Feedback

The Rights Stuff

While your article contains some interesting ideas, many arguments are flawed. You write, "He won't allow music and videos downloaded from iTunes to be played on other MP3 players." ITunes pioneered major-label digital-rights-management-free music sales. The songs are encoded in AAC, an open standard supported by numerous non-Apple players. You also say, "He won't permit music downloaded from competing stores to play on the iPod." Jobs just isn't willing to subscribe to Microsoft digital-rights-management schemes, which most competing stores use. Music purchased without DRM (e.g., at eMusic or Amazon) can be played on an iPod.

Stephan Kippe
Frankfurt, Germany

Writer Adam L. Penenberg responds: Apple did introduce a line of music free from digital rights management for $1.29 a tune in the spring. Then, as we were putting the issue to bed, it introduced millions of indie songs without DRM, but these are mostly from bands we've never heard of. The major-label releases do have DRM and cannot be played on other devices. And Apple has not made any moves to synchronize its DRM standard with other makers. You are correct that music purchased without DRM, such as what Amazon sells, can be played on an iPod. But you have to download a special player from Amazon to automatically place your purchase in iTunes.

Shana Fisher Is Real

I just finished reading your article on Shana Fisher and half-questioned if a person like her could really exist (" Barry Diller's Grand Acquisitor," December/January). Because her background was forged in technology and art, she is seemingly able to empathize with and be truly passionate about her acquisition targets while at the same time exercising complete control and tactfulness, elements she attributes to her investment-banking background. As an investment banker myself, witnessing such passion and control in the complex arena of M&A is like spotting Elvis at Graceland--very rare.

Brian Murphy
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Brand Beliefs Are Not Bigotry

I was dismayed by Rob Walker's column about "brand bigotry" (" Just Say No," December/January). The dictionary defines bigotry as "stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own." While I won't purchase a Ford (I'm a Chevy fan) or clothes by P. Diddy (I don't believe in supporting his lifestyle or being a walking advertisement for him), my beliefs do not rise to the level of intolerance.

Kevin J. Cook
Middleborough, Massachusetts

Over the Moon

Your NASA story (" To the Moon! [in a Minivan]," December/January) reminded me of Ralph Kramden saying, "Bang ... zoom ... straight to the moon." Thus, I propose that we name the first operational Orion capsule ... "Alice." As a nation, we must have this reliable "minivan." Eventually, our commercial/industrial use of space will require a Kramdenesque transit bus, which should, of course, be named "Ralph."

Edward Johnson
Albuquerque, New Mexico

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