Drm Components

[brandy714]

What is this request that I get when opening some mp3 files - 'upgrade your DRM components'? Is it only MS Media Player 9 that does this? If, so - what is a good media player to use instead of MS? TIA

[harrycary]

DRM stand for "digital rights management"
In other words "copyright control"
Windows media player is known for this and(unless you have a firewall) connects to the internet as well when you are online. Why? I don't know.

I don't recommend it and most of the forum regulars won't either.

I use Musicmatch (http://www.musicmatch.com) for playing, recording and ripping all my audio.

I use Zoomplayer (http://www.inmatrix.com/files/zoomplayer_download.shtml) and Divx player (http://www.divx.com/) for all my video needs.

The BSplayer (http://www.bsplayer.org/) is also recommend for video.

Hope that helps

[Jibbler]

Originally posted by harrycary@8 May 2003 - 19:31
Windows media player is known for this and(unless you have a firewall) connects to the internet as well when you are online. Why? I don't know.

WMP only gets the CDDA data for music, like the title, and the artist info. It doesn't do anything else.

[harrycary]

I know that much Jibbler. It also automatically downloads codecs for video files.

When I wrote that I didn't know, I meant I wasn't sure what information was being sent to Micro$oft.

I thought I had read something about Micro$ofts use of the EULA that everyone agrees with when updating Windows media player.

They are collecting data on users. I found this (http://www.petri.co.il/wmp_spyware.htm) and more importantly this (http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,9614,00.asp) to be interesting reads.

Fargin' Micro$oft!

[Jibbler]

I checked out both of the articles you posted, and while it makes for an interesting read, the program is harmless. In my post, I was referring to WMP9 for XP, which is the current version. I assume everyone is using current software, but I'm getting ahead of myself here. Older versions of WMP, like version 8, which is pictured there, has different options. :)

The EULA (user end licencing agreement) is always tricky, and I wouldn&#39;t put it past Microsoft to fuck us like that. They used a similar tactic with the Xbox to stop "chipped or modded" Xbox&#39;s from reaching the online service. <_<