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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.'"

8 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: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
  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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.

  8. 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.