IPhone software developers stifled under Apple's gag order

the lost angeles times ^ | 08.25.08 | Michelle Quinn

[ken21]

The software development kit that Apple Inc. distributed to programmers bound them to not discuss the process of creating programs for the iPhone. Companies typically waive such legal restrictions once the product in question launches, but Apple didn't. And it won't say why.

[ken21]

head down!

[chaos_5]

I bet the brown shirts at Mac don't want their mp3 “security” system compromised. God forbid you actually have the freedom to listen to the music you buy on whatever hardware you want to.

[HAL9000]

mp3 files play just fine on Apple devices, with no security resrictions.

Apple has publicly called on the music industry to abandon DRM on iTunes, but it’s up to the music industry to make that decision.

[Doohickey]

Apple doesn’t want to damage the iPhone brand by letting a bunch of crappy software slip out into the wild. Can’t say as I blame them. If you want a rich ecosystem of third party apps, then get someone else’s phone. If you want relatively few apps with a higher quality bar, get an iPhone.

[chaos_5]

If you buy a song through iTunes and put it on your iPod, its stuck on that iPod and the computer you downloaded it to, and you can only listen to your mp3s from “registered computers” or your iPod. I don't remember hownamy computers iTunes lets you link to an account, it dosent matter, I think it's BS anyway. This is the #1 reason that I refuse to support Mac, or iTunes. If I buy an mp3 online I should have the freedom to store it on an external hardrive and listen to them on whatever computer I happen to have at the time.

[Spktyr]

Except 1: The Apple files aren’t MP3s, they’re AACs, and 2: if you get one of the growing number of DRM-less tracks from the Apple Store, there are no restrictions on where or what you can play them on.

The limitation is the doing of the RIAA and the labels, NOT Apple.

[coon2000]

So what is then to keep you from buying iPods for lets just say $200, then loading them up with a couple of thousand dollars worth of songs, then selling them on eBay for $400? I think that the people who wrote, performed and produced the music are entitled to being paid for their product.

[astyanax]

Co-worker has ipod.
How do we load .mp3’s on it?
It will only take itunes...

[chaos_5]

So whats keeping me from buying a $40 flash drive, filling it up with $1000 worth of music, and selling it on eBay for $200???

[Spktyr]

iTunes is the interface software. Take the MP3s and drag them onto iTunes. iTunes will copy them into the library - and into the iPod, the next time it is connected. And, unlike Microsoft products, iTunes will NOT add DRM or convert the files in any way.

[HAL9000]

Start iTunes, and look for the “Add to Library” command. Choose your mp3 files there, and they will be copied into the iTunes library. Then attach the iPod and use iTunes to sync the files. That will load your mp3 files into the iPod.

[astyanax]

Thanks! Forwarding above info.

[astyanax]

Follow up question(s)...
By ‘take’ I should have said ‘use’. Can you ‘dump’ them the say way? To another drive? To another device?

Also, are there other options available for an interface, and if so, what do you recommend?

Thanks again.

[Spktyr]

There are other software programs that let you administer and load the iPod. However, removing or dumping MP3s or any audio or video file back from the iPod is not supported. And they’re all harder to use than iTunes.

You can export songs from iTunes to another disk or drive, and you can burn them to disc as well.

[astyanax]

Great!
I appreciate the info.
Thanks again.

[coon2000]

I do not know, I guess it is basically the same. Were they legitimate downloads or pirated versions? I do not think it is right though. I know if I made my living writing and performing music I would be ticked off if people were copying my product, using it and not paying me for it.

[Swordmaker]

LA Times is shocked that Apple enforces its Non-disclosure Agreements with iPhone developers—PING!

Thanks to Ken21 for the heads up.

Apple Business Practice Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[Swordmaker]

ping

[publiusF27]

I love how everybody just assumes eBay is a lawless zone where anything goes. LOL!