Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Switched On: ZuneForSure]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/switched-on-zuneforsure/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/switched-on-zuneforsure/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/switched-on-zuneforsure/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

The moon has only four major phases, but as the Zune -- that satellite around Microsoft's gravitational pull -- enters a familiar fifth phase, what some consider a pale reflection of the iPod has made few waves despite inspiring its share of romantics. Zune began as a new salvo against the iPod as Microsoft grew frustrated in its attempts to make inroads versus Apple's soaring digital media device with its abysmally named and convoluted PlaysForSure rights management scheme. PlaysForSure had actually achieved some level of acceptance on digital music players and even handsets, but as Steve Ballmer has explained, devices that sell in the tens of millions of units per year -- as opposed to hundreds of millions like PCs and handsets (Kin notwithstanding) -- can be a good opportunity for vertical integration of hardware and software.

And so was born Zune, welcoming us to the social with its chunky profile, brown color option, "double shot" facade and the quirky and later abandoned WiFi-based song-squirting sharing feature. Its next major iteration introduced the "squircle" -- a rounded square clickable trackpad that surpassed the click wheel just as Apple was gearing up for the game-changing iPod touch: strike two.

Continue reading Switched On: ZuneForSure

Switched On: ZuneForSure originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>columncolumnsmicrosoftplaysforsuresubscriptionSubscription Musicsubscription servicesubscription servicesSubscriptionMusicSubscriptionServiceSubscriptionServicesswitched onSwitchedOnzuneSat, 07 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft turns the DRM screw on MSN Music owners]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/23/microsoft-turns-the-drm-screw-on-msn-music-owners/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/23/microsoft-turns-the-drm-screw-on-msn-music-owners/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/23/microsoft-turns-the-drm-screw-on-msn-music-owners/#commentsEver wonder why we loath DRM around here as much as we do even when companies come along offering free, all you can eat deals? Well, if the Sony ATRAC debacle didn't serve as a warning there's always this: Microsoft just announced that it will no longer supply authorization keys for songs purchased from the defunct MSN Music service. That means that the PlaysForSure music you purchased will only play on your registered computers (up to 5) for as long as they shall live. As Microsoft puts it, "If you attempt to transfer your songs to additional computers after August 31, 2008, those songs will not successfully play." It's worth noting that the move also locks the registered PC into whatever OS it's running -- any major update or switch to Ubuntu for example, would kill all your music, dead. Now imagine what would happen if iTunes shuttered its store -- Steve won't be around forever you know.

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Microsoft turns the DRM screw on MSN Music owners originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 06:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drmmicrosoftmsn musicMsnMusicplaysforsureportable audioportableaudioWed, 23 Apr 2008 06:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Qtrax promises unlimited, legal P2P downloads from all major labels. Probably too good to be true.]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/qtrax-promises-unlimited-legal-p2p-downloads-from-all-major-lab/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/qtrax-promises-unlimited-legal-p2p-downloads-from-all-major-lab/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/qtrax-promises-unlimited-legal-p2p-downloads-from-all-major-lab/#comments
You know what your mother always used to say about things that seem too good to be true, but the deafening amount of hype and hyperbole being thrown about in reference to the "game changing" Qtrax with "25 million tracks" is quite distracting enough to take note of. According to the Qtrax website, the P2P client -- Windows only, a Mac version is slated for March 18th -- will be available at midnight EST, but while Qtrax is confident of its supposed deals with the majors, a few of those labels claim to be short of an actual deal with Qtrax. The business model is simple enough: DRM'd tracks count the number of times they're played and then report back to the mother ship -- which will divvy up revenue based on ad sales. It sounds like there's PlaysForSure under the hood, and Qtrax claims it'll have an iPod-friendly version ready before too long, but there's a disturbing lack of detail on the official site. There is $30 million of VC funding behind the venture, so they clearly expect some results, but $30 million and high hopes certainly is no guarantee of label support of a crazy -- and perhaps entirely overdue -- scheme like this. We'll be certainly watching for what happens at midnight.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - Qtrax
Read - Times Online (It's a go)
Read - NEWS.com.au (Labels back away)
Read - ZDNet UK (Rupert Goodwins weighs in)

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Qtrax promises unlimited, legal P2P downloads from all major labels. Probably too good to be true. originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>music downloadsMusicDownloadsp2pplaysforsureportable audioportableaudioqtraxMon, 28 Jan 2008 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft rebrands PlaysForSure to Certified For Windows Vista, confuses world]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/12/microsoft-rebrands-playsforsure-to-certified-for-windows-vista/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/12/microsoft-rebrands-playsforsure-to-certified-for-windows-vista/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/12/microsoft-rebrands-playsforsure-to-certified-for-windows-vista/#comments
Microsoft's PlaysForSure DRM just took another step closer to the grave with the help of some rebranding. Those of you with players from SanDisk, Nokia, and Creative among others, looking for compatible music from Napster, Real Rhapsody, Yahoo Music, Wal-Mart and such must now look for the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo, not PlaysForSure. Of course, Microsoft's Zune is also certified for Windows Vista, just not certified for Windows Vista so it won't play back the same protected files. Man, could DRM get any more consumer unfriendly?

[Thanks, Andrew]

Microsoft rebrands PlaysForSure to Certified For Windows Vista, confuses world originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsDRMplaysforsurevistaWed, 12 Dec 2007 07:37:00 EST<![CDATA[A Team MC-213NF PMP sadly not affiliated with Mr. T, might run Linux]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/a-team-mc-213nf-pmp-sadly-not-affiliated-with-mr-t-might-run-l/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/a-team-mc-213nf-pmp-sadly-not-affiliated-with-mr-t-might-run-l/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/07/a-team-mc-213nf-pmp-sadly-not-affiliated-with-mr-t-might-run-l/#comments
Although Taiwan's A Team Computer doesn't actually have anything to do with the TV show, the company's MC-213NF PMP has a lot in common with Murdock, BA, and the rest of the gang: it's tough, versatile, and shamelessly derivative. The flash-based unit comes in capacities from one to eight gigs and features a 2-inch screen, FM radio, 25-at-time picture viewing mode with slideshow capability, decent video codec support including MP4 and XviD, voice recorder, NES and Game Boy Color emulation, PlaysForSure compatibility, an "iPod-like" user interface, and, most interestingly, a Linux SDK for "fast UI / feature customization." No word on pricing or availability, but the unit appears to be an ODM design -- check out the "logo" branding in the press photo -- so hopefully we'll see this thing pop up outside of Asia.

[Via PMP Today]

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A Team MC-213NF PMP sadly not affiliated with Mr. T, might run Linux originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a team computerATeamComputerdigitekMC-213NFplaysforsurepmpportable audioportableaudioTue, 07 Aug 2007 01:27:00 EST<![CDATA[iriver clix gen 2 unboxing and hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/30/iriver-clix-gen-2-unboxing-and-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/30/iriver-clix-gen-2-unboxing-and-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/30/iriver-clix-gen-2-unboxing-and-hands-on/#comments
The new iriver clix is officially out, and as usual we have a bevy of pics for ya.

In case you missed the announcement back in January, the clix gen 2 is the follow-up to the original clix (AKA the iriver U10). Specs include 4GB of storage, a 2.2-inch display, built-in FM tuner, integrated digital voice recorder, up to 24 hours of battery life for music playback (5 for video), and PlaysForSure support (though thankfully you can switch the clix from MTP to USB mass storage mode if you don't want to play with DRM).

Continue reading iriver clix gen 2 unboxing and hands-on

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iriver clix gen 2 unboxing and hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2007 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clixclix gen 2ClixGen2featureshands-oniriverplaysforsureportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideounboxunboxingMon, 30 Apr 2007 12:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360: now with H.264, MPEG-4, PlaysForSure]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/09/xbox-360-now-with-h-264-mpeg-4-playsforsure/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/09/xbox-360-now-with-h-264-mpeg-4-playsforsure/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/09/xbox-360-now-with-h-264-mpeg-4-playsforsure/#commentsColor us tickled, but we totally missed some of the finest points of all in Microsoft's Xbox 360 spring Dashboard update: they're totally tricking out the video (finally!). No longer will we be confined to our very least favorite video codec, WMV -- the new update will enable Windows Media Connect or Media Center streaming MPEG-4 up to 8Mbps, H.264 up to 15Mbps, and PlaysForSure WMV videos (and, as we understand it, PlaysForSure audio as well). Wow, finally we can actually use the 360 to play video that wasn't recorded off our Media Center or converted by our Zune software (cough, hack). See, was that so hard, Microsoft? Now just hold on to your asses until the week of May 7th, Xbox fans, that's all you've gotta do.

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Xbox 360: now with H.264, MPEG-4, PlaysForSure originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscodecsdashboardh.264hdmicrosoftmpeg-4othersplaysforsuresupportupdatexboxxbox 360Xbox360Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360: now with H.264, MPEG-4, PlaysForSure]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/09/xbox-360-now-with-h-264-mpeg-4-playsforsure/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/09/xbox-360-now-with-h-264-mpeg-4-playsforsure/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/09/xbox-360-now-with-h-264-mpeg-4-playsforsure/#commentsColor us tickled, but we totally missed some of the finest points of all in Microsoft's Xbox 360 spring Dashboard update: they're totally tricking out the video (finally!). No longer will we be confined to our very least favorite video codec, WMV -- the new update will enable Windows Media Connect or Media Center streaming MPEG-4 up to 8Mbps, H.264 up to 15Mbps, and PlaysForSure WMV videos (and, as we understand it, PlaysForSure audio as well). Wow, finally we can actually use the 360 to play video that wasn't recorded off our Media Center or converted by our Zune software (cough, hack). See, was that so hard, Microsoft? Now just hold on to your asses until the week of May 7th, Xbox fans, that's all you've gotta do.

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Xbox 360: now with H.264, MPEG-4, PlaysForSure originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscodecsdashboardh.264microsoftmpeg-4playsforsuresupportupdatexboxxbox 360Xbox360Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Sync your Creative Zen with your Zune Pass tracks lately?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/26/sync-your-creative-zen-with-your-zune-pass-tracks-lately/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/26/sync-your-creative-zen-with-your-zune-pass-tracks-lately/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/26/sync-your-creative-zen-with-your-zune-pass-tracks-lately/#comments
Even before the Zune came out we heard that while the software wouldn't sync to other players (and the player to other software), the DRM the Marketplace used was basically compatible with PlaysForSure. Although we haven't seen anyone try and document the process, Zune Pass user AIZEE showed off a couple of screencaps successfully loading DRMed tracks onto his Creative Zen with Creative Media Explorer. We didn't verify the process and thus can't guarantee Zune Pass tracks will work on the portable of your choosing, but again, we're not too shocked that somebody could get their Zune music to authorize on another device. Somebody call us when someone gets the Zune itself to sync with Napster or Rhapsody, ok?

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Sync your Creative Zen with your Zune Pass tracks lately? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Feb 2007 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creativedrmplaysforsureportable audioportableaudiozenzunezune marketplacezune passZuneMarketplaceZunePassMon, 26 Feb 2007 14:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Zune AV cable dissected, just like iPod's]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/27/zune-av-cable-dissected-just-like-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/27/zune-av-cable-dissected-just-like-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/27/zune-av-cable-dissected-just-like-ipods/#commentsAnythingButiPod took a look at the Zune's AV Cable and surprise, surprise... found it to use yet another unique pinout configuration for pumping audio and video out to the TeeVee. However, this time you don't have to get locked into the vendor-specific accessory game since the Zune AV cable shares the same ground location of both the iPod (video) AV Cable and better yet, those off-the-shelf camcorder cables you probably have sitting around the house. As a result, you can use the other cables as long as you route the cable colors correctly for AV-hookup to your TV: iPod AV cable, swap left and right audio; el cheapo camcorder cable, swap video and right-audio. Unfortunately, in yet another drubbing for PlaysForSure devices, the AV cable which works interchangeably between Archos devices, the Zen Vision Series, Cowon iAudio, and even Toshiba's other DAP -- the Gigabeat -- won't work with the Zune. Not without the help of a Xacto knife, anyway.

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Zune AV cable dissected, just like iPod's originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Nov 2006 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A/V cableA/vCableAV cableAvCablemicrosoftpinoutplaysforsureportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideozuneMon, 27 Nov 2006 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft quits the MSN Music store]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/03/microsoft-quits-the-msn-music-store/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/03/microsoft-quits-the-msn-music-store/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/03/microsoft-quits-the-msn-music-store/#commentsIn another strong example of Microsoft's continued "investment" in PlaysForSure, it's pulling out of MSN Music, the big M's very own store for selling the not-completely-dead-yet music format. Now, instead of offering up fairly generic tracks at fairly generic prices, the MSN Music store will offer prospective listeners the choice of hopping over to Microsoft's Zune store, or Real's Rhapsody. We've gotta give Microsoft props forwarding on to a competitor like that (or, at least props for following the terms of a 2005 legal settlement), and in its defense, the URGE store Microsoft started with MTV is still going strong, but with Real slowly moving over to their own DRM, FairUse4WM alive and kicking, and now the MSN Music shut-down, things aren't looking great for PlaysForSure. The changeover happens on November 14th, and Microsoft promises that purchased tracks will continue to work. MSN Music will live on as a music content site, with the "Buy" buttons forwarding users on to Zune or Rhapsody.

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Microsoft quits the MSN Music store originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Nov 2006 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmsn musicMsnMusicplaysforsureportable audioportableaudiorhapsodyzuneFri, 03 Nov 2006 15:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Cingular teaming with Napster and Yahoo to roll its own music service?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/01/cingular-teaming-with-napster-and-yahoo-to-roll-its-own-music-se/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/01/cingular-teaming-with-napster-and-yahoo-to-roll-its-own-music-se/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/01/cingular-teaming-with-napster-and-yahoo-to-roll-its-own-music-se/#commentsAccording to The Wall Street Journal, those in the know are predicting Cingular to announce a music service for its cellphone network as early as tomorrow. It seems that despite rampant rumoring of an iPhone and related wireless iTunes service, Cingular is taking things into its own hands -- with a little help from Napster, Yahoo and eMusic. Initially the service will just involve rolling out PlaysForSure functionality to handsets so that they can play subscription tracks from the major non-Apple music services, but Cingular is also planning a wireless music store with pay-per-track and all-you-can-eat offerings. The phones will also purportedly feature Cingular's "Music ID" tech that will allow a user to hold the phone up to a speaker and have the song playing automatically matched with the Napster database and available for purchase. Of course, there's enough room in the world for more than one music service, and right now it appears Cingular is fine with squeezing both Apple and the PFS onto its network. The word is that (as rumored) Apple and Cingular have signed a deal to co-develop an iPhone, and the same article predicts a January launch at the Macworld Expo. Apple also has recently been awarded a phone-related speech recognition system that adds even more fuel to the fire. Being the seasoned iPhone rumor-mongers we are, we'll take all of these reports with a few grains of salt and sit back to see what actually happens.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - Cingular to announce music service [Thanks, Maurice]
Read - Apple and Cingular forge iPhone deal [Thanks, Ben]

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Cingular teaming with Napster and Yahoo to roll its own music service? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecingularemusiciphonenapsterplaysforsureportable audioportableaudioyahooWed, 01 Nov 2006 10:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Cingular teaming with Napster and Yahoo to roll its own music service?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/01/cingular-teaming-with-napster-and-yahoo-to-roll-its-own-music-se/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/01/cingular-teaming-with-napster-and-yahoo-to-roll-its-own-music-se/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/01/cingular-teaming-with-napster-and-yahoo-to-roll-its-own-music-se/#commentsAccording to The Wall Street Journal, those in the know are predicting Cingular to announce a music service for its cellphone network as early as tomorrow. It seems that despite rampant rumoring of an iPhone and related wireless iTunes service, Cingular is taking things into its own hands -- with a little help from Napster, Yahoo and eMusic. Initially the service will just involve rolling out PlaysForSure functionality to handsets so that they can play subscription tracks from the major non-Apple music services, but Cingular is also planning a wireless music store with pay-per-track and all-you-can-eat offerings. The phones will also purportedly feature Cingular's "Music ID" tech that will allow a user to hold the phone up to a speaker and have the song playing automatically matched with the Napster database and available for purchase. Of course, there's enough room in the world for more than one music service, and right now it appears Cingular is fine with squeezing both Apple and the PFS onto its network. The word is that (as rumored) Apple and Cingular have signed a deal to co-develop an iPhone, and the same article predicts a January launch at the Macworld Expo. Apple also has recently been awarded a phone-related speech recognition system that adds even more fuel to the fire. Being the seasoned iPhone rumor-mongers we are, we'll take all of these reports with a few grains of salt and sit back to see what actually happens.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - Cingular to announce music service [Thanks, Maurice]
Read - Apple and Cingular forge iPhone deal [Thanks, Ben]

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Cingular teaming with Napster and Yahoo to roll its own music service? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleatandtattcingularemusiciphonemobilemultimedianapsterplaysforsureyahooWed, 01 Nov 2006 10:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Rhapsody hits the big 4.0]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/05/rhapsody-hits-the-big-4-0/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/05/rhapsody-hits-the-big-4-0/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/05/rhapsody-hits-the-big-4-0/#comments Along with all that SanDisk and Best Buy fraternizing that Real announced this morning, they've released the new 4.0 version of their Rhapsody music service. Perhaps the biggest change is under the hood: they're basing the player on the new "Rhapsody DNA," which is a technology platform that combines Real's Helix DRM, custom firmware for players (like the Sansa), and a web service API that allows for Sonos integration and other capabilities. What this means for the consumer is that Rhapsody 4.0 operates with the Sansa player in a much more integrated fashion than your average PlaysForSure syncing scheme. The new Rhapsody allows you to subscribe to genre or artist "Channels" which are automatically refreshed on your Sansa; drag and drop tracks into your library or onto the player; and create dynamic playlists that are, again, synced to your player automatically. There are other minor enhancements, mostly based around music recommendations, along with a decent facelift and a library import feature that can pull in stored music files, including files from "other services" -- which we're guessing refers to PlaysForSure files only. Prices are the same as ever: $9.99 for "Unlimited," and $14.99 for "Rhapsody To Go." Real is also promising week-early access to certain "hot new albums," and while all Rhapsody features will be available in the Best Buy Digital Music Store, there's going to be some exclusive content there as well. Real also announced today that they'll be pre-loading 30 hours of Rhapsody music onto all Sansa Rhapsody players sold.

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Rhapsody hits the big 4.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Oct 2006 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>helixplaysforsureportable audioportableaudiorealrhapsodyrhapsody 4.0Rhapsody4.0sandisk sansaSandiskSansasansaThu, 05 Oct 2006 14:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Napster Japan goes live]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/03/napster-japan-goes-live/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/03/napster-japan-goes-live/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/03/napster-japan-goes-live/#commentsAfter making big plays in North America and Western Europe, former P2P piracy powerhouse and current legitimate download service Napster has finally set up shop in Asia, bringing its war with iTunes to the world's second-largest music market: Japan. Although the Japanese store is actually owned more by Tower Records Japan than Napster itself (53.5% versus 31.5%, but considering that Tower.com/Digital hasn't exactly made a huge splash, the branding choice seems to be right on), the services offered are distinctly Napster, with the tried-and-true basic, Napster To Go, and a la carte models having been ported over for this implementation. The initial cache of 1.9 million tracks will come from a mix of Japanese and foreign artists, with domestic tunes costing 200 yen ($1.70) and Western songs going for 150 yen ($1.27) -- the same price that Apple charges for its wares. Besides the all-you-can-eat PlaysForSure subscription option not available from iTunes, the real draw here will supposedly come from Napster's partnership with NTT DoCoMo, which will eventually result in direct-to-mobile downloads (hear that, Apple / Softbank?). Overall the move seems like a good one for Napster -- which may or may not be seeking suitors to help buoy its stock price -- and for fans of Japanese music as well, because now we know that our Kahimi Karie and Pizzicato Five albums deserve to fetch much more on eBay than the usual crap we try to unload.

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Napster Japan goes live originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Oct 2006 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital downloadsDigitalDownloadsjapannapsterplaysforsureportable audioPortableAudiosubscription servicesSubscriptionServicesTue, 03 Oct 2006 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Viodentia responds to Microsoft, releases FairUse4WM 1.3]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/27/viodentia-responds-to-microsoft-releases-fairuse4wm-1-3/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/27/viodentia-responds-to-microsoft-releases-fairuse4wm-1-3/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/27/viodentia-responds-to-microsoft-releases-fairuse4wm-1-3/#commentsAfter yesterday's news that Microsoft was launching a lawsuit campaign against the John Does responsible for FairUse4WM, we weren't expecting the next volley to come so soon. So it's somewhat contrary to expectations that Viodentia has released the newest version of his software to counter Microsoft's latest PlaysForSure IBX update (dated 9/23, regarding the memo which we recently printed). We asked Viodentia about Redmond's accusation that he and/or his associates broke into its systems in order to obtain the IP necessary to crack PlaysForSure; Vio replied that he's "utterly shocked" by the charge. "I didn't use any Microsoft source code. However, I believe that this lawsuit is a fishing expedition to get identity information, which can then be used to either bring more targeted lawsuits, or to cause other trouble." We're sure Microsoft would like its partners and the public to think that its DRM is generally infallible and could only be cracked by stealing its IP, so Viodentia's conclusion about its legal tactics seems pretty fair, obvious, and logical to us. An American megacorp swinging around bogus indictments in order to root out a hacker? Surely you jest!

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Viodentia responds to Microsoft, releases FairUse4WM 1.3 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Sep 2006 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-drmbreaking newsBreakingNewsdrmfairuse4wmmicrosoftplaysforsureportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideoviodentiaWed, 27 Sep 2006 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft sues Viodentia for copyright infringement]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/26/microsoft-sues-viodenta-for-copyright-infringement/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/26/microsoft-sues-viodenta-for-copyright-infringement/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/26/microsoft-sues-viodenta-for-copyright-infringement/#commentsMicrosoft filed a lawsuit in federal court last Friday against "John Does 1-10," for breaking their PlaysForSure DRM software. The defendants include Viodentia, the famed hacker who has now twice broken Microsoft's DRM through his application FairUse4WM. Microsoft alleges that Viodentia and his posse infringed on the company's copyright by creating and distributing their program. From what Viodentia told us in our interview with him yesterday, we know that he doesn't live in the US, so it's unlikely that this suit will have any meaningful effect on him for now. Further, given that Microsoft admits that it doesn't know how to find Viodentia -- and we assume that a hacker of his caliber would be good at covering his online tracks -- this suit appears (again, we invoke the "we are not lawyers" clause here) to actually be a way to get at the records of Google and Yahoo, where Viodentia is said to have email accounts. A declaration filed yesterday in Seattle federal court by Andy Cookson, a Microsoft investigator, states: "Among the third parties who have possession of such information are email service providers Yahoo! and Google. Subpoenas to those entities is likely to provide information about the defendants' locations, and also provide additional information about third party services used by the defendants. With such information, through subpoenas to third parties, it is reasonably likely that I will be able to identify defendants." In other legal filings yesterday, Microsoft declared that it "expects to complete its Doe discovery and identify defendants in 120 days."

[Thanks, resource]

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Microsoft sues Viodentia for copyright infringement originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Sep 2006 21:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy cooksonAndyCooksonbreaking newsBreakingNewslegalmicrosoftplaysforsureportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideoviodentiaTue, 26 Sep 2006 21:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Buy's Insignia NS-DVxG DAP: watch out, iPod]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/18/best-buys-insignia-ns-dvxg-dap-watch-out-ipod/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/18/best-buys-insignia-ns-dvxg-dap-watch-out-ipod/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/18/best-buys-insignia-ns-dvxg-dap-watch-out-ipod/#comments
 Like many of the TiVo VIPs who rushed to order their Series3 boxes so that they would arrive the next day (unfortunately, things didn't turn out so well), we're big proponents of immediate gratification, which is why we still shop at brick-and-mortar retailers like Best Buy despite the increased selection and better prices found online. One thing we don't go to Best Buy for, however, is the Insignia Store, which sells super-cheap "top-notch quality" OEM gear that is supposedly full of "high-tech features" -- but which is really just targeted at consumers on the tightest of budgets. Anyway, the latest "feature-filled" product to take its place among the rest of the Insignia elite will be the NS-DVxG DAP from Joytoto, an absolutely hideous looking player that AVING amusingly implies could topple Apple's reigning champ. Besides the flimsy controls and cheap-looking case, the DVxG does actually offer some compelling functionality, including video playback on the 2.2-inch LCD, wireless headphone and file transfer support via Bluetooth, PlaysForSure compatibility, and a microSD slot to supplement what appears to be 6GB of internal storage. These players should be joining the illustrious ranks of the Insignia family come October, and though pricing hasn't yet been announced, it wouldn't shock us one bit if you end up getting a good deal of change after slapping down two Benjamins.

Update: It went through the FCC, so there you go. Here and here.

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Best Buy's Insignia NS-DVxG DAP: watch out, iPod originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Sep 2006 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best buyBestBuydapinsigniajoyotomp3NS-DVxGplaysforsureportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideoMon, 18 Sep 2006 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[FairUse4WM peeps stay one step ahead of Microsoft]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/02/fairuse4wm-peeps-stay-one-step-ahead-of-microsoft/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/02/fairuse4wm-peeps-stay-one-step-ahead-of-microsoft/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/02/fairuse4wm-peeps-stay-one-step-ahead-of-microsoft/#comments Mere days after Microsoft started pushing a new IBX version for "protecting" PlaysForSure files from its users, the FairUse4WM guys have thrown down a new version that deals with that and other little DRM-circumvention obstacles. The new release -- version 1.2 -- knocks out DRMv1 files you've ripped yourself with protection, breaks down individualized WM9 files and has a workaround for WM11beta2. Of course, we're guessing it won't be long until Microsoft has another quick update to break FairUse4WM again, but it seems like a more drastic update might be in order to shut down this hack for good. We're sure you're well familiar with our stance on this whole issue, and hope that version 1.2 treats you right.

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FairUse4WM peeps stay one step ahead of Microsoft originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Sep 2006 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drmfair useFairUsefairuse4wmibxmicrosoftplaysforsureportable audioportableaudiowmaSat, 02 Sep 2006 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba drops a bomb: Gigabeat V in the US]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/01/toshiba-drops-a-bomb-gigabeat-v-in-the-us/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/01/toshiba-drops-a-bomb-gigabeat-v-in-the-us/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/01/toshiba-drops-a-bomb-gigabeat-v-in-the-us/#comments
Well, well, well -- it seems that Toshiba's been up to more in the portable media space lately than just helping Microsoft out with the Zune manufacturing. In fact, ole Tosh has been working on a DTV-less version of its Japanese OneSeg-capable 30GB V30T; shake off the TV tuner, and you've got America's own MEV30K. This model borrows many of its features from the popular S series -- including Microsoft's Portable Media Center software, WMV9, WMV10, and PlaysForSure video playback, plus support for MP3, WMA, WMA lossless, WAV, and Windows DRM 9 / 10 audio files -- but, like the V30T, tosses what will probably be some well-received spec bumps into the mix. Besides the addition of a built-in speaker, the main changes here involve screen size and battery life: the V30K sports a 3.5-inch TFT LCD (compared to the 2.5-incher on the S, though both share the same QVGA resolution) and promises up to 8 hours of video or 25 hours of audio playback on a full charge (as opposed to the meager 2.5 and 12 hour lifespans for video and audio, respectively, on the S). We're sure that there are more than few people interested in this stamina-filled $400 Gigabeat, so the good news is that pre-ordering begins today through Crutchfield and Amazon, though a nationwide rollout is not expected until sometime in October. Let the iPod comparisons commence!

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Toshiba drops a bomb: Gigabeat V in the US originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Sep 2006 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.5-inch30GBgigabeatmev30kmicrosoftplaysforsurePMPportable audioportable media centerportable videoPortableAudioPortableMediaCenterPortableVideos seriesspeakerSSeriestoshibav seriesVSeriesFri, 01 Sep 2006 18:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft already on their way to patching FairUse4WM]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/28/microsoft-already-on-their-way-to-patching-fairuse4wm/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/28/microsoft-already-on-their-way-to-patching-fairuse4wm/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/28/microsoft-already-on-their-way-to-patching-fairuse4wm/#comments Leave it to the Hawthorne Effect, right? It's been three days since we spilled the beans about the PlaysForSure-stripping FairUse4WM app, and already Microsoft's Windows Digital Media Division is issuing notices to its PlaysForSure licensees regarding patching up the problem. It's a little difficult for the likes of us to decode, but check it out for yourself, we've printed the letter in its entirety (sans email addresses) for your perusal. From what we can glean, Microsoft's prepared to combat this "new circumvention tool" by patching the individualized blackbox component (IBX) in PlaysForSure either as a push down through the software, or as an update available in the near future to Windows users. We won't butcher the technical nuances of this one any further though, so we'll let you guys see what's what and figure out how to keep everyone in the Fair Use fair use loop. Either way, guess it looks like Microsoft wasn't listening to our pleas; are you there Bill? It's us, Engadget.

Continue reading Microsoft already on their way to patching FairUse4WM

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Microsoft already on their way to patching FairUse4WM originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Aug 2006 23:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fair useFairUsefairuse4wmpatchplaysforsurewindows mediaWindowsMediaMon, 28 Aug 2006 23:48:00 EST<![CDATA[An Open Letter to Microsoft - Why you shouldn't kill FairUse4WM]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/27/an-open-letter-to-microsoft-why-you-shouldnt-kill-fairuse4wm/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/27/an-open-letter-to-microsoft-why-you-shouldnt-kill-fairuse4wm/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/27/an-open-letter-to-microsoft-why-you-shouldnt-kill-fairuse4wm/#comments
We know that you're already probably working to fix the, um, hole that's been discovered in Windows DRM 10/11, but we're going to ask you this anyway: please don't stop consumers from using FairUse4WM to remove copy protection from music they've downloaded.

We understand why you put DRM on these files in the first place - the major labels won't grant you (or rather the companies that are using your DRM) a license to sell their music without it - but there are some good reasons why you should let this one slide.

Continue reading An Open Letter to Microsoft - Why you shouldn't kill FairUse4WM

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An Open Letter to Microsoft - Why you shouldn't kill FairUse4WM originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Aug 2006 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fairuse4wmfeaturesnapsterplaysforsureportable audioportableaudiorhapsodywindows drmWindowsDrmyahoo music unlimitedYahooMusicUnlimitedSun, 27 Aug 2006 13:08:00 EST<![CDATA[FairUse4WM strips Windows Media DRM!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/25/fairuse4wm-strips-windows-media-drm/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/25/fairuse4wm-strips-windows-media-drm/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/25/fairuse4wm-strips-windows-media-drm/#comments So far as the yet very quiet forums are claiming, a new app called FairUse4WM can be used to strip Windows Media DRM 10 and 11 (i.e. PlaysForSure, but not WM DRM 9). Yes, yes, we know, we've heard this song and dance before. But before we proceed, let's just be totally clear on how the system works: providers like Napster and Yahoo Music Unlimited provide subscription service for unlimited access to Windows Media DRMed files; stop paying the fee, stop getting access to the files -- but you already knew all this. We tried FairUse4WM and we can verify that it quickly and easily stripped the DRM from our Napster To Go tracks, and made them freely available to play on our Mac (which, of course, has Flip4Mac installed). In other words, it's a simple, apparently lossless, one-step method for making your files playable after you're no longer paying fees on your subscription service. The app didn't work on our Vongo videos, but we can verify with all certainty that yes, Windows Media DRM can now be easily and quickly stripped from PlaysForSure media services. Now watch as Microsoft shuts down the forums and runs damage control in order to prevent an digital media entire platform from collapsing. Click on for a couple more pics of the app in action!

P.S. - Kinda goes without saying but we take absolutely zero accountability for what you may do with FairUse4WM, ok?

[Thanks, Frank]

Continue reading FairUse4WM strips Windows Media DRM!

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FairUse4WM strips Windows Media DRM! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Aug 2006 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drmfairuse4wmplaysforsureportable audioportableaudiowindows mediaWindowsMediawm drmWmDrmFri, 25 Aug 2006 11:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Sharp returns to carabiner form with MP-S700/S800 DAPs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/09/sharp-returns-to-carabiner-form-with-mp-s700-s800-daps/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/09/sharp-returns-to-carabiner-form-with-mp-s700-s800-daps/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/09/sharp-returns-to-carabiner-form-with-mp-s700-s800-daps/#comments Ah yes, the carabiner, most carabiner-ee of all audio player forms. These new ones from Sharp, a followup to their similar MP-S200/S300 DAPs of last year, don't really have a lot more going for them, but we'll give you the break down just for old time's sake. The capacities are the same measly 512MB (MP-S700) and 1GB (MP-S800) of last time, and the mini-display seems fairly identical. There's also the natural MP3/WMA support, along with WMA DRM9 for PlaysForSure enjoyment. The main switch-up is that the new players feature an FM transmitter instead of a tuner, which can come in handy for those road trips, but that 512MB playlist of showtunes is going to get repetitive real fast, believe you us.

[Via Impress]

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Sharp returns to carabiner form with MP-S700/S800 DAPs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 13:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dapmp-s700mp-s800mp3playsforsureportable audioportableaudiosharpWed, 09 Aug 2006 13:38:00 EST<![CDATA[JVC Victor busts out line of colorful boring DAPs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/01/jvc-victor-busts-out-line-of-colorful-boringdaps/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/01/jvc-victor-busts-out-line-of-colorful-boringdaps/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/01/jvc-victor-busts-out-line-of-colorful-boringdaps/#comments What's a budget-class device manufacturer to do when they can't be bothered with making their line of MP3 players interesting through the tired methods of design and feature inclusion? JVC Victor has answered that age-old question by dressing up their new XA-F112 (top) and XA-F52 (bottom) in all sorts of snazzy colors and calling it a day. The prices aren't anything notable, with the 1GB F112 going for around 17,000 Yen ($147) and the 512MB F52 managing 13,000 Yen ($113). The players support MP3, WMA and PlaysForSure, along with voice and line-in recording, and feature a mere organic EL display, yet manage to be almost an inch thick. But if no-holds-barred design isn't your thing or the risky color schemes are catching your eye, you should be able to pick one of these up this September in Japan.

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JVC Victor busts out line of colorful boring DAPs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Aug 2006 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dapjvcjvc victorJvcVictormp3playsforsureportable audioportableaudiovictorwmaTue, 01 Aug 2006 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: The next PlaysForSure ad]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/26/switched-on-the-next-playsforsure-ad/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/26/switched-on-the-next-playsforsure-ad/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/26/switched-on-the-next-playsforsure-ad/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about the future of technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:

At Microsoft, we know that customers appreciate the importance of choice and compatibility. If you're in the market for a new digital media player, look for the logo that ensures interoperability with a wide variety of players from our valued partners and wretched competitors such as Creative, Samsung, iRiver, Archos and Sandisk. PlaysForSure means that you won't be locked into one company's digital media player. On the other hand, isn't that worth the convenience and elegant integration you'd get with a sweet, sweet Zune player?

PlaysForSure also means that you'll have access to the widest variety of digital music stores, so you can choose from content offered by Napster and Yahoo! Music or, for an even better experience, you can take advantage of the great integration of MTV Networks' Urge with Windows Media Player 11 -- an experience so good that we'd just as soon pass on it in favor of a whole new music management application that will integrate with our own player and store. Finally, we'll have something to compete with that company that owns MSN Music. There are also a number of excellent PlaysForSure video services such as CinemaNow and MovieLink that we're going to trounce with the service supporting Zune.

Continue reading Switched On: The next PlaysForSure ad

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Switched On: The next PlaysForSure ad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshumormicrosoftonplaysforsureportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideorossrossrubinrubinswitchedswitchedonzuneWed, 26 Jul 2006 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[LG's MFFM20 shiny flash player]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/23/lgs-mffm20-shiny-flash-player/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/23/lgs-mffm20-shiny-flash-player/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/23/lgs-mffm20-shiny-flash-player/#comments If we didn't know any better we might say LG's new MFFM20 smacks of a little post-Rio-inspired design, spiced with a dash of Sony n' Ilo. Wherever this 512MB or 1GB device got its asymmetrical design cues from, the little shiny OLEDtastic player supports PlaysForSure, and has a 20 hour battery life. Not much else to see here, as expected, but for those whose eyes it caught, know that it appears to be heading for Euro release before landing ashore in the US -- that is, if it ever heads here.

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LG's MFFM20 shiny flash player originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 23 Jul 2006 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flashlgmffm20playsforsureportable audioPortableAudioSun, 23 Jul 2006 07:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft portable to be a totally "Integrated Experience"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/21/microsoft-portable-to-be-a-totally-integrated-experience/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/21/microsoft-portable-to-be-a-totally-integrated-experience/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/21/microsoft-portable-to-be-a-totally-integrated-experience/#commentsFrom the looks of it our own Stephen Speicher was on to something in his latest edition of The Clicker. We've received word from a trusted insider (no, not Mr. Speicher) that the shape everyone's been expecting the Zune to take may not be the approach most people (including us) assumed. Here's what we learned:
  • The Zune name isn't being kicked around with Microsoft; so as far as we know that's still a project codename, but probably will not be the device's final title. This is no surprise.
  • Microsoft's forthcoming portable will not use Microsoft's established media platforms. This includes Windows Media, Windows Media Player, URGE, PlaysForSure DRM, and probably also Portable Media Center. Instead it will use its own software, music store, and DRM that will be incompatible with all the major stores, systems, and device out there right now. Yes, this will piss off the industry (and some of the Microsoft faithful) to no end.
  • Due to this approach, the system is being referred to as the "Integrated Experience." This, we can assume, is not going to be positioned as the final name for the device, but the implications of the description and MO are clear.
  • It will be wireless and not flash-based, so large storage capacities are to be expected; wireless music trading is an important part of the device's feature set and marking presence. This we all already knew.
  • All this information does not conflict with information we've received from our other trusted sources.
We know, we know, this raises more questions than it answers. When Microsoft has already invested millions in establishing their software and DRM platforms, hooking up with huge names like Napster, Yahoo, Real, and MTV, and encouraging hardware partners to get Microsoft-centric devices on the market, now they're going to throw all that away and compete with everyone else (and themselves)? Well, the answer is very simple. In order to fight fire with fire against Apple, it's obvious a music service + device ecosystem like what Microsoft offers now can't compare to the user experience of an incredibly tight vertical integration. Microsoft can't take on the iPod without taking on its own platforms and partners -- they have to fight fire with fire.

If J. Allard and his crew at Microsoft really are behind this project, these details make perfect sense. The corporate culture of the company is such that Allard's team is expected to work outside the confines of Microsoft's typical boundaries, which might otherwise hinder the company getting a foothold in previously unentered markets. Does anyone actually think the Xbox 360 is anything like the normal Microsoft product and marketing experience? No. But it's definitely shaping up so Microsoft's media player is going to be more media player than Microsoft.

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Microsoft portable to be a totally "Integrated Experience" originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Jul 2006 13:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drmipodmicrosoftplaysforsureportable audioportable videoPortableAudioPortableVideoxboxzuneFri, 21 Jul 2006 13:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Datasafe's Oomi 2GB DAP: Still a Pebble by any other name]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/11/datasafes-oomi-2gb-dap-still-a-pebble-by-any-other-name/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/11/datasafes-oomi-2gb-dap-still-a-pebble-by-any-other-name/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/11/datasafes-oomi-2gb-dap-still-a-pebble-by-any-other-name/#comments

Clearly it was the name "Pebble" which caused the EZAV EMP-700 music player to come up short in its attempt to usurp the iPod from its DAP dominating position. Oomi, yeah, duh, that's the change that's needed. That and support for PlaysForSure WMA, MP3, a 2GB capacity, voice recorder, FM radio, and a reported 12 hour battery life will almost certainly, uh, make no difference whatsoever. Here's a hint: think ecosystem. This Korean product, made in China can be yours in the UK for about £70 or $130. Now you know.

[Via Stuff]

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Datasafe's Oomi 2GB DAP: Still a Pebble by any other name originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Jul 2006 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dapdatasafeezav emp-700EzavEmp-700mp3 playerMp3Playeroomipebbleplaysforsureportable audioportableaudiowmvTue, 11 Jul 2006 09:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with Napster's new 1GB player]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/29/hands-on-with-napsters-new-1gb-player/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/29/hands-on-with-napsters-new-1gb-player/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/29/hands-on-with-napsters-new-1gb-player/#comments Napster isn't so shy about their new DAPs after all. We just got to spend a little time with Napster's new 1GB PlaysForSure promotional player, and we liked what we saw for the most part. The tiny device probably won't be seen outside of its current role of attracting 1-year subscriptions, but it manages a nice look, decent user interface and a commendable 40 hour battery life -- not bad for $50. Of course, the player's first role is to support DRM10 PlaysForSure files from Napster To Go, but regular old WMA files and MP3s are supported as well, and it doesn't seem that Napster has made an effort to lock down the player from other services. You can also play back MPEG-4 video on the tiny, but nice, 128 x 160 LCD, but you'll be on your own for content since Napster doesn't currently offer any vids. There's also JPEG and FM playback, and everything is accessible via a convenient and fast iPod-like menu system. We'd estimate the player is 10-12mm thick, but while it's shorter than the iPod nano, the player felt comfortable in our large hands, and the buttons were plenty easy to use. It might all come down to your preference of music service, but we can't see this little OEM player standing in your way. Keep reading for some more pics.

Continue reading Hands-on with Napster's new 1GB player

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Hands-on with Napster's new 1GB player originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jun 2006 22:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1gbaudiodapmp3napsterplayerplaysforsureportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideowmaThu, 29 Jun 2006 22:05:00 EST<![CDATA[RCA releases H100 and H116 HDD-based DAPs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/27/rca-releases-h100-and-h116-hdd-based-daps/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/27/rca-releases-h100-and-h116-hdd-based-daps/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/27/rca-releases-h100-and-h116-hdd-based-daps/#commentsRCA's got a new pair of hard drive-based MP3 players for those folks still grieving over the death of the iPod mini, complete with 4GB and 6GB hard drives, black and white screens, and even a little bit of design flair in the form of chrome accents. The only real difference between the H100 (pictured) and H116 (available at Target as the H106), besides the size of their drives, is the fact that the more capacious H116 ships with a combination car charger/FM transmitter -- oh, and the non-touch-sensitive scroll wheel is black instead of green. Both models feature 1.5-inch displays with white on black text, 16-hour rechargeable batteries, PlaysForSure and Windows Media Player 11 compatibility, and Media Transfer Protocol (MTP support). You're certainly not getting a lot of extras here, but then again, you won't be paying much for these models either; $139 will score you the H106, while two more gigs and the car kit will set you back thirty bucks more.

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RCA releases H100 and H116 HDD-based DAPs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jun 2006 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4gb6gbdapfm transmitterFmTransmitterh100h106h116hard driveHardDrivemp3mtpplaysforsureportable audioportableaudiorcathomsonTue, 27 Jun 2006 16:03:00 EST<![CDATA[SLA 5520 Streamium adapter on the cheap]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/26/sla-5520-streamium-adapter-on-the-cheap/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/26/sla-5520-streamium-adapter-on-the-cheap/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/26/sla-5520-streamium-adapter-on-the-cheap/#comments If you've been looking for a no-frills wireless Streamium adapter that won't wake you up in the morning, Philips is dropping their new SLA 5520 that might just do the trick. There's only a small two-toned screen, and no video support or extra functionality other than PlaysForSure. Still, for $99 this unit should mean some low-cost Streamium proliferation for people with an existing investment in Streamium, or who have been waiting on the wireless music streaming sidelines.

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SLA 5520 Streamium adapter on the cheap originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jun 2006 17:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mp3musicphilipsplaysforsuresla 5520Sla5520streamiumwifiMon, 26 Jun 2006 17:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Digital Cowboy's SOUND Cowboy: keeps your saddle light]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/19/digital-cowboys-sound-cowboy-keeps-your-saddle-light/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/19/digital-cowboys-sound-cowboy-keeps-your-saddle-light/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/19/digital-cowboys-sound-cowboy-keeps-your-saddle-light/#comments

So, here we have Digital Cowboy's new SOUND Cowboy audio excrescence. This AM/FM radio with an aptitude for MP3 and WMA PlaysForSure playback features 256MB of on-board memory, SD expansion, and a "drip-proof" sheath of boxy plastic to keep your Hank dry for up to 10-hours off battery. The perfect companion to that eucalyptus bath you've been hankerin' fer after a hard day's ride eh Buckaroo Panzai? So go ahead, pick 'er up (if you can) when it drops in June for an expected ¥9,980 or about $87.

[Via Impress]

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Digital Cowboy's SOUND Cowboy: keeps your saddle light originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jun 2006 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdigital cowboyDigitalCowboymp3playsforsureportable audioportableaudioradiosound cowboySoundCowboywmawma drmWmaDrmMon, 19 Jun 2006 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[MusicGremlin MG-1000 review roundup]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/16/musicgremlin-mg-1000-review-roundup/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/16/musicgremlin-mg-1000-review-roundup/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/16/musicgremlin-mg-1000-review-roundup/#commentsWe've been following start-up Music Gremlin for some time now, from its ambitious beginnings as a software company through its transition to a reference device designer and finally into a self-branding manufacturer, so we were more than a little disappointed to learn that lukewarm reviews of the recently-launched MG-1000 DAP indicate that it contains no small number of bugs and frustrating restrictions. Like the prototype Zing player that we recently spotted (but unlike the similarly-equipped SoniqCast devices), the MG-1000 offers direct-to-device downloads along with device-to-device file transfers thanks to built-in WiFi, but these features are limited to customers who also pay $15-a-month for the proprietary Music Gremlin service, on top of the $300 they already shelled out for the unit itself. Some of the problems reviewers have mentioned -- such as an intermittent WiFi connection, cumbersome search process, and lack of automatic power down or FM presets -- can be addressed by the company in future firmware releases, but other issues -- like the small 8GB hard drive, relatively weak battery life, and inability to share any tracks besides subscription downloads with anyone but fellow subscribers -- are either hardware-based or can't be resolved due the conditions that music studios include in their licensing agreements. Unfortunately, unless you really, truly need to ability to download music when you're away from your computer, the drawbacks to this device when compared to a similarly-priced, video-playing 30GB iPod don't seem to outweigh the limited benefits you'll derive from its wireless capabilities.

Read- The Wall Street Journal's Walter Mossberg
Read- Cnet
Read- Laptop Magazine

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MusicGremlin MG-1000 review roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jun 2006 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8gbdapdigital audio playerDigitalAudioPlayerfm tunerFmTuneripodmg-1000musicgremlinplaysforsureportable audioportableaudiosoniqcastsubscription serviceSubscriptionServicewifiwireless downloadingWirelessDownloadingzingFri, 16 Jun 2006 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Philips announces GoGear SA9100 and SA9200 DAPs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/14/philips-announces-gogear-sa9100-and-sa9200-daps/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/14/philips-announces-gogear-sa9100-and-sa9200-daps/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/14/philips-announces-gogear-sa9100-and-sa9200-daps/#commentsBlu-ray players and portable media centers weren't the only thing on Royal Philips Electronics' mind today, as the company also revealed a new pair of flash-based GoGear DAPs as part of the "Holidays in June" campaign. We've already seen Philips do the flash thing before -- not to mention the hard drive thing -- but with the nano-like SA9100 and SA9200 the company has chosen to drop the low capacities of old in favor of 1GB and 2GB of storage, respectively. Both models also sport color screens for viewing photos and album art, a backlit touchpad for navigation, FM tuner, voice recorder, and a rechargeable battery promising 14 hours of playback, and both devices are also PlaysForSure-compliant. You'll be able to pick up the higher capacity model for around $200 when it hits stores next month, while the single gig unit will cost about $150 at its scheduled September release.

Read- GoGear SA9100
Read- GoGear SA9200

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Philips announces GoGear SA9100 and SA9200 DAPs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jun 2006 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1gb2gbdapfm tunerFmTunergogear sa9100gogear sa9200GogearSa9100GogearSa9200holidays in juneHolidaysInJuneplaysforsureportable audioPortableAudioroyal philips electronicsRoyalPhilipsElectronicsvoice recorderVoiceRecorderWed, 14 Jun 2006 13:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Philips PMC7230 Portable Media Center]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/14/philips-pmc7230-portable-media-center/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/14/philips-pmc7230-portable-media-center/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/14/philips-pmc7230-portable-media-center/#comments
Remember that Tatung Portable Media Center that first turned up at Computex almost exactly a year ago? No? Don't worry about it, because it turns out that Philips is OEM'ing it. The Philips version, which is dubbed the PMC7230, comes with a 30GB hard drive (though the version we played with had only a 20GB drive), 3.5-inch display, PlaysForSure compatability, and a little kickstand on the back so you don't have to hold the thing in your hands for two hours while you're watching a movie. Should be available in September with a retail price of $349 (which is probably about fifty bucks too expensive).

Click on for some more hands-on pics.

Continue reading Philips PMC7230 Portable Media Center

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Philips PMC7230 Portable Media Center originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jun 2006 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>philipsplaysforsureportable media centerportable videoPortableMediaCenterportablevideoWed, 14 Jun 2006 10:06:00 EST<![CDATA[MSI's P610 flash and P640 micro-drive MP3 players]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/09/msis-p610-flash-and-p640-micro-drive-mp3-players/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/09/msis-p610-flash-and-p640-micro-drive-mp3-players/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/09/msis-p610-flash-and-p640-micro-drive-mp3-players/#comments

You have to admire their determination, 'cause MSI just keeps the MP3 players coming. This swanky pair feature 1.8-inch 128x160 displays, optional FM tuners, line-in/voice/FM radio recording, and playback of your JPEG snaps and MP3/WMA and PlaysForSure WMA audio files. The P610 (on the left) sports up to 2GB of flash in that slim (no, not that slim) chassis while the P640 brings an 8GB, 1-inch micro-drive (with room to grow) and associated chub to the table. If we knew the price and availability, we'd tell ya.

[Via Anything But iPod]

Read -- MSI P610
Read -- MSI P640

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MSI's P610 flash and P640 micro-drive MP3 players originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jun 2006 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DAPMISmp3P610P640playsforsureportable audioportableaudiowmaFri, 09 Jun 2006 08:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Creative MuVo S200 reviewed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/05/creative-muvo-s200-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/05/creative-muvo-s200-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/05/creative-muvo-s200-reviewed/#comments We can't say we were too excited about Creative's MuVo S200 when it was announced a couple of months ago, and now CNET has taken it for a spin and confirmed most of our suspicions. Sure, the player has a cute and tactile -- if flimsy -- build, a roughly 20 hour battery life from replaceable AAA batteries, and all the usual not-made-by-Apple frills like PlaysForSure, FM and a mic. But there just really isn't a lot going on here. The PLED display is minuscule, and the 0.6MB per second transfer speed was the slowest CNET has seen this year. They found the simplicity of the controls appealing and solid to push, but the buttons rattled around when they shook the device. Apparently the on-screen lyrics karaoke feature is a nice addition, and there is some SmartFill software to load the device ala Apple's Autofill, but it lacks most of the "smart" options of Apple's version. At roughly $125 for the 1GB version, the S200 isn't a terrible deal, but we're just not sure what's going to set this apart from the pack.

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Creative MuVo S200 reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Jun 2006 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creativemp3muvo s200MuvoS200playsforsureportable audioportableaudioreviewMon, 05 Jun 2006 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dual's PlaysForSure-friendly XDRM7710 head unit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/duals-playsforsure-friendly-xdrm7710-head-unit/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/duals-playsforsure-friendly-xdrm7710-head-unit/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/duals-playsforsure-friendly-xdrm7710-head-unit/#comments
If you're one of the select few who've decided to say "iDon't," then A/V electronics manufacturer Dual has a new car stereo that might be right up your alley, as it allows you to hook up your PlaysForSure-compatible DAP and control it from the head unit or included remote. Well, it actually costs an extra $100 for the USB adapter that enables this functionality, but that still only puts you out a total of $350, and then you're able to play your digital tracks off of CDs or almost any non-iPod player, but unfortunately not SD cards as well -- hey, you can't have it all. The XDRM7710, as this model is known, also features a motorized faceplate and XM receiver jack -- but certainly not the most stylish design we've ever seen -- and is scheduled to ship in July.

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Dual's PlaysForSure-friendly XDRM7710 head unit originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 May 2006 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car audiocar stereoCarAudioCarStereodigital musicDigitalMusicdualhead unitHeadUnitipodplaysforsureportable audioportableaudioremoteusbxdrm7710Tue, 23 May 2006 11:35:00 EST<![CDATA[MTV and Microsoft launch URGE]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/mtv-and-microsoft-launch-urge/#comments
Some six months after first announcing it, Microsoft and MTV have launched their URGE music service. The new service will be fairly similar to other subscription-based services that rely on Microsoft's PlayForSure DRM, and will offer 2 million songs, and have a monthly fee of $9.99, or $14.99 for a "to go" version that will work with PlaysForSure-compatible audio players. Of course, URGE will have one advantage that will inevitably help it make up for its late entry to the market: integration into the next version of Windows Media Player. That may cause some grumblings from the likes of Yahoo and Napster, though Microsoft has already settled with Real, so we suspect we're not going to hear them crying foul (besides, Real has been focusing most of its ire on Apple lately, something we think Microsoft will be perfectly happy to support).

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MTV and Microsoft launch URGE originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 May 2006 09:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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