3 ms·

I agree with the substantive point that these DRM-enabled shenanigans are a bad thing but I think putting things this way is unproductive: > I proposed that al

I agree with the substantive point that these DRM-enabled shenanigans are a bad thing but I think putting things this way is unproductive: > I proposed that all Wired endorsements for DRM-encumbered products should come with this disclaimer: > > WARNING: THIS DEVICE’S FEATURES ARE SUBJECT TO REVOCATION WITHOUT NOTICE, ACCORDING TO TERMS SET OUT IN SECRET NEGOTIATIONS. YOUR INVESTMENT IS CONTINGENT ON THE GOODWILL OF THE WORLD’S MOST PARANOID, TECHNOPHOBIC ENTERTAINMENT EXECS. THIS DEVICE AND DEVICES LIKE IT ARE TYPICALLY USED TO CHARGE YOU FOR THINGS YOU USED TO GET FOR FREE — BE SURE TO FACTOR IN THE PRICE OF BUYING ALL YOUR MEDIA OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AT NO TIME IN HISTORY HAS ANY ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY GOTTEN A SWEET DEAL LIKE THIS FROM THE ELECTRONICS PEOPLE, BUT THIS TIME THEY’RE GETTING A TOTAL WALK. HERE, PUT THIS IN YOUR MOUTH, IT’LL MUFFLE YOUR WHIMPERS. Leaving it as ‘WARNING: THIS DEVICE’S FEATURES ARE SUBJECT TO REVOCATION WITHOUT NOTICE. YOU WILL RENT, NOT OWN, ANYTHING YOU PURCHASE FOR IT.’ would be honest. Ditto ‘enshittification,’ ditto particularly ‘most guillotineable executive,’ ditto ‘deserves to be staked out over and anthill and slathered in high-fructose corn syrup.’ These are not the words of a mature adult making a mature point: they are the words of a performance artist. One’s opponents are human beings too.

fifteen1506 3y ago
Childish? Yes. Understandable? Also yes. Don't forget defeating DRM for ethical purposes is a grey area. Maybe even illegal. Example: those trains in Poland [referred in the article]. I think what the company did by contracting the hardware hackers to investigate (by RE) what was going on was illegal, and what they did was illegal too. What if they hadn't? The company would have lost the support contract. The law is out of sync with morals and what's better for society. So, while not recommended, the tone is acceptable or, at least, understandable.
ozim 3y ago
I was thinking the same. But people are convinced that these CEO types or high ranking MBA employees don’t look down on customers or employees as people but as numbers in excel. So it is super hard to treat them as humans too.
mindslight 3y ago
If we're debating how to optimize that 'disclaimer', start with capitalizing it properly. All caps is HOSTILE YELLING and big blocks of it are generally meant to be skipped over. Second, don't think of it as a separate disclaimer - emphasize the relevant details right in the review itself! "The device has great battery life, tactile controls, and a responsive UI. But the main way of getting music on the device is a proprietary 'media store' that lets you rent access to albums for some unknown time. Loading your music collection as standard mp3 or flac files is currently possible, but due to security vulnerabilities in the client software this option may disappear at any time the manufacturer wants to force you into the more profitable option. The MSRP is $200 but the expected TCO of this device will be upwards of $1200 or more assuming you want to listen to a modest 50 albums."

fifteen1506 3y ago

Childish? Yes. Understandable? Also yes. Don't forget defeating DRM for ethical purposes is a grey area. Maybe even illegal. Example: those trains in Poland [referred in the article]. I think what the company did by contracting the hardware hackers to investigate (by RE) what was going on was illegal, and what they did was illegal too. What if they hadn't? The company would have lost the support contract. The law is out of sync with morals and what's better for society. So, while not recommended, the tone is acceptable or, at least, understandable.

ozim 3y ago

I was thinking the same. But people are convinced that these CEO types or high ranking MBA employees don’t look down on customers or employees as people but as numbers in excel. So it is super hard to treat them as humans too.

mindslight 3y ago

If we're debating how to optimize that 'disclaimer', start with capitalizing it properly. All caps is HOSTILE YELLING and big blocks of it are generally meant to be skipped over. Second, don't think of it as a separate disclaimer - emphasize the relevant details right in the review itself! "The device has great battery life, tactile controls, and a responsive UI. But the main way of getting music on the device is a proprietary 'media store' that lets you rent access to albums for some unknown time. Loading your music collection as standard mp3 or flac files is currently possible, but due to security vulnerabilities in the client software this option may disappear at any time the manufacturer wants to force you into the more profitable option. The MSRP is $200 but the expected TCO of this device will be upwards of $1200 or more assuming you want to listen to a modest 50 albums."