Microsoft + WMP patches = BAD

[Joshsti_NZ]

Check this (http://www.infowarrior.org/articles/2002-09.html) out, another example of MS gone bad, lamers.

[whetu]

As this Register article notes, users desiring to close this latest security holes in WMP must also agree to allow Microsoft to install Digital Rights Management software (copy prevention controls) on their computers, and agree that Microsoft may update such features from time to time or even disable other software on their computers at some point. (That last point is rather vague, and could mean disabling anything from viruses to software from Microsoft competitors.)

It's like Ford issuing the recall for the Firestone tires shipped on its vehicles, and maintaining a policy that any vehicle owner getting their tires replaced (thus increasing their safety) must agree to use Ford-brand gasoline and allow Ford to approve where, when, and on what roads they may drive their vehicle. Otherwise, they are free to drive anywhere they like on Firestone tires, but are on their own if something bad happens. The only kicker is, this isn't conveyed to Ford customers in an easily-noticed and understandable fashion before the work gets done....so owners are bound by the new policy by unwitting default.

oh boohoo, here's a thought:

The ford customer gets irate. The ford customer returns (or sells off) the vehicle, the ford customer gets another car.

anyone who is upset by this is more than welcome to not use wmp there's a plethora of suitable media players out there... MS hasnt quite yet clamped down on your right to choose :rolleyes:

[Ragnor]

Hehe.. Win2k comes with the oldschool v6.4 of media player. Doesn't have any of the gayness of the newer ones and once you install the divX codec's and run in full screen there's no difference. There is absolutely no reason to upgrade to the never versions at all. Use something like Zone Alarm to deny it any access to the net and you're off.

[Joshsti_NZ]

Bleh

I don't use WMP and never will, yes I know Microsoft hasn't locked our right to choose a media player, I was merely posting that link for all that people that do use WMP who might have wanted to know about this ... the older version of WMP are better anyway, less bloated etc,

:rolleyes:

/me thinks this thread will be locked in 10mins :rolleyes:

[varkk]

quick better psot reply fast then...

The trouble with the car analogy is that a ford owner knows that there are far better options out there(Holden) but with WMP it is bundled into windows, and most people never even investigate the alternatives, they just want the computer to work, and they want that 'interweb thing' They don't care about alternatives, they just want to click and have it go just like that. These are the people(sheep?) that are most going to be effected by this and are the ones who most need help....

[Agent666]

Originally posted by Ragnor
Hehe.. Win2k comes with the oldschool v6.4 of media player. Doesn't have any of the gayness of the newer ones and once you install the divX codec's and run in full screen there's no difference. There is absolutely no reason to upgrade to the never versions at all. Use something like Zone Alarm to deny it any access to the net and you're off.

its in XP as well........... so dont get to excited ........... ;)

[Sydog]

I only use Windows Media Player on accident. Zoom player is a great alternative, although it can't play mp3's it is great with movies

[Antallica]

I'll only use WMP with movies (via the divx codec), I have a feeling sound is better on WMP compared to divx (just my weirdness) so I just use that. I never play mp3's on WMP as the playlist feature is rather lacking in functionality.

Winamp3 all the way baby :D

[Tiggerz]

Personally I got annoyed with all the players out there. So I wrote my own.

I have all my songs organised by directory and filename, since many of them dont have any of that identification muck in them.

None of the players will do that, so wrote my own..