Zune problems for MSN customers [Archive]

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bartelby

Nov 6, 2006, 09:22 AM

People who have bought music from Microsoft's MSN Music store could face problems if they decide to buy the firm's new Zune portable player.
Microsoft has said it will stop selling music from MSN music from 14 November, when Zune goes on sale in the US.

But in a move that could alienate some customers, MSN-bought tracks will not be compatible with the new gadget.

The move could also spell problems for the makers of MP3 players which are built to work with the MSN store.

More here (BBC News link) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6120272.stm)

Oh dear!

Apologies if this has been posted before...

Diatribe

Nov 6, 2006, 09:29 AM

This really does have some irony to it. :D

If this doesn't push people to iTunes I don't know what does.

mkrishnan

Nov 6, 2006, 09:30 AM

This really does have some irony to it. :D

If this doesn't push people to iTunes I don't know what does.

It would be more ironic if there were more than two people in the world who have purchased music from the MSN store. :eek: ;) :D

More to the point and less sarcastically... so Zune is "not part of the Plays For Sure ecosystem"??? Yeah, that's a winner of an idea....

illstabyou

Nov 14, 2006, 09:42 AM

Speaking of ironic things and Zune (sorry if its somewhat off topic).

Curious why Microsoft had the Red Hot Chili Peppers play a concert to promote the release of Zune. Can't help but wonder if its because of the album promotion they did through iTunes.

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003380831

Silencio

Nov 14, 2006, 01:33 PM

Curious why Microsoft had the Red Hot Chili Peppers play a concert to promote the release of Zune. Can't help but wonder if its because of the album promotion they did through iTunes.

Because they like money and don't care who gives it to them? :p

Back on topic: yes, Zune will not work with music purchased from "PlaysForSure" online stores. M$'s tactics with Zune are understandably pissing off all their old hardware and music store partners. It just adds a whole lot more confusion to that side of the market.

If Microsoft is pulling the plug on the MSN Music Store, what happens to those who have subscriptions there? Bye bye to all your music?

andiwm2003

Nov 14, 2006, 05:06 PM

.......................If Microsoft is pulling the plug on the MSN Music Store, what happens to those who have subscriptions there? Bye bye to all your music?

that's the risk with subscription. you don't own the music and you invest your own money in the hardware.
with the itunes/ipod combo you can at least keep your music and ipod up and running. and if all goes down you burn your songs and rerip them for standard mp3 players. so at least you always keep your property.

dmw007

Nov 14, 2006, 08:16 PM

This really does have some irony to it. :D

I know, it most certainly does. :D :)

Abstract

Nov 15, 2006, 05:08 AM

Back on topic: yes, Zune will not work with music purchased from "PlaysForSure" online stores. M$'s tactics with Zune are understandably pissing off all their old hardware and music store partners. It just adds a whole lot more confusion to that side of the market.

If Microsoft is pulling the plug on the MSN Music Store, what happens to those who have subscriptions there? Bye bye to all your music?

Wow, MS really screwed over their customers by doing this. I wonder why they couldn't just support the DRM from those files. How hard is it just to make that music compatible? Better than the bad press they're getting by screwing customers over.

And how old was that PlaysForSure initiative? I remember that coming out less than a year ago, but I could be mistaken. :confused:

rdowns

Nov 15, 2006, 05:21 AM

This really does have some irony to it. :D

Indeed. Welcome to the Social!

rdowns

Nov 15, 2006, 05:26 AM

Where does this leave all of Microsoft's PFS partners?

From their PFS page (http://www.playsforsure.com/AdvancedSearchResults.aspx?searchtype=BrowseStores&cat=StoreTypePanel&index=0) there is AOL, FYE, MusicMatch, Napster, Urge, WalMart and more. How long can they stay around with a platform that is now dead?

Is this an opportunity for Apple to open up Fairplay to orphaned stores and consumers?

Abstract

Nov 15, 2006, 06:03 AM

telecomm

Nov 15, 2006, 06:03 AM

Where does this leave all of Microsoft's PFS partners?

I think this leaves them... *ahem*... playing with themselves.

dmw007

Nov 16, 2006, 12:52 AM

Nah, let those people who didn't buy an iPod pay for their poor choice. They made the wrong choice and will pay for it. Just a part of life. *snickers*

I agree, it serves them right for not choosing Apple in the first place. ;) :D :)

xsedrinam

Nov 16, 2006, 01:11 AM

Let's see now. Zune isn't compatible with MSN, Vista, PlayforSure, Mac, but they're saying there's a work-around - burning CD's and reformatting the songs? Now there's a Zuned up idea. Just how much forethought has gone in to this release? :confused:

XNine

Nov 16, 2006, 02:09 AM

Abstract

Nov 16, 2006, 05:06 AM

I went to the toilet this morning and made my own Zune.

2nyRiggz

Nov 16, 2006, 07:12 AM

About as much thought as there was to the choice of the color BROWN for a music player.

Always a good color for potty jokes:D

Bless

dmw007

Nov 16, 2006, 08:07 AM

I went to the toilet this morning and made my own Zune.

But does your Zune come in multiple colors? ;) :D

Eraserhead

Nov 16, 2006, 11:38 AM

But does your Zune come in multiple colors? ;) :D

Maybe he has a "problem" and it does :eek:

illstabyou

Nov 16, 2006, 12:23 PM

Imagine if the Apple iPod could play "PlaysForSure" songs? Sweeeet. ;)

Nah, let those people who didn't buy an iPod pay for their poor choice. They made the wrong choice and will pay for it. Just a part of life. *snickers*

Even if the iPod did have the option of using PlayForSure songs, I don't think a whole lot of people would utilize it.