You probably have heard about it by now. You might even have friends who have downloaded the video – if you have not already. Erin Andrew ring a bell?
ESPN reporter Erin Andrew is a familiar sight to many sports enthusiasts. And I am pretty sure that there is more than one guy out there who has had not so clean thoughts about her. After all, she is really attractive, isn’t she?
Anyway, a video of her had surfaced on the Internet. Yeah, a video of her walking around in a hotel room. In her birthday clothes. Naked. Nude.
Naturally, this video quickly spread, and people from all over the world have been downloading it. So why would I say don’t download it?
Lisa Bloom, legal analyst for CBS News says that downloading the video is actually illegal. Bloom says that “it’s like buying or selling stolen property. If you know you are buying something that was stolen… you could be liable criminally and civilly.”
One reason is that the video was taken without the consent of Erin Andrew, just as it was spread without her consent. In fact, the video was apparently taken through a peephole, which is in itself a crime.
While you might not be sued, arrested, or anything like that for downloading the video, you just never know what might happen. More so, you might get a different kind of surprise – like a Trojan or some other malware that can bring you more trouble than it’s worth.
Categories: Videos
YouTube has risen to the top of streaming video; this and the fact that anyone can make a video and publish it on YouTube. I am sure there are so many other reasons for YouTube’s success but I am sure that one of them is because people do NOT have to pay to use the service.
But what of this piece of news that has been making people go “really?” I heard from so many people from different places that YouTube is NOT going to be free anymore. YouTube is going to be a paid service. Oh no, it’s the end of the world!
Of course, the untrusting person in me just would not take these people’s words for the truth – I had to look it up myself and voila, I was right. They were all overreacting.
There is indeed truth to the news that YouTube will have a paid service but this is not the entirety. In fact, YouTube is currently only TESTING the paid service. The idea is for users to be able to download content in high resolution MP4 format for a fee. Part of this fee will go to the creator of the video. And since YouTube is part of Google now, you can pay for the downloads through Google Checkout.
Again, take note that this does NOT mean that you cannot watch videos for free anymore. It just means that if you want a copy for yourself, you have to pay for it. Fair enough, don’t you think?
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music, Paid Service, Site News, Videos
I hadn’t realized just how busy I had become until I heard people talking about watching the latest TV series the night before. Although I was – and am – aware of the shows that many people are talking about, I noticed one big difference. They watched the shows on primetime television while I watched them during the weekend.
All I can say is thank goodness for being able to download TV series. I may be an episode or two behind – I may even be a season behind! – but at least, I can still fit some TV in my crazy schedule.
Speaking of downloading TV shows, have you heard? NBC Direct has been relaunched. For those who are unsure as to what I am talking about, NBC Direct is the video download service of the station of the same name. This service has actually been around for years but has not really taken off due to one issue or another. Perhaps there are just other better services out there.
This time around, though, it seems that NBC has placed a lot of effort into the relaunch – the third, if I am not mistaken – of NBC Direct and it just might take off. The Download Squad cites two main reasons why this is so:
1. You can watch videos while you’re not connected to the internet
2. Videos are available in high definition
Indeed, being to watch videos offline after you have downloaded them is one of the most important things to many viewers. More so, with all the emphasis placed on high def, being able to watch shows in high def for free just tops all other services. Visit NBC Direct here.
Categories: Downloading Legally, TV Shows, Videos
The site is hailed as one of the fastest growing legal download sites on the internet to date which charges minimal fees. Imagine $35.00 for unlimited access to all the songs, TV shows and Movies of your choice through partnerships with media giants such as MSN Music, Napster, Yahoo Music, Real Rhapsody and Wal-Mart. The total amount of downloadable content is at 12 million and they continuously add to their inventory each day. The membership gives you access to the largest online collection of music, movies games and utilities all free for you to choose and get onto your desktop. The fee mostly goes to the maintenance and operations of the web site and the massive internet library collection. You get a free software which you can use to burn cd’s that you can play on your car stereo. There is also access for easy to follow guides or if your problems don’t end there, you can get in tough with live agents who are there all the time to answer all your questions and requests. They have a 30-day money back guarantee on their subscription.
There are many legal download sites available on the internet to date and these are taking over the previously dark area of P2P download sites. Problems associated with malware and other bugs that tend to wreak havoc from P2P sites have dissuaded many from them who have turned to legal music sites such as these. MyMusicInc, for some of the fastest and best paid legal downloads on the market and in the world.
Tags: DRM_Free_Music, Free_MP3_Music_Downloads, Free_Music_Downloads, Free_Music_for_your_Ipod
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music, Paid Service, Providers, Videos
One of the pioneers of the music file sharing business, they have been persecuted, shut down and mimicked by many and idolized by the myriad of music file sharing sites that have popped up during their brief legal wrangling, but guess what, they’re back! Napster is one of the very first sites where people got free MP3’s and other audio files free and fast during the hay days of the digital music revolution. They have gone legal with memberships and other legalities but they still have free downloads for the first few songs you do get from them. They have re-worked their looks and have begun to comply with the many laws and statutes they have been subjected to and they are still one of the heroes of the digital music world when it came to MP3’s. With offerings for free web music access and their new and ever popular Napster Mobile, they have continued to revolutionize the music file sharing industry. They even offer discounts for military personnel in hopes of doing their part for the war effort overseas where music is one of the few luxuries people in the military can share and enjoy whatever the battle scenario may be.
They have also added support to the many digital multimedia players that are now common stay in every household and carry several versions of songs encoded in the formats they support. They also have functionality for mobile phones through Napster Mobile where music in all formats that are supported by phone manufacturers are offered for download. They have added a new and revised legal terms of use of their web site and the music they share emphasizing on the point that music you get from them is only for personal use, after that you’re on your own in the legalities of all the stuff you get. Most music sites (even the most reputable and publicized ones) have inclusions that though you have obtained music legally thought their web sites, the way and manner in which you use these tracks are covered by laws that prohibits use for anything other than personal entertainment.
Registration is necessary and there is a free music library along with a streaming music system they offer to subscribers and members but the free stuff is mostly offered to clients and users in the US only. Most of their permanent download files come with DRM included in the encoding of the files that allows a maximum of use for up to 3 computers only. There is also a clause which states that transfers from the parent device (the one you used to get the music with) along a maximum of two other computers are allowed. Three multimedia devices can safely be loaded with the music that has been purchased though there is not much indication of how they manage the DRM software and the way it works if you happen to have exceeded the copy restrictions.
In order to control Piracy, they have restricted their services to the US and territories cutting off many of their previous followers from around the globe. The licensing terms restricts them to the said area preventing further clashes with legalities that had hounded them in the past.
Tags: Legal Download Sites, Napster, Paid-Legal-Downloads, Streaming Videos and Music
Categories: Downloading Legally, Mobile Phones, Music, Providers, Videos, ipods
For border security has benn granted the right to inspeact and check for the authenticity of all your digital files whether they be on your iPod or your laptop according to proposed border laws. Canada is beginning preparations into turning their borders not only to screen for illegal entrants to their respective countries but also as copyright checkpoints according to Yahoo Tech and many people are getting jittery of having border guards asking for all gadgets and gizmos to check for pirated content. The rules of engagement so to speak are still quite muddy but indications say that they have been authorized to destroy hardware should it be necessary if it is found to contain pirated stuff.
The move is quite unsettling for there is still no universal way of telling whether a digital file is authentic or not and that there have still been no published guidelines on how the searches are going to be made. Imagine a laptop that has hundreds if not thousands of audio files, how the hell can they check all those files for legality? The move is part of the aliance between the United States and the EU that resulted in the ACTA agreement. ACTA stands for Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement which grants border authorities to question the legality of digital files on any digital device. May it be a thumb drive, a cellular phone, iPod or laptop, border guards are to be granted the authority to request for them and do searches using a set of methods (which should be quick by the way or travellers might mutiny due to delays affecting tourism and trade). You don’t only run the risk of loosing your precious iPod you take anywhere you can even be fined. Canada is now currently doing random searches of laptops for pornographic materials and the new law/s should they be approved would expand their searching abilities a set further (by a mile).
Further deliberations on the necessary rules and regualtions of the said law is to be debated on the next G8 meeting where the proposed law is to be laid out, diced and spiced hopefully with the protection of privacy in mind for the travelling public.
Tags: ACTA, Anti-Piracy Laws, Canadian Border Checks, Piracy
Categories: DVD Videos, Downloading Legally, Mobile Phones, Music, Videos, ipods
In what has been called as the “Largest fake media file outbreak” in three years, nearly half a million people have fallen victim to a phony video or music track that has been packaged to look as an innocent MP3 file. Once the free track is downloaded, a required codec is prompted for and downloading it sends in tons of popups as the attached Trojan takes hold and kicks into action. This is as sample of how gullible people with little or no knowledge in computer security end up falling victims of such attacks that have files packaged as a legal format that is actually a malicious program in disguise. The article was posted in the BBC and the good news is that of the almost half a million infected people who have been victimized, only 10 percent actually installed the malware and ended-up with the pesky pop-up’s plaguing them as they try to get rid of all traces of the Trojan.
There is however an increasing problem with such types of attacks for they may encompass the wide variety of media files that are currently being used by people around the globe. Some of these files have been around from quite sometime such as MP3’s which have been one of the major reasons why digital music became a mainstay of music we enjoy today. They can be packaged as MP3’s, AVI’s or many other formats which do not have encoded security features included with the file. Updated Anti-virus software should deal with the problem easily but unprotected systems face a lot of annoying pop-up’s and other malware as the so-called coded that you download contains a variety of malware.
Tags: Fake Media, Malware, Trojans
Categories: Freeware, Music, Videos
With the iPhone set to get a new version the music industry is hoping that the move by Apple to boost their online music sales. Most music is copied from computers after they are purchased from online stores and only a small percentage is acquired from direct online downloads. The newer version of the Apple iPhone is packed with 3G capabilities which is going to give it a more power in terms of connection and browsing the internet. A large majority of iPhone owners, 75% have shown that they use their iPhones to listen to music as an MP3 player. Having the capability to use 3G services will allow access on the new iPhone allowing direct purchasing of songs and videos directly from online sites.
There is no definite or official announcement of when the product is set to be released but sources say it would be more likely to come in early June. Older iPhones do have built-in capabilities such as WiFi. WiFi does not offer the high speed connections needed for phone downloads and suffers from coverage limitations. The iPhone represents only around 1% of the total number of all mobiles in use and the release of the newer version is set to give the series a boost in terms of connectivity options. They also suffer from competition from Blackberries which they have countered with their offering compatibility to Windows applications. Smart phones and other mobile phones form the bulk of the communications hardware and these companies are after the same market, Verizon has been delayed in offering their music with their tie-up with Rhapsody due to their decision to offer the service to most of the available market, which simply translates to more cellular phones that can be supported and access their music sharing service.
Tags: 3G Capable iPod, Apple Inc, iPhone
Categories: Mobile Phones, Music, Providers, Videos
The site is hailed as a leader as a provider of free resources, music and videos by such reputable media organizations such as CNN, NBC, Cnet and AOL and is one of the most used sites for free music, videos and a whole lot more. The site asks for a small fee it says is used to pay for the salaries of their researchers who do the compiling of stuff from them such as reviews and summaries of current events (they have to get some cash out of the whole deal), kidding aside they are getting many positive reviews by users and many just keep coming back. The site offers all one could ask for in terms of multimedia and lots of other free stuff. The many DRM ruled sites have long since given up, and its about time for even the record labels have ceased investing and encoding their disks with DRM software which was rendered useless by music lovers like you and me.
MP3Downloadnet is a multimedia center that caters to all your multimedia needs, from videos, software, PSP downloads Mp3 and many more. So give them a check-see so you get to see what we mean and get your way onto your favorite movies and music. For music that’d totally free, check out the MP3DownloadNet, one of the best sources of free stuff on the web.
Tags: DRM Free Music, Free-Music-and-Videos, iPodSid
Categories: Music, Podcasts, Providers, Resources, Videos
The site, offers free and legal downloads for members and it has quite a collection of free downloads form a myriad of artists. From Country Music, Reggae, Smashing Pumpkins, Electronica and more music from around the globe, they have them all ready for download. They might not have the big names but they have some of the most promising artists along with their music videos which they also offer for free. They even feature MySpace music codes to go with your downloads along with band profiles and the likes. The site contains genre information, band profiles, events information (Schedules), other sources of free music and tips on how you can get your hands on your favorite tunes.
The people who make up the site say they’re just like anybody else who loves music, they’re mad about their tunes. And what better way than to spread the news so others can see and hear what you’re talking about. In today’s world of paid downloads this is truly a find. Just browsed around for sites and they just popped right out. Checked it out and there they were, all free and all legal. That’s the best part, for no threat of being hounded by the RIAA for downloading and copying illegal stuff a couple of years back (see previous post). There are a lot of sites out there that still offer some of the best free music but they are getting wiped out by commercial sites. Unlike college approved sites like Ruckus, they do not have much in terms of money gaining potential. Going P2P is getting harder too but they are still around for they just keep eluding the guys who are out to get them.
P2P has lost some of its shine due to problems with privacy and malware yet many still choose them as a source of all types of downloads. Governments have been stepping up measures to limit and even shut them down but these P2P sites still manage to keep one step ahead of them all the time.
Tags: all genres, Free-Downloads, Legal-Downloads
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music, Providers, Videos
