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Microsoft Screws Customers Less, Keeps MSN Music Servers Open Late
Posted by Benny Goldman at 2:09 AM on June 20, 2008
Microsoft will extend the life of its MSN Music servers—that authorise its old purchased music for new PCs or players—to at least 2011, after originally scheduling them for shutdown later this year. After "careful consideration", it decided it was a good idea to hold off on screwing the poor folks who bought songs smothered in PlaysForSure (HA!) DRM. Microsoft recommends burning your songs to CD to avoid being caught in this DRM death hole; we say you should poke around the web—there are plenty of ways to strip DRM without burning a CD. [Digital Home Thoughts]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
JEmlay
Posted 3:13 AM 20/6/08
"Microsoft recommends burning your songs to CD to avoid being caught in this DRM death hole"....
Because CDRs last a lifetime, oops, I mean last at least 10 years, oops, I mean last at least 5 years, oops, I mean......
BOGUS!!!! I've been telling people since day one to stay away from this garbage.
JEmlay
BloggyMcBlogBlog
Posted 2:57 AM 20/6/08
Wasn't PlaysForSure also the DRM Yahoo Music had back in the day for their subscription service?
BloggyMcBlogBlog
92BuickLeSabre
Posted 2:48 AM 20/6/08
@strider_mt2k: Me too. I think we should organize something, perhaps through our local civic organizations, schools, and houses of worship.
92BuickLeSabre
strider_mt2k
Posted 2:46 AM 20/6/08
@92BuickLeSabre: I have a couple of blanks I'll donate.
strider_mt2k
Late_Night
Posted 2:45 AM 20/6/08
Anybody have any good suggestion on a good drm stripping program? I don't have Microsoft's flavor of DRM but there's a few iTunes purchases I'd like to strip but not compromise on quality.
Late_Night
JacquesAss
Posted 2:45 AM 20/6/08
Benny:
Where the hell did you get that photo? That's one of the more ridiculous things I've seen. Is that fat man wearing a giant fanny pack to a festival? Is he dancing or being assaulted?
So many questions.
JacquesAss
Benny Goldman
Posted 2:44 AM 20/6/08
@bpatten: Grab on deez, buddy.
Benny Goldman
92BuickLeSabre
Posted 2:42 AM 20/6/08
So this applies to people who a) were using the service and b) seriously couldn't figure out how to resolve this on their own or c) have no idea it is happening.
Wouldn't it be cheaper, easier, and more efficient to just go to those 16 homes and burn the CDs for them?
92BuickLeSabre
strider_mt2k
Posted 2:42 AM 20/6/08
DRM is a sucker's bet anyway.
strider_mt2k
Monty
Posted 2:40 AM 20/6/08
Fortunately a situation like this could never happen with other DRM-based products from another major company, right? The fact is that there is no safe bet in the DRM horse race. Ultimately, they will all lose.
Monty
bpatten
Posted 2:23 AM 20/6/08
@uberfu: I agree, I expect no less from gizmodo, the master of Hyperbole.
I compare people losing their music due to DRM server shutdown to people who lose music at the horse track. Sorry, you bet on the wrong horse if you put money on "PlaysForSure".
bpatten
uberfu
Posted 2:15 AM 20/6/08
I think the title of this article should read:
Breaking News: Microsoft Condones Pirating Music!
uberfu
JEmlay
Posted 3:42 AM 20/6/08
@berribrand:
So do we. They're in a windowless server room. Some do but most do not. Even those that do, it depends on what drive you put them in.
JEmlay
berribrand
Posted 3:37 AM 20/6/08
@JEmlay: Huh? My CD-Rs have lasted 10 years. I keep them out of the sunlight packed in a box.
berribrand
SuppleMonkey
Posted 4:25 AM 20/6/08
I think the extension is unfortunate. Because if they did shut it down this year, it would help people realize how not-in-control they are of their DRM'd tracks.
Sort of like high gas prices are "helping" folks realize the value in fuel-efficient vehicles.
SuppleMonkey
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
Posted 4:23 AM 20/6/08
And if ever Amazon were to ever go under, or at least cancel their download store, no one gets screwed.
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
wjousts
Posted 4:03 AM 20/6/08
@bpatten: people who lose music at the horse track.
Huh? Never heard of anybody losing music at the horse track. Did you drop a CD in the mud while you were there or something?
wjousts
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
Posted 5:15 AM 20/6/08
@JEmlay: I don't believe that CD players will suddenly disappear, because I don't believe that artists would just want to completely cut off what many still hold to be a valuable medium for their work. Concert CD's and promo discs will probably still be popular for years to come.
Hopefully more companies get pressured into going the Amazon route, and hopefully iTunes finally dumps the Fairplay DRM from its audio library once and for all (far too many tracks are still DRM'd).
Kaiser-Machead's got LindsayJoy's cookies on the SuperDrive
JEmlay
Posted 4:45 AM 20/6/08
@SuppleMonkey:
Good point! It makes me sick to think what these companies are capable of doing to people. Don't get me wrong, it's not the companies fault! Everything is spelled out in the agreement. iTunes included. It's been a while so if I remember correctly, Apple has the right, AT ANY TIME, to change the codec (flip a bitch) and offer something else or to discontinue the service outright.
Who the hell would dump thier money into that? But then again CDs wont be around forever either. Although, records still are. Many life times in fact.
JEmlay
VENAT0R
Posted 8:41 AM 20/6/08
haha i lol'd at the picture and caption.
wait a second... doesnt the RIAA get pissed at people burning and ripping CDs?
VENAT0R
bpatten
Posted 11:11 AM 20/6/08
@wjousts: Indeed. You know what I meant though.
bpatten