playsforsure
Latest
Toshiba drops a bomb: Gigabeat V in the US
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!
Microsoft already on their way to patching FairUse4WM
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.
An Open Letter to Microsoft - Why you shouldn't kill FairUse4WM
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.
FairUse4WM strips Windows Media DRM!
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]
Sharp returns to carabiner form with MP-S700/S800 DAPs
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]
JVC Victor busts out line of colorful boring DAPs
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.
Switched On: The next PlaysForSure ad
Each 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?
