CapnVan's Profile

Did you even bother to do any research prior to posting this? It's illegal to circumvent the copy-protection on DVDs under the DMCA. If Apple were to sell software that allowed you to rip your DVDs, they would be breaking the law in the U.S. Which you could have found out in thirty seconds.

"...all the talk of a possible iPhone from Apple was most likely the catalyst for Cisco’s Linksys division to unleash their VoIP dual-mode cordless phones with the name iPhone." "There is now some speculation that Google played a part in the agreement between the two companies, as Google is a major customer of Cisco’s products and Google CEO Dr. Eric Schmidt is on Apple’s board of directors." You know, if you don't know a damn thing about it, it's OK not to speculate.

OK, last point: "Apple is first a hardware company, and then a software and content vendor." This has never been true, nor is it likely to become true - Apple's philosophy has always been, as Jobs so famously put it, "We make the whole widget." The Apple philosophy has always been to create both the hardware and the software. Now they appear intent on controlling the means of content distribution and the hardware required to enjoy that content. If you haven't been able to figure that out yet, it might help to sit back and actually take a look at their corporate strategy. And no, concern for their consumers is not a matter of particular concern in that strategy.

"So, it’s a known and widely accepted fact that we all have some amount of music that’s either been “pirated” or imported from CDs." I don't even know what that means. Those two categories are so completely different that they don't deserve to be in the same sentence.

The publication of an open letter is a pretty straightforward step in the PR process for Apple. The EU's on the verge of declaring Fairlplay illegal, based in large part on pressure from consumer groups. The first step is a simple one: place the blame on someone else. Point out that the music companies forced them to use DRM. Deflect the public's attention with a plea to those same companies. Try to get the conversation moving in a different direction. "It's not Fairplay that's the problem, it's that we're forced to use any DRM at all.." Best of all, in the event that the music companies buy into the argument, the problem disappears. And if they don't, Apple can paint them as the greedy bad guy. "They went thatta way!"

With regard to #3: Aaron, do you recall Enron? Since that little scandal, corporations have had the threat of personal liability held over them. Not as many CFOs are willing to chance prison and repeated anal rape to certify false public reports. It would be reasonable to assume that the Q4 reports issued by Apple were, for all intents and purposes, accurate. If you doubt it, I'd encourage you to do the actual research rather than make potentially libelous statements. With regard to Boot Camp, why would it be a surprise? Beta software is supposed to be free. Apple doesn't give away any release software anymore. They are greedy. Otherwise, what's the point in profit?

*Hiccup* Sir! I am fhrom Masshachusetts, shir! And I abhor, the way you are; wait, where the hell am I again? I will say, I worked for EMK six years ago, and he looks pretty darn good for where he was twelve years ago, actually having to fight possible contender Mitt Romney for his "own" seat. And, by a large margin, I do mean physically. Vickie's been good for him. As for the networks, well, for goodness sake, they do have to fulfill some supposed reason for existence, after all.