5 ms·

> Apple's iTunes prices were low enough that it became simpler just to buy stuff legally than pirate it. I think this is why Spotify/Netflix are so successful.

by ar_lan 4y ago

> Apple's iTunes prices were low enough that it became simpler just to buy stuff legally than pirate it. I think this is why Spotify/Netflix are so successful. Streaming a good amount of content for a reasonable price is more convenient + less time wasted (+ less stress and moral implications) compared to pirating. I used to pirate music/videos all the time and the moment those services were available I stopped because it was just easier to use them. Good UX can trump many other factors.

jdmichal 4y ago
The iTunes being discussed here was not a streaming platform. It was a library management platform (2001) that also offered purchase and download of FairPlay DRM-laden music files (2003). Later it would offer DRM-free MP3 download for select music (2007) and eventually its entire catalog (2009).
- swores 4y ago
  Why be so quick to jump to "I can tell someone why they're wrong"? Taking the time to read their comment a second time might lead to the realisation that they clearly weren't commenting based on a perceived connection of 'streaming platforms', the connection was "business models which succeeded on account of offering a legal & convenient service cheap enough for people to choose it over their previous piracy". Maybe I've just done the exact same thing, perhaps I was wrong to read an attempted correction into your comment and you just thought you were adding some interesting additional information to the conversation. In which case my bad, and sorry. But I think unlikely you'd share that as random "fun fact" extra info rather than replying to a misunderstanding of the previous comment's point.
- ar_lan 4y ago
  > The iTunes being discussed here was not a streaming platform. I never said it was. The point was not a comparison of iTunes to streaming - but the proposed UX enhancement iTunes provided mapped a way that was even simpler than pirating per u/HarHarVeryFunny, which made it worth it at the time to switch from pirating in their mind. Streaming made this even easier in my opinion, and was the catalyst that prompted me to stop. Granted - when I was a teenager, I simply didn't have any money even for iTunes purchases - but when Spotify came around, I had just gotten my first job, and made the switch then.
HarHarVeryFunny 4y ago
I remember wanting to watch the HBO "Rome" TV series when I didn't have HBO, so therefore downloading it from usenet in some weird text format - had to combine multiple large downloaded chunks using some tool chain I forget (I think rar was involved). Now, that was painful. Nowadays I'll happily throw a few bucks to whatever streaming service to watch what I want on my Roku TV.
shaunsingh0207 4y ago
100%. I stopped pirating altogether for a few years because everything I needed was conveniently available, at a low price. I've told multiple people that if anime had a netflix equivalent with nice UX, I would happily pay for it. Sadly now I feel like the UX and recommendation system of netflix/disney/hulu/etc. is genuinely worse than just pirating. I still pay for spotify though, its feature full, fairly cheap, and delivers all the songs in the world into my pocket
- ar_lan 4y ago
  Yeah - the streaming fragmentation really does feel like it's being brought back full circle. I think I'm in the minority of binging a show only when it's completed, and only ever subscribing for a service for a month-at-a-time. Although, I do keep Disney+ for my child, and Peacock because I still watch the Office a lot.
- throwawayx134ax 4y ago
  Crunchyroll?
  - oyashirochama 4y ago
    One of the original anime pirate sites.
  - shaunsingh0207 4y ago
    I tried it for a while, it didn't seem to have all the shows I wanted and the UX was worse than quite a few of the anime piracy sites. Of course, anime is a bit of an oddball when it comes to piracy sites, the lack of legal enforcement combined with (from what I've noticed) that a disproportionate part of the audience are developers means there are some really good sites out there.
- 0x138d5 4y ago
  >delivers all the songs in the world If only it were so.
  - 4y ago
boppo1 4y ago
The quote on this at the time was: Piracy is free. How do we beat 'Free'? 'Easy'.
- a_e_k 4y ago
  How much is your time worth? Low cost but easy may still come out cheaper than "free" if you place sufficient value on your time.

by ar_lan 4y ago

jdmichal 4y ago

The iTunes being discussed here was not a streaming platform. It was a library management platform (2001) that also offered purchase and download of FairPlay DRM-laden music files (2003). Later it would offer DRM-free MP3 download for select music (2007) and eventually its entire catalog (2009).

swores 4y ago
Why be so quick to jump to "I can tell someone why they're wrong"? Taking the time to read their comment a second time might lead to the realisation that they clearly weren't commenting based on a perceived connection of 'streaming platforms', the connection was "business models which succeeded on account of offering a legal & convenient service cheap enough for people to choose it over their previous piracy". Maybe I've just done the exact same thing, perhaps I was wrong to read an attempted correction into your comment and you just thought you were adding some interesting additional information to the conversation. In which case my bad, and sorry. But I think unlikely you'd share that as random "fun fact" extra info rather than replying to a misunderstanding of the previous comment's point.
ar_lan 4y ago
> The iTunes being discussed here was not a streaming platform. I never said it was. The point was not a comparison of iTunes to streaming - but the proposed UX enhancement iTunes provided mapped a way that was even simpler than pirating per u/HarHarVeryFunny, which made it worth it at the time to switch from pirating in their mind. Streaming made this even easier in my opinion, and was the catalyst that prompted me to stop. Granted - when I was a teenager, I simply didn't have any money even for iTunes purchases - but when Spotify came around, I had just gotten my first job, and made the switch then.

HarHarVeryFunny 4y ago

I remember wanting to watch the HBO "Rome" TV series when I didn't have HBO, so therefore downloading it from usenet in some weird text format - had to combine multiple large downloaded chunks using some tool chain I forget (I think rar was involved). Now, that was painful. Nowadays I'll happily throw a few bucks to whatever streaming service to watch what I want on my Roku TV.

shaunsingh0207 4y ago

100%. I stopped pirating altogether for a few years because everything I needed was conveniently available, at a low price. I've told multiple people that if anime had a netflix equivalent with nice UX, I would happily pay for it. Sadly now I feel like the UX and recommendation system of netflix/disney/hulu/etc. is genuinely worse than just pirating. I still pay for spotify though, its feature full, fairly cheap, and delivers all the songs in the world into my pocket

ar_lan 4y ago
Yeah - the streaming fragmentation really does feel like it's being brought back full circle. I think I'm in the minority of binging a show only when it's completed, and only ever subscribing for a service for a month-at-a-time. Although, I do keep Disney+ for my child, and Peacock because I still watch the Office a lot.
throwawayx134ax 4y ago
Crunchyroll?
- oyashirochama 4y ago
  One of the original anime pirate sites.
- shaunsingh0207 4y ago
  I tried it for a while, it didn't seem to have all the shows I wanted and the UX was worse than quite a few of the anime piracy sites. Of course, anime is a bit of an oddball when it comes to piracy sites, the lack of legal enforcement combined with (from what I've noticed) that a disproportionate part of the audience are developers means there are some really good sites out there.
0x138d5 4y ago
>delivers all the songs in the world If only it were so.
- 4y ago

boppo1 4y ago

The quote on this at the time was: Piracy is free. How do we beat 'Free'? 'Easy'.

a_e_k 4y ago
How much is your time worth? Low cost but easy may still come out cheaper than "free" if you place sufficient value on your time.