Jun 2009: all entries
   Copy-protected DVDs
   Guilty dogs
   Steve Jobs 2005 Commencement Speech

Copy-protected DVDs
more from blah
Jun 13, 09

What's up with film studios deliberately crippling DVDs?

While trying to create my own iPhone version of WALL-E, I've discovered that Disney crippled it with ARccOS. I own a fully-legal copy of the movie (3-disc set, no less), but due to ARccOS copy-protection b.s., I had to jump through several hoops to get the full-length movie onto my computer. I finally did it, and I hope others do it, too.

I'm not file-sharing or doing anything illegal, just want it on my iPhone. They do include a "digital copy" that will supposedly allow me to put the WALL-E movie on my computer, but it's just more copy-protected wankiness, has an access code, limitations, etc.

This really only serves to annoy paying customers, and does nothing to discourage thieves/pirates. I mean come on, all you need to know is which track to rip (30, in the case of WALL-E), and whether to time-shift the video (38 to 40 frames, possibly none at all depending on who you ask). Most 12-year-olds probably figured that out, and then the rest of the low-tech customers are just mad that they can't put the movie onto their kids computer. Nice going.

Someone pointed out in the forums that it's easier to download an illegal, pirated copy than it is to create your own backup copy from your own legal DVD. I think they're probably right. Wake up, Disney.

Guilty dogs
more from blah
Jun 12, 09

They did a study where they sometimes tricked dog owners into thinking the dog had done something they shouldn't do when the dog had in fact done nothing wrong. Basically the dog's expressions had nothing to do with anything, the owners behavior and conclusions of guilt/innocence are really the only factors.


Can dogs really look 'guilty'?


Researchers concluded that any such "guilty look" is a response to human behaviour and has no relation with the dog's actions or sense of having broken any rules.

I've heard about this several times, but never seen it. They say it's very inspirational. At a brief 15 minutes, I can't imagine it's not worth watching. Jobs is usually a captivating speaker, even when talking about mundane stuff.

While looking for an audio copy, I found a video version instead. Available on iTunes, and free.