Why you should not allow online companies to have control over your contents, data, devices

I bought a video on Amazon a while back, today when me and my friends wanted to watch this video, this is what I got on Amazon Video:

Video currently unavailable for playback and download. Due to our licensing agreements this video is currently not available for online viewing or downloading. If you have downloaded this video to a PC or TiVo DVR you can continue to watch it from that location.

Amazon sux!
Entertainment Industry sux!
15 dollar down the drain.

Lesson: Don't let online companies have control over your data files, contents, and devices.

These days all companies (offline and online) are trying to

1. grab as much of your personal information as possible... Facebook, Google...
   
2. control as much of your music n video files, contents, devices as possible... majority of Entertainment Industry and Publishing Industry, Google, Apple
   
3. separate as much of your money from you as possible... Apple, Sony...
   

Here are some ways companies control your data files, contents, and devices.

Data files (including books, music, video):

• Amazon Kindle controls all the kindle books you bought. They can remove any of the books you bought anytime. This is applicable to to other DRM based digital books too.
  
• Amazon Video and Apple iTunes control all the video you bought.
• Apple iTunes controls your music too.

[While I was writing above, the root of all these problems is DRM]

Contents:

• Online Email Services - Google, Yahoo, Hotmail
• Social networking sites - facebook, myspace
• Blogging sites - blogspot, wordpress
• Website hosting - Google
• Other services like - Calendar, photo
  

Devices:

• iPhone and iPods
  

There are lot of people who don't use any of these things and they are just fine. But in today's life, many of these services can actually help if you use they judiciously. Everybody has different needs and lifestyle. So decide for yourself how much control you want to give to these online companies.