Well for the first time I just bought a download. I’ve never bought a download before because I like to get, you know, stuff for my money (yes, fancy boxes).
Anyway, what I didn’t know when I bought (the download-only) Glósóli was that I was not paying for an MP3, but a WMA file. Windows Media Player hasn’t worked on this computer for a long time — I’ve never been able to find out why. The file won’t play in iTunes because of DRM. It won’t play in my iRiver either, presumably because of DRM. It won’t even play in Winamp because I need to enter in a password, something which apparently only works on Windows Media Player.
Infact, the only place I can play it is on my brother’s computer, which isn’t very convenient for me. And I’ve only managed to hear the song once so far.
First impressions then. It sounds like a cross between Svefn-g-Englar and Smáskífa, with a beat added in. Then it gets very rocky towards the end (in a mainstream rock sort of way). Then there’s the obligatory Sigur Rós tinkling at the beginning and end. So I think it’s okay, but I really need to listen to it again before I can make up my mind.
The only way I can listen to it again (without intruding on my brother’s space) is to download it illegally. In a format that I can actually use.
Well done 7 Digital and Sigur Rós! Take some advice from Bleep.
We believe that most people like to be treated as customers and not potential criminals – DRM is easily circumvented and just puts obstacles in the way of enjoying music.
The strange thing is that they allow you to download it up to three times. But then they make you bend over backwards, tell you what you can and can’t play it on, and then make you type in your email address and password. I’d have liked to have been, you know, told about this or something before I paid for it. It was only 99p, so no major harm done, but it has made me pretty grumpy.
Update: Message board thread on this. You can’t play the file at all on a Mac (although fans have found out — too late — that it will be available on iTunes from tomorrow), or, of course, on an iPod (which is surely almost synonymous with music downloads). And even many people who do have Windows Media Player can’t play the file either. What an all-round mess-up.
Update: I’ve now got Glósóli on this computer. I did this simply by recording it onto the iRiver from my brother’s computer.
- I shouldn’t have needed to do that
- This shows how useless DRM is
That takes the piss! I’d download the whole album off Slsk in protest…
I know what you mean; DRM is a royal pain in the arse. I use Karma Downloads, Click Groove as much as possible. Good quality, DRM-free downloads.
DRM is a joke. You can just record the songs onto CD and rip it back off. It’s a panic measure by record companies.
Over zealous copy protection will bit music companies in the rear. The internet makes the availability of pirate software, music and video easy. The problem is differentiating between people who are downloading because they cannot get it any other way (DRM for example) and those who are stealing.
[…] A quick word about the download. This is only the second time I’ve paid for a download. The first time, you may recall, I had a bit of trouble. I had trouble this time aswell. I was a bit worried at first, like I’m jinxed with downloads. Luckily just adding ‘.mp3′ to the end of the filename worked. Phew. It’s like using a Mac again! […]
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[…] I should have seen this coming mind you. I’ve not always had the best luck when purchasing Sigur Rós music. When I first bought Ágætis Byrjun it came without a booklet and I had to get it exchanged. My copy of the Vaka EP wouldn’t play on the computer. Then there was the more recent problem with Glósóli. […]