Is this thing on … I hate switching providers - everything breaks for a bit. If this makes it up there, I’ll be super surpsrised.
Update: Well slap me silly - it appears everything is back to normal. OK I admit - it was easier than I thought.
This would suck. The powers that be are agitating for new data retention laws that would force ISPs to keep track of just about everything you do online and hold that info for years. Imagine - every instant message or email you sent could have it’s destination and source logged for use by law enforcement. Any web site you visit or file you download - logged.
This means that at any point in the future, your online activities could be dredged up examined for any purpose or any cause that may be unpopular at the moment. Not to mention that your records are kept by companies who have a less than stellar track record for keeping things like that private. Hell, with info like that being stored, you can be sure that information will leak like a sieve.
Right now these companies keep some of this info, with varying amounts of enthusiasm and effectiveness, so don’t think you’re immune right now. However, you’re free to choose a provider who keeps nothing at all or use anonymizer services. In the future this may not be an option. Even now, having and using privacy tools is extremely important, even for everyday activities.
Check out:
Tor, (A relatively easy-to-use network anonymizer)
Privoxy (included with the complete Tor distribution, helps keep private data from being sent to every web site you visit. Also includes a nice ad-blocking setup as a bonus.)
Firefox with some nice plugins, specifically NoScript, FoxyProxy, SafeCache, and SafeHistory
Learn to use them and use them often. Little brother may be watching.
I can’t even believe that this is true, but here is is, straight from the horse’s mouth:
Plays for Sure: Zune isn’t “Plays for Sure” compatible and the DRM-protected music from PFS services likely won’t play without the usual burn to CD workaround. Lee’s explanation: PFS was established to make sure non-integrated players and services were compatible; because Zune is an integrated environment, it doesn’t need PFS. Lee: “We wanted an integrated experience from the beginning. Our focus is on giving the user one great experience.”
You read that right - Microsoft is not going to allow their new Zune music player to use content purchased from stores supporting their own “Plays for Sure” technology. Again: IT WON’T PLAY CONTENT FROM STORES USING THEIR OWN FORMAT. WTF?
Apparently they’re going for the ultra-niche market of those people who haven’t yet bought a digital music player. Sure as hell won’t be people who have any investment in music they’ve purchased from their own music partners…
I would be pissed if I was Napster or Rhapsody or any of those other music store also-rans. This thing has the potential to just bury them. Their own partner has basically just dumped them for a new platform and not letting anyone else play. Suckers.
They’re trying to pull an Apple marketing move here and actually make a good end-to-end solution for music - but since when has Microsoft *EVER* been able to do that? They’ve already screwed their customers once with “Plays for Sure,” are you really going to trust them with your music purchases again?