DVD Jon beats Apple at advertising game
THE YOUNG BLOKE who enabled DVDs to be cracked has scored a direct hit on Apple's proprietary pomposity.
Jon Lech Johansen, or "DVD Jon", has put up a billboard advertisement for a product that manages media files for a variety of hardware devices including the Iphone. The advert is right in front of Apple's flagship store in the heart of downtown San Francisco, which Apple fanbois have to turn to face every time they pray to Steve Jobs.
In crisp white letters on a tastefully chic black background, the advert says, "The Cure for iPhone Envy." Below that, it says, "Your iTunes Library on any device. In seconds."
Jon formed a software outfit called Doubletwist, and according to TechCrunch, Apple's black shirts were unable to work out how he managed to advertise his company's software just a few feet from the smug shrine's entrance and directly beneath a giant Apple logo.
It wasn't exactly rocket science though, apparently. The advertising window space belongs to the Bay Area Rapid Tansit system, BART. It seems that Doubletwist simply got in touch with an advertising agency and leased the window.
When the news hit the magazines Apple reportedly threw a hissy fit and managed to get the advert taken down temporarily. However Jon recently tweeted that it will be back up soon. µ
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It's good to see that the offending advert was taken down.
The corporations certainly have good rights in Amerikka.
It's good to see that advert will be back soon. It is not an iPhone so Apple has no rights over that advert space.
as I recall the "drm" crack Jon uses isn't really a crack at all. The Itunes software has to be installed in order for the software to work. It actually uses Itunes to remove the DRM without changing anything else about the file.
I assume the software also does on the fly transcoding to whatever file format your other phones/mp3 payers use (mp3 being most common).
Apple probably complained to the company which owns the board that the software was illegal under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which it isn't, and they panicked.
It is great to see advertising that clearly points out the high priced proprietary software that Apple sells. As people learn more about computers and devices, companies like Apple will deservedly fall on their face. It is great that he put it right in front of their store.
"The Cure for iPhone Envy"
Not really, the only cure for iPhone Envy is "owning an iPhone". Playing music from iTunes is most definitely NOT what people envy about an iPhone owner.
It is the mere fact that they own an iPhone.
Apple tends to get their draws into a notch.
[lie]All hail the mighty Steve Jobs. [/lie]
"which Apple fanbois have to turn to face every time they pray to Steve Jobs"
though I like the article and think it's important to point out corporate bullying I think this article would be better without the petty swipes.
Apple's software is cheap, itunes is free, what high priced proprietary software do you speak of? Hardware maybe, but the software is some of the cheapest (compared to MS and Adobe, etc).
If you don't like "petty swipes", then go read PC Mag or CNET.
Would want to get small minds affected, no?
@petty swipe
Perhaps you are new to the Inq., but his highness, the Grand Poobah of Upper Butt Crack, el Jefe Nick, specializes in puerile swipes, the literary equivalent of wedgies, and just as mature.
@Aenslead
Nick already has a boyfriend, but could use a houseboy with benefits. I'm sure you, I mean Nick, would fit right in.
WAAAAA someone said something bad about Apple! WAAAAAAAAA
WAAAAAAA! Someone is making fun of Apple!!!! WAAAAAAA!
So DVD John has figured out a way to load iTunes on a Zune, transforming it into a phone, a camera, a GPS, and giving it the ability to run apps from the iTunes store? Good trick. Otherwise, the advert should have read "iPod Envy". (Which is still only cured by getting an iPod)
It's an interesting fact that most media capable phones can play music files of various formats... While the software in question can be used to load up a zune, it is pretty clear the advert is meant to get cell phone owners who would like to use iTunes music on their non-apple cell phone devices.
I wouldn't doubt they have plans for an ipodish version of the billboard.
drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's
and his hoar was prefect
If you were dumb enough to use itunes and *pay* for music (shock horror), then you don't deserve to be rescued by heros like DVD jon.
@bmcgee: I have a cell phone, it's not an iPhone. How much do I have to pay to get a phone with iTunes?
If the answer is, 'I need to but an iPhone', then iTunes for a phone isn't free. iTunes for a phone ends up being the most expensive nono-professional media software on the planet!
You have totally missed the point.