Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Public Good

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  • Paul Campbell,

    Of course what is a PVR? it's something that rips streams based on meta-data ....

    In Sky's (or the new TVNZ digital broadcasts) case the meta-data is embedded in the same digital stream as the video (or sometimes for longer-term data on the stream next door), for Tivo the meta-data comes from a modem or the 'net ...

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Of course what is a PVR? it's something that rips streams based on meta-data ....

    Heh. And there's no Public Address reader who'd know better than you, Paul.

    In Sky's (or the new TVNZ digital broadcasts) case the meta-data is embedded in the same digital stream as the video (or sometimes for longer-term data on the stream next door), for Tivo the meta-data comes from a modem or the 'net ...

    Well clearly, they should all be shut down then ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    one of the great things about TVNZ's digital plans are that they will be open, unencrypted, broadcast using standard protocols - that means that anyone will be able to take that old PC that just wont hack it for Vista, pop down to Dave Smith (I swear that guy hasn't aged a day in 30 years) buy a digital TV card and drop a lean and mean MythTV/Linux distro on it - I bet someone will knock up a kiwi-specific liveCD so you can just try it out without any real technical experience.

    Something there you're really missing? it's open source - hack it in yourself (or get the 13yr old down the street to do it)

    (Or maybe we'll bring in some of the boxes I design for the US and sell them here - they're even better!)

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Yamis,

    Don't know if this has already been mentioned but has /will anybody asked Campbell Smith if he has ever dubbed a tape, burnt a cd or downloaded music from the internet without paying via kazaa, edonkey or whoever?

    And if so will he be going back and checking out who it was and how he can get them the money he reckons he must owe them.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    you know I didn't explain that well did I - the most important point - MythTV lets you turn your old PC into a PVR - a super digital VCR like "SkyTV"

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Paul Campbell,

    err I mean "MySky"

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Is the Campbell Smith who told a select committee last week that illicit downloading was killing his artists' careers and forcing them into day jobs ...

    OK, was I the only person who thought there were probably a lot of writers and actors out there who had to change their underwear once the hysterical laughter wore off? :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    But previous results are no guarantee of future performance. Nesian Mystik's sophomore album captured few hearts the way their first one did.

    And to be fair, I didn't particularly like Anika Moa's second album Stolen Hill, but you've got to have some respect for any musician who doesn't just clone their breakout hit until you want to jam a skewer in your ear.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Clarke,

    Ars Technica is covering the no-DRM-from-EMI on iTunes story - all the tracks are DRM free, encoded as 256KB AACs .... it almost inspires me to spend some money with the iTunes store.

    http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070402-emi-to-announced-drm-free-plans-tomorrow-reports.html

    Sales start in May, and prices go from US 99 cents -> $1.29.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 85 posts Report

  • Bevan Shortridge,

    Of possible interest:

    Music downloading discussion heats up (NZ Herald)

    http://tinyurl.com/28zq2s

    "Media commentator Russell Brown has hit out against RIANZ chief executive Campbell Smith and his assertion that digital downloading is killing the local music industry..."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 122 posts Report

  • Ben Austin,

    So yet another forums can now confirm that no one likes the record industry or their stand on copyright?

    Geez, I'm really glad I don't work in that industry, it must be a real downer when people ask where you work out of politeness (having worked in a mildly unpopular company I can only imagine how nasty it must be for a really really unpopular company)

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Of possible interest:

    Music downloading discussion heats up (NZ Herald)

    http://tinyurl.com/28zq2s

    "Media commentator Russell Brown has hit out against RIANZ chief executive Campbell Smith and his assertion that digital downloading is killing the local music industry..."

    Hmmm ... I could do without the "hit out" part, which sounds like I want to fight Campbell or something, especially with the two mugshots up the top. I like Campbell and I understand the position he's in; I just disagreed with what he said, and I thought it was a mistake to drag the artists on his management roster into it.

    Oh, I just noticed: a whole story based entirely on my blog post and no fscking link!?

    Some bugger at the Herald is buying me a drink.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Nobody Important,

    no fscking link!?

    So that's how we spell those words here? I wondered what the protocol was. On a lighter/more serious note (take your pick) ... as a kid I remember taping "Money Money Money" by ABBA off 1251ZM (me so old) on a Wednesday night at about 9pm if I remember rightly. It was the first play of the song, a 1ZM exclusive. By the following morning my sister and I had learnt all the words and let everyone in the playground know oh so nonchalantly that we had the new ABBA single. And we could sing the words to prove it.

    Clearly we were groundbreakers in pirate technology as ABBA's career subsequently went into decline.

    Altho' Bomber will no doubt blame Graeme Hill's/Flying Nuns ABBA tribute album instead ...

    expat • Since Mar 2007 • 319 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell,

    FWIW- there's a link from the Herald now- at the bottom of the page "Read Russell Brown's full critique at Public Address". Not that buying a drink or three isn't in order.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    FWIW- there's a link from the Herald now- at the bottom of the page "Read Russell Brown's full critique at Public Address". Not that buying a drink or three isn't in order.

    Heh.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    So that's how we spell those words here? I wondered what the protocol was.

    Not really. I personally use both versions ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • natasha griffiths,

    well said bro.
    Have you noticed how right on the comments in the Herald views have been? The public's not as silly as some people think.....

    Since Apr 2007 • 2 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    well said bro.
    Have you noticed how right on the comments in the Herald views have been? The public's not as silly as some people think.....

    Actually, I'm really quite struck by the liveliness and quality of the discussion here __and__there. People think about this stuff, clearly.

    Although the morons who sniped at Bic Runga need to get a life ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Ben Austin,

    So the next question is - do the politicians know that everyone outside of the publishing industry hates the amendments? Is there anyway of submitting this as evidence, or do we need to go old fashioned and get a poll made?

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    Although the morons who sniped at Bic Runga need to get a life ...

    There seemed to be more than a few people who were angry that these musicians had been able to live off their art, and felt that they should actually be doing a "proper job".

    As if being a professional musician in New Zealand doesn't involve hours of hard work.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report

  • merc,

    Knocking artists of any shape in our dear wee land is a time honoured tradition, McCahon and Baxter spring to mind from the past and the present; only the other day the DJ Course in Wellington got the rip.
    Labour may be held to account for alot of things, but they are art friendly and worker friendly. If you are a working artist with a job, believe me, you don't want a National Government.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    Is this where I can air a pet theory of mine? The benefit cuts and the student loan scheme were a 1-2 punch for New Zealand music from which it has a taken a long time to recover, as both the producers and the consumers of live performance were forced back to their day jobs and their study carrels.

    Just a thought.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Riddley Walker,

    a few people who were angry that these musicians had been able to live off their art, and felt that they should actually be doing a "proper job"

    yeah it's only a proper job when you're turning out untold pieces of consumer shite to make rich people richer

    AKL • Since Feb 2007 • 890 posts Report

  • Ben Austin,

    So the obvious question would be - was there a point pre benefit/loan w/e where there was an active live performance community in NZ?

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell,

    To put it another way, Ben- how many bands of the early/mid 80s didn't have members who at one stage or another- but often all together- were on the dole? Or the "bursary"? Not many, if any!

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

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