This is technical, but the point is that playing a american Sony copy-protected CD will install a hidden program on you computer to make sure you don't make copies. Trying to remove the program might result in a non-working cd-drive.
The guy who found out....
Patrik
Full Version: Whoa!! Sony goes hacker way to copy-protection
Wow, that's quite a lot to read.
Well, just check out the last part...
Patrik
QUOTE
Not only had Sony put software on my system that uses techniques commonly used by malware to mask its presence, the software is poorly written and provides no means for uninstall. Worse, most users that stumble across the cloaked files with a RKR scan will cripple their computer if they attempt the obvious step of deleting the cloaked files.
Patrik
Read most of that...I'm sure there is already someone out there cracking that too...
It's just silly to go to those lengths to protect their cds. I won't be buying any copy-protected Sony CDs anytime soon I guess...
It's just silly to go to those lengths to protect their cds. I won't be buying any copy-protected Sony CDs anytime soon I guess...
QUOTE(stivmc @ Nov 2 2005, 11:16 AM)
Read most of that...I'm sure there is already someone out there cracking that too...
It's just silly to go to those lengths to protect their cds. I won't be buying any copy-protected Sony CDs anytime soon I guess...
It's just silly to go to those lengths to protect their cds. I won't be buying any copy-protected Sony CDs anytime soon I guess...
And neither will a lot of other people. Look for Sony to stop this practice as word spreads. I can't believe they went ahaead and did it without informing customers first. I hope sony gets sued.
Funny how it's a dying business/medium, and they're helping to kill it.
QUOTE(stivmc @ Nov 2 2005, 09:16 AM)
Read most of that...I'm sure there is already someone out there cracking that too...
It's just silly to go to those lengths to protect their cds. I won't be buying any copy-protected Sony CDs anytime soon I guess...
It's just silly to go to those lengths to protect their cds. I won't be buying any copy-protected Sony CDs anytime soon I guess...
Yeah, I'll just download them.
Yep. This is why I don't really buy CD's anymore. What's the point? (especially since my computer at the moment is my primary CD player)
I remember buying Bruce Hornsby's Big Swing Face, in 2002 realizing it didn't play on my computer, and then just going and downloading it for free so I could burn it on an mp3-CD compilation. (since obviously someone else had figured out a way around it). Could've just saved myself the $15 if I had known.
I remember buying Bruce Hornsby's Big Swing Face, in 2002 realizing it didn't play on my computer, and then just going and downloading it for free so I could burn it on an mp3-CD compilation. (since obviously someone else had figured out a way around it). Could've just saved myself the $15 if I had known.
QUOTE(WalrusOct9 @ Nov 2 2005, 05:55 PM)
Yep. This is why I don't really buy CD's anymore. What's the point? (especially since my computer at the moment is my primary CD player)
I remember buying Bruce Hornsby's Big Swing Face, in 2002 realizing it didn't play on my computer, and then just going and downloading it for free so I could burn it on an mp3-CD compilation. (since obviously someone else had figured out a way around it). Could've just saved myself the $15 if I had known.
I remember buying Bruce Hornsby's Big Swing Face, in 2002 realizing it didn't play on my computer, and then just going and downloading it for free so I could burn it on an mp3-CD compilation. (since obviously someone else had figured out a way around it). Could've just saved myself the $15 if I had known.
Some of still like the sound quality that you get off the CD's. Admittedly it doesn't make that much of a different for probably 80-95% of the rock and 99% of the hip/hop music. But if you listen to jazz or classical it definitely makes a diffference. Now if Crapple only offered FLAC or shn or something that was a lossless codec, then I'd be inclined to download. Why pay $1 per song for an inferior product? You can always buy used CD's.
That being said, I bought one of those frickin DualDiscs that Sony has been trying to pawn off on people, because I love Son Volt and I really wanted their newest album. Well lo and behold, it ONLY worked in my computer, and only on the evil empire's Windblows Media Slayer. I couldn't play it on any other fricking CD player. Not to mention it jammed up my CD changer and ruined that. So I sold off that worthless disc. If Jay Farrar wants my money, he can stop working with those Sony f***ers and issue a regular CD. I"m not buying a 150-200 dollar DVD-A player just to fill Sony's coffers, those aceholes.
QUOTE(yojimbo @ Nov 2 2005, 04:01 PM)
QUOTE(WalrusOct9 @ Nov 2 2005, 05:55 PM)
Yep. This is why I don't really buy CD's anymore. What's the point? (especially since my computer at the moment is my primary CD player)
I remember buying Bruce Hornsby's Big Swing Face, in 2002 realizing it didn't play on my computer, and then just going and downloading it for free so I could burn it on an mp3-CD compilation. (since obviously someone else had figured out a way around it). Could've just saved myself the $15 if I had known.
I remember buying Bruce Hornsby's Big Swing Face, in 2002 realizing it didn't play on my computer, and then just going and downloading it for free so I could burn it on an mp3-CD compilation. (since obviously someone else had figured out a way around it). Could've just saved myself the $15 if I had known.
Some of still like the sound quality that you get off the CD's. Admittedly it doesn't make that much of a different for probably 80-95% of the rock and 99% of the hip/hop music. But if you listen to jazz or classical it definitely makes a diffference. Now if Crapple only offered FLAC or shn or something that was a lossless codec, then I'd be inclined to download. Why pay $1 per song for an inferior product? You can always buy used CD's.
That being said, I bought one of those frickin DualDiscs that Sony has been trying to pawn off on people, because I love Son Volt and I really wanted their newest album. Well lo and behold, it ONLY worked in my computer, and only on the evil empire's Windblows Media Slayer. I couldn't play it on any other fricking CD player. Not to mention it jammed up my CD changer and ruined that. So I sold off that worthless disc. If Jay Farrar wants my money, he can stop working with those Sony f***ers and issue a regular CD. I"m not buying a 150-200 dollar DVD-A player just to fill Sony's coffers, those aceholes.
I'm kind of at the point of if I like it - I'll buy it on vinyl. It's got a different sound quality. The only time I find myself buying CDs anymore is if there's extras. And a lot of times I'll wait and get an import version. Case in point, I have not bought the new ladytron CD, because I want to get the UK version instead of the US version.
Vinyl does have a distinct sound, but I can't afford a vinyl AND CD habit. Not to mention I can't afford to buy a new record player and the cartridges right now. My cat and I need to eat. I agree on the imports, I'm very much into Japanese remasters of a lot of jazz albums. Plus there are some great great jazz CD's issued off the Enja, Black Lion, and a few other labels I can't remember right now.
Some of still like the sound quality that you get off the CD's. Admittedly it doesn't make that much of a different for probably 80-95% of the rock and 99% of the hip/hop music. But if you listen to jazz or classical it definitely makes a diffference. Now if Crapple only offered FLAC or shn or something that was a lossless codec, then I'd be inclined to download. Why pay $1 per song for an inferior product? You can always buy used CD's.
That being said, I bought one of those frickin DualDiscs that Sony has been trying to pawn off on people, because I love Son Volt and I really wanted their newest album. Well lo and behold, it ONLY worked in my computer, and only on the evil empire's Windblows Media Slayer. I couldn't play it on any other fricking CD player. Not to mention it jammed up my CD changer and ruined that. So I sold off that worthless disc. If Jay Farrar wants my money, he can stop working with those Sony f***ers and issue a regular CD. I"m not buying a 150-200 dollar DVD-A player just to fill Sony's coffers, those aceholes.
I'm kind of at the point of if I like it - I'll buy it on vinyl. It's got a different sound quality. The only time I find myself buying CDs anymore is if there's extras. And a lot of times I'll wait and get an import version. Case in point, I have not bought the new ladytron CD, because I want to get the UK version instead of the US version.
QUOTE(Aaron @ Nov 2 2005, 06:12 PM)
QUOTE(yojimbo @ Nov 2 2005, 04:01 PM)
QUOTE(WalrusOct9 @ Nov 2 2005, 05:55 PM)
Yep. This is why I don't really buy CD's anymore. What's the point? (especially since my computer at the moment is my primary CD player)
I remember buying Bruce Hornsby's Big Swing Face, in 2002 realizing it didn't play on my computer, and then just going and downloading it for free so I could burn it on an mp3-CD compilation. (since obviously someone else had figured out a way around it). Could've just saved myself the $15 if I had known.
I remember buying Bruce Hornsby's Big Swing Face, in 2002 realizing it didn't play on my computer, and then just going and downloading it for free so I could burn it on an mp3-CD compilation. (since obviously someone else had figured out a way around it). Could've just saved myself the $15 if I had known.
Some of still like the sound quality that you get off the CD's. Admittedly it doesn't make that much of a different for probably 80-95% of the rock and 99% of the hip/hop music. But if you listen to jazz or classical it definitely makes a diffference. Now if Crapple only offered FLAC or shn or something that was a lossless codec, then I'd be inclined to download. Why pay $1 per song for an inferior product? You can always buy used CD's.
That being said, I bought one of those frickin DualDiscs that Sony has been trying to pawn off on people, because I love Son Volt and I really wanted their newest album. Well lo and behold, it ONLY worked in my computer, and only on the evil empire's Windblows Media Slayer. I couldn't play it on any other fricking CD player. Not to mention it jammed up my CD changer and ruined that. So I sold off that worthless disc. If Jay Farrar wants my money, he can stop working with those Sony f***ers and issue a regular CD. I"m not buying a 150-200 dollar DVD-A player just to fill Sony's coffers, those aceholes.
I'm kind of at the point of if I like it - I'll buy it on vinyl. It's got a different sound quality. The only time I find myself buying CDs anymore is if there's extras. And a lot of times I'll wait and get an import version. Case in point, I have not bought the new ladytron CD, because I want to get the UK version instead of the US version.
Oh, I can't stand mp3 compression, it doesn't do the music justice at all. However, there's no point in buying new releases since if it sells more than 50 copies, the record company will re-release it with bonus material a few months later.
The Japanese remasters and bonus tracks thing just adds to the insult...it's so painfully obvious that no one who works for a record company has actually been a music consumer in many, many years.
The Japanese remasters and bonus tracks thing just adds to the insult...it's so painfully obvious that no one who works for a record company has actually been a music consumer in many, many years.
i find it interesting to look at my music spending now and realize that i currently have about twice as much vinyl as i do CDs, also that i don't think i've bought more than a handful of CDs in the last year, but well more than 200 vinyl records. i recently got 37 in an estate sale next door for $2.00 total; beatles, rolling stones, sealed flash gordon radio plays, byrds, elvis, cash, dylan, etc. no, they won't play on my computer, but that's ok. my computer won't play anything right now.
like steve, my computer has been my primary music player for quite a few years, since napster came out in fact. i quit buying major label releases on the basis that if they wouldn't let me play it in my computer, then i didn't want to hear it. it's a vendetta of mine to spite the RIAA by purchasing stuff they have no control over any longer. vinyl can be had from $.05 to $2.00 at yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets, and when it's good stuff; record stores and collectors' shops. the only record i ever paid more than $10 for was "Ohio", and i intend to get a backup of it.
like steve, my computer has been my primary music player for quite a few years, since napster came out in fact. i quit buying major label releases on the basis that if they wouldn't let me play it in my computer, then i didn't want to hear it. it's a vendetta of mine to spite the RIAA by purchasing stuff they have no control over any longer. vinyl can be had from $.05 to $2.00 at yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets, and when it's good stuff; record stores and collectors' shops. the only record i ever paid more than $10 for was "Ohio", and i intend to get a backup of it.
anybody besides me like .ogg files? what other formats are good? i know most .mp3 players don't support the better codecs though.
.ogg is a really good codec, but totally impractical since players can't play them and not many people know about it, so you end up sending files to other people and they're like "what the hell is this?"
Then again, Beta was a far superior format to VHS and look where that got us.
Then again, Beta was a far superior format to VHS and look where that got us.
Not only did these jerks screw with our computers, but they provided the hacker community a new avenue as well:
CNET News.com
This is really bad news!
Skoegahom...
CNET News.com
This is really bad news!
Skoegahom...
*sigh*
I have a hard time imagining a wider psychological and mental divide than the one between the music industry and music fans.
I have a hard time imagining a wider psychological and mental divide than the one between the music industry and music fans.
Sony/BMG issued a new service pack that removes this particular software package. Find it here: Sony
However, they do not have a readme file so I don't know if the copy protected CD will still play on your computer or not? And the statement at this URL is infuriating:
November 2, 2005 - This Service Pack removes the cloaking technology component that has been recently discussed in a number of articles published regarding the XCP Technology used on SONY BMG content protected CDs. This component is not malicious and does not compromise security. However to alleviate any concerns that users may have about the program posing potential security vulnerabilities, this update has been released to enable users to remove this component from their computers.
Not malicious? Putting something in a hidden file that I cannot remove without waxing my CD drive if I can figure out where it is located is NOT malicious????? Does not compromise security? Here's a quote from a friend of mine named Bill Pringle:
Many hackers try very hard to install such malware on people's computers so
that they can load their own spamming, DDOS, etc. software on the victims'
machines. Now we have Sony installing the same kind of software without
warning the user what they are doing. There are no safeguards to make sure
that malware can't benefit from this installation. Now, all a hacker has to
do is find somebody who played a Sony disc on their computer, and install
programs in some directory containing the string $sys$. Your computer is now
a zombie for hackers and most users have no way to detect that.
I've been a big time Sony supporter for many years now. Almost every TV I own is a Sony. My wife's little bedroom music system is a Sony. I have Sony headphones, mini-disc players, CD walkmans (by the dozens...my daughter has been very hard on CD players...) and countless CDs (hundreds...). Now, the very company that I've given a lot of money to is now invading my privacy and making me vulnerable to hackers everywhere.
Maybe it's time to take a serious look at other vendors...
Skoegahom...
However, they do not have a readme file so I don't know if the copy protected CD will still play on your computer or not? And the statement at this URL is infuriating:
November 2, 2005 - This Service Pack removes the cloaking technology component that has been recently discussed in a number of articles published regarding the XCP Technology used on SONY BMG content protected CDs. This component is not malicious and does not compromise security. However to alleviate any concerns that users may have about the program posing potential security vulnerabilities, this update has been released to enable users to remove this component from their computers.
Not malicious? Putting something in a hidden file that I cannot remove without waxing my CD drive if I can figure out where it is located is NOT malicious????? Does not compromise security? Here's a quote from a friend of mine named Bill Pringle:
Many hackers try very hard to install such malware on people's computers so
that they can load their own spamming, DDOS, etc. software on the victims'
machines. Now we have Sony installing the same kind of software without
warning the user what they are doing. There are no safeguards to make sure
that malware can't benefit from this installation. Now, all a hacker has to
do is find somebody who played a Sony disc on their computer, and install
programs in some directory containing the string $sys$. Your computer is now
a zombie for hackers and most users have no way to detect that.
I've been a big time Sony supporter for many years now. Almost every TV I own is a Sony. My wife's little bedroom music system is a Sony. I have Sony headphones, mini-disc players, CD walkmans (by the dozens...my daughter has been very hard on CD players...) and countless CDs (hundreds...). Now, the very company that I've given a lot of money to is now invading my privacy and making me vulnerable to hackers everywhere.
Maybe it's time to take a serious look at other vendors...
Skoegahom...
Aw-oh...this is getting really ugly!
sony's "fix" (i tried the zip) is merely a removal of the cloak. the patch actually reinfects your system.
# posted by dustin : 12:28 PM, November 03, 2005
http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/s...tal-rights.html
It's not just Sony, either:
http://techdirt.com/articles/20051102/103241_F.shtml
# posted by zkam : 2:47 PM, November 02, 2005
Btw, I checked with a sniffer. The DRM system connects to connected.sonymusic.com and www.sonymusic.com and tells them an id number, apparently identifying the album. So, sony knows your ip address and what you listen to.
# posted by Matti Nikki : 12:48 PM, November 02, 2005
Steve Gibson of GRC.com has a great AUDIO file discussing over this mess now (well done MARK!) Find and listen to it here:
http://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm
Also, I guess it finally is leaking out to the MAIN STREAM media (finally) there is an article found on the Washingtonpost.com site:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...62.html?sub=new
The CEO of First 4 Internet, Mathew Gilliat Smith, boasted to a European IT website -- "IT Enquirer" in July 2005, that their XCP-1 copy protection software is now in use by "most of the large record labels around the world" http://www.it-enquirer.com/main/ite/more/d...hts_management/ . Is Sony just one of many companies that have been doing this??? It looks like maybe people who have the skills to follow Mark Russinovich's lead may need to start searching for rootkits on their machines if they have used any music CD's from any number of companies that are known to have, or might be suspected to have, copy protection.
Note that this Wired article http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,67696,00.html from May reported that First 4 Internet's clients include Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and EMI, in addition to Sony/BMG.
# posted by panderso : 1:08 AM, November 03, 2005
BBC have picked this up now...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4400148.stm
# posted by itsjazzy : 5:06 AM, November 03, 2005
Skoegahom...
sony's "fix" (i tried the zip) is merely a removal of the cloak. the patch actually reinfects your system.
# posted by dustin : 12:28 PM, November 03, 2005
http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/s...tal-rights.html
It's not just Sony, either:
http://techdirt.com/articles/20051102/103241_F.shtml
# posted by zkam : 2:47 PM, November 02, 2005
Btw, I checked with a sniffer. The DRM system connects to connected.sonymusic.com and www.sonymusic.com and tells them an id number, apparently identifying the album. So, sony knows your ip address and what you listen to.
# posted by Matti Nikki : 12:48 PM, November 02, 2005
Steve Gibson of GRC.com has a great AUDIO file discussing over this mess now (well done MARK!) Find and listen to it here:
http://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm
Also, I guess it finally is leaking out to the MAIN STREAM media (finally) there is an article found on the Washingtonpost.com site:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...62.html?sub=new
The CEO of First 4 Internet, Mathew Gilliat Smith, boasted to a European IT website -- "IT Enquirer" in July 2005, that their XCP-1 copy protection software is now in use by "most of the large record labels around the world" http://www.it-enquirer.com/main/ite/more/d...hts_management/ . Is Sony just one of many companies that have been doing this??? It looks like maybe people who have the skills to follow Mark Russinovich's lead may need to start searching for rootkits on their machines if they have used any music CD's from any number of companies that are known to have, or might be suspected to have, copy protection.
Note that this Wired article http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,67696,00.html from May reported that First 4 Internet's clients include Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and EMI, in addition to Sony/BMG.
# posted by panderso : 1:08 AM, November 03, 2005
BBC have picked this up now...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4400148.stm
# posted by itsjazzy : 5:06 AM, November 03, 2005
Skoegahom...
Thanks for the updates. It is interesting to follow this.
This guy is good!
Sysinternals
The saga continues...
Skoegahom...
One thing I found kind of humorous in this horror story is that CD ripping software can be added to the $sys$ area and Sony cannot stop them from performing their intended job. In other words, they have provided piraters the capability to rip their own copy protected discs. Nicely done Sony!
Sysinternals
The saga continues...
Skoegahom...
One thing I found kind of humorous in this horror story is that CD ripping software can be added to the $sys$ area and Sony cannot stop them from performing their intended job. In other words, they have provided piraters the capability to rip their own copy protected discs. Nicely done Sony!
what scared me was one of the last comments (as of this writing) which reminded buyers that people tend to keep CDs around for quite some time. how many enhanced CDs do you have right now that provide weblinks to 'additional features'? how many of those links still work? any? got a 404 didn't you?
if this software will break the upcoming version of Windows now, how can you expect to be able to ever play that particular CD in the future?! how easy will it be to fix the vast problems this shite will cause in 2015? do you think Sony will still have a support group dedicated to fixing this sort of thing then?
@&%# Sony. same to DRM.
if this software will break the upcoming version of Windows now, how can you expect to be able to ever play that particular CD in the future?! how easy will it be to fix the vast problems this shite will cause in 2015? do you think Sony will still have a support group dedicated to fixing this sort of thing then?
@&%# Sony. same to DRM.
Well, this just hacks me off... seriously... 
Not sure if anyone else here gets/reads Fred Langa's emails, but I wanted to copy/paste some comments from him here:
Hostile and aggressive copy protection has always, always, always backfired on the vendors using it. Example: Lotus1-2-3 was once one of the most widely used pieces of software in the world. Then they instituted a ridiculous "three installs and you're out" copy protection program where you'd be locked out on the fourth install, even if the reinstalls were totally valid ones by the original purchaser on his own machine, using the original disks. And this was back in the early days of PCs when it wasn't uncommon to have to reformat a system every 3-6 months. Didn't matter to Lotus: There was no appeal, no legal workaround, no option: If your drive crashed, or you bought a new PC, or whatnot, you got three installs, period, and then had to buy a new copy of the very expensive software.
Guess what happened? Users either felt justified in using copy-protection cracking tools so they could access the software they'd paid for; and/or flocked to Microsoft's Excel, which wasn't as good (the macro language wasn't as well-developed then, for instance) but which avoided the hassles of Lotus' draconian copy-protection scheme. Lotus' fortunes changed soon thereafter, and it withered to a fraction of its former size and clout. Note to Sony: Those who do not study history...
Hostile and aggressive copy protection has always, always, always backfired on the vendors using it. Example: Lotus1-2-3 was once one of the most widely used pieces of software in the world. Then they instituted a ridiculous "three installs and you're out" copy protection program where you'd be locked out on the fourth install, even if the reinstalls were totally valid ones by the original purchaser on his own machine, using the original disks. And this was back in the early days of PCs when it wasn't uncommon to have to reformat a system every 3-6 months. Didn't matter to Lotus: There was no appeal, no legal workaround, no option: If your drive crashed, or you bought a new PC, or whatnot, you got three installs, period, and then had to buy a new copy of the very expensive software.
Guess what happened? Users either felt justified in using copy-protection cracking tools so they could access the software they'd paid for; and/or flocked to Microsoft's Excel, which wasn't as good (the macro language wasn't as well-developed then, for instance) but which avoided the hassles of Lotus' draconian copy-protection scheme. Lotus' fortunes changed soon thereafter, and it withered to a fraction of its former size and clout. Note to Sony: Those who do not study history...
More news on what many anti-virus companies are now calling either a virus or a trojan infection.
Mark Russinovich
Not only are companies like McAfee and CA naming this malfeasance a virus, but within 10 days, 2 virus/trojans have been identifed that are attempting to use First 4 Internet (F4I) rootkit to exploit your PC.
You may want to look at these lists before puchasing your next CD:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004144.php
http://slashdot.org/~xtracto/journal/121088
Here are some quotes from Mathew Gilliat-Smith, CEO of F4I:
“It’s benign content protection. It’s not malware, it’s not spyware—it’s innocent.
“We understand what the concern was, but there was no intent. We reacted as quickly as we could, took responsive issues. And now, hopefully, we move on.”
Do you believe this guy??????
Finally, this story is starting to hit major news reporting sources. Both NY Times and PC Magazine have done articles on rootkits:
NY Times
The BBC is going bonkers:
BBC
One thing that I want to remind you of is that this copy protection scheme is not limited to Sony. Sony has many subsidiaries that are using the scheme as well. BMG, RCA, Arista, Epic, Universal, EMI to name a few. I'm sure there are more. There are also hints that they may be using it with DVDs or something similar as well.
If you quit buying any music that is on a Sony owned label, you may find yourself listening to a lot more indie (independent label) music, which in itself is not a bad thing...
Skoegahom...
Mark Russinovich
Not only are companies like McAfee and CA naming this malfeasance a virus, but within 10 days, 2 virus/trojans have been identifed that are attempting to use First 4 Internet (F4I) rootkit to exploit your PC.
You may want to look at these lists before puchasing your next CD:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004144.php
http://slashdot.org/~xtracto/journal/121088
Here are some quotes from Mathew Gilliat-Smith, CEO of F4I:
“It’s benign content protection. It’s not malware, it’s not spyware—it’s innocent.
“We understand what the concern was, but there was no intent. We reacted as quickly as we could, took responsive issues. And now, hopefully, we move on.”
Do you believe this guy??????
Finally, this story is starting to hit major news reporting sources. Both NY Times and PC Magazine have done articles on rootkits:
NY Times
The BBC is going bonkers:
BBC
One thing that I want to remind you of is that this copy protection scheme is not limited to Sony. Sony has many subsidiaries that are using the scheme as well. BMG, RCA, Arista, Epic, Universal, EMI to name a few. I'm sure there are more. There are also hints that they may be using it with DVDs or something similar as well.
If you quit buying any music that is on a Sony owned label, you may find yourself listening to a lot more indie (independent label) music, which in itself is not a bad thing...
Skoegahom...
Hahahahaha. I really shouldn't laugh. Viruses suck, and viruses that are cloaked are worse. But it sure turned Sony's policy on a dime, which is something the valid bitching wasn't doing.
Just so you know, they have only halted production for the time being with no admission of guilt nor have they created an easy removal tool for the thousands of computers they have infected world wide. If you do jump through all the hoops to remove XCP, they didn't even clean up after themselves and there is evidence that they leave behind some garbage that can cause your computer to reboot. The problem with this is that if a hacker finds these things, then they are readily available for their use...
But, what's worse is, this isn't the only copy protection scheme Sony and its subsidiaries use. There is another... (in my best Yoda voice)
Please check here for all the updates:
SysInternals Blog
The battle has just begun and we've only won one skirmish...
Skoegahom...
But, what's worse is, this isn't the only copy protection scheme Sony and its subsidiaries use. There is another... (in my best Yoda voice)
Please check here for all the updates:
SysInternals Blog
The battle has just begun and we've only won one skirmish...
Skoegahom...
dear lord, i love vinyl.
what about cassettes? can you still buy new releases on cassettes?
what about cassettes? can you still buy new releases on cassettes?
Here's the list of XCP Content Protection Discs. Please note, this does not include the content protection on the CDs developed and supported through Sunncomm International. There have been unsubstatiated claims that the Sunncomm protection scheme installs itself BEFORE you agree to the EULA!
XCP Discs
CD’s Containing XCP Content Protection Technology
Note: We will shortly be releasing new versions of these titles without the XCP software. You therefore need to check this list for both the name of the album and the item number (which can be found on the spine of the CD). If the item number is not listed below, your CD does not contain XCP content protection.
ARTIST
ALBUM
ITEM NUMBER(S)
UPC(S)
1.
A Static Lullaby
Faso Latido
CK92772
827969277225
2.
Acceptance
Phantoms
CK89016
696998901629
3.
Amerie
Touch
CK90763
827969076323
4.
Art Blakey
Drum Suit
CK93637
827969363720
5.
The Bad Plus
Suspicious Activity?
CK94740
827969474020
6.
Bette Midler
Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook
CK95107 CK74815
827969510728 828767481524
7.
Billy Holiday
The Great American Songbook
CK94294
827969429426
8.
Bob Brookmeyer
Bob Brookmeyer & Friends
CK94292
827969429228
9.
Buddy Jewell
Times Like These
CK92873
827969287323
10.
Burt Bacharach
At This Time
CK97734
827969773420
11.
Celine Dion
On Ne Change Pas
E2K97736
827969773628
12.
Chayanne
Cautivo
LAK96819 LAK96818 LAK95886
037629681921 037629681822 037629588626
13.
Chris Botti
To Love Again
CK94823
827969482322
14.
The Coral
The Invisible Invasion
CK94747
827969474723
15.
Cyndi Lauper
The Body Acoustic
EK94569
827969456927
16.
The Dead 60's
The Dead 60's
EK94453
827969445327
17.
Deniece Williams
This Is Niecy
CK93814
827969381427
18.
Dextor Gordon
Manhattan Symphonie
CK93581
827969358122
19.
Dion
The Essential Dion
CK92670
827969267028
20.
Earl Scruggs
I Saw The Light With Some Help From My Friends
CK92793
827969279328
21.
Elkland
Golden
CK92036
827969203620
22.
Emma Roberts
Unfabulous And More: Emma Roberts
CK93950 CK97684
827969395028 827969768426
23.
Flatt & Scruggs
Foggy Mountain Jamboree
CK92801
827969280126
24.
Frank Sinatra
The Great American Songbook
CK94291
827969429129
25.
G3
Live In Tokyo
E2K97685
827969768525
26.
George Jones
My Very Special Guests
E2K92562
827969256220
27.
Gerry Mulligan
Jeru
CK65498
074646549827
28.
Horace Silver
Silver's Blue
CK93856
827969385623
29.
Jane Monheit
The Season
EK97721
827969772126
30.
Jon Randall
Walking Among The Living
EK92083
827969208328
31.
Life Of Agony
Broken Valley
EK93515
827969351529
32.
Louis Armstrong
The Great American Songbook
CK94295
827969429525
33.
Mary Mary
Mary Mary
CK94812 CK92948
000768353721 827969294826
34.
Montgomery Gentry
Something To Be Proud Of: The Best of 1999-2005
CK75324 CK94982
828767532424 827969498224
35.
Natasha Bedingfield
Unwritten
EK93988
827969398821
36.
Neil Diamond
12 Songs
CK94776 CK97811
827969477625 827969781128
37.
Nivea
Complicated
82876671562
828766715620
38.
Our Lady Peace
Healthy In Paranoid Times
CK94777
827969477724
39.
Patty Loveless
Dreamin' My Dreams
EK94481
827969448120
40.
Pete Seeger
The Essential Pete Seeger
CK92835
827969283523
41.
Ray Charles
Friendship
CK94564
827969456422
42.
Rosanne Cash
Interiors
CK93655
827969365526
43.
Rosanne Cash
King's Record Shop
CK86994
696998699427
44.
Rosanne Cash
Seven Year Ache
CK86997
696998699724
45.
Shel Silverstein
The Best Of Shel Silverstein
CK94722
827969472224
46.
Shelly Fairchild
Ride
CK90355
827969035528
47.
Susie Suh
Susie Suh
EK92443
827969244326
48.
Switchfoot
Nothing Is Sound
CK96534 CK96437 CK94581
827969653425 827969643723 827969458129
49.
Teena Marie
Robbery
EK93817
827969381724
50.
Trey Anastasio
Shine
CK96428
827969642825
51.
Van Zant
Get Right With The Man
CK93500
827969350027
52.
Vivian Green
Vivian
CK90761
827969076125
Note: Two titles, Ricky Martin’s "Life" and Peter Gallagher’s "7 Days in Memphis" were released with a content protection grid on the back of the CD packaging but XCP content protection software was not actually included on the albums.
Skoegahom...
XCP Discs
CD’s Containing XCP Content Protection Technology
Note: We will shortly be releasing new versions of these titles without the XCP software. You therefore need to check this list for both the name of the album and the item number (which can be found on the spine of the CD). If the item number is not listed below, your CD does not contain XCP content protection.
ARTIST
ALBUM
ITEM NUMBER(S)
UPC(S)
1.
A Static Lullaby
Faso Latido
CK92772
827969277225
2.
Acceptance
Phantoms
CK89016
696998901629
3.
Amerie
Touch
CK90763
827969076323
4.
Art Blakey
Drum Suit
CK93637
827969363720
5.
The Bad Plus
Suspicious Activity?
CK94740
827969474020
6.
Bette Midler
Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook
CK95107 CK74815
827969510728 828767481524
7.
Billy Holiday
The Great American Songbook
CK94294
827969429426
8.
Bob Brookmeyer
Bob Brookmeyer & Friends
CK94292
827969429228
9.
Buddy Jewell
Times Like These
CK92873
827969287323
10.
Burt Bacharach
At This Time
CK97734
827969773420
11.
Celine Dion
On Ne Change Pas
E2K97736
827969773628
12.
Chayanne
Cautivo
LAK96819 LAK96818 LAK95886
037629681921 037629681822 037629588626
13.
Chris Botti
To Love Again
CK94823
827969482322
14.
The Coral
The Invisible Invasion
CK94747
827969474723
15.
Cyndi Lauper
The Body Acoustic
EK94569
827969456927
16.
The Dead 60's
The Dead 60's
EK94453
827969445327
17.
Deniece Williams
This Is Niecy
CK93814
827969381427
18.
Dextor Gordon
Manhattan Symphonie
CK93581
827969358122
19.
Dion
The Essential Dion
CK92670
827969267028
20.
Earl Scruggs
I Saw The Light With Some Help From My Friends
CK92793
827969279328
21.
Elkland
Golden
CK92036
827969203620
22.
Emma Roberts
Unfabulous And More: Emma Roberts
CK93950 CK97684
827969395028 827969768426
23.
Flatt & Scruggs
Foggy Mountain Jamboree
CK92801
827969280126
24.
Frank Sinatra
The Great American Songbook
CK94291
827969429129
25.
G3
Live In Tokyo
E2K97685
827969768525
26.
George Jones
My Very Special Guests
E2K92562
827969256220
27.
Gerry Mulligan
Jeru
CK65498
074646549827
28.
Horace Silver
Silver's Blue
CK93856
827969385623
29.
Jane Monheit
The Season
EK97721
827969772126
30.
Jon Randall
Walking Among The Living
EK92083
827969208328
31.
Life Of Agony
Broken Valley
EK93515
827969351529
32.
Louis Armstrong
The Great American Songbook
CK94295
827969429525
33.
Mary Mary
Mary Mary
CK94812 CK92948
000768353721 827969294826
34.
Montgomery Gentry
Something To Be Proud Of: The Best of 1999-2005
CK75324 CK94982
828767532424 827969498224
35.
Natasha Bedingfield
Unwritten
EK93988
827969398821
36.
Neil Diamond
12 Songs
CK94776 CK97811
827969477625 827969781128
37.
Nivea
Complicated
82876671562
828766715620
38.
Our Lady Peace
Healthy In Paranoid Times
CK94777
827969477724
39.
Patty Loveless
Dreamin' My Dreams
EK94481
827969448120
40.
Pete Seeger
The Essential Pete Seeger
CK92835
827969283523
41.
Ray Charles
Friendship
CK94564
827969456422
42.
Rosanne Cash
Interiors
CK93655
827969365526
43.
Rosanne Cash
King's Record Shop
CK86994
696998699427
44.
Rosanne Cash
Seven Year Ache
CK86997
696998699724
45.
Shel Silverstein
The Best Of Shel Silverstein
CK94722
827969472224
46.
Shelly Fairchild
Ride
CK90355
827969035528
47.
Susie Suh
Susie Suh
EK92443
827969244326
48.
Switchfoot
Nothing Is Sound
CK96534 CK96437 CK94581
827969653425 827969643723 827969458129
49.
Teena Marie
Robbery
EK93817
827969381724
50.
Trey Anastasio
Shine
CK96428
827969642825
51.
Van Zant
Get Right With The Man
CK93500
827969350027
52.
Vivian Green
Vivian
CK90761
827969076125
Note: Two titles, Ricky Martin’s "Life" and Peter Gallagher’s "7 Days in Memphis" were released with a content protection grid on the back of the CD packaging but XCP content protection software was not actually included on the albums.
Skoegahom...
The funny part about that list is I've seen almost all of those titles on bittorrent sites well ahead of their release dates. (and now feel slightly better having helped myself to the new Our Lady Peace) Yeah, that copy protection worked real well, didn't it?
If you want a list of CDs infected by SunnComm malware, they have a complete list on their website:
Just click “The CD in Question” pulldown near the bottom of this page.
Ask the Tech
It's too big to print here!
Skoegahom...
P.S. What scares me is that I have Coldplay - God Put A Smile On Your Face single with the copy protection logo on it, but it's not listed in either of these lists...
Just click “The CD in Question” pulldown near the bottom of this page.
Ask the Tech
It's too big to print here!
Skoegahom...
P.S. What scares me is that I have Coldplay - God Put A Smile On Your Face single with the copy protection logo on it, but it's not listed in either of these lists...
Flat & Scruggs? yeah, that's top of my illegal download list. hot seller that one, i'm sure. all the hip kids are into banjo pickin', y'know. was there a single hip-hop artist on that thing?
It's weird...there was a little sticker on Sarah McLachlan's Afterglow Live that said it was copy protected, yet i had no problem ripping the CD...
QUOTE(Daneel @ Nov 18 2005, 09:24 PM)
was there a single hip-hop artist on that thing?
What would you call MaryMary? Christian... something black-sounding?
I have no modern musical vocabulary.
QUOTE(Daneel @ Nov 18 2005, 08:24 PM)
was there a single hip-hop artist on that thing?
Yes. In fact, there were several. We gotta get you to the club, get you a little tipsy, yo.
In the most bizarre twist of the Sony DRM saga, Brenno de Winter of webwereld is now claiming that Sony has “borrowed” code from the LAME library licensed under the so called Lesser GNU Public License (LGPL) without conforming to the licensure demands.
webwereld
Okay, here it is in English:
de Winter
With all the hubbub about XCP, experts are now claiming that SunnComm's MediaMax DRM could potentially be worse! Worse than having a hidden rootkit on you system placed there by software that you purchased and will disable your CD Rom drive if you or a spyware software program removes it? Oh, and all of you OSX users out there with the smirks on your face, you might want to know that this DRM infects Macs as well…something like the first new Mac virus in 10 years or so…
Hardware Analysis
Attempting to uninstall this other DRM can prove to be a sticky wicket:
Freedom to Tinker
“It seems that parts of the rootkit use the LAME mp3 encoder, which is licensed under the Lesser GPL. That means by delivering only an executable (the rootkit) without source or crediting, XCP violates the GPL. Violating the GPL puts Sony at massive legal risk for—wait for it—copyright infringement.
The irony is just crushing.” Larry Loeb
Larry Loeb
Sony is now claiming that they will institute a disc exchange program next week only for XCP disc, but have been very carefully avoiding any verbiage using the word “recall” which would become a world wide media circus. However, there is one caveat; you must have an address in the United States in order to exchange your bad discs. There are an estimated 120,000 of these discs in Canada presently.
Exchange
Conclusions
From Sony’s point of view, its okay to steal software (LGPL - intellectual property) in order to produce copy protected CDs so that paying customers can’t make copies of Sony’s intellectual property. Do as we say, not as we do…
The music industry has been blaming lower sales on file sharing for quite some time now. However, in my reading of all this material, I have formed a new theory. Somewhere around 1990 or so the music industry quite making singles. I found this out by reading the history of Billboard magazine. When I was a kid, I couldn’t afford to buy LPs every week or even every other week. But I could afford to by 45’s. I still have a couple hundred to prove it. 45’s were less than a buck, whereas LP’s were $5 or more. CD singles that are available today run as much as $9.99, although I have seen a few of them at $2.99. I think the normal price would be around $6.99. CDs can cost from $9.99 to $17.99 with the average around $14.99. These figures are off the top of my head so please don’t take me to task on them. However, the point is that most kids today can’t afford the price of CDs on a regular basis. And singles aren’t much cheaper unless you have purchased an iPod, etc, first at a couple hundred bucks, and then you can down load some singles for a $1. However, many of the “hits” can only be downloaded when you purchase the entire CD. Another issue with iPod technology is that I might find a band in England that I really dig, for instance Thirteen Senses or KT Tunstall. Or, Eskimo Joe from Australia. Unfortunately, you cannot download UK or Aussie bands unless they are offered in the US iTunes because of licensure issues.
IMO, the music industry has priced themselves out of the market by not offering cheap singles and trying to force people to buy expense CDs for a couple of good songs…
What’s worse is that kids tend to only want the “hits” and therefore they wouldn’t purchase the entire CD anyway. If they weren’t going to purchase the CD anyway, how is the music industry losing money by file sharing? I am not aiming this question at anyone nor am I trying to condone file sharing at the Napster level. I do contend that file sharing peer to peer is good for music as it makes people aware of other artists that they probably wouldn’t hear otherwise. The hope of course is that they buy the CDs after hearing a song or two. Which, is the same hope that artists have when songs are played on the radio or streamed online to computers…
Finally, as Lotus found out years ago, copy protection is the first step in a bad business model.
Skoegahom…
webwereld
Okay, here it is in English:
de Winter
With all the hubbub about XCP, experts are now claiming that SunnComm's MediaMax DRM could potentially be worse! Worse than having a hidden rootkit on you system placed there by software that you purchased and will disable your CD Rom drive if you or a spyware software program removes it? Oh, and all of you OSX users out there with the smirks on your face, you might want to know that this DRM infects Macs as well…something like the first new Mac virus in 10 years or so…
Hardware Analysis
Attempting to uninstall this other DRM can prove to be a sticky wicket:
Freedom to Tinker
“It seems that parts of the rootkit use the LAME mp3 encoder, which is licensed under the Lesser GPL. That means by delivering only an executable (the rootkit) without source or crediting, XCP violates the GPL. Violating the GPL puts Sony at massive legal risk for—wait for it—copyright infringement.
The irony is just crushing.” Larry Loeb
Larry Loeb
Sony is now claiming that they will institute a disc exchange program next week only for XCP disc, but have been very carefully avoiding any verbiage using the word “recall” which would become a world wide media circus. However, there is one caveat; you must have an address in the United States in order to exchange your bad discs. There are an estimated 120,000 of these discs in Canada presently.
Exchange
Conclusions
From Sony’s point of view, its okay to steal software (LGPL - intellectual property) in order to produce copy protected CDs so that paying customers can’t make copies of Sony’s intellectual property. Do as we say, not as we do…
The music industry has been blaming lower sales on file sharing for quite some time now. However, in my reading of all this material, I have formed a new theory. Somewhere around 1990 or so the music industry quite making singles. I found this out by reading the history of Billboard magazine. When I was a kid, I couldn’t afford to buy LPs every week or even every other week. But I could afford to by 45’s. I still have a couple hundred to prove it. 45’s were less than a buck, whereas LP’s were $5 or more. CD singles that are available today run as much as $9.99, although I have seen a few of them at $2.99. I think the normal price would be around $6.99. CDs can cost from $9.99 to $17.99 with the average around $14.99. These figures are off the top of my head so please don’t take me to task on them. However, the point is that most kids today can’t afford the price of CDs on a regular basis. And singles aren’t much cheaper unless you have purchased an iPod, etc, first at a couple hundred bucks, and then you can down load some singles for a $1. However, many of the “hits” can only be downloaded when you purchase the entire CD. Another issue with iPod technology is that I might find a band in England that I really dig, for instance Thirteen Senses or KT Tunstall. Or, Eskimo Joe from Australia. Unfortunately, you cannot download UK or Aussie bands unless they are offered in the US iTunes because of licensure issues.
IMO, the music industry has priced themselves out of the market by not offering cheap singles and trying to force people to buy expense CDs for a couple of good songs…
What’s worse is that kids tend to only want the “hits” and therefore they wouldn’t purchase the entire CD anyway. If they weren’t going to purchase the CD anyway, how is the music industry losing money by file sharing? I am not aiming this question at anyone nor am I trying to condone file sharing at the Napster level. I do contend that file sharing peer to peer is good for music as it makes people aware of other artists that they probably wouldn’t hear otherwise. The hope of course is that they buy the CDs after hearing a song or two. Which, is the same hope that artists have when songs are played on the radio or streamed online to computers…
Finally, as Lotus found out years ago, copy protection is the first step in a bad business model.
Skoegahom…
All my friends laughed when I refused to buy the new Switchfoot CD because of a copy-protection sticker on the back. Now I get the last laugh!
To add to the fun, one of those friends sent me mp3s of the album, officially making it the first album I've ever "stolen", after years of taking the RIAA's side on these types of things. They sure know how to screw themselves. It wasn't even that good of a CD anyway....I mean, why should they be worried about people downloading it?
To add to the fun, one of those friends sent me mp3s of the album, officially making it the first album I've ever "stolen", after years of taking the RIAA's side on these types of things. They sure know how to screw themselves. It wasn't even that good of a CD anyway....I mean, why should they be worried about people downloading it?
aw, that's sad. i saw Switchfoot really early on, just as New Way To Be Human was coming out, even got a chance to talk with them a little bit. their music used to be really good and innovative, but now it just sounds like so much other noise on the FM.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/con...1129_938966.htm
new bit of info. an anti-virus company apparently contacted Sony about this whole mess a full month before it was leaked by the blogger. Sony apparently tried to sweep everything under the rug instead of dealing with it.
http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/
in other new, though a recall *has* been announced, Sony has apparently neglected to advertise such information to retailers; as of Christmas, these very recalled CDs were found on store shelves in major cities across the country. intriguing as well is the fact that Sony still hasn't posted an uninstaller for its malware for consumer download.
new bit of info. an anti-virus company apparently contacted Sony about this whole mess a full month before it was leaked by the blogger. Sony apparently tried to sweep everything under the rug instead of dealing with it.
http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/
in other new, though a recall *has* been announced, Sony has apparently neglected to advertise such information to retailers; as of Christmas, these very recalled CDs were found on store shelves in major cities across the country. intriguing as well is the fact that Sony still hasn't posted an uninstaller for its malware for consumer download.
QUOTE(Daneel @ Dec 31 2005, 08:53 PM)
aw, that's sad. i saw Switchfoot really early on, just as New Way To Be Human was coming out, even got a chance to talk with them a little bit. their music used to be really good and innovative, but now it just sounds like so much other noise on the FM.
They were never that innovative, although most of my favorites are either earlier material or rarities. The new album has two songs that are pretty decent actually...."The Shadow Proves the Sunshine" is great tune, and "Daisy"'s great as well. Most of the other songs are just ok, but "Golden and "We Are One Tonight" are truly generic crap.
Still, $20 for a "CD" that clearly says that it doesn't even conform to CD standards? I'll always pass, no matter how big a fan I am of the group in question. Even before the rootkit scandal came up, I thought it was time to give up on Sony. I had no idea just how right I was.
Well lookie here. Sony finally tries to make it right: http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20060103/t...jhkBHNlYwMxNjk1
Sony's proposed settlement is kind of like your football team scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter after being behind by about 40 points. While it's not dead yet, I think we can start looking for the hammer to start pounding in the nails of the music industry's coffin.
I have a question.
Quite a while ago, I purchased Sarah McLachlan's 'Bloom' CD from Amazon. (One of those listed as evil) It played in my computer but I couldn't transfer it to my hard drive for inputting to my IPod. No evident damage to the cd drive there, but it just wouldn't transfer.
I have since then gotten a new computer and never played the CD in it.
Now Amazon sent me the link to fix or update the software assoc with this CD.
I'm thinking I should just toss the CD and not risk endangering my new computer.
Still, I wish I could hear the damn music in my pod.
Damn Sony.
Sarah...what have you done. tsk, tsk.
What to do?
Quite a while ago, I purchased Sarah McLachlan's 'Bloom' CD from Amazon. (One of those listed as evil) It played in my computer but I couldn't transfer it to my hard drive for inputting to my IPod. No evident damage to the cd drive there, but it just wouldn't transfer.
I have since then gotten a new computer and never played the CD in it.
Now Amazon sent me the link to fix or update the software assoc with this CD.
I'm thinking I should just toss the CD and not risk endangering my new computer.
Still, I wish I could hear the damn music in my pod.
Damn Sony.
Sarah...what have you done. tsk, tsk.
What to do?
QUOTE(Trudes @ Jan 4 2006, 11:16 AM)
I have a question.
Quite a while ago, I purchased Sarah McLachlan's 'Bloom' CD from Amazon. (One of those listed as evil) It played in my computer but I couldn't transfer it to my hard drive for inputting to my IPod. No evident damage to the cd drive there, but it just wouldn't transfer.
I have since then gotten a new computer and never played the CD in it.
Now Amazon sent me the link to fix or update the software assoc with this CD.
I'm thinking I should just toss the CD and not risk endangering my new computer.
Still, I wish I could hear the damn music in my pod.
Damn Sony.
Sarah...what have you done. tsk, tsk.
What to do?
Quite a while ago, I purchased Sarah McLachlan's 'Bloom' CD from Amazon. (One of those listed as evil) It played in my computer but I couldn't transfer it to my hard drive for inputting to my IPod. No evident damage to the cd drive there, but it just wouldn't transfer.
I have since then gotten a new computer and never played the CD in it.
Now Amazon sent me the link to fix or update the software assoc with this CD.
I'm thinking I should just toss the CD and not risk endangering my new computer.
Still, I wish I could hear the damn music in my pod.
Damn Sony.
Sarah...what have you done. tsk, tsk.
What to do?
Trudes, send it to me & I'll see if I can make mp3's with my Mac.
QUOTE(WalrusOct9 @ Jan 4 2006, 06:50 AM)
Sony's proposed settlement is kind of like your football team scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter after being behind by about 40 points. While it's not dead yet, I think we can start looking for the hammer to start pounding in the nails of the music industry's coffin.
Hey I"m not saying that I support those Sony bastages, but it is interesting that they stopped huffing and bluffing and admitted that they were wrong. Now if someone would start a service that offers music in FLAC/shn's/or .wav's for each and every song on the album unlike CrApple.
QUOTE(Trudes @ Jan 4 2006, 10:16 AM)
I'm thinking I should just toss the CD and not risk endangering my new computer.
Still, I wish I could hear the damn music in my pod.
Damn Sony.
Sarah...what have you done. tsk, tsk.
What to do?
Still, I wish I could hear the damn music in my pod.
Damn Sony.
Sarah...what have you done. tsk, tsk.
What to do?
Funny, the album was on bittorrent sites before it was even released, obviously someone figured a way around it (or the promo copies weren't laced with this thing). Hit me up on AIM and I can send the mp3's to you.
I've bought everything Sarah's done, DVD's and all, but even I couldn't pony up $15 for a second remix album...and after reading about the Sony fiasco, I'm pretty happy about that.
QUOTE
Hey I"m not saying that I support those Sony bastages, but it is interesting that they stopped huffing and bluffing and admitted that they were wrong. Now if someone would start a service that offers music in FLAC/shn's/or .wav's for each and every song on the album unlike CrApple.
Yeah, that'd be a nice start. I don't think most people can tell the difference though, which is sad...we're at the point where you can buy super hi-res surround sound mixes of albums, and yet the future is in heavily compressed, less than CD audio. It's convenient as hell, I love my mp3 player to death, but not worth paying actual money for unless you get a CD-quality version for your money.
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