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Most Secure Digital Audio Player?

Posted by Cliff on from the once-in-it's-terribly-hard-to-get-it-out dept.

PaleGreen asks: "What's the most secure portable Digital Audio Player (DAP) in terms of a true 'one-way' file copy mechanism? I want to be sure a curious coworker can't leech my portable's treasures while I'm out to lunch (or even worse, if I lose it). I'm aware of 'iPod backup' solutions that seem to get around Apple's protection. Are the Windows Media 'Plays For Sure' devices more secure in this area? Are there portables that support a hardware password (similar to a BlackBerry, where the unit resets to factory defaults after ten bad password attempts)?"

7 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. Huh? by jhoger · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Your co-worker leeching files impacts you in what way?

    Why do you care?

    I'd be more concerned about the physical security of my player.

  2. Ummm who cares by yasth · · Score: 2, Insightful

    MS's plays for sure is very secure, well except for the simple expedient of an audio to audio cable and pressing record on something with a line in.

    Really though who cares? Actual theft with you having good intentions (i.e. no handing them the player and pointing them to the "backup" software) means you are not liable. It would be like leaving a cd at your desk and someone snatching it and copying it. If you catch them at it, and want to be a b*tch report them to the riaa.

    --
    I'd do something interesting, but my server can't handle a slashdotting.
  3. Re:[meta-discussion] by teksno · · Score: 3, Insightful

    do mod points work for stories, or just comments???

    cause this guy needs to be placed around -1*10^99^99

  4. If you want security hassles... by phorest · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Just buy anything SONY. They are the worst for DRM nightmares.

    Incidentally, I want to form a SONY-haters club, any takers...any thoughts?

    --
    God: When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all.
    1. Re:If you want security hassles... by jrockway · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I will join. I don't even want to get started on how much I hate them, so I won't. Let's just say that every time I buy something of theirs I get royally burned. Every. Damn. Time. (Needless to say, I don't buy their shit anymore.)

      --
      My other car is first.
    2. Re:If you want security hassles... by thegrassyknowl · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Incidentally, I want to form a SONY-haters club, any takers...any thoughts?

      You can join mine... I started it back when cassette tapes were the next big piracy issue. My auto-reverse walkman just would not play the reverse side of any cassette without chewing it. Take out the cassette and turn it over and it played the back side fine.

      Sony had it back on no less than 10 occasions. Eventually the year ran out and the warranty was expired.. do you think I could get a refund? They wouldn't even fix it.

      I've voted with my wallet ever since.

      The moral of this really long story is that I HATE Sony too.

      Oh, and on the topic of music players that you can't extract anything from, why not get one of those encrypted USB memory sticks and plug it into your... computer. If your co-workers swipe it the most they'll get is garbage. If anyone with a clue swipes it.. well they might be able to figure it out, and if they can work out your encrypted USB memory then they can thwarte the anti-readback on and-old media player.

      --
      I drink to make other people interesting!
  5. Re:Simple Solution by NanoGator · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "Take it with you" is not a solution. At best it's a good practice. Seriously, if that's all it took, then pickpockets would be out of a job.

    As for why he'd want to do that, it's simple: Lots of music players offer recording capabilities. Some people actually put those to good use. I used to have a PocketPC. One of the things I did with it was I recorded voice notes for story ideas. Those are ideas I don't want others getting ahold of. I can see using music players with record capabilities being used in the same way. For some people, this really is an interesting question.

    Honestly guys, I don't know why these knee-jerk 'answers' are so 'informative'.

    --
    "Derp de derp."