can buy the handset and the service plan via AT&T's website---just not your own. You can also buy the handset and service plan via AT&T retail stores. However, if you buy the handset via an Apple Store then you have to wait to go home to set up a AT&T service plan via your iTunes Application. Am I straight on all of this??? Is this really the best way to sell this phone???
4. Apple TV
LOVE THIS DEVICE!!! I am contemplating canceling my cable service as I get my most of my TV/Movie programming from my Apple TVs (The only thing keeping this from happening is live sports broadcasts and Cindy's infatuation with DVRing scheduled TV programming (NO COMMENT)).
One suggestion: put a on/off button on this thing! What engineering braniac decided against a power option on a consumer electronic device??? There are often connectivity and/or sync issues that arise with Apple TV. The best way to fix those is to power it off and on. The only way to do that currently is to unplug the device.
So there you have it. I got that off my chest. Here's hoping that Apple monitors the blogosphere for consumer feedback!
And how. I had to go get a new router to get apple tv to stay connectted to itunes. And I'm still having issues adding the other 4 computers to stream content from.
All in all though, it's a pretty nifty device.
Posted by: Jordan Schulz | Friday, December 26, 2008 at 03:59 PM
You got me bro....maybe its cause your in Canada and Wifi does not work as well there as it does here in the States! ;) LOL!
Posted by: jkarnell | Friday, December 26, 2008 at 04:01 PM
Obviously it's so cold here that the 2.8Ghz band freezes when it's exposed to the air.
I'll have to go down to Canadian tire and pick up some router de-icer, eh?
Posted by: Jordan Schulz | Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 06:05 AM
Hey, here is the remedy for iTunes: do what I do. Go old school, CD or (better) and vinyl and then digitize on your own DRM free!
Posted by: Dino | Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 03:16 PM
And did I mention that on Amazon.com you can buy the same music in mp3 format and DRM free?
Posted by: Dino | Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 03:16 PM