This article is about Mircosoft releasing new content partners for its Silverlight technology and the new DRM technology that they are implementing on its multimedia platform. They made this announcement to promote the use of Silverlight multimedia development and deployment technology to broadcasters at the NAB Show 2008. There are many companies that already have projects based on this Silverlight technology including Madison Square Garden, MSG Interactive, Tencent, Abertis Telecom, Terra Networks Operations, SBSi, MNet, and Yahoo Japan. This new DRM technology is Microsoft's was to provide streaming live content. It is based on Mircosofts PlayReady technology and is going to be available later this year. This new DRM technology will be compatible with Windows Media DRM 10 and its aim is to protect this new streaming and on demand content that is taking over the Internet. This has a lot to do with the new media form of online TV and movie download. Companies want to be able to protect their content better than they way music was brought to the digital market.
Circumventing iPod's Fair Play DRMThis article is over the FairPlay DRM technology found in iPods. iPod owners often complain about the fact that they can ' t sync their new toy with more than one computer or that they can ' t sync more than one iPod with one computer. Apple does this as a way to placate the RIAA and keep music labels happy so that they continue to supply their music through ITunes. This software is called FairPlay and has caused much controversy with people claiming it to be anti-competitive. It is built into Quicktime and is used by the ipod and itunes products. Songs purchased are digitally encrypted preventing them from being played on unauthorized computers. Then the articles tell some of the way users are able to get around this including downloadable software. They promote new software called Misu that allows a person to connect 2 iPods to a Mac computer and sync them. This is related to how we talked about people always finding a way around DRM technology. There has yet to be a way to keep digital music from being download and illegally copied.
Myspace Launching DRM-free music storeThis article is on how MySpace is preparing to jump on the bandwagon and launch a music store that will sell DRM-free MP3s from 3 out 4 of the major record labels as well as from a bunch of different indie labels and individual artists. MySpace is a giant social networking site that has taking the online world by storm. These MP3s they will be selling will be able to be played on virtually any portable audio player. They hope this will be more of an incentive for purchase and in turn bands that want their music to reach as many people as possible. MySpace has always been a big place to find and listen to new and different music. Right now they are having some problems keeping up with their rival Facebook and their record for spammers and scammers is not exactly clean which will be a problem when people will have to give out their credit card number. This relates back to how DRM-free music is quickly becoming the norm and the only way to go if you want to get people to actually download music that they have to pay for. Apple's switch to DRM-free has been the deciding factor. With the option to be able to play your music free and on any device you want, selling music that doesn't allow that will be a death wish for any music company.