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
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, ipods, Mobile Phones, Music, Providers, Videos
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: Downloading Legally, DVD Videos, ipods, Mobile Phones, Music, Videos
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
There have been many gimmicks over the year which is usually a precursor of album releases. Sweepstakes for free passes, advertising gimmicks and many more have all had their shares of success. In the drive to develop newer ways of delivering the talent of their brood, music companies have gone far and wide for some of the craziest ideas on the planet just to hype an album’s release. In one of the previous posts, an artist worked hand in hand with a leading cellular phone manufacturer to release a new album as an added bonus for purchasing a new phone. The new phone came with the song already in it for consumers to enjoy even as they are settling their bill.
Artists on the other hand who do not have much backing from big record companies have been trying to get their work the exposure they need, first through YouTube then through social networking sites which promote their music. But keeping competitive with all the thousands of artists in the world not to count the thousands more who are around locally, artists have been finding it hard to get resources to fund further projects. Some big names in the business have put up heir own web sites to do their own promotion simply through word of mouth and search engines. Search Engine Optimization allows them to get their fans to visit their sites which they keep hooked with previews and free music they can listen to as they are browsing thought the site. They can even watch MTV’s of their favorite songs right at the convenience of their PC’s. What better way is it to promote an album than to give one out, for free. Yep, this might be the start of a new trend as the British band Cold Play has decided to offer their first single for free download, free as in no fees no per song charges and taxes to pay.
The move may help them promote their music for through social networking sites, people share interests and other information including their favorite songs and bands. Free marketing as the word get’s out and they include the music within their pages, they unknowingly promote the album for the band and record company. Record companies are having to agree to some odd ways for their artists to get the exposure with them not having to shell out cash for the price of an arm and leg. so check the free download from the ColdPlay site so you can get your hands on the free song, no charges guaranteed.
Tags: Album Releases, Cold Play, Launching
Categories: Downloading Legally, Freeware, Mobile Phones, Music, Providers, Videos
In an unprecedented bummer (yesterday, today and tomorrow for sure) the software giant has released a statement that current users of their music and video entertainment service would have to purchase new registration keys for their downloaded music which was laden with DRM software. This same software tells de-activation servers if the computer and media that is being used is together as the download says it was or otherwise get turned-off preventing the darned stuff from playing at all. Like many users worldwide, people have a need for several copies of their video and audio where-ever they may be, Maybe due to lessons of the past when their hard drive crashed and took all of them with the disk (out the trash) or maybe because they just plain love the damned thing and want it to be available everywhere.
The Microsoft Corp has time and again gone through ups and downs and this would be hailed as one of the dumbest downer they have ever done. At first they delay the availability of XP SP3 by saying it’s still in the beta phase (though its been circulating in the P2P world as a download for quite sometime now) and that they are still monitoring for requests from their customers saying, “We are currently monitoring the need for the update from our users and as of now, we don’t see a need for it. If we do begin to see interest in the said update we will release it accordingly!” Many XP users were pissed at the thought, that the promised update for their XP’s which was promised last year took half a year for release then when the news people say it was ready they didn’t want to share it?! The update then mysteriously appears on the TechNet and other download sites for no apparent reason (Guess a good yelling for that employee or PR guy was ENOUGH REASON) maybe due top the tons of negative email they got when they said that.
Now they do it again by rewarding those who have been loyal to them by actually using the video and audio service by telling them we’re all of a suddenly puckering up our lips and saying no to multiple copies of your downloaded media and you have to pay for another activation key for all copies (they allowed the download of separate activation keys for all users who do get their songs from the site legally) costing them more money! Nice going guys, for during a time when everybody is way out on a limb with what little cash they had you’re asking for more? For me, I’ve never ever heard of the darned service, I know about Apple’s iTunes store (they’ve sold more than 4 billion tracks of music at less than a dollar)but never heard of their multimedia service. This may be nice for them so they add points to the, “Why you should hate Microsoft List”, which amounts to A LOT recently. I thought you guys had the best PR and Customer relations guys in the world money can buy? Guess brains were not part of the tons of money you pay PR people.
Tags: Bummer, Digital Music, Download service, Entertainment, Microsoft, Video
Categories: Downloading Legally, Music, Podcasts, Providers, Resources, Videos
The company has been trying to move into the entertainment theater for quite sometime and they have managed to flop at each and every try. Why, their Apple TV venture is still struggling to make a profit with many customers expressing their opinions with the system’s lack of competitive and interesting content. The company has been trying to push streaming video and other content through the system but the amount of acceptable content has failed way below their promised mark. Many media giants have expressed interest but are still holding back as they try to see what the futuristic TV system that is hooked up to the internet rather than to a cable system is faring out.
Even the company’s CEO Steve Jobs is calling their company’s venture into Apple TV a hobby rather than a major money earning venture as they have invested much into the project with little returns in terms of profit. The promise of distributing content for the iPhone and iPod’s series of multi-media players has indeed perked up the area but still, major profits remain to be gained.
Apple, though it is quite a median player in the PC and portable markets with their Mac’s and Mac Books is recognized by many in the technology business as one of the most performing companies in terms of stock per stock value which is worth around $15.4 billion dollars with $5 billion added in the past year alone according to Fortune. The company continues to reign supreme with their iPod’s and iPhone which are some of the most wanted gizmos and gadgets on earth as far as multimedia is concerned. As more and more cheaper gadgets with similar capabilities come onto the market, the reign of the multimedia giant would be challenged a lot but not as much.
Tags: Apple TV, Flunking Expectations, iPhone, iPod
Categories: Downloading Legally, DVD Videos, ipods, Mobile Phones, Music, Providers, Videos
Ares is one of those P2p Download sites which offer free file sharing (music, videos and just about anything that comes in file form), and they are getting good at it with little hassle about piracy, copyrights and intellectual property rights. Why? well like Linux, it’s open sourced which means there is no big company or companies for these corporate watchdogs to pursue and file cases against. As with any P2P site, there is a manager program that handles the files you download and share over the net with other users which can de downloaded for free. The system like the internet is in constant change due to it’s open-sourced nature, users who manage to develop additions or improvements to the currently in use send them to other members of the community to have it tested and subsequently added to the program itself. Users get the latest upgraded versions of the system when hey get update notices from the site. The site and users all use a new and different protocol which they boast is quite hard to detect by firewalls and other intrusion prevention measures. Downloads are fast and it is very quick to connect to the service which has over 100 million titles available for download over their network. Files downloaded from the site are also void of any DRM protection which allows users to play them anywhere using any digital player.
Studies conducted by independent people have shown that downloading music over the internet is responsible for some increase in record sales for cd’s and DVD’s for they fuel the desire and user’s know that the best stuff can be availed only from off the shelf-purchases of music audio cd’s. Which contradicts the general opinion fueled by corporate watchdogs that it discourages sales.
Tags: Open-sourced, P2p-Filesharing
Categories: Applications, Downloading Legally, Freeware, Music, Resources, Videos
