Windows Media Player 11 Released 365
filenavigator writes "Microsoft issued a press release today publicizing the release of Windows Media Player 11. Looks like the major updates in this version are for the Microsoft marketing engine. Features boasted by Microsoft include better integration with media players sanctioned by them, and integration with their new URGE music service. Additionally, and more importantly, this version contains the latest in Microsoft DRM software. Interested parties can download a free copy"
Slick interface (Score:2, Interesting)
All the audio I'm interested in is uploaded to BitTorrent.
I prefer to live offline, away from my computer, so all the slickness in the world doesn't mean squat when I'm not going to be sitting in front of the monitor anyway.
Not for Vista, apparently (Score:0, Interesting)
What's with the GUI? (Score:5, Interesting)
Controls as bad as WMP 10? (Score:5, Interesting)
Or maybe you'd rather try to slide a tiny dark slider along a tiny dark track and skip around that way.
Didn't *anyone* at microsoft take an HCI class in college?
Re:What's with the GUI? (Score:4, Interesting)
Priorities (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Can't we wait? (Score:3, Interesting)
This still does not make any sense. Can users still play non-drm'd music, such as: music taken off of bt, music from allofmp3.com, and music ripped from cds? If so, what have they accomplished? The only thing wmp11 does differently is that is allows users to play new kinds of drm music. So how does wmp11 have a tighter grip on windows users?
Plus, how does Microsoft's stock rise from this? Do they own a record label I don't know about? I really don't see how allowing to play new forms of drm music in a free upgrade to their pre-existing free media player helps their stock rise one bit.
WMP (Score:3, Interesting)
.ogg anyone? (Score:3, Interesting)
Can they now? (Score:2, Interesting)
In fairness, let me say that I have one Windows machine, and it exists almost entirely for Yahoo Music Player streaming into my living room, and for Counter-Strike on occasion. My other computers are all Ubuntu boxen, save the mac mini I got last week.
WGA = DRM = record players that won't play everyone's records. My Fair Use rights are being violated and no one will make it stop.
While I'm ranting, let me talk about the Angels & Airwaves CD. I had just explained DRM to my uncle for the first time when I picked up this album. On first seeing the actual disc, I was greeted with some 'SoundTone' or some such nonsense logo by the FBI warnings the media companies think I want cluttering up CD art. Knowing that RedBook is RedBook, I could only assume this had less to do with Sound or Tone and more to do with Fucking My Shit Up Because The Companies Know They Can. Sure enough, I popped it in and it wouldn't play.
When I bought that CD, I bought what was advertised as a RedBook disc. What I got was a $20 coaster that I can't use (because seriously, if I'm listening on my computer I'm not going to go searching for the disc). I have since vowed to download my music, because downloading leaves me feeling less like I got 0wned. I had stopped downloading music (remember the Yahoo Music mention?), and now they've reminded me why I should.
Dear God, what have they done... (Score:5, Interesting)
So I downloaded WMP11, and I suddenly found myself staring at the screen, not having a friggin' clue where to even begin. It was literally the first time I felt like I had been stumped by a seemingly simplistic piece of software. Yes, there were all sorts of pretty buttons, some of which I REEEEEEEALY wanted to press - but all I actually wanted to do was play some fucking Zeppelin. Clicking on those fancy buttons only made things worse...I got lost and actually gave up. This has to be the worst GUI I have ever seen. I can't WAIT for my father to download this, a man who has to be reminded every time he touches the remote to press the CBL button, or he'll change the channel on the TV rather than the Cable Box.
It brought back a memory I thought I had repressed, when after almost 20 years of piano training, I began playing the organ which includes a four-octave keyboard to be played by your feet. I felt like a 5 year old all over again, my co-ordination just vanishing. My ego took a huge beating then, and it's taken another one just now.
I stick with iTunes because I like the "browser", which filters the songs by Genre, then Artist, then album. Yes, I know it's bloated, but I've managed to forgive them for that. Meanwhile, I found JetAudio to be a pretty good plyaer, and am downloading Media Player Classic as I type.
I'm still searching for the one player that "gets it right". Any more ideas? Send'em my way...
Like Songbird (Score:2, Interesting)
Ah, just me then.