Microsoft has killed off “PlaysForSure” and renamed it “Certified for Windows Vista” which is supposed to do something for someone, but we have no idea what or for whom.
Basically, “PlaysForSure” is dead, but Microsoft, fearing even more bad publicity, we guess, didn’t want to just pull the plug, so, in their finite wisdom, they’ve just made it “Certified for Windows Vista” which is the same thing, we think, as for their also-ran Zune devices, which are also Vista certified, except that Zunes and the Zune Marketplace are both incompatible with the other former “PlaysForSure,” not “Certified for Windows Vista” devices and with the online outfits selling “PlaysForSure” content that nobody bought either. Is that clear?
We have no idea, nor do we care, if “Certified for Windows Vista” devices also are supposed to work with Windows XP, but, believe it or not, we think they are, which makes the new naming even funnier, if that’s possible.
Microsoft claims that PlaysForSure is “growing up,” which in Redmond must be a euphemism for “taking a dirt nap,” here.
MacDailyNews Take: Microsoft is obviously too large, too convoluted, and too mismanaged to even deliver a consistent and clear branding message to consumers, much less make a consistent and clear user experience for the poor saps stuck with their devices and/or trying to use their related online music outfits. Our advice remains consistent and clear: If you want the best and you want it to work well: iPod+iTunes. Most people realize this already, but there always seems to be a handful (in this case, at least; more than just a handful in others) of thick-headed masochists out there.
If it looks like shite, smells like shite,
it probably is shite FOR SURE!
And I thought MS could not confuse me more…. Or make me laugh at their efforts yet again. LOL
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
en
mdn word “two” as in “You can say that again two times”
“Plays for Sure” on Tuesday, BSOD by Friday.
Upgrades coming.
“Certified for Flush”
Misprint? It should read, “Certifiable* for Windows Vista”.
*(definition number two)
Two lies:
“PlaysForSure”
“Boom, It Just Works”
Certified for Vista?
How about: Circumcised for Vista?
That’s a nice tip, MacRaven. Thanks.
Everyone is missing the standard MO for M$.
They think if they put “Certified for Windows Vista” they will encourage the less tech-minded that they will have to purchase Vista to get the best performance.
This is a blatant attempt by M$ to convince/lie to the uninformed that they should move to Vista.
Plus if they get the manufacturers of the music players to put this label on THEIR product it will be more free advertising for Vista.
M$ is rotten to the core, they are so conniving.
LOL… this is just too stupid. Yet the 95% of computer users are on Windows. It’s sad.
To me, only one word comes up: SUICIDE.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
M$ is doomed!
Well, they certainly are certifiable.
It will now be so easy for them to say “huh… what? what do you mean “plays for sure”…? we didn’t kill that. We honor our promises. we’d never kill a technology with such a horrendously misleading name as that. No, everything is fine. Forget you ever heard of PlaysForSure. These are not the droids you’re looking for.”
Certified for Disaster
Does anyone know if an update to plays for sure could make it compatible with Zune? If so could Microsoft be laying down the ground work to once again remarry these two formats into 1? ………i am just wondering
It is hard for me to grasp why anyone would choose a portable music/video device that ISN’T an iPod. I mean, is there ANY alternative that is even close? Those Zune and Sansa buyers must simply be anti-Apple for some reason that they are willing to cut of their nose to spite their face.
But could Apple please just give me an iPhone to composite video output cable? Or let a third-party make one?
Why do I have the disturbing feeling that “Certified for Windows Vista” does not actually guarantee that it will work on Vista yet?
It’s Marketing. The masses keep seeing Vista everywhere… and so they feel compelled to upgrade to Microsoft Vista.
Never mind the fact that the software they’re using will work fine on XP.
Apple does similar things with its iPod. Adding new features to the newer models and compelling people to upgrade. Though, the difference is that these are actual features and not marketing.
I was trying to think of a time when Apple has changed the name of something to make it more “marketable” or to achieve a certain goal, but I can’t think of any… Anyone think of any? It’s always good to try to look at oneself before we criticize the competition.
@ ApplePi
“It’s Marketing. The masses keep seeing Vista everywhere… and so they feel compelled to upgrade to Microsoft Vista.”
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!!!
I thought PlaysForSure had been superseded by SquirtsForSure.
I am sounding a bit like Zune Tang these days…
Microsoft likes getting spanked by Apple. If not, they better learn to like it, because they keep positioning themselves to be a better target.
I’m a happy subscription music user. It’s a great option if you like to explore lots of new music (if you don’t, it’s not). However, Microsoft hasn’t been successful promoting it, and this is another bad move. Although I’ve spent hundreds of dollars happily renting music for years, I’ve never purchased DRMed music and never will.
Forking PlaysforSure into incompatible Zune was a bad and disturbing move, but it didn’t affect me directly. Changing it to “Certified for Windows Vista” is so idiotic–it’s hard to see it surviving much longer. I guess I should start looking for alternatives.
Microsoft’s Redmond Reality-Distortion Field (RRDF) apparently allows them to convince themselves that Vista will soon be ubiquitous. And, they should prepare for and encourage this by giving Vista more visibility; Vista-branding all the Zunes and music they expect to sell, even forcing music partners to use Vista branding (’till they’re extinguished by Zune). Its crazy; and Microsoft don’t appear to be coming up for air anytime soon.
Yeah where the heck is Zune Tang lately anyway?
My buddy just had a $4400 custom built Vista PC. Dual monitors of the same model will not work with two different video cards on either Homw Premium or Ultimate version. Two monitors will work if they are different brands. Vista is too stupid and seems to get confused if the monitors are the same and therefore yield variable/inconsistant performance and sometimes just will not give dual display at all, let alone changing resolutions that will not stick at the next startup. He hsa gotten to level 3 M$ support without any success. My Mac Pro tower has no problem with dual Dell LCD’s of the same model.