Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Just When You Thought DRM Protection Schemes Couldn't Get Any Stupider
Posted by Ed Hansberry in "NEWS" @ 02:00 PM
http://www.betanews.com/article.php3?sid=1080606040
"Published reports have indicated that Microsoft is busy readying a secure clock DRM technology dubbed "Janus." Janus enables songs distributed under a subscription model to be transferred to portable devices, with a built in "time bomb" that enables songs to expire in the event that a customer's subscription lapses."
This is just what I was looking for the other day, a place where I could go and rent some music and worry about whether or not the rental would expire mid-way into my vacation. To make this extra-reliable I am sure it will somehow be tied to PassPort, which I can honestly say is the most trouble free, reliable and user friendly single sign on service Microsoft operates.
"It is unknown whether the same technology will be put to use in the MSN Music service, but Microsoft must still clear the hurdle device synchronization poses. According to Jupiter Research, synchronization is one of the top three features customers look for in portable music players. Microsoft has hinted that it will leverage its software portfolio to tether MSN Music snugly into its product mix."
By leveraging their software portfolio, I wonder if they mean using ActiveSync? For what it is worth, I don't see any mention of this working with Pocket PC or Smartphone devices, despite their support for the Windows Media 9 codecs, something emphasized in this comment: "However, Microsoft hasn't made a strong move to focus its Smartphone or PocketPC software on media devices. Toward that end, it is touting the Portable Media Center, a design for a small handheld device that will store and play audio and video. Versions of this, developed by Creative Technology, will be on the market later this year."
I do think it is bad they are not supporting the millions of mobile devices in our hands right now, but on the other side, I personally would never consider such a rental. I'd sooner use a hardware dongle.
"Published reports have indicated that Microsoft is busy readying a secure clock DRM technology dubbed "Janus." Janus enables songs distributed under a subscription model to be transferred to portable devices, with a built in "time bomb" that enables songs to expire in the event that a customer's subscription lapses."
This is just what I was looking for the other day, a place where I could go and rent some music and worry about whether or not the rental would expire mid-way into my vacation. To make this extra-reliable I am sure it will somehow be tied to PassPort, which I can honestly say is the most trouble free, reliable and user friendly single sign on service Microsoft operates.
"It is unknown whether the same technology will be put to use in the MSN Music service, but Microsoft must still clear the hurdle device synchronization poses. According to Jupiter Research, synchronization is one of the top three features customers look for in portable music players. Microsoft has hinted that it will leverage its software portfolio to tether MSN Music snugly into its product mix."
By leveraging their software portfolio, I wonder if they mean using ActiveSync? For what it is worth, I don't see any mention of this working with Pocket PC or Smartphone devices, despite their support for the Windows Media 9 codecs, something emphasized in this comment: "However, Microsoft hasn't made a strong move to focus its Smartphone or PocketPC software on media devices. Toward that end, it is touting the Portable Media Center, a design for a small handheld device that will store and play audio and video. Versions of this, developed by Creative Technology, will be on the market later this year."
I do think it is bad they are not supporting the millions of mobile devices in our hands right now, but on the other side, I personally would never consider such a rental. I'd sooner use a hardware dongle.
