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Zune Won't Play Old DRM Infected Files

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the do-as-we-do-not-as-we-say dept.

Spritzer writes "According to the EFF, the new Zune portable media player from Microsoft won't play files infected with the old Microsoft DRM. It seems that all of the 'PlaysforSure' media that has been sold and is currently being sold will not play on the Zune. In addition, Microsoft has now advocated violating the DMCA in order to transfer files to the player. Microsoft Zune architect J Allard was quoted as saying there's 'Lots of DVD ripping software out there that encodes to those formats, so the most popular formats out there, whether it's MPEG-4 or H.264, we'll support those.'" ZDNet offers up additional commentary on this revelation.

3 of 463 comments (clear)

  1. Standard formats vs blackbox drm by GodWasAnAlien · · Score: 1, Redundant

    It should be ovbious to the consumer eventually that standard, transparent formats are good.
    And with opaque encrypted formats all are just as temporary as the intented player.

  2. How appropriate by plopez · · Score: 0, Redundant

    In the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons, Bullwinkle would often say "This time for sure!" just before something blew up in his face. The paralells with 'PlaysforSure' are just rich....

    --
    putting the 'B' in LGBTQ+
  3. Re:You know what they say about assumptions by makomk · · Score: 0, Redundant
    Right interview, but I think you missed the fun bit:

    Q: So up until this point Microsoft's digital music strategy has been largely to create an ecosystem and be a supplier of a DRM platform to manufacturers and online music stores. PlaysForSure was the thrust of Microsoft's strategy until the announcement of the Zune. How does PlaysForSure fit into Microsoft's strategy going forward? It doesn't appear that the Zune will be compatible with any PlaysForSure retailers. How does that affect Microsoft's current partners who rely on PlaysForSure?

    A: I think there's two answers to the question. First answer is, this whole digital music revolution is really just starting. There's still a lot to be figured. We certainly don't think we have it all figured out, and we think there will be change. The second thing is that specifically when it comes to PlaysForSure, think about you might buy a Windows PC versus how my mother might buy a Windows PC. My mom calls up Dell and says, "I have seven hundred bucks, get me a computer. What's the best thing I can get?" She doesn't specify the keyboard, the monitor, the memory configuration. The conversation might get as specific as, "Do you think you want to burn DVDs?" Then she gets a product that shows up and it's all pre-installed. [...]


    Some interesting evasion of the question there IMO, but the person being interviewed doesn't deny it.