1,000 True Fans Blog#6

Derek Roy

August 13, 2009

1,000 True Fans

True fans someone that is loyal a die-hard would do anything to see you or what you have made or buys everything that has your name on it....thats what i call a true fan. These musical artists or movie stars that you have love for also have love for you buying the material because it making them a huge profit, and if you think about it their getting bigger. In the article it said a true fan will spend a $100 a year, and if you have a 1,000 fans its 100 grand a year. Some people do deserve profit if their actually good i mean they do make a ton of money but they go out day after day to give you what you love. In another aspect some music out their today is nor written or actually sung live and these people make tons of money just showing up. I don't know about you but that ticks me off a bit. But the reality is these artists or movie stars need the general public to like their material otherwise they wont make money so they depend on trying to make the best stuff possible. And a thousand fans is like filling a school full die-hards and the truth is its millions of fans. That's a lot of math.

True fans might not stay true fans forever simple reasons like i grew up with the kid in the band went to all their shows locally then they got signed by a label and bang now all of a sudden people like them. I had that happen to me with a few bands i listen to now their huge of course but one of band's singer's used to work at my local mall, and id see him around western mass in the most random places obviously at the time it was no biggie because you were local. But if you get out their and get known into the business they better your shot.

Of course we all know their will always be die-hard fans, and the music and movie scene will keep continuing to climb up their money ladder. But if you truly love whatever is being made then at least you know were your dumping your money!

Derek Roy

Blog #5

July 30,2009

Digital Rights Management

Digital Rights Management is a generic term that refers to access technologies that can be used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals to try to impose limitations on the usage of digital content and devices. Copyright laws clearly state if you make it copy right it because in a matter of days or even years someone can steal that idea but nothing can be done because of you not copyrighting. For music laws you cannot reproduce the music or lyrics, you cannot distribute the music or lyrics for free either for no-profit, or a profit, you also cannot perform the music or lyrics in public, cannot play a recording of the music or lyrics in public even if you own the cd. Recently a student was charged with downloading songs ,and sharing them for free via the Kazaa file sharing network . The case was similar to a trial last month of a women was ordered to pay her 1.92 million when she was guilty of infringement. Which she only downloaded 24 songs so that even out to be 80,000 per song to equal her 1.92 million she owes. Reminds me of The Pirate Bay Trial awhile back where the swedish court gave the co-founders a year in jail and were fined a large amount of money. According to this site the "customer is always wrong" itunes states "own it forever and a day" yes you might of bought all your music, movies off itunes but by law apple still owns it.

I mean copyright is a good thing i don't know if you agree but if i were making music, and i would defiantly copyright i wouldn't want people to find my music go out and play my songs, or actual music, and have them get huge when i was the one who wrote it to begin with. There's no what if i did do it etc. once you make something that you want to be yours you copyright it same goes for photographs as well. You'll need to fill out proper forms send to the copyright office, and also everything that your going to copyright needs to be sent as well.

Microsoft has decided that they are done supporting MSN music, and will be turning off the MSN music license servers by the end of the summer. All the people that have purchased music from the company thought they would never be faced with such an outcome after all they did pay for it. They will sending out license keys which will allow users to go in and retrieve the songs they bought you'll need a key for each of the songs. I think this is unfair to the customers to go in themselves and do ll this work what if you bought thousands of songs? We all know that that's going to take awhile. In my opinion they have all the customers information and they should of mailed them a check for how much money they invested in their product. Someone just got lazy. After so many complains by its customers they have decided that extend that deadline of what was August 31,2008 now they have until 2011 to make a determination.

This is not the only case of something like this Sony abandonment ATRAC music format caused the same problem, with paying customers forced to burn and re-rip music in order for them to save it. Sony said it would "phase out operations of its struggling connect online store, which sold songs in the company's ATRAC format" . The new walkman's will ship with Microsoft's windows media player 11 so it can play mp3 and ACC audio formats.

So in conclusion copyrighting is a very important thing that could make or break you if you don't act upon it. As goes for DRM check into some things and or reviews on what you using to get music, and to see if this thing will be around a long time so you don't have the same problem like Sony, MSN, Google. But keep in mind even though you bought it they still own it.

Also at this time Google refunded purchases of DRM-laden videos that were bought in the Google video store when that decided to shut down.

Blog #4

Derek Roy

Blog # 4

The Long Tail

Written by Chris Anderson is basically about why it’s important to have a small business. One thing comes to mind customer satisfaction if your running a small business or running you own business is that you can sit down with the client, and work with them through whatever you might be doing. Also the client can get a hold of you around the clock without having to go through other people. I hope some day I can run a small business that is very successful.

There is a lot to keeping a business up, and running you obviously have to attract clients I found some tips to help start off the business process. First off you need to save as much money as possible before staring just in case it doesn’t take off. Next you need to start small don't go out, and buy this huge place right off the bat. Understand how, and if you will make a profit, and keep that competitive edge. Lastly and most important pay you bills and taxes on time. This means have a good game plan in the article it said "an average movie theater will not show a film unless it can attract 1,500 people over a two week run". It makes sense why would you want to not make money, and not have money for rent, supplies, etc. so you need to know that you will make the money. Also stated there's not enough shelf space or movie screens to have everything that's new out their they business's only want stuff that will be sold. Itunes as stated is a good example of having all products at all times as we all know you can sit from your house purchase movies, music, books, games with just a click to download. No shipping fees you pay of the item you want, and it yours within a minute. Apple is a huge business but they do smart business who wouldn't like all this new, and old content right there to buy with no hassles? Apple just knows how to win over its customers, and I'm one of them i will never use anything other computer than a Mac, and of course i won use anything but Itunes for my personal needs.

But stores, and online shopping have pros and cons if your going to drive to the mall or store to purchase it your going to spend the money on that. and your now paying for gas or public transpiration to get there. Online shopping you obviously save money on that but your now going to have to pay for shipping. Thats what Itunes is such a great tool to have. But of course not all needs are on Itunes, just entertainment needs.

Before starting your business make sure you have the resources to make it a success using deals, offers, and promotion to start it off, and if customers are satisfied they will always come back to you before trying anyone else. Thats why companies are so huge today they know how to sell.

Blog Assignment # 3

Iran Conflict

Recently it was Iran’s tenth Presidential election, which was held on June 12, just like our election it’s elected by the highest popular vote. A huge rally even before the election broke out into the streets of Iraq. There have been several cases of violence killing at least 29 people, and two Marines. In one ambush they waylaid a minibus carrying Iraq recruits they detonated the bombs, and gun downed police, and Iraqis working for the U.S Military. They attacked started to settle down when American and Iraq forces were using sweeping security measures to protect the voters.

Another act of violence that i had saw on the news this past Sunday was the an Iranian girl named Neda Agha Soltan had been shot, it was captured on amateur video in less than 48 hours this was spread around the world. Popular on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and of course news websites. She was shot by Basij Militiaman she was obviously killed during the protest on June 20th. The video of her death is very shocking they show her collapsing, losing conciseness then dying. Its said that her death has resounded worldwide, and become a symbol of the crack down by Iranian authorities against demonstrations over President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed on the June 12th re-election. Its pretty sad that in huge rallies like this someone always dies its a shame really.

On June 24th 2005 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president of Iran his presidential run was a huge one he got 17,046,441 out of a possible 27,536,069 keep in mind that this was the ninth Iran Presidential election, and obviously this year he was re-elected. Mahmoud was the first non-cleric president to lead Iraq in 24 years . When Bush was still in office he stated that presidential election in Iraq to keep the power in the hands of rulers who suppress liberty at home, and spread terror abroad according to a US State Department official, the Iranian election fell very, very short of minimum democratic standards.

Obama had things to say about the election, and Iran shot back, and called him timid he was quoted saying “Only I’m the president of the United States.” Basically what he was trying to do is say that the violence needs to stop no matter where its happening honestly i don't blame him because its always the innocent that gets hurt, and or killed over these kind of things. But violence is happening everywhere everyday its scary that some youth cant even go outside, and play or whatever because there parents fear they will be killed due to gangs etc. so having their neighborhood be not so safe they still want to give their child a great life but live n fear at the same time. Even schools now a days are gone downhill back home where i live a couple years ago a teacher was stabbed, and killed because he told a student to take off his hood like are you kidding me. In recent news a 11 year old boy was being bullied at school, and it got to the point where he hung himself to start off no kid should know how to kill themselves, and defiantly not at 11 years old. The school didn't really take action but to have the kid and the bullies sit together at lunch to try, and be friends now its to late to even save him. Just the violence in this country baffles me the watching the news its expected that the main stories are someone murdered, robberies etc. It just sucks that the worlds has come to violence.

Iran's conflict is still on the rise, and its quoted as a "very brutal outcome" . i just hope they have enough people over their to control these crowds, and get the peace back their so no more innocent people are killed.

Assignment #2

Derek Roy

June 18, 2009

Blog # 2

Piracy, and Online Distribution

Online Piracy in other words online distribution when I read this article it immediately reminded me of when Lars Ulrich sued Napster for a ton of money when other people were downloading Metallica’s music over the web. I myself wouldn’t have been caught doing that why you might ask its because I prefer Megadeth so thank you guys of Metallica for kicking out Dave so he could go on to create a better sounding band than you! But that’s beside the point. Online shipping has become a very popular, and very easy way to do things in this day and age. Aside from getting books, CD’s, movies etc. like say ordering something really large such as a new refrigerator id defiantly rather have that bought online, and delivered to my house without the hassle of going to the store people are paid to do these jobs might as well give them the work.

Bit Torrents have become really popular if you don’t know what a bit torrent is its basically a way to share large files online. Thepiratebay.org is probably the most popular site to download these files. All the media on the site or any other torrent site is free. Like to the article on torrent sites you can get anything from movies, books, games, software, music etc. So this is all at your finger tips for free you can get the latest material without getting up getting into the car and spending money on what is right in front of you. What would you do? Of course like most sites they do have terms of use you cant be downloading all these gigs of stuff burning the material onto CD’s and selling it for your own profit when you didn’t even purchase it or develop it that’s very illegal yet people do it. From living in Springfield most of my life I knew all the kids on the streets selling this material for like ten bucks, and they obviously ripped it offline it like some underground business it seems like. As we all know you can get some good time for that offense. If you’re going to download torrents even though its legal keep it to yourself. Just define your limits, and know what you’re getting into.

Sites like Ebay or Amazon will have something that’s the new hot item out at that times, and sell it for cheaper again these sites are not illegal its just getting a deal for items. A lot of people use these sites like come one computer comes with those sites already in the toolbar so it’s just a click away. I myself don’t use those sites to often mostly if I’m in a jam for like concert tickets or whatever the case maybe I’ll occasionally go on just to see if there is anything good sometimes there is sometime’s there’s not but what are you gong to do the seller needs to get a hold of these items before new stuff gets put on the sites. As an anonymous person i found out there stated "Piracy is a tax on success". This person did make a good point if there are millions of copies made of something you know a million are sold. People make copies of movies etc, and then never use them or watch them. Just because you downloaded something doesn't mean your ever going to use it. Does this all of a sudden mean that movies that were in theaters at one point should be taking off the air because its free? These companies making the films make so much money off the box-office in opening week, and some stars will then flip when they see their face on TV, and no ones paying for it. Just like Lars Ulrich made the huge deal with Napster like your not rich already geez. He was quoted saying this....

I’m not saying I fully understand it. I’ve never said that. I don’t believe that I need to sit down and use Napster as a tool in order to fight for what is my right.

To me he's made a ton of money off being Metallica's drummer like your music is out there, and its because of you being so popular its always going to be there for people to get for free. Once 2000 hit music was all over the internet to download. For example Limewire you can buy it obviously tons of people know about this provider, and guess what you can download all you want with it. But yet i found that he has downloaded full albums off the internet. He was quoted with this admitted in a recent interview that he has also used the Internet to obtain a full album's worth of music without paying for it. "I sat there myself and downloaded [METALLICA's latest CD] 'Death Magnetic' [illegally] from the Internet just to try it," he told Eddie Trunk of VH1 Classic's series "That Metal Show". "I was like, 'Wow, this is how it works.'

Now i feel like him making a HUGE deal of this was for what him to eventually go download. So just be careful on what you’re actually doing out on the web, and mostly know what you’re doing, and or getting yourself into before you do them. I’m sure you don’t want to have to act like Lars, and cause a whole world wide event!

Assignment # 1

Derek Roy _6/11/2009

Facebook

 

            Originally called The Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg would get the credit for making this popular social networking website. While at Harvard Mark started “The Facebook” in his spare time it was all he was doing. Eventually Mark decided he wanted to build this social networking site full time. So he dropped out of Harvard an IVY league school to create something he had no idea if it would launch or not. Lucky in his case it’s the second largest social networking site on the Internet behind its rival “Myspace”. To be honest I feel like Facebook should be the number one most used social networking site out there. Just with the easy to use features not really any bugs or dreaded “pop-ups”. Myspace in my opinion wont be the most used in a year or so. 70 percent of Facebook users are not American, so therefore that’s why its not the most popular here in the United States.

            As to the society use I must agree that Facebook is the safest to use for social networking. It has great safety features, and you control what people see on your page including everything you might have on there. I think that was a really good idea, and more family members have joined Facebook just from personal family members joining I know those facts are true. I’m sure I’m not the only one that has seen these changes

            Personally I use Facebook a lot more than Myspace I still have a Myspace, but I’m not on it for longer than two minutes a lot of people have drifted away from that site, and moved to Facebook. On my friends list on Myspace it’s always the same people posting new items, photos, videos, etc, and that’s because they don’t have Facebook. Another good thing about Facebook is the “news feed”. This allows all your friends see what you have been up to such as postings, blogs, or if you have been talking to another friend. You see it all just as they see yours. Of course there is a feature to increase or decrease friends news feed. Sometimes people go crazy and post things every two seconds so you would defiantly want to decrease their feed. Otherwise it’s going to be them all over your home page. So basically you can see what going on at all times, and always feel caught up with the latest technology on Facebook.

            Another argument on which is actually better is a personal argument on which is actually better. Between Myspace, and Facebook new features that will come out for Facebook, Myspace will have the same one within a month or so. So Myspace users are like “oh no Facebook copied Myspace”, and you know this because you have a Facebook? They don’t its funny. Its basically how do you know if you have only used Myspace, and just heard about Facebooks features from someboy random. Those fights are always fun. Although I wish they both had there own features. I was a Myspace user first but never use it that much I only keep it because I’ve only had it for so long, and don’t want to get rid of it. So its there just so I know I have it. Facebook is just an overall cleaner look. But hey its you opinion what you use for social networking, and you be the judge.

           

Yadav, Sid. "Facebook - The Complete Biography." Mashable.com. 25 Aug. 2006. 9 June 2009 .