Buying Things

[DzM]

You know, I did swoon. This whole DRM thing is fascinating. Never did I think just stuff would be interesting, and in large part that's because no one has ever made it remotely comprehensible. It does, though, tend to enhance somewhat my ever-increasing despair with certain aspects of technology and people in general.

Are you willing to tell us any more about the "well-publicized situations:?

One example that springs to mind is the now defunct MSN music store from Microsoft. They (Microsoft) used a DRM mechanism called PlaysForSure to protect the media from this store. Then they released the Zune and switched to a new DRM mechanism. They continued to support the PlaysForSure key servers, but have announced that they will be switching the servers off in late Summer of 2008. Users that purchased music from the MSN store have to identify a computer to be permanently entitled to play the music (yes, a single computer, just one bad hard drive away losing its authorization, or one computer upgrade away from not being authorized), or lose access to the music they bought.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/23/micr ... ic-owners/

Another example is Sony's walking away from the ATRAC music format:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/30/so-l ... r-nothing/


Maybe "well publicized" should be qualified with "in nerd circles."

[Aine]

You know, I did swoon. This whole DRM thing is fascinating. Never did I think just stuff would be interesting, and in large part that's because no one has ever made it remotely comprehensible. It does, though, tend to enhance somewhat my ever-increasing despair with certain aspects of technology and people in general.

Are you willing to tell us any more about the "well-publicized situations:?

One example that springs to mind is the now defunct MSN music store from Microsoft. They (Microsoft) used a DRM mechanism called PlaysForSure to protect the media from this store. Then they released the Zune and switched to a new DRM mechanism. They continued to support the PlaysForSure key servers, but have announced that they will be switching the servers off in late Summer of 2008. Users that purchased music from the MSN store have to identify a computer to be permanently entitled to play the music (yes, a single computer, just one bad hard drive away losing its authorization, or one computer upgrade away from not being authorized), or lose access to the music they bought.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/23/micr ... ic-owners/

Another example is Sony's walking away from the ATRAC music format:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/30/so-l ... r-nothing/

Good grief--only makes us all love MIcrosoft all the more.

Maybe "well publicized" should be qualified with "in nerd circles."

Yes, perhaps.

[philipchevron]

I have a question. I'm sure it's covered in an FAQ but I think it still seemed ambiguous to me there.

I have bought some items over the past few weeks on Amazon, using the Medusa link so that a few coppers find their way into the Medusa kitty. However, I am unclear about one thing. Is there some sort of "territory" restriction on how Medusa benefits? What I mean is, does Medusa only benefit from items purchased on Amazon.com [as opposed to .co.uk or .ca etc] or does it still benefit if I purchase from Amazon UK, Amazon Japan etc etc?

[DzM]

I have bought some items over the past few weeks on Amazon, using the Medusa link so that a few coppers find their way into the Medusa kitty. However, I am unclear about one thing. Is there some sort of "territory" restriction on how Medusa benefits? What I mean is, does Medusa only benefit from items purchased on Amazon.com [as opposed to .co.uk or .ca etc] or does it still benefit if I purchase from Amazon UK, Amazon Japan etc etc?

When you follow a link from here to, say, Amazon UK, anything you place into your Amazon UK shopping basket for the next 24 hours sends a small tip our way. If you're going crazy with the shopping and go to Amazon UK, then want to get something from Amazon JP or Amazon DE, you should first return to Medusa and follow the appropriate link(s) to those other Amazon destinations. Jumping directly from Amazon UK to some other Amazon won't make us lose the tip for the UK purchases, but we'll get no credit for the purchase(s) from the other geos.


I'll be cleaning up the links, and making them easier to find, shortly.

[philipchevron]

I have bought some items over the past few weeks on Amazon, using the Medusa link so that a few coppers find their way into the Medusa kitty. However, I am unclear about one thing. Is there some sort of "territory" restriction on how Medusa benefits? What I mean is, does Medusa only benefit from items purchased on Amazon.com [as opposed to .co.uk or .ca etc] or does it still benefit if I purchase from Amazon UK, Amazon Japan etc etc?

When you follow a link from here to, say, Amazon UK, anything you place into your Amazon UK shopping basket for the next 24 hours sends a small tip our way. If you're going crazy with the shopping and go to Amazon UK, then want to get something from Amazon JP or Amazon DE, you should first return to Medusa and follow the appropriate link(s) to those other Amazon destinations. Jumping directly from Amazon UK to some other Amazon won't make us lose the tip for the UK purchases, but we'll get no credit for the purchase(s) from the other geos.


I'll be cleaning up the links, and making them easier to find, shortly.

Ok thanks, it's simpler than I thought.

[DzM]

One example that springs to mind is the now defunct MSN music store from Microsoft. They (Microsoft) used a DRM mechanism called PlaysForSure to protect the media from this store. Then they released the Zune and switched to a new DRM mechanism. They continued to support the PlaysForSure key servers, but have announced that they will be switching the servers off in late Summer of 2008. Users that purchased music from the MSN store have to identify a computer to be permanently entitled to play the music (yes, a single computer, just one bad hard drive away losing its authorization, or one computer upgrade away from not being authorized), or lose access to the music they bought.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/23/micr ... ic-owners/

Another example is Sony's walking away from the ATRAC music format:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/30/so-l ... r-nothing/

Incidentally, Yahoo! Music is going dark and taking their DRM keys with them too:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20 ... th-it.html

[DzM]

Bumped as a friendly reminder that as we move into the season of gross consumption ... err ... giving gifts from the heart, that your favorite listing raft gets a small tithing if you bonk on an Amazon link from this page before placing items in your cart. As long as one of these links is your starting point then whatever you buy in the next 24-hours throws a few pennies at keeping Medusa running.

Thanks!

[Clash Cadillac]

Bumped as a friendly reminder that as we move into the season of gross consumption ... err ... giving gifts from the heart, that your favorite listing raft gets a small tithing if you bonk on an Amazon link from this page before placing items in your cart. As long as one of these links is your starting point then whatever you buy in the next 24-hours throws a few pennies at keeping Medusa running.

Thanks!

Oh crap. I had forgotten about this while placing recent orders. Old age and all that....

[Christine]

As long as one of these links is your starting point then whatever you buy in the next 24-hours throws a few pennies at keeping Medusa running.

Was this only a temporary arrangement? When I feel the urge to consume, will it still work?

[MissWalshy]

Blimey. I never realised this thread existed. I never need an excuse for shopping. I actually badly need new a Mp3/4 player.

.. off I go.

[DzM]

As long as one of these links is your starting point then whatever you buy in the next 24-hours throws a few pennies at keeping Medusa running.

Was this only a temporary arrangement? When I feel the urge to consume, will it still work?

This is not temporary. Any time you feel the need to stimulate the economy via Amazon, bonking one of those links first will throw a few coins (or even a note or two) my way.

[Irishbookish]

OMG I so forgot about this during the year!! Shame...

[Behans Ghost]

Hello to all in MedusaLand! Im new to the forum, but have been lurking in the background for a long time lol! I was just wondering if anyone would be able to tell me where i could purchase on of the Pogue Mahone Whiskey t-shirts? I bought one at the kings hall Belfast gig, in 2006 i think, but this was stolen by an ex so im looking to replace it as it was a fave of mine! Any help from you good people would be greatly appreciated!

[philipchevron]

Hello to all in MedusaLand! Im new to the forum, but have been lurking in the background for a long time lol! I was just wondering if anyone would be able to tell me where i could purchase on of the Pogue Mahone Whiskey t-shirts? I bought one at the kings hall Belfast gig, in 2006 i think, but this was stolen by an ex so im looking to replace it as it was a fave of mine! Any help from you good people would be greatly appreciated!

Hi and welcome

We're currently reviewing our whole merchandising arrangement with a view to improving both the choices available at shows and the ongoing availability online. The Whiskey shirt may be revived for USA 2011.

[Behans Ghost]

Hi Mr C, thanks for your reply! I'll just have to keep a keen eye out for it, i can let her have the CD'S. DVD's etc but i draw the line at my Pogues merch lol!