04 March 2008 Tuesday

https://ferrydust.com/journal/1812/tantrum-at-itunes-and-npr

WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO HAVE ITUNES IN ORDER TO DOWNLOAD A FREE MP3 FROM NPR!? Just because it’s called a podcast doesn’t mean it needs an ipod, doesn’t mean it needs itunes. My computer is an itunes-free zone. I understand that many love it. I despise it. It is no longer allowed on my computer. NPR seems to think it’s okay that I should have to download stupid software in order to access a file that does not depend upon that software to run. This is not okay. I am really, really displeased by this. ::throws a mini temper tantrum:: Actually, it’s not even the software that I’m against. The software itself has always been fine. What I’ve always been pissed off at is that it installs additional applications and background processes that I did NOT request, nor authorize, and the way to get rid of them is to get rid of the entire itunes application and not let it back on. I have actually reconsidered several times and let it back on, giving it many second chances. I have been disappointed every time. An mp3 is an mp3. A free mp3 should be an openly free mp3! A podcast is an mp3 (should be. besides ogg, mp3 is the most compatible, common, accessible, transportable file format. I do NOT need itunes to run mp3s! I should NOT need itunes to download mp3s! And if you want my money, sell it to me in a way that does not require an obtrusive (and memory intensive) piece of software. I’ll wait for an alternative.