Australian IT are reporting that the new Microsoft Zune media player won't be able to play any of your old copy protected Windows Media music files:

To the surprise of many - and the dismay of outfits such as Creative Technologies, iRiver and Samsung - Zune won't play the copy-protected Windows Media Audio (WMA) music files that Microsoft has been promoting for the past few years.

Zune owners will only be able to buy protected content from the Zune Marketplace. IPod owners can only download music from the iTunes Music Store, but they are free to rip tracks from CDs.

That sounds like bad news for Australian online music operators such as Destra, which licenses its WMA-based system to online stores such as Leading Edge Music, ChaosMusic, MP3.com.au and the ABC's Triple-J Download Shop, and also to Telstra's BigPond WMA music download operation.

This is, of course, almost hilariously funny.

Assuming that this is true - it's so bad that surely it can't be true!@#! - it is a perfect example about why DRM is a terrible, terrible idea - it means that any time you can lose your ability to play media that you've legitimately purchased, and there's not a lot you can do about it.

well i guess you could not buy the zune?

i for one will not be buying the zune

way to sink your own ship bill

last edited by d[o_0]b at 14:52:09 13/Oct/06

...it is a perfect example about why DRM is a terrible, terrible idea - it means that any time you can lose your ability to play media that you've legitimately purchased, and there's not a lot you can do about it.

If something you purchased doesn't work as expected and the retailer won't refund your money, take it up with the ACCC or whatever state based organisations deal with trade and fraud. If it was advertised as something it wasn't they could also be in trouble. When they sold you your DRM protected WMA file what did they tell you you were buying?

A DRM protected WMA file

There you go then Jim there's no problem.

I for one will be jumping on the consumer whore bandwagon and purchasing a Zune cause they look hot!

as a bigpond customer I demand a solution to this issue

Jim, you just said you got what you paid for what are you complaining about now?

The Zune looks like s***, I'd rather buy another iPod. Who listens to music in WMA anyway, way, hey, may, lay ?

i dont see the problem if zune doesnt let you play your old music dont buy it..its really that simple. its not like it the only media player on the market..

natslovr, are you talking to me?!?

This is the kind of idiocy that could cripple and even destroy the online music industry. It all comes down to nature. Anything wich is too rigid and inflexible will not survive any environmental changes, and shall die. Over specialization is a weakness in a dynamic and evolving environment, and this could very well cripple the Zune or the online music industry. If these companies cannot provide the service we want, which in this case would be a licence to be completely free to use a song we purchase in any way we see fit (for personal use), we'll simply have to revert to piracy or back to the hideous old $20+ per CD system.

The online music industry has so much potential as long as companies remember that the key to internet survival is the ability to adapt to the rapidly changing internet environment.

i don't get it, the zune looks kinda crappy anyway, who'd be worried about this?

as always PA points out the most pertinent flaws in the system. The whole DRM fiasco is just so funny that PA didn't bother. I mean they named the goddamned platform "PlayForSure" and now it sure as hell won't play on the hardware developed by MS themselves

last edited by Denny at 15:17:48 14/Oct/06

last edited by Denny at 15:18:06 14/Oct/06

Its a real shame.. the zune looked mad as.

Actually ill probably still just buy one =D

What is the appeal of the zune?

So does it play my thousands of non DRM cd-ripped mp3s? Who uses WMA anyway?
mp3 ftw