playsforsure

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Microsoft rebrands PlaysForSure, gives consumers a reason to buy iPods

Microsoft rebrands PlaysForSure, gives consumers a reason to buy iPodsThis Sure guy?Probably Loverock....He is oneMicrosoft Genuine Advantage.Do you think Apple would develop a software that works on "Windows Only?"Er, actually, they did, sort of.Couple of years ago, Apple's FileMaker released an addon package for their FileMaker Server for Windows that...

Tags: Microsoft Windows, Media players, Digital music, Digital media, Operating systems, Microsoft Corp., PlaysForSure, MP3 player, Filemaker Inc.

Discussion threads 2007-12-13

Microsoft rebrands PlaysForSure, gives consumers a reason to buy iPods

Sometimes I just don't understand Microsoft.  Take this latest move for example.  The company has just abandoned the "PlaysForSure" logo for the digital rights management DRM technology with the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo.  Why is this likely to Microsoft has just given consumers yet another reason to buy iPods...

Tags: Apple iPod, Digital-rights Management, PlaysForSure, Microsoft Corp., Digital Rights Management (DRM), Security, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Blog posts 2007-12-12

MTV punishes Microsoft for abandoning PlaysForSure

MTV punishes Microsoft for abandoning PlaysForSureIt could be simple economics[B]It's hardly surprising that MTV has dumped its ‘Urge' music partnership with Microsoft and hooked up with RealNetworks and Verizon. What would you do if you got stabbed in the back?[/B]It could be simple economics, they stand to make more money...

Tags: Digital rights management (DRM), Digital media, Digital music, Plays-For-Sure, PFS, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Zune, digital-rights management, PlaysForSure, MTV, Check!, Apple Inc.

Discussion threads 2007-08-23

MTV punishes Microsoft for abandoning PlaysForSure

I'm pretty sure that MTV's decision to dump Urge is a way to punish Microsoft for abandoning PlaysForSure. It's hardly surprising that MTV has dumped its 'Urge' music partnership with Microsoft and hooked up with RealNetworks and Verizon. What would you do if you got stabbed in the back?...

Tags: Microsoft Zune, PlaysForSure, Microsoft Corp., MTV, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Blog posts 2007-08-23

Now that Microsoft's licensed DRM doesn't "Play For Sure," will any DRM do it? Ever?

The rest of the world is beginning to get hip to what happens when the provider of a digital rights management technology DRM decides to change gears as Microsoft recently did when it essentially forked its DRM into two versions: one that it keeps for itself and its Zune brand...

Tags: General, Personal Technology, Software Infrastructure, Security, Entertainment, Digital Restrictions Management, Legal, Hollywood on Demand

Blog posts 2006-11-07

Is Zune-to-Zune sharing really that scary?

Is Zune-to-Zune sharing really that scary?3 days is lameIt's good that the DRM wouldn't be applied, but the 3 day / 3 play limit, when applied to content you own, is totally unacceptable. MS **MUST** fix this if they want their wireless sharing feature to be more than a joke....

Tags: Digital rights management (DRM), Digital media, Microsoft Corp., digital-rights management, Microsoft Zune, PlaysForSure

Discussion threads 2006-10-17

Microsoft's PlaysForSure partners in denial?

Microsoft's PlaysForSure partners in denial?RanchingHey, I'm trying to get away from the pervasive automotive metaphors, even at the risk of comparison to Darl McBride.Anyway, there's one thing a rancher knows: cattle are good, more cattle are better, and they don't make you rich while they're alive.Perhaps MS intends to play...

Tags: Business structures, Digital media, Digital music, Microsoft Mouse, Microsoft Corp., PlaysForSure, partnership, WMA

Discussion threads 2006-07-25

Microsoft's PlaysForSure partners in denial?

Last week, just before signing of on Friday, I pointed to the news that Microsoft had confirmed it's intentions to launch it's own portable media playback device. At that time, there were already a few reports on the Web including the original newsbreaker on Billboard Magazine but no...

Tags: Microsoft Corp., PlaysForSure

Blog posts 2006-07-25

Photos: PlaysForSure devices

It's up in the air how partners will be affected by Microsoft's newly announced plans to launch its own Zune music hardware and software.

Tags: partnership, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Zune, hardware, software, PlaysForSure

Image galleries 2006-07-25

Just what we needed: Another proprietary form of CRAP (DRM)

I feel like Oliver Twist saying "Please sir, more." Are we sadomasochists asking for another beating from our dominatrixes (Steve Jobs: Head Mistress)? Go ahead. Send me some art. I'll use it. It's bad enough that if I download a video from the video section of...

Tags: Steve Jobs, digital-rights management

Blog posts 2006-05-09

Gates rails against Blu-ray DRM (but Microsoft's is OK?)

According to an interview of Microsoft chairman Bill Gates by the Daily Princetonian, Gates thinks that the Blu-ray DVD format (recently backed by Warner Bros.) is "anti-consumer." Microsoft, Intel, and other companies are backing an alternative to Blu-ray known as HD DVD. Said Gates in the interview:...

Tags: anti-consumer, Blu-ray disc, Digital Restrictions Management, Microsoft Corp., PlaysForSure

Blog posts 2005-10-21

Microsoft probably mulling music store futures

Speaking of Microsoft's media juggernaut, I've been wondering what Microsoft plans to do with its music store. Just like with Apple, to get its media ecosystem off the ground, Microsoft had to make sure a store was in place where you could buy copy-protected recordings that would work in Microsoft's...

Tags: Microsoft Corp., music

Blog posts 2005-07-06

Additional Resources

Ballmer: Zune services coming to 'next release' of Windows Mobile

As if Windows Mobile wasn't slow or bloated enough already...not much left to say. Windows Mobile is toward the horse's heiney of mobile platforms, right now and I doubt Apple or RIM will screw up their products just to let proven crapware back in... In a socialized world,...

Tags: Smart phones, Telecom & Utilities, Handhelds, Microsoft Windows, Apple iPhone, phone, Steve Ballmer, strategy, Internet, smart phone, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Microsoft Zune, mobile

Discussion threads 2009-10-23

Microsoft considering making Zune services available to Apple users

Hell Yes!iTunes is the only thing that's making me want to ditch my iPhone. It's a bloated piece of garbage. At least on Windows. However, the Zune software runs beautifully. I already have the Zune Pass so win-win.Yep!!!I sure hope they do port it to other...

Tags: Tools & Techniques, Digital music, Digital media, Zune Platform, Apple Inc., software, Microsoft Zune, Zune HD, Microsoft Corp.

Discussion threads 2009-10-06

Windows Mobile 6.5 disappoints; no Start customizations and stylus still required

Apple is safe.Point release or not, Microsoft is under the gun to come up with something better than this retread if they want to stay in the mobile device business. Make no mistake, the handset makers are not just disappointed, they are steaming about Microsoft's inability to keep up, because...

Tags: Keyboards, Mobile operating systems, Operating systems, Telecom & Utilities, Wireless and Mobility, phone, Microsoft Windows Mobile, touch screen, Windows Mobile 6.5, ringer, mobile, Finger-friendly, Microsoft Windows

Discussion threads 2009-10-06

Courier: Microsoft's new take on the Tablet PC?

RE: Courier: Microsoft's new take on the Tablet PC?First off, this is a really cool looking prototype. Second, I would hearken to what others raise; namely, when will the real product ship and what's the OS and tools side of the equation, as Apple has pretty much shown this to...

Tags: Tablets, Notebooks, BTW Here, tablet, Microsoft Corp., tablet PC, Apple Inc., PC

Discussion threads 2009-09-22

Microsoft granted stay of Word injunction

RE: Microsoft granted stay of Word injunction Still thieves not "innovators".failed to live up to his role as "gatekeeper"...In English, that translates to "We lost, therefore somebody must have cheated." Microsoft as a company clearly believes that it simply can do no wrong. They must have attended the...

Tags: Word processors, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Word, I4i, Word injunction

Discussion threads 2009-09-04

Microsoft to show off new search: Will it matter?

Microsoft to show off new search: Will it matter?yeah....we're just talking about search engines, not about having a frenzied commitment against a single company taking over your life.Just a search discussion. Deep breaths. Not a Vista thread. There you go. Clueless kid!Do you even know what...

Tags: Microsoft Windows, SEARCH, Operating systems, Microsoft Corp., Google Inc.

Discussion threads 2009-05-20

Screenshots: Office 2010 technical preview

Screenshots: Office 2010 technical previewLet's use the product line first, regarding this consistency thing...There are still inconsistencies and inequities between the various Office 2007 apps. Some of which date back YEARS.And for system requirements, which typically tend to balloon upward with each subsequent release. Granted, Microsoft's layout for...

Tags: Microsoft Office, Office 2010, Microsoft Corp.

Discussion threads 2009-05-16

The two trends that are conspiring against Microsoft

The two trends that are conspiring against MicrosoftOpen Source softwareOpen Source software that frees a business from the grasp of licenses and enables them to branch out.Good article......I largely agree with the points made.MS have lost direction a bit and need to focus again.Neither trend is sustainableSmartphones are an awkward...

Tags: Smart phones, Netbooks, nettops & MIDs, Microsoft Corp.

Discussion threads 2009-05-04