What’s this? Why now and actually WHY BOTHER!!!
An other morning routine destroyed…
First along time ago, WABC my favorite home town TALK station went Geo Block! I nagged them and several other people nagged them and they finally relented.
But guess what, by the time they relented, I found another favorite! Their competitor.
Then WCBS, New Radio 88 and for that matter, all CBS radio stations went GeoBlock. I found an other new station like them but better. But guess what… I lost my taste for News Radio now so I hardly tune in
Then I get blocked by Amazon from borrowing books but that’s an other forum issue.
Now yesterday I want my morning TV news from Yahoo news while I eat my porridge and I’m now blocked!
Oh and lets not mention the f***ing Region codes in DVDs that forced the average Joe to break the law, copy and removed the region code info from the disks so it can be played. Content that you supposedly already own.
So tell me… Who are they protecting! These GeoBlocking Freeks. Don’t they know that they really can’t stop people from getting the material. Well, yes they can. By the time we find away around the problem, we just don’t want it anymore… Why are they doing this?
The average Joe here in Taiwan will purchase the subtitles or dubbed version. There is no need to protect international licenseess and for that matter, most of the material I want to see won’t even interest the locals.
Has linux come along far enough to be a graphical user friendly interface? I understand Proxies, but why leave windows?
Can Linux handle mutli-media? I really just want to like turn on the computer. Play the media, go about my business, something that interests me, I’ll watch. I don’t want to spend time just trying to watch things.
I got one or two old computers lying around. Give me the flavor linnux you recommend, the proxy service that you use and I will give it a try. I’m not loyal. Well, I was until stabbed in the back by companies that don’t want my money. Nothing is worse then a copyright defender who was rejected.
Linux can handle all region DVD’s - there are programs you can download. You can burn DVDs - do everything Windows tries to stop you from doing. Linux rarely crashes if ever, is easy on your CPU and is almost immune to viruses and although most hardcore users use command lines, Linux offers what I would say are very user-friendly interfaces which are comparable to how Windows works, except Linux does exactly what you tell it to instead of trying to control what you do on your computer.
My computer shuts down in abut 4 seconds, takes about 25 seconds to start up and is very fast. If I run Windows 7 on it it’s like going back in time to when people wore tunics and pantaloons whilst travelling around on horse back.
You can dual install, so you can still keep Windows on your machine for the things you like, like games and other programs you need or are used to, and use Linux to securely surf the net - (you don’t even need virus protection) and to download stuff and play whatever DVD’s you like.
Try Linux Mint. It’s free. All programs and updates are free.
People often get put off using Linux because they think it is difficult to use, but contrary to its reputation, this no longer the case. Android uses a Linux operating system - the passenger entertainment system you enjoyed on your plane on the way to Taiwan most likely ran on Linux.
The only problem is that you need to know how to install it properly if you want to do a dual install. I can’t talk you through it, but you need to partition your hard drive. It’s fairly straight forward but you need to understand what you are doing. I’m sure someone here can help you out.
You don’t need Linux for that. I connect happily to all my VPN’s using Windows.
I watch Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix and Crackle using my Taiwan based credit card with my Roku 2 HD bought from the US or via stream.
I listen to radio via Pandora and my music with Google Play and Amazon’s Cloud Player…
Its not that hard to do. DVD’s are another story but its not limited to any OS either.
Just make sure the device’s firmware isn’t checking the region (for DVD its hardware and software, Bluray is only software).
And yes, I agree geo blocking is stupid. It gets as worse that I share some Youtube video to my family in Germany and they reply me its not licensed by the evil GEMA: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gesellscha … ungsrechte
[quote=“SlowRain”]Geographical restrictions: taking two Ws out of www.
However, my interest is now piqued over Linux.[/quote]
Just download virtual box (free) and try one of the easier distributions that focus on Desktop, i.e. Xubuntu which is based on Ubuntu virtualbox.org/ xubuntu.org/
You could also download a Live CD. However it won’t solve your geo related problems out of the box.
[quote=“SlowRain”]Geographical restrictions: taking two Ws out of www.
However, my interest is now piqued over Linux.[/quote]
AHHH AMEN BROTHER!.
I have been defending copyrights! I have been defending fair pay until I get screwed for what I see, no real market advantage. In fact it costs sales!
I’m a long term guy here. Have a bit of history… DVD’s were new. The Major Department Stores were selling “Fixed” DVD players openly. They were also selling some kind of device that you attached to give you Chinese Subtitles! You put some kind of card or disk in a slot.
{Tech historians or show offs, get us a picture of it, I’m not sure what it was called]
I was not an early adopter. I kept with VHS until I got sick going back and forth to the video store with a damaged VHS tape. By the time I got into DVD, there were already enough Chinese subtitle content, that device was phased out.
Still you could get a fixed DVD player. It was easy. Then … my DVD player kicked the bucket.I was able to buy one and have the manufacturer tell me how to get to the region code menu. That one died… and then I bought an other.
No one would tell me the code! They were even sh**ting in fear. Telling me they are not going to tell me.
I could not find a region free anywhere for about a year or two. I had to rely on my disk back up software to remove region code. Now, thank goodness, who ever was stalking and putting fear in to the hearts of 3C salesmen have left the building. THey have left Taiwan and now you can buy a region free model anywhere.
The point is… who are these DRM, Region Freeks? DO they get Jollies busting people and enforcing these silly laws. Buying a DVD player to play different region disks? Watching a show from a different geographical area. {All with content OWNED BY ME. i WAS PREVENTED FROM SEEING MY OWN CONTENT! THAT I PAID FOR!]
The thing is, I want to meet one in person. Become his friend. See his computer. I can’t believe that there would not be at least one piece of shared copyrighted material or a movie from a different region in his collection.
Whose that guy in Les Miss who believed in the law too much that he could not bear that a criminal saved his life and could do good. He had to commit suicide. If that guy loves foreigner films, does he have many DVD players, one for each region? Rant over… Thanks for listening…
Almost all content providers are geo blocking because content makers are demanding it.
The idea is they can have a movie out on DVD in the US, but in theaters in Thailand so they can make loads of money because people living in Thailand can’t simply bring DVD’s from the US and sell them to people in Thailand.
Personally I think most countries/companies aren’t ready for a free worldwide market place where people, things, and information are free to move from country to country without restrictions. All countries have restrictions in place to prevent just that (just take a trip to the NIA if you want to know what I am talking about).
What I don’t understand is why can’t sites like Hulu do something like charge a fee for those who are not viewing from the US, if the issue is viewers in other countries aren’t paying certain TV taxes. I would have gladly paid that, but instead Witopia gets my money because content providers are too stupid to see a new opportunity.
[quote=“Taiwan Luthiers”]Almost all content providers are geo blocking because content makers are demanding it.
The idea is they can have a movie out on DVD in the US, but in theaters in Thailand so they can make loads of money because people living in Thailand can’t simply bring DVD’s from the US and sell them to people in Thailand. [/quote]
Acatualy it’s more likely the reverse here in Taiwan. Most of the things I watch went to video much quickly here. But nowadays, Taiwan and the US opening and DVD’s happen at the same time.
What pisses me is my off beat films or shows that have almost no one is interested in here in Taiwan are still region coded.
But who put the fear of GOD into the 3-C sellers. Why did region free DVD players disappear? Why did everyone clam up? Why are they freely available again? TL… I think you have been here as long as I have. You got some insight?
[quote=“Taiwan Luthiers”]Personally I think most countries/companies aren’t ready for a free worldwide market place where people, things, and information are free to move from country to country without restrictions. All countries have restrictions in place to prevent just that (just take a trip to the NIA if you want to know what I am talking about).
[/quote]
Sorry, what country is NIA. I could not find it. Why would you feel certain countries should be allowed to control content (if it doesn’t destroy some social or cultural norm).
NIA is the national immigration agency… they’re the ones you deal with when getting ARC’s and stuff… I am just saying that the world isn’t ready for free movement of people, things, and information because every country has institutions like this to limit such freedoms.
I guess Taiwan is considered to be a “developed country” so they release films and movies at the same time as the US, but what I mean with region coding is that they do this for other countries that are less developed.
I do not know why they suddenly started not unlocking DVD players… I have not used them in a long time and now I get my movies through the internet because its far easier than ordering from Amazon or something.
I do not know why they suddenly started not unlocking DVD players… I have not used them in a long time and now I get my movies through the internet because its far easier than ordering from Amazon or something.[/quote]
But you don’t buy them do you? I can’t blame you, even if you want to they just don’t want your money.
That is really a novel concept… Turn away…, no, totally turn off loyal customers just because they cross national borders.
I still use DVD’s as rental and I do buy them. It’s still cheaper than movies on demand (MOD).
Get the Hola! extension for your browser. Geo-blocking gone. Helps make the Internet the way it was meant to be: free from national boundaries - a border-free parallel world.
Watching through VPNs seems like super slow though (quality is bad)… So am I using wrong VPN?
I’m thinking of Apple TV or Roku, but how you use VPN on these (never used these boxes so sorry if it’s simple question)?