Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Windows Media Player 11 and Urge

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the toggling-the-new-toys dept.

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.'"

21 of 488 comments (clear)

  1. WMPlayer 11 beta by penguin_asylum · · Score: 3, Informative

    I tried out the beta of windows media player 11... It's pretty nice looking, and the new organization for the music library is a lot better, but all in all it feels like a skin for windows media player 10 sometimes (not that there's anything wrong with that...) It does look much sleeker than version 10, but I'm hoping they'll make changes to skin mode as well, which currently looks the same as it did in version 10.

  2. Re:sigh by kalebdf · · Score: 2, Informative

    Don't worry about downloading and installing WMP11. You CAN uninstall it.

    When you get to the ADD/REMOVE Programs window, click the check box at the top that says "Show Updates."

    As for the rights of our music, it should be ours (to do with it as we please--listen, rip, destroy it with a shredder, or resell it) we bought it!

    -specialk

  3. Re:I am the only one who - try VLC by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Have you tried VLC Its basicly a no-frils media-player that runs on everything and plays almost-any file type. Its one of my favourites, as it does playing songs and does it well (well it also streams stuff and converts between formats, but it doesn't shove all the extra stuff in your face) see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VLC_media_player

  4. Re:i bet by Willuknight · · Score: 5, Informative

    Why complicate things. Download Audacity and record your stereo output.

    --
    Do not anger the Karma Whores, for they don't bathe often, and might decide to come visit you in person. -Ryan Amos
  5. Re:I am the only one who by Masami+Eiri · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://www.oldversion.com/ I'm pretty sure you can snag Winamp 2.x there.

  6. Lousy Article; misses a real problem with Urge by MBraynard · · Score: 5, Informative
    The writer probably was unfamiliar with the other services that have been out for over a year that have the same offering - Napster, Yahoo Unlimited, and several others.

    What Urge is missing - and what I was looking forward to - was a low low intro price for the first year. I got the first year of Yahoo - including to go - for $60.

    Also, Urge is more expenensive than Yahoo as you can get the non-to-go version for only $5 at Yahoo rather than $10 at Urge.

    All the other complaints in the article - old news. Either the PlayforSure thing is for you or it isn't.

  7. Re:i bet by jtdennis · · Score: 2, Informative

    you can still burn songs purchased from iTunes, they limit the number of burns of a playlist, but not the number of burns per song. With iTMS you have access to the file as long as you have the file, and you can burn it as a data file on a CD or as a standard audio cd.

    --
    -- "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings" -Optimus Prime
  8. Why certainly! by TheSpoom · · Score: 5, Informative

    I believe you would be looking for the Hymn project.

    And just for shits and giggles, you could use FreeMe or DRM2WMV for Windows Media 10 DRM'd files.

    Trust me, cracking 11 is just a matter of time.

    --
    It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
    - E. Debs
    1. Re:Why certainly! by jawtheshark · · Score: 2, Informative

      Well, Hymn is nice and fine... except it doesn't work with iTunes 6. Alas, I don't have a iTunes 5 installer anymore. I'm not complaining: all music I actually purchased in the iTMS, was while I still had iTunes 5 installed and those songs were all stripped from DRM by Hymn. For now, no ITMS shopping for me... It doesn't matter: I'm getting old, I have all the music that I like ;-)

      --
      Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)
    2. Re:Why certainly! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      http://www.oldapps.com/itunes.htm for old versions :)

  9. Re:i bet by cgenman · · Score: 4, Informative

    Try Hymm. There are mac and windows variants, as well as Java.

    Or you can burn to CD, rip from CD, with no extra software required.

    Or buy iTunes music through the Sharp Musique app, an iTunes store interface that simply skips the tawdry part where they encrypt and DRM the file.

    Or use the older stuff, like QTFairUse, VLC Media Player, and PlayFair.

    --
    The ______ Agenda
  10. Fixed DRM2WMV link by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    DRM2WMV.

    (Posting anonymously to not karma whore.)

  11. Re:Not a consumer-oriented model by assassinator42 · · Score: 2, Informative

    You can purchase songs withs URGE. I believe all of them are $0.99. And the subscription model seems to be working for Netflix and the like. It's an option, you don't have to choose it.

  12. Re:What's the logic here? by ClamIAm · · Score: 2, Informative
    Why does everyone who makes the "Cost to fill my iPod" pricing argument always ignore the fact that most if not all iPod buyers have a preexisting CD collection with which to populate their device? Also, it would be even more financially responsible to add to your music collection by buying used CDs-- $150 a year would get you at least 15-17 of them, you can rip those tracks to whatever format and quality level you prefer, and they're yours to keep forever with no DRM.

    Also also, there are ways to get free music, legally. Places like etree.org host tons of recordings from trade-friendly artists. The Creative Commons site has a page that links to some places to get music, including SoundClick, a site very reminiscent of the old, good mp3.com.

  13. Re:i bet by sumdumass · · Score: 2, Informative

    Speaking of full circle, In one of metalica's video documentry's they sold)thier box set i think), They told a story of playing on the east coast for the first time. They were nervous but got over it when they discovered a small fan club in the first few rows. They credit it with people on the west coast copying the tapes and sending them to thier cousins and reletives on the east cost. (piracy?). Then they come out against napster because thier is no benefit for them, Then after the backlash, They come out in favor of Downloading )piracy?)as long as the album is in the store shelves.

  14. Re:I can't make it work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Fanboys... Pay attention before you type - you only need to enter a credit card if you plan to purchase music. I am happily using my 2 week trial w/o ever entering a credit card. When those two weeks are up lets hope that I can easily subscribe for another 2 free weeks...

  15. Virtual Audio Loopback Cable by jinxidoru · · Score: 3, Informative

    Or just use vsound. It's very easy to use and great quality without the trouble of hooking up two computers.

  16. Re:Resonable price is not renting by Scaba · · Score: 3, Informative

    DRM is a bastardization of copyright law. And I quote:

    The primary purpose of copyright law is not so much to protect the interests of the authors/creators, but rather to promote the progress of science and the useful arts--that is--knowledge. To accomplish this purpose, copyright ownership encourages authors/creators in their efforts by granting them a temporary monopoly, or ownership of exclusive rights for a specified length of time.
  17. Re:How is this a new twist? by glesga_kiss · · Score: 2, Informative
    while $14.95 ($149 a year) lets you transfer those downloads to most newer Windows Media-compatible players.

    That statement is also a lie. To the best of my knowledge, none of the Windows Media compatible mobile phones can touch the DRM used in Windows Media files. Pehaps they have a line of portable players that can, but I've never seen them.

  18. Re:i bet by Sublmnl · · Score: 2, Informative

    Or use Audacity and set it to record the master output and voila! A beautiful 24bit or 32bit .wav file.

  19. Re:i bet by Fluk3 · · Score: 1, Informative

    Burn an audio cd from your itms song, then rip the cd to a high-quality MP3. DRM gone.

    --
    I've been upgraded to "bad"!