News
Mix: MP3 watermarks, Apple.com, BBC podcasts, Ultimate Ears
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute have developed a new MP3 watermarking technology for tracking pirated audio files in peer-to-peer file-sharing networks.
Apple’s website was the world’s 10th most popular online destination in January 2006, receiving just under 35 million visitors, according to Nielsen NetRatings.
The BBC plans to expand its podcast lineup and add several new shows including Radio 4’s Start the Week, Broadcasting House, Today in Parliament and Front Row.
Earphone Solutions is offering a $50 rebate on the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5PRO earphones until Feb. 28. The company said the $50 rebate will be mailed by Ultimate Ears.
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1
Hey BBC! Why dont you release the Top Gear series on iTunes! I would buy every single one episode!
Posted by Top Gear Fan on February 17, 2006 at 2:07 PM (PDT)
2
re: the MP3 watermark story..
funny this companies technology only tracks the MP3’s that are uploaded (to the P2P’s sever).
You can get around this entire issue by using “Grouper” http://www.grouper.com.
with grouper you don’t upload anything… instead you download directly from another users computer… there is no server where the MP3’s transfer through. Also with Grouper you “zip” or “rar” your mp3’s so that they can’t be sniffed by companies like this… thus what you are downloading is a zip format...which contains a shitload of mp3’s… not the mp3 itself.
Grouper has done it right.. I am surprised other p2p’s havent figured this out? ....
Posted by Jim on February 17, 2006 at 2:07 PM (PDT)
3
I like the idea of watermarks, insofar as I can like any kind of DRM (which isn’t much!) because it’s far less obtrusive. It merely allows you to discover where a pirated MP3 came from, rather than forcing arbitary restrictions on the user as to how many times you can copy a file, or tie it to devices that support a given DRM scheme.
As for the BBC podcasts, I would so love to see a Mark and Lard podcast, those two have been sorely missed from the Radio 1 lineup!
Posted by phennphawcks on February 17, 2006 at 4:04 PM (PDT)
4
Excellent. You’re now in legal danger whenever you lend someone a CD.
Posted by Joshdude in Long Beach, CA on February 17, 2006 at 9:19 PM (PDT)
5
Joshdude: Actually, with the physical cd it probably wouldn’t make a difference, because they wouldn’t be able to track the cd back to /you/.
Jim: You’re missing the point. They can check an actual mp3 to see whether it’s supposed to belong to an individual—who can then be prosecuted. It doesn’t matter whether it’s off kazaa, limewire, or irc.
This will be more effective, I’d think; it’s probably easier to frighten the sharers—who directly gain nothing by sharing—than the people who download stolen music.
Posted by lena on February 17, 2006 at 10:21 PM (PDT)
6
It’s already flawed. Tell me this. Are they going to individually watermark each CD diffrently? That’s a lot of time & money spent. And how are they exactly know who bought the CD?
Posted by Cake on February 18, 2006 at 5:02 AM (PDT)
7
Cake: I don’t think they’re considering using watermarks on CDs, the data on those isn’t in MP3 format anyway. I think it’s intended to be used as a technology for online music stores, so you get a file in a format you can use in more or less any player out there and can copy as many times as you like while the sellers get the opportunity to trace traded MP3s back to the source.
Posted by phennphawcks on February 18, 2006 at 3:49 PM (PDT)