ah music to my ears

Write a journal response with your thoughts on the article. Do you think Napster has really changed the world? Did the record companies really win the battle against pirated music or could they have won the battle earlier on? How would they benefit if they didn't push to shut down Napster?Take a look at the five lessons he's learnedl from the fall of Napster, what does this tell us about emerging technologies in our society? Can you think of another newly emerging technology going throught the same trial?

I remember that year when I first discovered Kazaa. I was happy that I could download music free; I went crazy downloading this and that, not for once thinking that I was “stealing”. Then came that faithful day, when I found out that Kazaa was being sued for allowing people to download things free. I freaked out and the first thing I did was uninstall the program thinking that my downloading can be traced back to me and be charged with “stealing” music from artists. I was young then and now I should’ve learned from that experience. But no, I didn’t, I still download music through Limewire or Ares, what can I say? I just can’t afford to buy all those songs.

In my years, of extensive downloading habits, I have never used Napster. I knew what it was, a website that sells music. However, when I read this article, I found out that Napster was just like Limewire before. I never heard of that lawsuit and how it was forced to shut down. Recording companies would’ve benefited more from a partnership with Napster but they just had to be ignorant. Building a partnership with Napster would’ve made them millions of dollars richer. However, since this kind of partnership was unknown to them they considered it a threat and thus, the fall of Napster began. Napster was sued and was forced to bankruptcy. A few years later Napster was bought by another company and now sells music. Successfully shutting down Napster, did not stop anything, newer programs are still being created today. Hundreds of artists are still losing money because of pirated music and there’s nothing they can do about it. Unless they have some type of technology that disables people from downloading free music.

Nevertheless, whatever recording companies or artists choose to do. I don’t think this kind of technology will ever subside because who passes up an opportunity to get free stuff ? No one, and so as long as there is a way for this kind of technology to exist it will never disappear. My advice to these recording companies is: If You Can't Beat Them, Join Them. Figure out how to become business partners with softwares such as Limwire or something and enjoy it while it lasts. For our technology is ever evolving and somehow, someday a newer and smarter technology will emerge and possibly ruin recording companies.

We love to say Wii

There has been quite a bit of hype surrounding the new Ninetendo Wii gaming system. Some say that the Wii's ability to "democratize" gaming for people of all ages and abilities is revolutionary. Do you think this is a true technological revolution or just hype? Please defend your opinion.

What makes Nintendo Wii so special? Is it because of its ability to "democratize" gaming for people of all ages or is it because of its unique gaming system, which lets you play by motion control?

Personally, I think that its revolutionary not because people of all ages can play it but because of its unique gaming system. When playing a video game, how many times have you caught yourself actually moving the same way you’re moving your character or whatever it is that you’re moving? Ok, maybe some of you don’t do that or would like to admit that they do. But I know for sure that sometimes when I play racing games and I have to turn the car I end up turning my body too as if it helps me play any better. When playing Nintendo Wii, it makes it so much easier to play and you won’t actually have to make up an excuse as to why you were moving. Nintendo Wii is revolutionary as far as gaming systems go but technology in general I’m not so sure. I think it might have helped us get closer to a true technological revolution but as far as I’m concerned I think people are just exaggerating a bit too much.

When Nintendo Wii first came out, a lot of people were thinking, “Oh My God, I want that! It’s so cool!” However, at that time, I think it was just hype because it was the newest thing in gaming systems it was far better than the existing, psp and xbox. However, I’m sure that as soon as a new gaming system comes out people will forget what was so special about Wii and move on to the next best thing.