Comments on: Pick ‘n Play http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/ Entrepreneur | Writer | Speaker Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:02:15 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Shaun Dewberry http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/comment-page-1/#comment-812 Shaun Dewberry Tue, 24 Oct 2006 17:00:37 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/#comment-812 The best local site so far is rhythmrecords.co.za. Unfortunately their catalog is limited (but growing) and you won't get any international stuff, but it's all DRM free and mp3, so at least we can support the SA scene. Oh yeah, the tracks cost six bucks of which three goes to the artist - that's a pretty decent split. The best local site so far is rhythmrecords.co.za. Unfortunately their catalog is limited (but growing) and you won’t get any international stuff, but it’s all DRM free and mp3, so at least we can support the SA scene.

Oh yeah, the tracks cost six bucks of which three goes to the artist – that’s a pretty decent split.

]]> By: Rob http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/comment-page-1/#comment-421 Rob Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:56:00 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/#comment-421 Yes I agree Mike, it's good to hear that they are trying to get it to work and personally I really hope they succeed. But if they really do care, they need to communicate this and that FAQ page doesn't do that. I actually can't beleive its still there. Also participating in public forums takes a bit of pride swallowing but it engenders loyalty. Why do so many brands fear this? Yes I agree Mike, it’s good to hear that they are trying to get it to work and personally I really hope they succeed.

But if they really do care, they need to communicate this and that FAQ page doesn’t do that. I actually can’t beleive its still there. Also participating in public forums takes a bit of pride swallowing but it engenders loyalty. Why do so many brands fear this?

]]> By: Mike http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/comment-page-1/#comment-415 Mike Tue, 26 Sep 2006 04:47:28 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/#comment-415 Thanks to Warren and Norman for your comments. All valid points, but I still have a problem with the attitude displayed in the FAQ / policy section of the site that says (under 'I have a problem opening files on my Mac')... "It's a Windows world. Get used to it..." I'm really glad to hear, Warren, that they're trying to get it to work, but then let them display that attitude of 'we're working at this' through the error messages and policies and not a one-dimensional approach as is displayed currently. But as I said originally, just really glad someone's trying something :) Thanks to Warren and Norman for your comments. All valid points, but I still have a problem with the attitude displayed in the FAQ / policy section of the site that says (under ‘I have a problem opening files on my Mac’)…

“It’s a Windows world. Get used to it…”

I’m really glad to hear, Warren, that they’re trying to get it to work, but then let them display that attitude of ‘we’re working at this’ through the error messages and policies and not a one-dimensional approach as is displayed currently.

But as I said originally, just really glad someone’s trying something :)

]]> By: Norman http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/comment-page-1/#comment-411 Norman Mon, 25 Sep 2006 11:15:27 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/#comment-411 What I like about Picnplay is that they give you chance to give them feedback. And they take it seriously. After sending some feedback, I got phoned by the MD (of the company who developed the site), and he chatted to me for about 15 minutes. Which is actually remarkable. I think they keep to the basics, and I agree that they seem to be adding more features as they get feedback from us. The site's also much faster than its competitors locally. What I like about Picnplay is that they give you chance to give them feedback. And they take it seriously. After sending some feedback, I got phoned by the MD (of the company who developed the site), and he chatted to me for about 15 minutes. Which is actually remarkable. I think they keep to the basics, and I agree that they seem to be adding more features as they get feedback from us. The site’s also much faster than its competitors locally.

]]> By: WarrenD http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/comment-page-1/#comment-399 WarrenD Sun, 24 Sep 2006 08:53:49 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/#comment-399 I happen to have a little insight into the background of Pick 'n Play. The bottom line is that compared to the music labels, Pick 'n Pay is a small fish in a big pond. The record labels will not supply content unless a DRM system is used - a DRM system that they trust. In essence there are only 3 such DRM models out there : Microsoft, RealMedia and Apple. Apple does not license their technology to other online vendors - they don't want to create competition for theirt iTunes / iPod market domination. RealMedia is hugely expensive, requires more computing power and locks the user into their RealMedia player. Their player has a fairly small market penetration footprint. Microsoft's offering is everywhere. Every PC shipped with XP can play the music. Not only that, once you've downloaded a song to your PC you can use many of the popular third party players (my preference : Winamp) to play the WMA files. So to sum it up : 1. No DRM = no music content on the site (wouldn't that be fun) 2. Windows Media Player = maximum market penetration. Oh, on the issue of the popup in FireFox warning that you have to use IE to download music - I contacted the support team and was informed that this has to do with ActiveX support in Non-IE browsers. What happens when your machine receives a license is that the web page has an ActiveX control in it that stores the license in a database belonging to Windows Media Player. FireFox (and other browsers) don't have native support for ActiveX controls so they use a plugin to run the control. Support is patchy at best at the moment but the guys that developed Pick 'n Play are trying their best to get it to work - mainly becuse they also prefer the Fox to IE ! I happen to have a little insight into the background of Pick ‘n Play. The bottom line is that compared to the music labels, Pick ‘n Pay is a small fish in a big pond. The record labels will not supply content unless a DRM system is used – a DRM system that they trust.

In essence there are only 3 such DRM models out there : Microsoft, RealMedia and Apple.

Apple does not license their technology to other online vendors – they don’t want to create competition for theirt iTunes / iPod market domination.

RealMedia is hugely expensive, requires more computing power and locks the user into their RealMedia player. Their player has a fairly small market penetration footprint.

Microsoft’s offering is everywhere. Every PC shipped with XP can play the music. Not only that, once you’ve downloaded a song to your PC you can use many of the popular third party players (my preference : Winamp) to play the WMA files.

So to sum it up :
1. No DRM = no music content on the site (wouldn’t that be fun)

2. Windows Media Player = maximum market penetration.

Oh, on the issue of the popup in FireFox warning that you have to use IE to download music – I contacted the support team and was informed that this has to do with ActiveX support in Non-IE browsers. What happens when your machine receives a license is that the web page has an ActiveX control in it that stores the license in a database belonging to Windows Media Player. FireFox (and other browsers) don’t have native support for ActiveX controls so they use a plugin to run the control. Support is patchy at best at the moment but the guys that developed Pick ‘n Play are trying their best to get it to work – mainly becuse they also prefer the Fox to IE !

]]> By: Mike Solomon http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/comment-page-1/#comment-379 Mike Solomon Fri, 22 Sep 2006 10:21:02 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/#comment-379 Hey Mike - thanks for the link to my post. Possibly i should have embelished a little and posted my user experience -similar yours(i got busy and then forgot) Anyway my critiscim basically boils down to if youre going to something everyone else is starting to do/ doing, then at least try and do it a bit different (or well for that matter.As you said they fail on all counts :) Hey Mike – thanks for the link to my post. Possibly i should have embelished a little and posted my user experience -similar yours(i got busy and then forgot)

Anyway my critiscim basically boils down to if youre going to something everyone else is starting to do/ doing, then at least try and do it a bit different (or well for that matter.As you said they fail on all counts :)

]]> By: Mike http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/comment-page-1/#comment-368 Mike Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:23:13 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/#comment-368 You said it Rob. I'm just bleak that no-one responds to our cries for help! Give us a decent music download site! I really, really want to do it leagally! You said it Rob. I’m just bleak that no-one responds to our cries for help! Give us a decent music download site! I really, really want to do it leagally!

]]> By: Rob http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/comment-page-1/#comment-367 Rob Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:59:25 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/#comment-367 Mike I went to check it out myself and went through the same experience as your good self. Why!?!?! I bet their developers told them that only 10% of people use Firefox or other browsers so they didn't have to worry. What they didn't say is that the early tech adopters who they desperately need to get the ball and word of mouth rolling have probably got at least a 50% Firefox penetration. Shaun Dewberry has been bitching about it as well, on dewberry.co.za. We've actually contacted Pick 'n Pay about this so they know Shaun's post is there, but their Windows only policy still remains on their FAQ page. Its gone from foolishness to arrogance. Mike I went to check it out myself and went through the same experience as your good self. Why!?!?!
I bet their developers told them that only 10% of people use Firefox or other browsers so they didn’t have to worry. What they didn’t say is that the early tech adopters who they desperately need to get the ball and word of mouth rolling have probably got at least a 50% Firefox penetration.
Shaun Dewberry has been bitching about it as well, on dewberry.co.za. We’ve actually contacted Pick ‘n Pay about this so they know Shaun’s post is there, but their Windows only policy still remains on their FAQ page. Its gone from foolishness to arrogance.

]]> By: Prieur du Plessis http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/comment-page-1/#comment-362 Prieur du Plessis Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:11:41 +0000 http://www.mikestopforth.com/2006/09/21/pick-n-play/#comment-362 I had the same problem on Musica's online store, well worse actually, their site does not work in either Firefox or IE 7.0 RC1 :) I had the same problem on Musica’s online store, well worse actually, their site does not work in either Firefox or IE 7.0 RC1 :)

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