News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

August 31, 2007

itunes_store

Sony Connect, we hardly knew ya (and we were okay with that)

Posted Aug. 31, ’07, 8:25 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | iTunes » iTunes Store

Sony ConnectDear Sony,
There was a time when you were the articulatio genu of the proverbial Apis mellifera, but, well, you couldn’t keep trading on the Walkman forever. The world moved on to a digital age, and you got left behind. It’s understandable. Your multitude of attempts to capitalize on the burgeoning market of digital music players failed repeatedly, and the Sony Connect store was just embarrassing. Which you’ve thankfully finally realized.

People often take Apple to task for what they perceive a closed system, but if there’s anybody who was truly guilty of this offense, it’s Sony. MemoryStick, MiniDisc, ATRAC. Seriously: ATRAC? While the rest of the world was enjoying the freedom of MP3, you decided it would be a good time to launch players that only worked with your own crazy little format? People criticize Apple’s use of AAC all the time, but those people are usually missing two key points: 1) the iPod plays MP3 alongside AAC just fine and 2) AAC is actually an open format.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Digital Rights Management of the Connect store wove a positively spiderlike web of confusion. Here’s an excerpt from the Wikipedia article:

Music sold at Sony CONNECT may be downloaded on up to 5 PC’s that are authorized at any given time All music purchased may be re-downloaded at any given time.
All music, with the exception of Warner Music Group, allow Sony device exportation an UNLIMITED number of times.
Music purchased from Warner Music Group may only be exported 3 times to Minidisc & Memory Stick.
All music, with the exception of Universal Music Group, may be burned to ATRAC CD’s ONLY 5 times.
Music purchased from Universal Music Group may NOT be burned to an ATRAC CD.
All music from Sony CONNECT may be burned into Redbook format 7 Playlist Times.
All Music exported to Sony Network Walkmans that are authorized (meaning only flash & HDD based players) with CONNECT can be exported an UNLIMITED number of times. Meaning Warner Music Group content can be exported an unlimited number of times on these devices without using your 3 export rights.
Memory Sticks & Minidisc’s are not authorizable, thus utilize your 3 Warner Music Group export rights.
Seriously, who wants to deal with trying to figure out what label your music comes from?

So I’m not sad that you’ve killed off Connect, Sony. Or even that you’ve replaced it with Windows Media support on your music players. It was really only a matter of time. And perhaps you’ll take this as a lesson of this simple fact: you don’t need to compete in every market.

So good luck to you in your future endeavors, Sony. Perhaps we shall one day meet again on the bumpy road to love. Or not.

Cheerio,
Dan


Leave a comment

 



Visit other IDG sites: