Windows Media Player 10 Reviewed

An anonymous reader writes "Paul Thorrott reviews Windows Media Player 10 and notes that unlike Apple's iTunes Music Store, which offers music that is only compatible with Apple's iPod portable player, WMP 10 will work with songs from virtually any other online music store. There are more screenshots here with a download link." Reader Thomas Hawk writes "I wrote my Microsoft Windows Media Player 10 Review today the first day the software was released and one of the first reviews on the product. I basically give it good marks but there are definiately some things that they can still improve upon." An anonymous reader writes "Since I'm somewhat wary of Microsoft's new software (particularly DRM-laden Media Player types,) I was paying attention to the EULA and privacy agreements provided when downloading the software. Ironically enough, the privacy page linked from the installer (at time of writing) merely said "TODO: Privacy policy goes here". Most certainly an honest mistake, but in the meantime it appears there is in fact no policy on privacy (or it has not yet been taken into consideration) in WMP10."

Comments

Re:Works...?

[laird]

"WMP 10 will work with songs from virtually any other online music store

I guess "work" has become a very subjective word. :)"

I'll second this. Read Walt Mossberg's WSJ review of the store -- he couldn't get music purchased from other WMP-based stores to play in WMP10.

This means that not only is WMP10 incompatible by definition with the vast majority of music sold online (70-80% of all music sold is through the iTunes Music Store, which is in protected AAC format not supported by WMP), it apparently won't play what little music is sold in protected WMA format, either.

Given that WMP10 apparently doesn't play any music ever sold online, I'd say that they have an uphill battle. I'm sure that MS and the MS-based retailers will eventually fix the problems that keeps WMP10 from playing the 20-30% of purchased music in MS-based formats. But since Microsoft's store isn't better than Apple's, and MS-based players aren't better than Apple's, about the only advantage that MS has is the ability to pre-install WMP on every copy of Windows. Of course, since Apple is doing deals with PC manufacturers to pre-install iTunes and iTMS on PC's as well, with any luck the market will at least stay competitive, to the benefit of customers...

Re:Testimonial

[Monx]

Does this make sense to you? "... unlike Apple's iTunes Music Store, which offers music that is only compatible with Apple's iPod portable player, WMP 10 will work with songs from virtually any other online music store. "

It looks like the summary is comparing iTMS to WMP 10 (rather that iTunes and QuickTime Player to WMP 10). The author could be comparing "Apple's iPod portable player" to "virtually any other online music store." Again the comparison makes no sense.

I'm going to try to respond anyway, since it might make the grandparent post's joke make more sense to you. Here we go:

The iPod can play many formats including MP3, but not WMA.

The iTMS sells songs with drm that only works in QuickTime enabled applications residing on the same computer as an authorized instance of iTunes and on the iPod right now.

iTunes (the audio player) can play many audio file formats and has really nice organizational features.

QuickTime Player is a media player that can play virtually anything you throw at it given the appropriate codec plugin.

WMP 10 is a media player that supports many formats including protected WMA files. I don't know if it plays FairPlay protected AAC from the iTMS, but it could easily enough, the API is simple.

MOMS is Microsoft's IE based music store. It sells protected WMA files.

There are many players that support protected WMA.

Now back to the summary: "... unlike Apple's iTunes Music Store, which offers music that is only compatible with Apple's iPod portable player, WMP 10 will work with songs from virtually any other online music store. "

iTMS doesn't work with other stores -- neither does MOMS.

iTMS doesn't work with any portable players other than the iPod (and that upcoming phone). MOMS doesn't work with the iPod, but it does work with others.

The iPod doesn't work with WMA. It does work with AAC, MP3, AIFF, etc. iPod users can get music from any source that provides audio in those formats.

WMP 10 supports many formats, but requires you to drag a pc around with you. -- that was the funny part.

I think I've covered all the angles, but damn that sentence is hard to parse.