>An iPod the Size of the Internet: An Unexpected LEGAL Free Music/Media-Sharing Revolution!
In a move that guarantees unexpected results, it was recently leaked by AT&T executives that AT&T is going to require iPhone owners to subscribe to an unlimited digital information plan. Whoa… With unlimited wireless access to the Internet, you don’t actually need a copy of a song, television program, or movie on your iPhone, you can just stream, or download it in your web browser. The “unlimited” concept opens up not only the idea of sharing your music over the Internet through streaming, but it inspires over-the-net playback. The iPhone, combined with unlimited Internet access, immediately becomes a Video iPod with storage the size and vastness of the Internet!
For some time now there have been applications available that publish your iTunes library online allowing you to listen to your music while at work, or anywhere you have access to a web browser. For example, look at Musicast. Here’s an application (albeit unsupported) that delivers exactly what I’m describing; with Musicast, people who want to access their music while away simply need to run this application, and their music library will be published as a public web page. There have been other sharing applications, for both PC and Mac, and there will certainly be more. By leaving your computer on, these programs will allow your iPhone to easily access all of the songs in your music library instead of being limited to what will fit on the iPhone’s limited 4 or 8 GB internal memory.
This entire prospect of sharing music without actually transferring files is a revolution waiting to happen. Napster inspired music trading by offering an amazing list of available music to trade. People immediately fell in love with the idea of assembling their collections for free. The concept around Napster was illegal and changed the world. Now, thanks to music “sharing” and the iPhone’s unlimited access to the Internet, we are on the brink of a new revolution in Free Use.
Imagine an online database that would catalog and direct visitors to any song by any artist. Not unlike Napster, this database would publish the playback links without the files changing hands. Any piece of music in the world–at your fingertips, and free. To the music companies this must be a frightening prospect, but could this be considered trading? Would it be piracy?
According to our deep-pocketed friends at Microsoft, it isn’t. You technically aren’t obtaining a copy of the music, just listening to a streamed version. Microsoft, and their lawyers have come to the conclusion that sharing isn’t illegal when it’s limited. Their iPod competitor Zune allows you to share your music with friends for a limited time period. This isn’t limited to specific tracks that have been purchased with a sharing license, but any music you have on your player. Isn’t Microsoft actually providing a legitimate model that shows that “sharing” but not “keeping” is a legal idea. Thank you Microsoft and your lawyers for setting a precedent for legal sharing now.
When you consider the audio implications of this, you have to consider the video ones as well. However, instead of consumers sharing their television shows, the networks are already doing it for you. Why pay $1.99 to iTunes or another service when you can watch the show online for free? For example, ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox all offer many of their current shows online to view, and with fan-operated sharing sites such as http://www.tv-links.co.uk/, literally hundreds of shows, movies, anime, and documentaries are available for nothing more than the price of an internet connection (somewhat makes you wonder why you’re still paying for cable or satellite television).
When you consider the Internet aspects of the iPhone, matched with the unlimited data offerings of AT&T, the widescreen iPod is almost the least essential part of the iPhone. We are clearly on the brink of a media revolution–one that the record companies, film studios, and networks aren’t prepared for; free content for all… legal and completely accessible. The genie is out of the box, and now you’ll be able to take it with you in the palm of your hand.
While considering the amazing possibilities, why not enjoy one of your favorite shows now streamed live and for free on your computer:
Shows available online:
At http://www.myspace.com/fox you can currently watch (in hidef) the latest episodes of the following FOX series online:
24
Bones
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader
American Dad
The Loop
Drive
Prison Break
Standoff
Talk Show with Spike Feresten
Vanished
NBC at http://www.nbc.com goes one better by offering entire seasons of their shows (some, like for Heroes, are offered with exclusive online commentary from the cast) to watch, including:
30 Rock
Andy Barker, P.I.
The Black Donnellys
Friday Night Lights
Heroes
Identity
Las Vegas
Medium
Miss USA 2007
My Name is Earl
Passions
Raines
Studio 60
ABC at http://www.abc.com is offering:
According to Jim
The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman
Day Break
Desperate Housewives
Lost
Ugly Betty
Grey’s Anatomy
Brothers & Sisters
Dancing with the Stars
The Knights of Prosperity
National Bingo Night
October Road
Six Degrees
Traveler
Voicemail
What about Brian
CBS at http://www.cbs.com offers:
Armed & Famous
The Class
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Miami
CSI: NY
How I Met Your Mother
Jericho
The King of Queens
NCIS
The New Adventures of Old Christine
Numb3rs
The Papdits
Rules of Engagement
Shark
Survivor: Fiji
The Unit
…and for an amazing collection of classic and current television, visit http://www.tv-links.co.uk/.
All of this makes me wonder… why doesn’t the Apple-TV have a web browser? hummm…..
If you thought this was foolish, check these out: