“Customers who have purchased music from Microsoft’s now-defunct MSN Music store are now facing a decision they never anticipated making: commit to which computers (and OS) they want to authorize forever, or give up access to the music they paid for. Why? Because Microsoft has decided that it’s done supporting the service and will be turning off the MSN Music license servers by the end of this summer,” Jacqui Cheng reports for Ars Technica.
Cheng reports, “MSN Entertainment and Video Services general manager Rob Bennett sent out an e-mail this afternoon to customers, advising them to make any and all authorizations or deauthorizations before August 31. ‘As of August 31, 2008, we will no longer be able to support the retrieval of license keys for the songs you purchased from MSN Music or the authorization of additional computers,’ reads the e-mail seen by Ars. ‘You will need to obtain a license key for each of your songs downloaded from MSN Music on any new computer, and you must do so before August 31, 2008. If you attempt to transfer your songs to additional computers after August 31, 2008, those songs will not successfully play.'”
Cheng reports, “This doesn’t just apply to the five different computers that PlaysForSure allows users to authorize, it also applies to operating systems on the same machine (users need to reauthorize a machine after they upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista, for example). Once September rolls around, users are committed to whatever five machines they may have authorized—along with whatever OS they are running. “
Full article here.
Microsoft treating their suckers customers like garbage is par for the course.
This’ll inspire even more consumer confidence in Microsoft’s Zune fiasco. Use those “points” while you’ve got ’em, ya hear?
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Follower” for the heads up.]
Poooooor Zune Tongued In The Butt. No more DELL DJ Tit… err Ditty to play with. hahaha
I thought PlaysForSure had already been replaced by SquirtsForSure?
I have yet to see a Zune. Anywhere ever. But I can’t count how many ipods i have seen my my life time. i have more broken ipods in my bed room night stand then most people would ever consider owning
DRM well it just sucks.
But i still buy all my Music from ITMS. it’s the Greatest shit ever.
Too bad there aren’t enough customers to file a class action suit.
@ Zunethang
“That’s the beauty of Zune Marketplace. Microsoft’s revolutionary and user friendly points system is brilliant in that it doesn’t cost you any money.”
Well Microsoft isn’t giving the points away for free. They charge real Money for the points and the system is designed so that you can’t spend out an even number of points, ever. So, in the end Microsoft is shafting every MS Market place customer with the big Ballmer fist up their Jerry Yang.
I smell a class action lawsuit coming . . . .
Screwed-4-Sure
Why else would they shut it down, but for lack of customers and lack of interest.
So, does this Microsoft strategy make Zune owners double-suckers?
Hopefully this will piss off enough “customers” that Apple will sell a whole extra dozen or so iPods next quarter.
Gee, I saw a guy with a Zune on the subway last week. I was SO excited, it was my third Zune sighting (red, pink and brown)… and I live in NYC! So, the guy gave me a dirty look when he saw me make a face. I TRIED not to laugh, honest!
So, what they are saying is…. With the normal life expectancy of a PC, all traces of PlaysForSure will be a distant memory by Christmas of 2010. And they probably expect Zune Marketplace to reel ’em in again. Good Luck wit that.
Unbelievable. How much would it cost Microsoft to keep a few servers running to support the few customers this service did have? This is terrible customer service and even worse PR. No doubt Zune Marketplace will follow, one year later.
NO ONE CARES! HOW MANY ZUNE USERS ARE THERE? 20? 24?!
iPod Touch DEMOLISHED the Zune.
Apple LEADS in technology and innovation.
PERIOD.
-go squirt someone ZuneTang. (lmao VISTA, ohh god Microsoft!)
Lot of funny comments on this one, thank you all. But a serious question; does this mean the subscription model for selling music is dead or will this be spun as a good thing for the subscription model?
@Demon
With all due respect, points aren’t money, they’re points. I’ll try to explain it to a namby pamby MAC lemming one more time:
Music and video on Zune Marketplace can be downloaded for points. You can’t even use money to get content. That’s where Microsoft has Apple by the Jobs, and by all the Zunes I’ve been squirting with lately they’re squeezing ’em tighter.
Your potential. Our passion.™
People who use Microsoft products think this is all normal and accept what ever Microsoft say and does as a reality. Thats their reality for better or worse!
@ Zune Thang
Microsoft isn’t giving the points away for free out of the goodness of their heart! Now, are they, No! What is the minimum number of point you can purchase from Microsoft’s Market Place? 100, 1000, 10000… ? and how much does that block of points cost you? $10.00, $50.00, $100.00…?. How many point does it take to get a single Music Video? 1 point, 10 points, 100 points…?
Let me know, I’ll teach you some good old math and common sense too.
@C1
No, you can’t use “I have spoken.” That’s because MS’ crap clogs up the internet tubes and your voice can’t get through. May I humbly suggest:
It is written!
ChrissOne,
Great post on the China store within a store story from Bartt. Any comments?
@Zune Tang®
“…Quiet Riot’s ‘Cum on Feel the Noize” – Ha Ha Ha you tool Zunnie’.
Just like your computer habits, you prefer back to front, second-rate cover bands.
Try the real thing here buddy – SLADE ‘Cum on Feel the Noize’
Plays 4 Suckers.
And @ Sky Lark:
Slade is awesome.
Quiet Riot was just a Slade cover band for more than one tune. Though unlike some bands they did a good job on the songs.
Hmm… PlaysForSure… sounds like Orwellian doublespeak to me… even more so now.
DRM is DEAD! Walmart.com has been selling Mp3s since February and Napster announced all sales (not subscription) will be Mp3. The British 7digital that already sells 80% of its downloads (both mp3 and AAC) is planning a US store.
@HMCIV
They’ve sort of always done this; re-issue after re-issue of the same music remastered for a new format, putting out multiple versions of the same album simultaneously, EP 1 & 2 scams . . . the lis goes on and on. this is why the death of the physical format has all the cartels panties in a twist. As for Microsoft though, it seemed to be pretty clear to me that their model is intrinsically engineered to self destruct. Nobondy actually BUYS anything from MS-they pay for the privilege to USE it. I think it’s hysterical that even with all of the concessions they made with the music cartels they are still flaccidly flapping and gasping. tSo many more of their <strike>prisoners</strike> customers are about to leave in a big way, methinks.
The Zune must be an iPod Killer. their sales numbers are just overwhelming. Whether it is phones or iPods, it is frutal to copy where Apple has been.
Next step for Microsoft: “We have decided to no longer support our OS’s. We need to keep our eye on our core business, real estate.”
@ Demon
Good Points!
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@ Ed
WTF are you talking about?
@ ChrissyOne
Always enjoy proving a Point
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