Although this site is not really about music, music is a very big part of my life. Never mind the fact I have many musicians in the family, and have several friends who are musicians. It’s just really important to me. This is partly about computers and partly about music. Specifically, on the computer side, it’s certain companies, e.g., Microsoft and as in this case, especially Apple, that thinks they know what’s best for the consumer. Well, I’m here to say: no, they don’t have a clue. Not even close! Apple is going really too far with their smart phone (a pure oxymoron when talking about Apple, but that’s another story). I just read on the BBC the following:
Tinie Tempah has criticised Apple’s idea for new technology that would stop music fans filming live gigs.
The rapper said: “Just move with the times, stop trying to block people from doings things. It all works.”
The 22-year-old told Newsbeat he doesn’t mind fans filming at his gigs, calling it “the biggest form of promo”.
Earlier this month, Apple applied to patent a system that could switch off a smartphone’s camera if it senses the user is trying to record a live event.
Tinie, real name Patrick Okogwu, is just one of a number of artists who have spoken out about the US firm’s innovation.
Wow. Never in a million years did I ever think I’d agree with a rapper. Look, some like it and some don’t. I don’t. I have no problem with others listening to it, but I just simply cannot stand rap. But that aside, the fact a 22 year old can get the concept of how things are, and correctly says a lot. It says he has some brain cells. It also says a lot about Apple (quite the opposite of some brain cells – NONE).When this rapper was 2 years old, a certain band (that has at times even spoken out about music pirates) implemented a tapers section at concerts. That’s 20 years ago. And Apple is now trying to stop such things? Huh? The band in question, obvious to some, Metallica. You know, the band that took down Napster. Hell, even the main one involved in that, Lars, has said in more recent times that this is how it is in this day and age, and if there’s an album leak of some kind, then happy days (this was in response to a leak of their most recent album).
The very fact that venues try to prevent people from recording shows, is disgusting. It is not the venues place, to say whether someone can record the event, unless the event is their own event. But in general, I was not aware that, for example, the Los Angeles Forum, owned the copyright to a bands music. They should have no say what is allowed or not – that’s up to the owner. Of course, with this venue, there’s another very interesting and amusing story about bands (and banning them from ever playing there, over names no less).
Apple, you do not have a clue what all consumers need or want. Stop being so selfish. Stop being even worse; you’re far more proprietary than Microsoft. Especially sad since the end result is you’re far less innovative than you could be. You accuse Microsoft of taking your ideas. Well, as much as I don’t really like Microsoft or their products, I can say this. That’s your fault if any fault at all, for you not being smart enough to use the technology first and protecting it with a patent. Yes, I know, I know. This is futile. That’s fine, that’s not the goal of this at all. If there is a goal, it would only be venting frustration about them (thankfully, I do have a choice and do not have to – and never will – use their products).
Other crazy things with regards to Apple:
I know someone who bought an Apple laptop and the screen broke. But because of Apple’s proprietary hardware, it would cost near $1000 – almost the same price as the original laptop – to replace. That’s disgusting and it’s unfortunately legal.
Apple bases OS X on BSD Unix if I recall, but then they have all these restrictions in place. Sadly, BSD cannot do much about it given licenses. I do find it sickening though, that Apple actually makes it harder to compile programs and in general have more choices, when they base it on an open source project.