iLounge

Cringely: One Possible Future for a Music Business

“This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read. Owning stock in a company is not the same as owning assets of the company. I’ll give you an example. I own 100 shares of GM. Do you think I can waltz into the factory, grab a new Corvette, and drive off with it because I own it? If this guy talked to lawyers who thought this was a good idea, they’re dumber than he is.”

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“I agree with SF, the whole concept is total nonsense, the whole point of a corporation is that the stockholders and the corporation are seperate legal entities, this is a fundamental concept on which they are based. Any first year law (or even finance)student would know straight away this is the case, any lawyer who thinks otherwise should not be practicing.”

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Yeah.  Exactly.

Posted by Z on July 29, 2003 at 12:38 PM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

Just some justifications.

VBR is better than CBR for a given encoding, but if the encoding changes as well, it’s comparing Apples:-) and pears, so how can you generalize about VBR and CBR??? 

I can blindly distinguish AAC 320 from AIFF, as well as MP3 320 from AIFF, as well as AAC 320 from MP3 320. Compared to AAC, MP3 has a haze over its sound, which can be easily detected if using proper equipment.

I’m pretty clear about the specific encoder I’ve used in my experiments (Quicktime), and the conclusions are logically restricted to that. I haven’t tried out other encoders that might be better than the one I’ve tried. I might do it in the near future. I’m open for suggestions.

The opinios are mine, not Apple’s. I don’t care what Apple thinks about AAC or MP3, I just observe that I agree with them on the issue of sound quality. I disagree with the 128kbit/sec standard in their music store. I disagree with the EU volume limitation, I disagree with their silent and therefore unfriendly behaviour if you report a problem to them.

I don’t have access to any headphone out there, and have a limited budget. Could you give me a link to your D66SL headphone on e.g. audioreview . People discuss hundreds of headphones on that site, so it must be there as well. I’m very curious what they say about it.

A review is an opinion by definition, hence it’s personal, as I clearly state on the site a couple of times. That doesn’t make it less reliable than any other review about whatever device under test. At least I try to show all settings of my experiment, and suggest people to try it out themselves as well. I would love their opinion, but only can put their observations in context if their experiments are well-described.

Posted by Marc Heijligers on July 29, 2003 at 12:34 PM (PDT)

Think Different Store and eXo iSkin info

I just cancelled my iSkins order.

I have to say, I think it is very poor and ethically, if not legally, questionable business practices to charge someone for a product that doesn’t exist (vaporware). Since I place my order earlier in July, I’ve gotten an email a week (2 or 3 emails total) from iSkins promising the product would ship the following week.

I can certainly understand manufacturing or supplier shipping delays; but I think it is outreageous to bill someone’s credit card before something ships.

Posted by Scott on July 29, 2003 at 12:34 PM (PDT)

30GB iPod $419 and 15GB iPod $329 - Today Only

exactly what I thought

Posted by Wanksta on July 29, 2003 at 12:14 PM (PDT)

30GB iPod $419 and 15GB iPod $329 - Today Only

Hmm. Another Dell Deal?

Posted by Squibbles on July 29, 2003 at 12:10 PM (PDT)

Think Different Store and eXo iSkin info

I ordered one last week and got it delivered Monday (7/29) from ThinkDifferent store.  That’s only 4 biz days, pretty quick.  It’s White Frost for 30GB w/ free Macclear zip case but no screen protector yet.  Very nice.

Posted by miyagi on July 29, 2003 at 12:04 PM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

Sraphim....how do u figure that ppl still use WMA out of choice?  I mean for music stores the HAVE to because MP3 doesnt include DRM.  they dont use AAC because it isnt widely used (yet).  WMA is the only thing that is even close to protect their copyrights and have some sort of compatibility.

Posted by lilmoonee on July 29, 2003 at 11:30 AM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

Most of this website is opinion, which is fine.  One item that he proved mathematically is that, when encoding a CD with AAC, there is ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE between the Better and Best encoding levels.  While I had heard this in the past, he proved it.

Posted by thenightfly42 on July 29, 2003 at 10:55 AM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

Not necessarily. There will still be other technologies out there. For example, most people would agree in a listening test that Microsoft’s WMA format is much worse than RealPlayer, MP3, and even standard AAC. However, people will keep using it, due to the fact that M$ still has a de facto monopoly on the desktop computer operating system industry, which most estimates put at about 93%-95% of all personal computers.

Just like how IE was a much inferior browser to Netscape in the early days, and yet, people still used IE more because it came with their computer, WMA is an inferior technology, but it will be used regardless because of the simple fact that without even a single download, all new Windows computers have an encoder built into the system default media player: Windows Media Player. No matter how good they get AAC or MP3, WMA will never be “blown out of the water”. 

Posted by Sraphim on July 29, 2003 at 10:35 AM (PDT)

Hack for removing volume cap on European iPods

Only dumb losers shell out 500-600 Euros for a piece of crap player that you can’t even hear and that runs out of power in 4 hours!

Posted by Jo Jo Chintoh on July 29, 2003 at 10:10 AM (PDT)

Hack for removing volume cap on European iPods

Most people testify that Xplay gives distortion-free higher volume for EuroIpoders so why is this necessary ?

Posted by Olayphtangphtangphtangbiscuitbarrell on July 29, 2003 at 10:00 AM (PDT)

Hack for removing volume cap on European iPods

Think I’ll wait for a slightly less involved solution to present itself, hopefully someone can do a binary hack.  More volume would be nice tho!

Posted by bassman-x on July 29, 2003 at 9:46 AM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

once AAC+SBR is standardized it will blow everything out of the water.....using nero’s HE-AAC codec im able to get near cd quality with about 80bits/s bitrate..... it uses the same technology as MP3Pro.

Posted by lilmoonee on July 29, 2003 at 9:33 AM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

AAC never really was a good compression format anyway, and it was Apple that decided to hype it up, saying that it “rivaled CD quality” when clearly, it was nowhere close to CD quality sound.

MP3PRO can easily beat both the propietary formats AAC and WMA at the same bitrates hands down, and Ogg Vorbis has usually come out on top of both Apple’s and Microsoft’s format in most listening tests.

This just goes to prove that AAC and WMA really offer no advantages to the user, and were probably developed quickily with little intensive research into the field. 

Posted by Sraphim on July 29, 2003 at 9:01 AM (PDT)

ackNOWLEDGE Announces iSkin eXo for new iPods

Oooh! Did I miss it? The email went out already? DAMN!

Posted by Mark on July 29, 2003 at 8:54 AM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

His headphone review was wack.

Sony D66SL are probably the best headphones for portable device available right now. He didnt even shed light on them.

Unrealiable review imo.

Posted by Dude! on July 29, 2003 at 8:47 AM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

funny isnt it?

VBR has been proven by hours of testing to be of higher quality than CBR.

ABR is even higher quality than CBR. He’s eating up the media hype with AAC and running with it. The format is absolutely useless for Windows users. 50% of the iPod market are Windows users.

Posted by foo_foo on July 29, 2003 at 8:41 AM (PDT)

iPod sound quality and AAC encoding tests

again this is only an opinion, i have totally differenet views on this subject and i think this guy is very very harsh on mp3 and really buys what apple says, even though AAC is probably better its very unfair the way he dismisses mp3. 224 - 320kbps mp3 is indistinguishable from the original if you encode well with lame settings, and 160 - 192 kbps is definately acceptable for listening, AAC does well at lower bitrates but past 192 mp3 does just as well if not better

Posted by ti on July 29, 2003 at 8:33 AM (PDT)

MadsonLine Releases iPod Jogging Pack

I like the the incase belt much better.  It’s got a pocket to hold money or keys or ID.  It also has a slot to fit the headphones through which is very handy.  It’s great to use it while Mountain biking on the trails.  The neoprene is very comfortable and doesn’t scratch the iPod.  It’s slightly cheaper too.  http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/71306/wo/lA5Oa2Sccrgn2vz2RbZjbOYBpmb/6.4.0.5.10.11.1.13.0

Posted by James on July 29, 2003 at 8:08 AM (PDT)

Cringely: One Possible Future for a Music Business

I agree with SF, the whole concept is total nonsense, the whole point of a corporation is that the stockholders and the corporation are seperate legal entities, this is a fundamental concept on which they are based. Any first year law (or even finance)student would know straight away this is the case, any lawyer who thinks otherwise should not be practicing.
The author refers to mutual funds but similar to the GM example owning shares in a mutual fund does not mean you own the individual stocks owned by the fund

Posted by Damo on July 29, 2003 at 8:00 AM (PDT)

Zip your iPod, new case announced

Hello. I’ve checked all most of the stores in Hong Kong, they only have the exo iskin. None of them got the Maclear Zip. Is this because of the hole mistake? I want a Zip for G2 10 gb Ipod. Where can I get it? Thank you very much.

Posted by Edison on July 29, 2003 at 7:35 AM (PDT)

Cringely: One Possible Future for a Music Business

“I own 100 shares of GM. Do you think I can waltz into the factory, grab a new Corvette, and drive off with it because I own it?”

Maybe it’s worth a shot. Good luck.

Posted by Oxhead in Washington, D.C. on July 29, 2003 at 7:13 AM (PDT)

Zip your iPod, new case announced

We were informed of the problem and we made a mistake. The hole is on the wrong side for the 30gb and I am checking into it now. Thank you very much for informing us and I welcome you to have an exo iSkin case on the house. If you go to our site [url=http://www.iskinusa.com]http://www.iskinusa.com[/url] and check the color you like we will send it to you. 

ThinkDifferent may have to wait for us to send them the right cases, I am not sure if all the cases are the same. They are at no fault it all rests with us.

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Posted by Lajo Cymbalski on July 29, 2003 at 7:11 AM (PDT)

MadsonLine Releases iPod Jogging Pack

All,

Madsonline commonly designs or adapts intelligent designs from the states or abroad.

In this case, their iPod case is similiar to a design by inCase. 

Dig a little deeper, go to [url=http://www.higoto.com]http://www.higoto.com,[/url] and take a peek around. Unfortunately, the site is primarily German-language.

Looks like a single velcro strap over a neoprene pocket, bracketing your headphone cord and jack.

I could really use a design like this, with a ultra clip post and a plastic stiffener sewn in, or a more protective pocket. My Sooper Dooper iPod case holds up just well for me, but this belt could let me move it off my waist, like a bandolier.

Posted by matthew on July 29, 2003 at 6:50 AM (PDT)

Zip your iPod, new case announced

A few days ago I got my Maclear Zip for my 30GB iPod. Thinkdifferentstore.com included a 2nd one free due to the delay.

However BOTH are going back:
One of them has belt clip. The clip is on the WRONG SIDE of the case, meaning when I line the holes for the headphones and lock switch up the metal of the clip’s rivit would be right on the face of the iPod screen! Would scratch it to pieces.

The 2nd one did not come with the clip but is also backwards. There is a textured “ZIP” logo on the surface that is right on top of the scroll wheel, interrupting the smooth feel and touch.

Kinda sad two for two mis-manufactured.

Hopefully the replacements will be right because it looks like the Zip will do its job nicely.

qb

Posted by qb on July 29, 2003 at 6:14 AM (PDT)