Topic: Please make stuff not work on my own computer! Thanks! (Read 4151 times)

Demosthenes · « **on:** June 02, 2004, 12:54:08 PM »

Microsoft to demonstrate technology that nobody with a brain in their head would willingly use

Quote

Microsoft is set to offer for download on Wednesday a "public preview" beta release of its Windows Media Player (WMP) 10 technology. The biggest enhancement will be the new digital-rights-management (DRM) technology, code-named "Janus," that will be embedded inside.

...

Janus is the successor to the existing Windows Media Digital Rights Management technology. Unlike the current Windows Media DRM, Janus is designed to work across devices — as well as on the next-gen Windows Media Center systems due out later this year — and is custom-designed to support subscription music services (though it also supports other kinds of streaming audio/video content, as well). Janus includes a "secure clock" that is designed to time-out subscription content for which a customer's license has expired.

Ugh.

More incentives for people to switch to open source, anybody?

It's almost as if Microsoft is WANTING people to move away from restrictive, proprietary platforms.

I don't get why anyone would actually choose to use the Windows Media Player anyway... heck, the current version of it is such a resource hog, so crappy, so full of security holes that there are literally dozens of exploits for, so counter-intuitive that when you compare it to free alternatives out there, it doesn't even come close to stacking up... not even when the things you're comparing it to suck too (like RealOne Player, for example).

As usual, I'm sure they're just relying on the fact that 80% of the average users out there are too dumb to realize that there are other options, so of course that means that most people just blindly use WMP anyway since that's the default player in Windows.

Which is why most people still use IE, in spite of its major flaws and total lack of user controls for things like ads, popups, et cetera.

This DRM crap is going to be so infused into the next version of Windows that it'll basically make personal computers running it useless, in my opinion.

Want to listen to a CD? Better get permission first!

Want to rip some MP3s for your portable MP3 player? Sorry, you're not allowed to do that. Here, rip the tracks into this proprietary MS format. What? Your MP3 player doesn't play things in that format? Too bad. Oh, by the way, we're keeping track. You can rip tracks from this particular CD one more time before it will automatically be deactivated unless you pay another license fee for it.

Want to watch a DVD? Too bad, you already watched it twice, you'll have to pay in order to watch it again on this computer. Oh, you want to watch it on a different computer? Too bad... you were only licensed to watch it on one machine.

Want to install a piece of software? Please wait while Windows sends all of your info to Microsoft to see if you're allowed to install a third party application. Now please wait while Windows contacts that third party software vendor to make sure you have a legitimate license for it. Sorry, there was a problem with this process and your operating system will now be deactivated until it can be sorted out. Please call Microsoft to obtain a new activation code.

Microsoft Word has detected that you just attempted to paste copyrighted material into a Word document from another source. Please enter the 32 digit activation code you obtained from the copyright holder to proceed.

hackess · « **Reply #1 on:** June 02, 2004, 12:58:51 PM »

EEEEEK!!!!

I'm afraid of Office XP, Windows Media Player 9 and above, and Service Pack 2. I ain't touching those with a ninety-foot pole.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2004, 01:05:07 PM »

It involves trusting them with far more information and control than I would ever be willing to give them.

And the punchline is, like every single other attempt at managing DRM by force, the only people this will inconvenience are legitimate users who aren't out to try to pirate everything they get their hands on.

People who really WANT to make illegal copies of things -- be it software, music, movies, whatever -- won't even be slowed down by this kind of shit.

xolik · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2004, 01:38:49 PM »

**rubs hands together evilly**

Good, good! Yes, download buggy beta software. Then come crawling, CRAWLING to xolik, begging him for help. And you'll pay. Oh, don't think you won't pay. Muah-hahahaha!

Oh yeah, this won't stop pirating for crap.

MISTER MASSACRE · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2004, 04:32:48 PM »

Sigh...guess this is just added incentive to figure out my mouse driver problem in Linux.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2004, 04:47:38 PM »

Quote from: Lacerda

Sigh...guess this is just added incentive to figure out my mouse driver problem in Linux.

Similarly, it's added incentive to figure out how to get my wireless networking to work for Slackware on my laptop.

Min · « **Reply #6 on:** June 03, 2004, 09:31:59 AM »

So up until now, I've used Windows Media Player...just because I'm lazy and didn't want to look for another one. But I was getting pretty frustrated with it locking up my computer all the time...and the damn christmas music keeps coming back!! How many fucking times do I have to remove those from the damn playlist!!???

Anyway, so what do you guys use? I tried out Zap Media Player. The free version sucks balls. You can't shuffle. That's key for me.

So today I'm trying Quintessential. So far, I'm very happy with it.

Min · « **Reply #7 on:** June 03, 2004, 09:37:07 AM »

Make that extremely happy. This thing kicks an unbelievable amount of ass. I keep finding cool stuff!

phyre · « **Reply #8 on:** June 03, 2004, 10:14:34 AM »

Winamp does video also. Numero cool features, shuffle, skins, graphical equalizer (big plus for me)...

hackess · « **Reply #9 on:** June 03, 2004, 10:20:32 AM »

Winamp is my fav. I use QuickTime if absolutely necessary, and avoid RealPlayer because it sucks. I'll have to try out this Quintessential player you're talking about, Detta. Looks pretty nifty.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #10 on:** June 03, 2004, 10:28:30 AM »

I use MusicMatch Jukebox in Windows for MP3s... WinAmp is cool, but I like MMJB better when it comes to music.

I do use WinAmp for video.

In Linux, XMMS for music, and Xine for video.

Since Detta's raving about it, I may have to check out this Quintessential thingy in Windows.

Min · « **Reply #11 on:** June 03, 2004, 10:28:46 AM »

The visualizations are a bit lacking, but the rest is all good.

I have some videos mixed in with my mp3's, and when they come up, the video screen automatically pops up and it plays it. I like that alot. With Windows Media Player, I had to play either all videos or all mp3's.

Min · « **Reply #12 on:** June 03, 2004, 10:29:46 AM »

I was raving? Well...I am pretty excited. But please note, that it kicks ass....compared to Windows Media Player.

xolik · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2004, 11:18:03 AM »

I use media player classic. It's really cool and works like a charm for me.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/guliverkli/

HeavyJay · « **Reply #14 on:** June 03, 2004, 07:59:18 PM »

For videos, I use vlc.

bobo · « **Reply #15 on:** June 04, 2004, 10:10:37 AM »

a little off topic but has anyone seen this. Apperently clicking on applications on a computer to open them has just been patented by Microsoft

Anonymous · « **Reply #16 on:** June 04, 2004, 02:17:26 PM »

I'm going to patent masterbation. I can make a lot of money off of that one.

Demosthenes · « **Reply #17 on:** June 04, 2004, 02:23:25 PM »

Quote from: Chris

I'm going to patent masterbation. I can make a lot of money off of that one.

I'm pretty sure HeavyJay probably already has that one covered, Chris.

But I bet he'd probably let you in on a licensing deal if you made it worth his while.

Waterfowl · « **Reply #18 on:** June 16, 2004, 08:41:32 PM »

Microsoft is crazy, my next rig will probably be redhat powered.

hackess · « **Reply #19 on:** June 16, 2004, 09:40:12 PM »

Quote from: Waterfowl

Microsoft is crazy, my next rig will probably be redhat powered.

Great. Thanks for sharing.

MISTER MASSACRE · « **Reply #20 on:** June 16, 2004, 11:40:04 PM »

My computer runs on orange peels and dreams.

Anonymous · « **Reply #21 on:** June 17, 2004, 05:50:33 AM »

BILL GATES IS A POOR FAGGOT THAT HAS TO GET IN LINE FOR FOOD STAMPS SO HE CAN FEED HIMSELF AND HIS WIFE AND HIS CHILDREN. I'M GOING TO SWITCH TO DOS AND WRITE HIM A LETTER TELLING HIM THAT I'M NEVER GOING TO USE A MICROSOFT PRODUCT AGAIN IN MY LIFE.

DOS ALL THE WAY!

News:

Recent Forum Posts

Shout Box

Author Topic: Please make stuff not work on my own computer! Thanks! (Read 4151 times)

Anonymous

Anonymous