Windows Media Player 11 and Urge

j0e_average writes "The Washington Post is running a review of Microsoft's next version of Media Player, and its integration with MTV's new music service Urge. According to reviewer, Rob Pegoraro, 'Not only does this new, Windows XP-only software promote Urge to the exclusion of other retailers, you can't shop at this store-- or even just play your Urge downloads -- in any earlier version of Windows Media Player.' The Microsoft/Urge subscription model contains a new twist as well: 'Urge also lets you rent songs: $9.95 a month (or $99 a year) lets you download all the tracks you want to a computer, while $14.95 ($149 a year) lets you transfer those downloads to most newer Windows Media-compatible players. These rented songs can't be burned to CD and go silent if you stop paying the fees.'"

Comments

i bet

[bensafrickingenius]

"These rented songs can't be burned to CD and go silent if you stop paying the fees"

Oh reeeeely? We'll see.

Re:i bet

[Kamineko]

Shhh! Don't tell anybody, but there's these holes, right, at the back of the computer, yeah?

Audio comes -out- of one, right? Goes to your speakers.

Well, our informants in the underground scene have reported that you can use an top-of-the-line, cracker-produced, DRM-busting hyper-cable, and subtley 're-direct' the flow of audio, into an 'audio recording device'. Or, more ingeniously, back into the computer, and into an 'audio recording application'.

Mum's the word.

Re:i bet

[Joel from Sydney]

It's true -- I just signed up and purchased some John Cage tracks, and they've all gone silent!

Re:i bet

[Basehart]

"Go to Radio Shack and run a patch cord from your soundcard to the soundcard of your friends computer."

Screw friends, just hook the audio out to the audio in on your own computer!

Re:i bet

[andreyw]

I second this. I, in fact, did this very same thing to get rid of some DRM. Yes, I recorded with an insane sampling rate, and I encoded at a pretty high rate.. and honestly? It sounds good enough. Was it worth it? Hard to say. I hate that tune now and I can't stand listening to it anymore. Can you do it? Yes.

Re:i bet

[Colz Grigor]

Hey now! Careful with suggestions like that, before they start claiming that Audacity is illegal because it can be used to circumvent security!

::Colz Grigor

Re:i bet

[BecomingLumberg]

run a patch cord from your soundcard to the soundcard of your friends computer.

Actually, MS will be requiring you to use HDCP for this too, via a HDMI connection. If you do not have a secure digital connection, fear not: you will be able to hear the kazoo rendition just fine.

Should be called "Purge"

[myth_of_sisyphus]

As in, I stopped paying my bill, and now all my music is "purged" from my computer.

Yo!MTV Craps

[ystar]

I have the URGE to avoid this.

Re:Oops! Someone Didn't Proofread (bad Enter key)

[w9ofa]

someonoe

Not only do I declare you a grammar Nazi, I also declare you a spelling Frenchman.

psh..

[zx-15]

Microsoft imposing its own proprietary standards using dominant position in OS market... Such a cliche

We have you surrounded

[acidrain69]

This is the RIAA.

You are in violation of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act. Come out with your hands up, bend over, this won't hurt a bit.

Re:When I hear the name 'Urge', I think of...

[lxs]

Interesting. When I hear "Urge", I think of someone badly needing to use the toilet.