The iVue media player is more of a sophisticated video player rather than just a portable jukebox featuring Biometric authentication. It features 120GB of capacity, a large 16:9 display with a resolution of 1200 x 800, Linux based operating system and Veritouch's encryption technology relying on a 21,000 bit key! Unlike other portable players, this device features no physical I/O connections or media slots as everything is transferred over wireless. This includes Bluetooth, 802.11b/g based Wi-Fi and GPRS for use on a mobile phone network.
The player requires fingerprint authentication to generate the key to authenticate purchased music, although one fingerprint will be fine for purchasing one song or a bundle. However the user must provide their fingerprint for each song they wish to play. According to Veritouch, the fingerprint is only tied to the music the consumer has purchased and is not stored along with the consumer's details.
After the last publication on the Register about the iVue, out of over 500 Register readers who commented there was not one in favour of the device. However Gary Baum from Veritouch which is developed the iVue recons that the iVue will become as revolutionary as the Walkman when it first launched. He gave examples also on how the iVue's biometric based encryption could be other purposes such as to securely store user files such as a digital diary with fingerprint authentication.
Unfortunately while the iVue may be a potential solution to the file sharing problem, it does not solve the way consumers treat music as blocking sharing would still give the impression of controlling the customer. A better solution would be to find a way of compensating artists while still allowing consumers happy share its music. Finally the player would not be suitable for consumers with skin conditions or other issues where they cannot provide a consistent fingerprint.
|
As it turns out we simply couldn't get indignant or righteous with Gary over his quixotic adventure, and that's not just because he's a very nice man. It's because over five hundred Register readers spelled out exactly how they might use it, when we asked. "I'm guessing there wasn't one in favor?" Gary asked us, a bit nervously. Well, no. Not one. We began by reading a typical, but very succinct comment that we received - this one from reader Tim Everson. "Bit of a no brainer really, the choice between an MP3 player that plays tunes, and an MP3 player that records biometric information and restricts my ability to transfer MP3s between devices," writes Tim. "I see no better way of ensuring that a media device won't sell apart from smearing it with excrement before packing it. " "Oh. I've read worse ones than that," said Gary, laughing. He hasn't had one positive email either. But you might correctly guess that some other people, and you can probably even guess who they are, could be really interested in the idea. Baum thinks that the iVue will be as revolutionary as the Walkman, which knocked him out when he first saw it in 1979. Read the full interview |
I cannot see the idea of locking music to a fingerprint working out very well. Even if it would allow the consumer to freely copy music from device to device incorporating biometric authentication, there will be other issues that would still put many consumers off. Lending a player to a friend would obviously be no longer allowed and the same goes with giving a lend of 'your music' to a friend. Fingerprint change such as over time or by a bad cut or burn may also lock a consumer out of their music.
I wonder what other sorts of potential solutions will be developed to overcome the current issue of file sharing. Feel free to discuss about file sharing services, legal alternatives and issues on our Music Downloads, P2P & Legal Issues Forum.
Source: The Register - Internet & Law
