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The Future of Windows Software Distribution

Posted by Hemos on from the implications-across-the-board dept.

Diomidis Spinellis writes "Microsoft's Windows Marketplace Labs offer a preview of their Digital Locker technology. The Digital Locker uses Microsoft's Passport Network to allow Windows users to search, buy, and download software from multiple retailers, storing their product keys for future installations. Both retailers offering the service support digital rights management technologies: Digital River promotes its SoftwarePasport, and eSsellerate its Product Activation technology. Will this technology trigger an across-the-board adoption of DRM for Windows software? How will it affect the distribution of free and open-source software?"

2 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. My Digital Locker smells like gym socks by weinrich · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Amazon already has a "Digital Locker" into which digital items like DVD extras, Users Manuals, and extra music tracks are instantly stored whenever you make an associated purchase. They actually call it your Digital Locker.

    I wonder if anyone in MS marketing has been shopping at Amazon lately?

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  2. How it will effect Open Source? by Ceriel+Nosforit · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I don't think it will effect Open Source much at all. However user friendly it gets it can't get much quicker and simpler than a GUIed-over apt-get, such as Synaptic found in Ubuntu. Then again there's a lot of Open Source software availible for Windows aswell... Maybe the submitter was questioning the stand of Open Source vs. closed source on the Windows platform alone?

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    All rites reversed 2010