iPod - Why closed formats are A Bad Thing™

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From here:

Why doesn't music from digiRAMA work on an iPod?


The music sold on digiRAMA is copy-protected so that we are able to offer content from major music companies. MP3 may be very popular but the fact is that no major label will agree to distribute in this format. The copy protection technology used by Apple (called Fairplay) can not be licensed by third parties so the only store that can sell protected music to play on an iPod is the iTunes music store which is currently not available in New Zealand.

Plus it gets better (or worse, depending on your viewpoint).

What can I play on my iPod?

A very good question! With no iTunes service available in New Zealand you're options are limited. "Ripping" music from your own CDs, which is fine in the US, is actually illegal in New Zealand (and Australia) plus it's very difficult to do with copy-protected CDs.

So basically, at the moment, iPods are useless in NZ. You can't legally copy your CDs onto them, and you can't copy online downloads onto them either!

I suppose I should put some sort of conclusion or justification here, but I'm actually at a bit of a loss for words. Your thoughts please.

 

[wrldwzrd89]

From here:

Plus it gets better (or worse, depending on your viewpoint).

So basically, at the moment, iPods are useless in NZ. You can't legally copy your CDs onto them, and you can't copy online downloads onto them either!

I suppose I should put some sort of conclusion or justification here, but I'm actually at a bit of a loss for words. Your thoughts please.

If you're like me, and don't collect music that you'd find on the iTMS or CDs, then this becomes a non-issue. That is a problem, though, if you happen to live in New Zealand and are waiting for an iTMS there.