I wanted to legally buy full MP3 album of Trent Reznor's Social Network soundtrack from Amazom.com. I wanted to pay my money to support Reznor & Co. and the price seemed more than fair ($2.99). I was glad they don't use any stupid pointless DRM and are offering the MP3 files.
I clicked on "1-Click Buy" and was greeted with the page explaining that I need Amazon's special downloader in order to downoload the MP3s. I thought "WTF, these files are freely copyable MP3s without DRM, why should I use any kind of downloader?" but I had good will. My OS (Ubuntu 10.04) was not listed amongst the offered version. I tried older Ubuntu version and the Debian version. Both gave me the "Error: Dependency is not satisfiable: libboost-filesystem1.34.1" error.
I could've probably solved this in some way but... Why the fuck should I attempt to fix non-working software whose sole reason to exist is to complicate perfectly simple task of downloading one MP3 album?
I cancelled my purchase and downloaded the MP3 album elsewhere, in a matter of seconds.
I hope Amazon is happy now...
UPDATE: One day later, I bought the same MP3 album directly, for $5. More precisely, I just gave them my $5 and I didn't download anything because I already had the MP3s on my drive...
It's same, if you buy e-book on Amazon and want open it on your own e-reader. You have to crack DRM (which is not difficult) to read your bought e-book.
ReplyDeleteYou can get it here tomorrow. In the meantime grab The Slip, it's free (well, they want your e-mail, but they never sent me anything).
ReplyDeleteFYI, libboost-filesystem1.34.1 is in Ubuntu repos and thus can be installed using single command in console.
ReplyDeleteSo if Nintendo Wii was sold our everywhere would you (after trying everywhere) go and steal it last promo kit from a shop?
ReplyDeleteOr if someone refuses to sell you something for any reason, would you go and steal it just coz you want it?
I am not arguing about Amazon being assholes, but at least we shouldn't justify piracy.
Now tell me - where did you get that album from? I want it as well...
Anonymous: I don't understand you at all. Why are talking about stealing? I didn't steal anything. Stealing means I take something so that, subsequently, the original owner no longer has it. Although you can talk about "stealing an idea" or "stealing MP3 music", this is no more stealing than "stealing the base" in baseball.
ReplyDeleteIf Nintendo Wii was sold out everywhere and I could make a perfect copy of the promo kit for free, I'd do probably that.
And I can't tell you where I got the album from because that could be illegal. In contrast with my downloading it without paying, which is not illegal.
ReplyDeleteYou can have a different understanding of terms and that's perfectly fine.
ReplyDeleteI see it is like this - someone creates a product (bread, wii, music cd, book, movie, sw, whatever). They put an effort in the creation. They own the product and they have a right to sell it (or give it out for free).
The fact that it's easy to steal (that's how I call it as I think the meaning of this word has changed in past years) an intellectual property doesn't mean it's right (legal != right).
I am not saying don't download, I only feel we shouldn't be hypocritical about the subject.
Well, think about what would have happened if we looked at "intellectual property" like this when fire, wheel or microprocessor were invented.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am perfectly willing to sent Trent Reznor my $3 because I want to somehow appreciate what he is doing. And I will do it ASAP. At the same time, I want to "punish" (for the lack of better word) Amazon.com as much as possible for what they are doing.
http://www.nullco.com/TSN/ ... Now if only we could get soundtracks of Williams or Zimmer easily like that.
ReplyDeleteEven if there is an actual way to download tracks from amazon on Linux, through the banshee player, you're still not allowed to do so in CZ as has been mentioned.
ReplyDeleteThe only place I found that you can actually buy non-drmed mp3s is from 7digital. Sadly it's probably just a pay pal loophole, but at least the author does get a share (even if it is probably laughable).
ReplyDeleteAnonymous:
ReplyDeleteActually it seems that they DON'T want to sell their product.
My similar rant:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ambience.sk/how-corporations-support-internet-piracy/
BTW: just for your information - you wouldn't be able to buy it from Amazon anyway. they sell digitally only to US, Canada and the UK!!! Even if they offer you their one-click downloader, you won't be able to download anything!!! that's the biggest WTF!
ReplyDeleteI knew it would be out internationally on Thursday, so I patiently waited, and after first loud listen yesterday I am amazed by how good this soundtrack is. Yes I am a Nine Inch Nails fan, but I did not expect TSN to be so good and full of ideas, it works as an album even without the movie. Good work!
ReplyDeleteI am not an NIN fan, but I saw the movie and was amazaed how well the music (and everything else) worked.
ReplyDeleteFrom another (amazons) point of view: perhaps they want you to push our government to sign-up some legislation, that would make our intellectual property rights compatible with the US, what will then enable them to sell in CZ too? (http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/05/itunes-still-not-available-in-some-eu-countries-heres-why.ars)
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Wednesday, September 29, 2010 4:40:00 PM:
ReplyDeleteI think you made valid point regarding the justification (but not the stealing; in CR downloading is not stealing, period). My counterargument is - what are the artist's intentions? To spread (and to get money for) their work or to require libboost being installed on your system? I'd say in current world "simple" morale doesn't work in some cases any more, if it ever did. Amazon JUST uses its power to push (e.g. to discriminate - for whatever the reason is - according to the geo. pos. as mentioned) its intentions.
Fuxoft:
ad libboost - nice to hear somebody relevant who's using Ubuntu admits satisfying (usually older) dependencies is PITA, no matter wheter it is or isn't possible. But I bet you're used to it, considering every Ubuntu release is obsolete in 1 year.
Funny story :-) I had the same experience. I tried to buy a Metallica song released in 1996 and I tried it a few weeks ago (beginning of 2011), and what do you think? It's only $1, but I was refused by Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk due to "geographical restrictions" (you don't need the downloader, you can bypass the offer through an unremarkable link below). Well, I said, to hell with Amazon! Let's try iTunes, which everyone is talking about lately. They don't even offer the content for my region (Czech republic). When I switched to US, it was readily available, but when I got to filling in my cash card information, I was suddenly required to supply a valid US address that would match my card. I guess I'll just have to move to US, so I can listen to the music I like... or maybe just get used to Karel Gott?
ReplyDeleteIt's a real fun to hear about this "noble" wanna-be-ideallistic bullshit on every corner and then see it put to the test in practice. What, do you think Metallica doesn't want me to buy their song, or some lazy-ass reseller just doesn't care enough about a small speck on the map such as Czech republic?