Following the recent issue surrounding the deletion of George Orwell works (1984, Animal Farm) from users’ Kindle readers, anti-DRM activists Defective By Design has targeted the device with a new petition. The text of the petition reads…
We believe in a way of life based on the free exchange of ideas, in which books have and will continue to play a central role. Devices like Amazon’s are trying to determine how people will interact with books, but Amazon’s use of DRM to control and monitor users and their books constitutes a clear threat to the free exchange of ideas.
That is why we readers, authors, publishers, and librarians demand that Amazon remove all DRM, including any ability to control or access the user’s library, from the Kindle.
Amazon’s assurances that it will refrain from the worst abuses of this power do not address the problem. Amazon should not have this power in the first place. Until they give it up they will be tempted to use it, or they could be forced to by governments or narrow private interests. Whatever Amazon’s reasons for imposing this control may be, they are not as important as the public’s freedom to use books without interference or supervision.
The petition already has a few recognizable signatures listed on the right-hand side of the message. To sign the petition, visit it at defectivebydesign.org/amazon1984
Result for: s library
The large film producer Lionsgate Entertainment has announced that they are working with Apple in an effort to allow customers who purchase select DVDs and Blu-ray titles to download a free digital copy through iTunes as well.
The first movies to include free digital copies are the DVDs and Blu-ray discs of “Rambo” and “The Eye”. Rambo will be available later this month while The Eye is slated for a June or July release. More releases are to come, said the company, but there was no word yet on what they might be.
“Our consumers are always looking for new viewing options in terms of the motion pictures they buy, and we are always searching for new ways to deliver content in formats that reflect consumer preference across the entire home entertainment spectrum, from packaged media to digital storage to VOD,” Lionsgate president and COO Steve Beeks said.
To receive the digital download, consumers must simply insert the DVD or BD into their computers and enter a provided code into iTunes where it will copy to the users library. You can only copy the movie to one library, but it can be re-copied over and over in case you accidentally delete it.
Result for: s library
Didiom has announced the launch of a mobile application that will allow users to purchase and download over 1 million MP3 songs.
The free application will also allow music fans to remotely access their home iTunes library from over 200 movile devices including BlackBerrys and phones with Windows Mobile operating systems.
Along with the launch Didiom has also announced they have signed licensing deals with CD Baby, which is the largest retailer for independent music, Naxos, the world’s leading producer of classical music, Saavn, the world’s largest digital distributor of South Asian content and other indie projects such as Phonofile, Bonzai Music, Soul Seduction, eClassical, Xpressbeats, Reggae Country, MisRolas, EmuBands, Armenian Music Center, Quarterlife Records and Resonant Vibes.
“We’ve developed a simple and fun way to mobilize music and to discover new music from around the world while on the go,” said Ran Assaf, Didiom’s founder and CEO. “More and more music fans are tired of wasting valuable time sideloading music from their computer to their phone or iPod. We provide them with a new type of experience that lets them not only stream music from their computer to their handset over the air, but also to discover, bid for and share music in new and exciting ways.”
Most songs are $0.89 USD for single tracks and most albums are $9.99 USD.
