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Microsoft to Launch Online Music Store
yonnage writes "Microsoft is expected to enter the online song store market this week, which should put the software giant head-to-head with Apple Computer in the music business at last.
The launch of Microsoft's iTunes rival will be timed along with the beta release of Microsoft's new Windows Media Player 10, expected on Thursday, sources say. The store will also be in beta mode, lacking some of the features that will be added later, sources said."
The launch of Microsoft's iTunes rival will be timed along with the beta release of Microsoft's new Windows Media Player 10
http://www.micro soft.com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/default.aspx
WMP10 Beta has been out for a while, so that's kind of confusing..
Err...no. The name "SQL Server" comes from Sybase, the company who they originally licensed from. It's also why both Sybase and MS SQL Server have quite a bit in common with Transact SQL, though they vary significantly in dialect.
Cheers,
Ian
Don't be naive. Microsoft will likely use its homegrown Digital Rights Management scheme, known as Janus
Thankfuly, Apple's iPod batteries have a long life and are in fact replaceable.
When hell freezes over with flying pigs, is the day I'll pay to download music from microsoft.
If the battery dies in warrenty then you can just send it back, it's a redundant point that a voided warrenty can be uh... voided more.
Once it's open it's not hard to install one of these. They have fitted plugs, like your PC fan. It's a standard battery too. Used in some PDAs, and the like.
You can replace the battery through Apple's own battery replacement program without voiding the warranty: see here
ScienceSeeker.org
Now, you're letting that tin foil hat get to your brain. Automatic Update only gets critical security updates, and if they used this for WMP10 the world would come down upon them like a sack of shit.
I agree they have a massive advantage with their leverage, but to be honest Apple are being even bigger c**ts with iTunes.
*awaits flames from Mac zealots with no life*
iTunes only authenticates a song purchased by a user that hasn't been played on the computer before. Once you enter the proper password, it no longer goes through the authentication process, and you can play offline to your heart's content.
Coincidentally, this can also be used to circumvent the five comp limit on protected AACs; authorize five computers to play your tunes, then use Apple's web form to de-authenticate those machines. The nifty thing is, this process is only done on Apple's end, so the five computers still think they're authorized. You can now allow five more machines to play your songs. As long as the first five never go online ever again, you're set. ^_^
Thanks a million. Push Start to replay.
Unless they have resolved the biggest issue I had with DRM'd WM files then there's not a chance in hades that I will ever use the service. And I will recommend against the service on that basis.
The basic issue is that DRM'd WM files only work with one installation of Windows. If you lose your box, you lose your music. If you have to reinstall (a rare occurrence with Windows, I know) you lose your music.
The worst that can happen with iTMS files is that if you forget to deauthorize your computer before reloading you lose the ability to play that song on one computer. But you can still play the songs.
A relative of mine was telling me that in his industry (auto related), the nationals will open stores near independants and cheerfully run them at a loss for over 10 years to close them. We used to look to government for this kind of foreward thinking. MS is cashed up enough to cut off anyone else's oxygen.
Xix.
"Everything is adjustable, provided you have the right tools"
Indeed I have, though my intentions were initially true. See, one of my three machines was an old PC that suddenly developed a case of "hard drive ain't workin' no more", so I obviously couldn't access the iTunes library and deauthorize it. So I looked through Apple's page and saw they had a form set up for just such an emergency situation (remote deauthorization). When you fill out the form, it deauthorizes all computers under the given iTunes account name. However, until the aforementioned computers attempt to check whether a song can be played, the comps themselves are not "aware" they have been deauthorized (since the procedure only takes place on Apple's server). Enjoy!
Thanks a million. Push Start to replay.
How is this diffrent than Microsoft's WMA encryption? Every music label I've worked with that utilizes Microsoft's DRM technology issues PERMANENT LICENSES... that is the authentication only occurs when the content is first purchased, and in fact you can backup and restore the licenses 3 times, which means you only get the play the song on 4 machines.
Once you have a license, there is no need to be online.
I don't think a lot of people know what they're talking about when they talk about Microsoft DRM.