topic Re: about the update and mp3 playback in PCs & Accessories

about the update and mp3 playback

lordviper — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 17:10:40 GMT

as i said before this product, the ap1, will never play raw mp3's (like the ipod).

it is a major drawback i know, but today i received confirmation that the mp3 capabilaties the update speaks of will mean that drm is added to the tracks as they are transferred over to the ap1l. making them just as encrypted as atrac files.
i beleive sony have covered themselves by the phrasing they use in the update announcement.

therefore, i think i may continue to use atrac files as it offers better compression, but this will all depend on how good ss 2.3 is.
as for the other updates, im not too sure but the gapless playback and faster scrolling are necessary and will bring the unit close to perfection, all that i feel is really needed then will be better support for viewing pictures, rather than having to create loads of USER folders.

but lets see what else the update brings.........:smileywink:

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

Automan — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 19:40:55 GMT

as i said before this product, the ap1, will never play raw mp3's (like the ipod).

But the Sony press release says

MP3 playback feature which will allow MP3 transfer and playback without transfer to ATRAC

Automan.

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

lordviper — Tue, 07 Dec 2004 21:59:26 GMT

i know, and i met with our sony product trainer who has confirmed it will be drm added during the transfer, which will take about a second longer than usual.
of course we will have to wait and see if im wrong, but just think about it, sony (who own music and movie companies) have been heavily implementing atrac (DRM) for nearly a decade suddenly do a drastic 180 leaving themselves open for pirate abuse?
as i say i may well be wrong, but i doubt it.

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

chris_lewis — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 01:01:41 GMT

Well El Reg doesn't tend to be wrong!!

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/30/sony_nw-hd3_mp3_player/

Anyway I dont get the beef with DRM, Music isn't made for free.

People are free to choose which format they use. If they want to use a crappy sounding, outdated format then let them carry on.

If you continue to buy CDs it aint a problem (other than DRM CDs which you cant rip) now that gets my goat!!!
hopefully that will stop soon.

Sony has now proved it cuts the mustard with HD players, and as with all Sony stuff it's top quality and that also runs into software. I love my HD1 and SS as you may have guessed.

There are always sacrifices to be made for quality, DRM is just one of them.

C

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

nemo66 — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 08:47:38 GMT

----wrong----

j-66:smileywink:

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

chris_lewis — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 16:23:08 GMT

Very helpful reply!!

What do you disagree with?

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

kee-lo_ — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 16:31:09 GMT

Chris El Reg have been known to streatch the truth alledgely.

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

chris_lewis — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 16:42:27 GMT

True, all in the art of jounalism!! lol

Still, I find it v unlikley that Sony would do this without covering there arses.

To me there is no doubt DRM will be in it somewhere.

C

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

kee-lo_ — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 16:45:34 GMT

Hehe you're right Chris, you can bet there'll be DRM, it's Sony after all

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

chris_lewis — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 16:54:17 GMT

As I said B4, Quality always comes with some sacrifices.

Atrac is a great sounding format, yes it has drm but I couldnt give a flying F***

Sony for life!!!

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

lordviper — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 17:36:28 GMT

i dont know who this guy on the register is but if he really reviewed the HD3 then hed know that it uses drm, thats a concrete fact. thats why i beleive the same system will be applied to the ap1l.
the drms applied so fast that most users wont even realise theyve got drm infected tracks until they try to copy or edit them.
so if it has the same limitations as atrac but retains the big sizes in respects to the relative poor quality then the only advantage to the experienced user is the trasfer/conversion speed.
edit- just read the link provided and the reviewer even mentions drm.

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

clubuser — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 17:43:09 GMT

I think you mixing definitions up.

It will playback MP3 files which is a great advantage when you already have a MP3 collection and speads up the transfer like hell.

It doe NOT support illegal distribution of your MP3 files which is fine. Meaning that you can not "check-in" MP3 files on a machine that does not have the file in it's library.

That's all...

CUCU

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

lordviper — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 17:57:00 GMT

no no. i may have phrased it wrong. with my experience of the nw-e99 and colleagues experiences of the hd3 the tracks are drm added. its not about libraries. so if i wanted to edit a track access would always be denied. it would behave just in the same way an atrac file does.
im *guessing* that the ap1 will use the same system the nw-e99, 95 and hd3 uses. if not then great, id love to see it on my ap1l.
i hope im wrong.

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

chris_lewis — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 18:00:58 GMT

What happens when I buy my next new Vaio and want to transfer my SS library to it?

Will the DRM stop this happening?

C:smileyconfused:

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

lordviper — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 18:03:35 GMT

What happens when I buy my next new Vaio and want to transfer my SS library to it?

Will the DRM stop this happening?

C:smileyconfused:

very interesting question. ive got no idea, but would like to know the answer.

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

Sekigahara — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 20:18:44 GMT

ehm, you guys are talking about....what??
^^
ne, so; I think this will be equivalent to the music managing on the ipod. You can transfer files to this device and online take it back on the same PC. so its the quite the same as ipod, and it ain't that bad...

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

nemo66 — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 21:43:51 GMT

Again---wrong!
J-66 :smileygrin:

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

lordviper — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 22:32:58 GMT

Again---wrong!
J-66 :smileygrin:

you do this alot. so whats the correct answer?
as i say, i dont think anyone has this update yet, so im drawing my info from all the onther sony products launched this december which supposedly play mp3. my product training on the vaio pocket update and ss 2.3 should be on monday, and i assure you there WILL be some form of drm, i just dont know to what degree.

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

diverse — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 23:38:23 GMT

I have found that every copy protected CD that will not copy to ATRAC in Sonic will copy in Itunes, i rip as WAV then convert to ATRAC!

I agree with piracy but i believe it wrong that if i buy a CD legitimatly i cannot play it without farting around using Itunes or even re-mastering (that's what i do!) the disc digitally and re-burn an un-copy protected disc (but Itunes has yet to be beaten by any copy protection) YEAH for apple on that front!

Re: about the update and mp3 playback

diverse — Wed, 08 Dec 2004 23:38:39 GMT

I have found that every copy protected CD that will not copy to ATRAC in Sonic will copy in Itunes, i rip as WAV then convert to ATRAC!

I dissagree with piracy but i believe it wrong that if i buy a CD legitimatly i cannot play it without farting around using Itunes or even re-mastering (that's what i do!) the disc digitally and re-burn an un-copy protected disc (but Itunes has yet to be beaten by any copy protection) YEAH for apple on that front!