MS exec: new Windows portable media center devices will ‘convert and run’ iTunes Music Store tracks
Monday, January 09, 2006 - 05:08 PM EST"Microsoft Group Product Manager Jim Starkweather tells Bambi Francisco why Apple's Video iPod will compete with three new Windows-enabled portable media centers offered by Microsoft partners Tatung, Toshiba and LG Electronics, and not the other way around," MarketWatch reports in a video clip.
In the video clip, Francisco asks, "If you already have Apple's iTunes... if you're already buying music [via] iTunes... you can convert that to be heard on these devices?" To which Starkweather claims, "Absolutely. Any music that you own will actually convert and you can run on one of these devices."
Full video here.
MacDailyNews Take: That's interesting. Nowhere on Microsoft's or the Tatung, Toshiba and LG Electronics websites can we find information explaining how Apple's FairPlay-protected content can be "converted and run" on these devices. Oh, what a tangled Web? Perhaps somebody knows or can point us to the information, because this would be a big story - if it were true.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews reader "nathan" for the heads up.]
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= 
Out for the evening...
[It's Apple's administration of the DRM that I am at odds with. They've done a terrific job in everything but that. Of course, my point-of-view is from a consumer standpoint.]
I'm certain that Apple only created iTMS to distract the likes of Eisner from putting the kibosh on iPod. That whole "DMPs are filled with 'stolen' music", (Rip, Mix, Burn) sky-is-falling, paranoia.
I'm convinced that Apple — in an effort to 'save' their DMP business, created a logical, easy-to-use, IP protecting, system that was acceptable to the Big4 (Big5 at the time). And I'm further convinced that Apple 'was told' in no uncertain terms, 'Your DRM scheme is only good for your iPods' - no competitor DMPs.
Why? Because, the Big4 are paranoid of losing control of their IP. When these guys — who behave like many other businessmen, from a position of FEAR (and Greed) — FINALLY figure out that there's indeed money to be made in downloaded music, they will squish all current versions of DRM for one of their own making.
At that point 'Compressed Broadband Audio' (I made this up) will move to replace — or atleast — supplement Compact Disc Digital Audio. These tracks will only play on approved devices. Hopefully, Apple's iPod will be one of them.
Time for Futurama. G'night.