Hey Folks!

Thanks for all the help and the files!
I have been doing my searches like a good girl to learn all about this stuff since I am new.

Right now I would like to learn some specific things about DRM, which I could not find awnsered from my various keywork searches. Mainly being I have been using Windows Media Player to
create a few playlists and burn them.

One thing that is talked about in WMP's privacy policy is about DRM. My point being they say things like what I have copied and pasted below.


WMP says:
"If you acquire protected content from a music or video service, you may receive the associated license at the same time. If not, when Windows Media Player tries to use a protected file that does not have a current license, Windows Media Player will attempt to acquire the license for you. This can be done through your online store, or directly from a license server on the Internet."


"If the online store did not supply a license, or if the protected content is not associated with any of your online stores, Windows Media Player will request a license directly from a license server on the Internet. The license server's Web address is specified in the protected file; most license servers are operated by companies other than Microsoft. When requesting a license, Windows Media Player will provide the license server standard computer information, an ID for the music or video file, the action you have requested (such as play or burn), information about the DRM components on your computer such as their revision and security levels, and a unique identifier for your computer. The unique identifier is used only to generate a license for your computer and, because it is enclosed in an encrypted license request, is not available to the license server in a way that uniquely identifies you or your computer."


That being said do I need to use another media player that doesn't do that? And IS there one?

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU, for any awnsers (or links to other truly relevent threads) you can provide!!!!!!!!!

Peace

First, you have to start using Linux.

Second, you need to stop downloading anything that is microsoft related.

Files with endings like avi, wmv can send you to a web site without knowing it and microsoft is the one who put this into the format.

Think about why you would need to send people unknowingly to a web site when playing a movie or sound file.

There is no reason. Except to support spammers and spread viruses.

So microsoft supports spammers and the spreading of viruses and they should be banned off the planet.

If you stop downloading those files, people will stop sharing them.

If you know how to convert files to a safe format like mpg or ogg then please do so.

wildflower

I think Unable is a bit over the top but is basically right, anything that sends info about you or your PC to any organisation should be avoided, simply because you do not know how they are going to use it.

Use WMP sparingly, if at all.




UK Bob

Thanks.

Yeah I actually don't download any wmv or wma files!!!!! And now I got the warning about avi too. No avi right? Ok.

So switch players, ok!

Peace

Whoa,
I'm a little overwhelmed by the whole linux thing (went to two websites). I just want to download their cd player burner and mayber a video player for now. If they have one that is relitively simple? They say things about such but I just can't tell what it is? Any advice on how to do that. I'll go read some more, but gosh that is a whole can of worms I know nothing about.

peace and thanks!

Hey Wildflower,

You know, Linux is an OS alternative to MacOS or Windows... a world unto itself, based on the Unix OS, but OPEN SOURCE... So, there are many free versions... but, you won't be able to run your Windows apps on Linux... are you up for learning a new OS? Unless you have a computer science degree, I doubt you are ready to embrace the penguin! ;-) You can dual-boot, but it is VERY tricky... You can run an OS switcher, but are they free?

About DRM (Digital Rights Management) -- there are many alternatives to WMP, some better, some worse. BOOKS could be written about that topic!

WinAMP is a popular alternative, but I do NOT like it any better than WMP, there are tradeoffs, some good some bad, plusses and minuses... technical and operational!

I HIGHLY recommend you download iTunes from www.apple.com/itunes -- it is FAR better IMHO than either WMP or WinAmp or others I have tried, but there are probably other good media players out there, too.

I like the way iTunes lets me manage my MP3 files, playlists, and update tags very easily. Great U/I! AND, it runs on both Windows and MacOS!

Meanwhile, I think there is some DRM stuff in most media players out there these days. Copyright holders want to know who is copying their stuff... beware, your IP addr is being LOGGED!!!

__________________
Geo here... <small>antique computer enthusiast
Mac Powerbook G3/500MHz=<i>Pismo</i> :: 384MB ram; 80GB hdd; <b>MacOS 9.2.2</b>
Compaq Presario 5360 :: 450MHz AMD Athlon, 192MB ram; 120GB hdd; <b>Win2k PRO SP4</b>
ISP :: <u><b>SBC</b>-Yahoo!-DSL</u>; 164KB/sec DL; 50KB/sec UL; <u><b>2Wire</b> <i>DSL modem / Wi-Fi / NAT firewall</i></u>
PtoP :: LimeWire 4.8.1 <b>PRO</b> || Shareaza 2.1 <i>for BitTorrents, mostly</i> || but not concurrently! <i>
This is an INTEL-free, pre-Y2K CPU, recycled-computer environment! </i>

I definatley don't have any computer degrees!

Peace,
Wildflower

Bullshit. Every retard can install and use Linux. If you are
not interested in technology but just want to use the *******
computer, get a distribution like Mandriva or SuSE. Those are
known to be sufficiently user-friendly.
And .avi is OK, just not on Windows. But on Windows there's
hardly anything "safe".

Dear Wildflower,

Windows Media Player is not the only software in town. I recommend you download and try out WinAmp, which is absolutely free and can handle most of the media files you want to play.

You can find it at http://www.winamp.com/player/

They have a free version, and a premium version. Obviously, you should try out the free item before deciding to buy.

WinAmp can handle about 90% of the multimedia files you want to play, both audio and video.

If you want to tinker with your pictures or icons or movies, then I suggest IrfanView, another free program that you can download from http://www.irfanview.com/

I hope this helps.

Rick

Thanks everyone I really appreciate it and will do furthur research. I started using Music Match for now and like it so far.