Screw you, NBC! :mad:

[Izulde]

"The clip you have selected is not available for your location."

GRRRRRRR

[terpkristin]

Actually I think NBC gets the official screw you from me for going away from iTunes and into a system that's severely DRM'd and crippled and won't let me get their shows on my iPod. Looks like it's back to not watching "The Office" real time, and instead either waiting for the DVD or finding it by "other methods" so I can get it into a form that's easier to put on my iPod.

/tk

[Izulde]

Actually I think NBC gets the official screw you from me for going away from iTunes and into a system that's severely DRM'd and crippled and won't let me get their shows on my iPod. Looks like it's back to not watching "The Office" real time, and instead either waiting for the DVD or finding it by "other methods" so I can get it into a form that's easier to put on my iPod.

/tk

Yeah I'm going to have to go to "other methods" myself.... Unfortunately the premiere isn't up on Youtube yet. Damn and I was really hoping to be able to watch it before class today too.

[MikeVic]

Proxy server? I know there was a site somewhere that had a bunch of public proxies to use.

[ThunderingHERD]

Actually I think NBC gets the official screw you from me for going away from iTunes and into a system that's severely DRM'd and crippled

NBC episodes are available for purchase through Amazon's Unbox service and are compatible with devices supporting the Windows Media DRM, of which there are tons. iTunes uses Apple's "FairPlay" DRM, a closed proprietary platform that is compatible with 0 devices not made by Apple or Motorola.

[stevew]

I'm really not suprised you can't view it....should have looked into a slingbox before you left. Either that, or use a proxy like someone else recommended.

[wade moore]

NBC episodes are available for purchase through Amazon's Unbox service and are compatible with devices supporting the Windows Media DRM, of which there are tons. iTunes uses Apple's "FairPlay" DRM, a closed proprietary platform that is compatible with 0 devices not made by Apple or Motorola.
And what's so bad about that?

iPod FTW!

[terpkristin]

NBC episodes are available for purchase through Amazon's Unbox service and are compatible with devices supporting the Windows Media DRM, of which there are tons. iTunes uses Apple's "FairPlay" DRM, a closed proprietary platform that is compatible with 0 devices not made by Apple or Motorola.

I'm not arguing they shouldn't put it out in other places. I think Apple's DRM is absurd, too, but when it comes down to it, I've got an iPod. I had other mp3 players before I got my first iPod in 2003 and frankly they were terrible. They never installed correctly, never worked as advertised, and the fact that the WMP DRM scheme has completely changed multiple times over the last few years (rendering previous devices/music with the previous versions useless), I'm not unhappy I went with the iPod. I got the first version made for Windoze (3G), and upgraded last year to an iPod video (5G) after my cat broke my original one. Most of my music is not from iTMS purchases, but all of my video is.

Apple has a huge fraction of the market share, so for NBC to make it impossible to use their shows on an Apple device is silly, IMO. I don't know, I'm no expert in business. But I do know that I always try to pay for things I download/pursue the iTunes option first. I have the first 3 seasons of The Office on my iPod, along with the first 2 of Weeds and some scattered South Park and Daily Show episodes. I really don't mind paying for my entertainment, when it works, and iTunes does that. I can hook up my iPod to my TV through my iPod dock (or my Logitech speaker system) and I can even watch things I bought on ITMS through my TV, quite easily. Now that NBC has removed itself from iTunes, I'll be pursuing other options. And they won't include buying a Windoze Media device.

I can't fault NBC for opening their stuff up to other avenues, however I can fault them for removing it from what is arguably the cleanest end-to-end solution for a lot of users. And in the end, I think it'll be their loss.

/tk

[DanGarion]

Apple has a huge fraction of the market share, so for NBC to make it impossible to use their shows on an Apple device is silly, IMO.
That's because people don't know an inferior product when they see one.

Any player that purposely changes your music you upload to it into a proprietary DRM'd format such as the Ipod and the Zune do, have no place in my hand. That's why I got a Creative Zen, no DRM, but if I do want to play DRM'd Windows Media it will play it.

[terpkristin]

That's because people don't know an inferior product when they see one.

Any player that purposely changes your music you upload to it into a proprietary DRM'd format such as the Ipod and the Zune do, have no place in my hand. That's why I got a Creative Zen, no DRM, but if I do want to play DRM'd Windows Media it will play it.

I'm confused. If you have a CD or a song you want to import into iTunes, you can import it as an mp3 or an unprotected AAC. It's only when you buy it from the store that it comes in the protected AAC format. The ipod fully supports regular old mp3 files, though, and doesn't (as far as I know) add anything to them for DRM (which the Zune does, including adding DRM to Creative Commons licensed songs).

I'm not trying to defend Apple exactly, just clear that little part out.

/tk

[Izulde]

I downloaded ProxyWay but it keeps crashing when it checks proxy servers.

Very annoying.

[lordscarlet]

I'm confused. If you have a CD or a song you want to import into iTunes, you can import it as an mp3 or an unprotected AAC. It's only when you buy it from the store that it comes in the protected AAC format. The ipod fully supports regular old mp3 files, though, and doesn't (as far as I know) add anything to them for DRM (which the Zune does, including adding DRM to Creative Commons licensed songs).

I'm not trying to defend Apple exactly, just clear that little part out.

/tk

As far as I know, you are correct. With the caveat that I believe iTunes gives you the option to DRM the stuff you rip, but I don't know who would do that.

[DanGarion]

As far as I know, you are correct. With the caveat that I believe iTunes gives you the option to DRM the stuff you rip, but I don't know who would do that.
Hrm, I understood it that it did everything, but if there is an option I guess it's not as bad.

Now the question can you download that NONDRM'd music onto another computer the Ipod?

[terpkristin]

Hrm, I understood it that it did everything, but if there is an option I guess it's not as bad.

Now the question can you download that NONDRM'd music onto another computer the Ipod?

Actually, I just looked at my iTunes options, I don't see any options to import songs (i.e. rip them from a CD you own) with DRM on them:
http://kristin.seidelmann-owners.com/fofc/iTunes.JPG

With easily available freeware, you can move any (DRM'd or not) music from an iPod to a computer. Actually, you technically don't need freeware, just need to enable disk use on the iPod and then view it through File Explorer or whatever you prefer as a disk. It's a little easier to do it with the freeware (such as ephpod).

The only trick is if you want the DRM'd stuff to play on the other computer, you have to authorize that computer with your account (you can have up to 5 computers authorized at any given time). Alternatively, you can hook any iPod into the authorized computer (say, my sister hooking her iPod into my computer) and grab any of my DRM'd music and put it directly on her iPod, no worries. It's only if she wants it on her PC, too, that the account authorization matters.

Of course, with iTunes Music Store music purchases, the DRM is easy enough to strip off, anyway. You just burn it to audio CD and then re-rip it back in your favorite format. Obviously, with the video stuff, Apple has not created a native way to rip your DVD's to iPod format (again, tons of programs out there that WILL do that) and I don't know if anybody has found a way to strip the DRM from the videos/tv shows (or how many people have tried).

In general, I think DRM isn't working, and Apple knows it in general, which is why for music (in particular) they make it easy to remove. The Zune ADDS DRM to everything, which is one of the myriad of reasons I'll never have one (in some cases, as when it adds DRM to CC licenced music, it's actually a violation of the license to add said DRM).

Of course, my argument/statement originally was never intented to be a "which is better, iPod or Zune or whatever" statement, more of a statement how I think what NBC is doing is silly. By going exclusively with Apple or with Amazon for Windoze devices/products, they're boxing out a portion of their audience that would likely buy their product. And now that I cannot buy their product (as I've done the last 3 seasons) and use it in the way that's best for me, I'm left to find other ways of getting it. So it goes, I guess.

[Passacaglia]

Seems like as good a place to ask this as any -- can you have one computer authorized to work with more than one iPod?

[terpkristin]

Seems like as good a place to ask this as any -- can you have one computer authorized to work with more than one iPod?

I can't speak for the new iPods (the iPod "classic" and the new Nano and the iTouch and the iPhone), but I know that for the 5.5G iPod and below, you don't need a computer authorized to work with an iPod. At various times, my sister, my mom, and a good friend of mine have all had their iPod's connected to my laptop, which is where I normally connect my iPod to. iTunes opens up, same as always, and recognizes the iPod, then lets me move anything on my hard drive over to their iPod. No steps necessary other than hooking their iPod into my computer (or vice versa, I've connected my iPod to my dad's laptop which is where my mom normally connects her iPod).

/tk

[ThunderingHERD]

Seems like as good a place to ask this as any -- can you have one computer authorized to work with more than one iPod?

There aren't any restrictions on it. You'll just have to do some extra setup if you want to use automatic syncing.

[Izulde]

so anyone know of any proxy server lookup programs other than the one I mentioned that keeps crashing?

Preferably free?

[ThunderingHERD]

so anyone know of any proxy server lookup programs other than the one I mentioned that keeps crashing?

Preferably free?

If you use Firefox there are quite a few plugins that let will make the process of finding and switching proxies easier (I've only fooled it briefly, and this was a while ago, so I can't really recommend anything).

Anyway, software's not really your problem. Any software you get is just going query lists of proxy servers available freely on the net (google "http proxy list" or something similar). There are tons of people fighting for space on these servers, speed and reliability are often poor, even if you don't have more specific criteria. In your case, you need a server in the US or Canada. So X out about 90% of the servers on your list. Also, didn't you mention in another thread that you're behind a strict firewall? There goes another chunk of servers most likely. I'm not sure what your best option is... maybe some assistance from tech-savvy friends/family back home.