Zune Cannot Play Songs from Napster?
Last week, Microsoft announced their latest toy, Zune, that is supposed to challenge Apple’s iPod. There are so many feedback. Some of them like the features, such as WiFi connectivity. Some others have negative feedback on Zune.
I am so interested reading posts from Engadget saying that Zune is not compatible with PlaysForSure.
The service and device will not be PlaysForSure compliant, meaning you will not be able to use your Zune player with Napster or Vongo, for example. This will be an entirely new system. Microsoft will continue to support and develop for their PlaysForSure initiative, but all things PlaysForSure are handled by two entirely separate division that will not have any crossover.
Why is this so interesting for me? Zune comes from Microsoft (although it will be manufactured by Toshiba). Microsoft has launched an certification program, called PlaysForSure, for media services and devices. The goal of PlaysForSure is interoperability. It means I can buy songs from any services, such as Napster, URGE or MSN Music. Then I can play them in any devices, such as Creative Zen or iRiver. Furthermore, I can also play them in my PC using Windows Media Player.
That’s the whole idea of PlaysForSure, which is good for customers. Songs from any services can be played in any devices. Why don’t Microsoft make Zune compatible with PlaysForSure then? Perhaps they want to make money from Zune online store, just like what Apple have been doing with iTunes. I guess Microsoft don’t make so much money from the device itself, so they have to find another way to earn money.
Well, as a customer of PlaysForSure, what should we do? Our songs from Napster won’t even play in Zune. Do we have to buy the same songs to play them in Zune? Well… we can strip the DRM off using FairUse4WM and then transfer it to Zune. However, it’s not the way Microsoft want us to do, isn’t it?
September 18th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
ya biasa kan kalo barang baru pasti banyak bug nya apa lagi microsoft gitu loh