Filed in archive Companies by Marc on September 26, 2006

I missed a key defect in my Microsoft Zune media player coverage, Zune Sharing. The player admirably supports a bevy of open file formats, including WMA, MP3, AAC, JPG, WMV, MPEG-4, H.264. As we wrote, it doesn't support Apple's proprietary AAC format, so keep your iTunes songs on your iPod or your PC. But it also doesn't support Microsoft's own DRM format, which is marketed under the Plays For Sure banner.

The EFF brings up the very good point that the omission highlights what is bad about DRM.

To repeat, Microsoft's mobile media player won't play Microsoft-secured files. So it's not compatible with Napster 2.0, Rhapsody, Yahoo! Unlimited, Movielink, Cinemanow, and other services. But plenty of other devices are compatible, including those from Archos, Cowon, creative labs, Dell, Denon, D-Link, Gateway, ILO, iriver, JVC, mobiBLU, mpio, Netgear, Omni, Palm, Philips, RaveMP, RCA, Rio, Roku, Samsung, SanDisk, Tite, Toshiba, ZOTAC.

Related Entries:

Microsoft Zune: Won't Play For Sure - 21 September 2006
Erscheint am 14. Nov.: Microsoft Zune - 30 September 2006
Microsoft Zune Available for Pre-Order - 09 October 2006
Microsoft Zune: Video-Sharing und Handy in Planung - 14 November 2006

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Permalink: Microsoft Zune: Won't Play For Sure

Tags: zune plays for sure microsoft microsoft+zune play+sure zune+play

Trackback: http://publish.creative-weblogging.com/publish/mt-tb.pl/36789

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Vote for Microsoft Zune: Won't Play For Sure:

Currently 8.13/10
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Rating: 8.13 out of 8 vote(s) cast.

Response from: Zune (09/28/06 4:22am)

I think they have decided they no longer want partners in the music business and will be going it on their own. I say its a smart move. The partners can't seem to get it all right like Microsoft will on their own.

Response from: online casino (05/17/07 10:38am)

May this be a lesson to those who mistakenly laud certain DRM as "open" and offering customers "freedom of choice" simply because it is more widely-licensed than other formats. With DRM under the DMCA, nothing truly plays for sure, regardless of whether you're purchasing from Apple, Microsoft, or anyone else.