MP3 tool pulls satellite radio into piracy fight

[WorknMan]

http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-532...=zdfd.newsfeed

This article is in regards to the XMPCR, which is a $50 device you connect to your PC via USB port and allows you to beam XM satellite radio on your computer via the Line-In jack on your sound card.
So, rather than using the stock software that came with the device, developers have been creating replacement programs, like the extremely cool Xtreme PCR (which will soon be updated so you can control the PCR across a network with roaming profiles for favorite artists and such), which has been encouraged by XM.
Well, someone came along and create a shareware program called TimeTrax, which allows you to not only record songs and save them to your hard drive like Total Recorder, but to save songs individually as mp3 files complete with proper tag information. You can also use it to 'time shift' the music, just like it was a Tivo or whitebox.
Well, didn't take long (probably less than a week) before the TimeTrax author drew the ire of the corporate terrorists, who not only want to put this guy out of business, but also word is that they are going to discontinue selling the PCR, which is ironic because XM is about to release a non-PC receiver with similar time shifting features (albeit with much less control).
Anyway, I'm just posting this to say that if anybody has been thinking about getting one of these, better get one while they last I have used TimeTrax myself and can tell you that it works exactly as advertised.

[DigitalDaredevil]

Im curious about this device. Would you need to be an XM Subscriber also? I have not succumbed to satellite radio yet, but I would tend to lean to XM if this device and program are still available.

[DigitalDaredevil]

It appears that the XMPCR has been discontinued and now very hard to get. There are plenty on Ebay, but they are going for a pretty penny.
I guess I missed that boat.

[WorknMan]

Yup, you missed out ... I saw one bought on Ebay for $400! Anyway, they're going to start a streaming service in November, so now assuming you have broadband, you can subscribe and listen without the hardware requirements

[Shane R. Monroe]

I'm going to eventually discuss this on my show, so I don't want to discuss it in depth here.

However, its totally outrageous what's going on in the industry.

Its one thing to GIVE me something for FREE and put gobs of rules and regulation on it. But don't ASK ME TO PAY - then tell me that I can't REASONABLY do what I please with it.

As long as the VCR is a legal device to own and operate, as far as I'm concerned, these people don't have a case. I can record anything I want off cable TV (something I pay a monthly fee for) to VCR.

They scream that the quality is the difference and that taping to a VCR is okay, but to record from a digital stream should be illegal because you MIGHT DO SOMETHING BAD WITH IT. Let's be honest - quality makes NO difference. The popularity of CAM and TELESYNC movies being traded underground SHOWS that people don't care about quality as long as they can get the stuff.

The hypocrisy of the entertainment system is frightening and the end results are becoming even more so.

Of course, I think its ludicrous to pay $10 a month for a radio feed after expecting you to pay $150-$400 for a radio that does nothing else... so what do I know ...

[WorknMan]

Couple of comments on Shane's post ...

1. It must be pointed out that this issue has more to do with the RIAA than it does with XM. XM had to go through a mountain of legal battles with the FCC just so that the service could exist (and had their bandwidth cut in half during the process, thanks to the NAB. Heck, we could've been enjoying twice the amount of channels than we currently have.)
2. I mostly agree with you about the price of the radios, but I don't think that $50 was too much to ask

[Shane R. Monroe]

I've pounded this into the cement already, but I'll say it again in condensed form.

If you want my month EVERY MONTH, then GIVE me what I need to enjoy your content. I'll give it BACK when I'm done. (See Cable TV). Or charge me up front for the unit and give me the programming.

Please don't SELL me a device that is USELESS without your service (Tivo, XM, satellite TV, Everquest) and expect me to pay you for something that I'm totally dependant on you to provide content for.

I don't bitch about paying for cable TV. They GAVE me the box. If I decide to go from COX to QWEST, I can return the box - I'm not out $300.

I HATE the concept of no ownership. This goes along with paying for streaming music. I want a something TANGABLE - even if its just an MP3 that I can do with what I will. This isn't about PIRACY ... this is about OWNERSHIP of product.

Big companies do not want you owning ANYTHING. I'm just not in the market for that.

[WorknMan]

I don't bitch about paying for cable TV. They GAVE me the box. If I decide to go from COX to QWEST, I can return the box - I'm not out $300.

I guarantee you that you're paying for that box one way or the other. If they don't get the $$ up front, they will get it as part of the montly subscription fee. Just like cell phones - they're not going to just give you a $100+ phone without recouping that cash somehow. These devices ain't free to produce.

[Shane R. Monroe]

Then lie to me. Make it $11 a month and give me the hardware ON LOAN until I'm done with your service. I don't want to buy something that cannot be used without paying a monthly fee for it.

Its all about guarenteed revenue. When you get a 'free' cell phone, you're OBLIGATED for 2 years. So, they know for 24 months, they have guarenteed $60 a month coming in. The phone is paid for in the first month, the rest is GUARENTEED pipeline sales. That's what every company wants - a phat pipeline. What's great is - if the company goes under, you can actually TAKE that phone to another service provider and use it again. There is some value to that.

Tivo did the same thing ... $200 for a 'life time' subscription. That's almost 2 years of guarenteed capital .. UP FRONT none the less .. oh, and don't think there wasn't a HEALTHY profit on the box too. You can't tell me a PCB with some custom chips and a 20GB hard drive costs $400. Now when Tivo goes under, your $400 box and $200 "life time" subscription fees are useless.

Satellite TV and XM Radio ... SAME THING. You pay for hardware you pay for the privilage to use. If you step back and look at that sentance, it almost sounds INSANE. Imagine if this applied to OTHER things ... You buy a car with cash .. but have to send in $10 a month to Ford otherwise they disable your car remotely and you can't use it anymore ... WHAT???

They tried this with a PC ... get the PC for free with 3 years internet access. What they didn't tell you is that the computer didn't work anymore once you stopped the service (what's ... THAT all about). If memory serves, you couldn't even wipe the drive.

PAYING for something and then PAYING to use it is just crazy.

Satellite TV and XM Radio and even DVDs are experiments to see if people will pay over and over for something. And guess what? People will. So companies will CONTINUE to come up with models that require double, even TRIPLE payments (Tivo WITH a subscription AND forced advertising content - it happened in the UK).

People shouldn't be promoting this sort of thing; they should be condemning it.

[WorknMan]

What's great is - if the company goes under, you can actually TAKE that phone to another service provider and use it again. There is some value to that.

I was under the assumption that cell phones were tied to the particular provider that you bought it from, but maybe I'm wrong. My phone even has a 'Cingular' logo on it .. so if the phones are generic, what's up with that?

Then lie to me. Make it $11 a month and give me the hardware ON LOAN until I'm done with your service. I don't want to buy something that cannot be used without paying a monthly fee for it.

I think the only contention that you and I disagree on is how we should pay for the device, since we both know that they're going to charge us for it one way or the other - either up front as part of a monthly fee. If you have a service that requires the use of hardware, you can't produce that hardware and then give it away for free.
Normally, I would agree with you on the month-to-month payment thing, especially on the receivers that are $150+, but for $50, it wasn't a big deal to me. IMHO, the device (at least in its value to me personally) is worth more than what I paid for it. And even though I could now sell it on eBay for 6x the amount of what it costs me, I won't sell it.
Also, I don't think your car analogy really holds up. Except for the warranty, they don't really provide a service to you after they sell you the car ... not like it costs them anything for you to drive it around. XM has to pay for the satellite feeds plus pay the RIAA a buttload of money in order to provide the content.

I had a similar delima as you when I first thought about subscribing, and that was ... why pay for something that has commercials? I don't do it with cable, and wouldn't do it here either. But once they made the music channels commercial free, I was sold