Mac Application Removes iTunes DRM from Technology Posts October 30, 2006
Mac users being held hostage by Apple’s iTunes DRM (digital rights management) might have something the cheer about. A possible reprieve is being offered by seidai.50webs.com. The tool is called FairGame and it aims to free users from Apple’s DRM known as FairPlay.
FairGame is a Mac application that essentially uses scripting to automate a process of re-encoding iTunes music using iMovie and iTunes. The benefit of this particular process is that the music’s metadata, lyrics, and artwork remain intact. Quite creative, all things considered.
In my testing, I was unable to get FairGame to function. It kept breaking part of the way through the script. The first issue I had was the result of Default Folder. Disabling the Default Folder for iMovie got me even further through the process before the script simply failed.
What I found most interesting about FairGame is the way that the scripting was setup. I’ve never seen anything like it on the Mac (without the user of a 3rd party runtime tool). Rather than running a series of invisible AppleScript events to automate the conversion process, FairGame seems to be a scripted set of mouse based evens provided by the author. When running FairGame, the user can literally watch all of the screen based events take place. The mouse moves across the screen, menu are selected, options are changed, and files are manipulated. I’ve never seen this done before. Impressed as I am with the DRM removal tool, I’m even more curious how this script was generated.
As is always the case with files that are transcoded, a quality loss will invariably result. The results of this are generally more reliant on the quality of the codecs used along the way. At one point, FairGame transcodes the original iTunes file to WAV format. Once in WAV format, the file should have every bit the audio quality as the original as WAV is lossless. The only real hit will occur when FairGame converts the file back to AAC for MP3. The same sort of loss would occur when users burn protected music to a CD, and then convert back to AAC to remove the DRM. FairGame simply streamlines the process and saves CD media and time.
Posts around the web seem to indicate that I’m not the only one who has had trouble getting FairGame to work. This post on iPoddNN.com shows a great deal of user feedback. I encourage users to give FairGame a shot. Your mileage may vary, but the concept is sound.
-- Steve
By smanke at 7:31 AM
Comments: 5
By Eden on November 1, 2006 at 6:21 AM
Gone are the days of JHymn... too bad. I really want a method to strip the DRM out of
my files for compatibility reasons (360), but transcoding a 128kbps file is just not going
to cut it!
By smanke on November 1, 2006 at 8:06 AM
With the outstanding success of the iTunes music store, I really wish Apple would step
up and offer music at a higher bit-rate.
192kbps AAC should be the minimum.
I think its one reason that AllOfMP3.com holds appeal to so many people. They let you
select your format and bit-rate. Not to mention there is no DRM!
Apple's on
the right track, they just need to step up!
By Anonymous on January 17, 2007 at 12:50 PM
this software was done using applescript studio (for the interface) and user interface
scripting(thus you have to activate access for assistive devices)
By smanke on January 17, 2007 at 3:44 PM
Kick ass! I must try that!!!
By Anonymous on April 16, 2008 at 10:06 AM
this is so slow, its painful!! It takes as long as the music is. Plus its like a childs
solution, very unprofessional, it doesnt do anything i couldnt do on my own.. it just does
it for you. Would have liked to have seen it do some coding tricks to get it done
quicker
Mac users being held hostage by Apple’s iTunes DRM (digital rights management) might have something the cheer about. A possible reprieve is being offered by seidai.50webs.com. The tool is called FairGame and it aims to free users from Apple’s DRM known as FairPlay.
