Jaime Gago Condensing Information Systems From the Vapor Of Data

*Encrypted* Sharing Of Personal Media Libraries with Simplify Media

About a year ago while I was looking for a simple way to share my personal media libraries (stored on a Mac) over the Internet I discovered Simplify Media. The other zero conf tool was Hamachi-Log Me In VPN. Although Simplify Media doesn't say it in plain english, it's quite evident that as Log-Me In behind the curtain a custom VPN is running...

Last week the Head of the Music Department at the school I work asked me about a way to share music with his students when they are at home (understand over the Internet).

After a short discussion I recommended that he use Simplify Media. Why not configure one of the servers at school for VPN access and train him and his students? Well a full VPN was overkill since he only needed to share a certain type of file. On top of that streaming was perfect for him so one more reason to go with this freeware.

It took him about 15 minutes to understand Simplify Media and his -non proprietary but untold- P2P over VPN concept. After half an hour he was sharing his iTunes library with his students. He can even check who has been listening to what which is also ideal since the reason he shares the files is for homework. Let’s be honest here, it would have been nice to play around but I would not have been able to provide him such an functional system in 15 minutes...

On top of everything Simplify Media is handling the RIAA heat for me and I am at peace knowing that archaic laws and InhumanPetaCorporations (the Corporation anyone?) are not limiting a great teacher to do his job and sharing his knowledge of music with his students.

VPN for all I say!