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My (sadly passed now) brother in law ran a convenience store in a small town that also rented out videos. The big difference between a video store and a stream

by bcrl 5y ago

My (sadly passed now) brother in law ran a convenience store in a small town that also rented out videos. The big difference between a video store and a streaming service is that the video store doesn't have its content clawed back by the content producer "just because they feel like it". Sure, they had to buy video cassettes or DVDs at a somewhat higher price than those available to consumers to compensate the content producer for the increased distribution usage, but that was fundamentally a one time cost for an otherwise perpetual license. And I have the same problem with Apple's streaming music service. Content I previously paid for has been revoked as no longer being available in my region. It sucks! I think there's a clear need for better consumer protection laws or copyright reform. Loss of the first sale doctrine has been a net negative for consumers in my opinion.

happymellon 5y ago
Wait, Apple music has removed music that you have paid for?
- bcrl 5y ago
  Yes, when I migrated from one phone to another when the screen died. The listing for several tracks is still in the library, but the listing is greyed out and tapping on them pops up a dialog box stating "This song is not currently available in your country or region." Apparently buying a track is not a perpetual license to listen to it. I've lost 67 tracks that I had bought previously.
  - aaaaaaaaata 5y ago
    These stories are why I'd never use a service like this until it reaches some maturity.
    - bcrl 5y ago
      It worked great until Apple decided that they wanted to be a streaming music provider a few years ago. I hate the new music app. Back when the iPod Touch was still a separate product, the music app was far better. Then an update broke all my playlists. The sad thing is that this kind of feature breakage of software is pretty much universal across the industry today. Unless one is using whatever seems to be the current new-shiny thing, you're a support burden that needs to be eliminated. Why don't developers accept that old features are still used by people? Maybe I'm just some stupid old kernel developer that places too much emphasis on not breaking other people's shit, as my values are certainly not reflected by most of the products I have to use every day (from websites to phones to user interfaces).

by bcrl 5y ago

happymellon 5y ago

Wait, Apple music has removed music that you have paid for?

bcrl 5y ago
Yes, when I migrated from one phone to another when the screen died. The listing for several tracks is still in the library, but the listing is greyed out and tapping on them pops up a dialog box stating "This song is not currently available in your country or region." Apparently buying a track is not a perpetual license to listen to it. I've lost 67 tracks that I had bought previously.
- aaaaaaaaata 5y ago
  These stories are why I'd never use a service like this until it reaches some maturity.
  - bcrl 5y ago
    It worked great until Apple decided that they wanted to be a streaming music provider a few years ago. I hate the new music app. Back when the iPod Touch was still a separate product, the music app was far better. Then an update broke all my playlists. The sad thing is that this kind of feature breakage of software is pretty much universal across the industry today. Unless one is using whatever seems to be the current new-shiny thing, you're a support burden that needs to be eliminated. Why don't developers accept that old features are still used by people? Maybe I'm just some stupid old kernel developer that places too much emphasis on not breaking other people's shit, as my values are certainly not reflected by most of the products I have to use every day (from websites to phones to user interfaces).