Microsoft rebrands PlaysForSure to Certified For Windows Vista, confuses world
December 12, 2007
Microsoft’s PlaysForSure DRM just took another step closer to the grave with the help of some rebranding. Those of you with players from SanDisk, Nokia, and Creative among others, looking for compatible music from Napster, Real Rhapsody, Yahoo Music, Wal-Mart and such must now look for the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo, not PlaysForSure. Of course, Microsoft’s Zune is also certified for Windows Vista, just not certified for Windows Vista so it won’t play back the same protected files. Man, could DRM get any more consumer unfriendly?
TV to make its debut on iTunes Canada this week
December 11, 2007
TV shows on iTunes have proven to be rather popular, even with little foibles like losing NBC and all of its shows. So far, only the US and UK have been able to purchase individual (or seasons of) shows through the iTunes Store, but we’ve heard rumblings for quite some time that licensing deals were being worked out for other countries. One such country is our neighbor in the great white north.
But anxious Canadians won’t have to wait much longer. As 2007 winds to a close, Apple plans to give an early Christmas gift to our Canadian friends in the form of (a few) TV shows being added to the iTunes Store. The company plans to begin adding shows quietly to the store as early as tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon or evening, with an official launch expected for Wednesday if things go smoothly, our sources tell us. Of course, with all things iTunes (and Apple), these exact days can easily get pushed, but the shows are expected to make their debut at most within the next couple of weeks.
Upon launch, the Canadian iTunes Store won’t carry a ton of content, but it’ll certainly get the ball rolling. Users will begin to see shows from CBC, CTV, and a handful of shows from US networks. Oh, and for you hardcore Canadians out there, we hear that you can look forward to spying some NHL games through the iTunes Store too.
I am sure Microsoft will follow soon with a similar announcement for XBOX Live Video Marketplace.
Adobe Delivers Flash Player 9 With H.264 Video Support
December 4, 2007
Adobe has announced the immediate availability of Adobe Flash Player 9 Update 3 software, previously code named Moviestar.
Adobe Flash Player 9 now includes H.264 standard video support, the same standard deployed in Blu-Ray and HD-DVD high definition video players, and High Efficiency AAC (HE-AAC) audio capabilities.
The combination of Adobe Flash Player 9 and Adobe Flash Media Server 3 (also announced today) enables the delivery of HD quality video to the broadest online audience. Adobe Flash Player 9 Update 3 is available immediately at http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer.
H.264 support is an encoding option in Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects software and is now integrated across the Adobe Flash family of products. Expected to be available in early 2008, Adobe Media Player, the first application from Adobe built on Adobe AIR, will leverage both H.264 video and HE-AAC audio support. Adobe Media Player takes Flash streaming video experiences outside the Web browser delivering more viewing options, such as watching videos anytime, anywhere.
With H.264 and HE-AAC support in Adobe Flash Player 9 and Adobe Flash Media Server 3, content providers can now deliver HDTV-quality streaming video on the Web.
“Together with Adobe, we will provide a best-in-class, high definition video experience.”
“The inclusion of industry standard H.264 support in Adobe Flash Player, Adobe AIR, the Adobe Creative Suite product line and Adobe Flash Media Server 3 brings new HD capabilities to millions of Flash developers and a new generation of viewers who are turning to the Web as the place to find their favorite shows and video content.”
Adobe Flash Player 9 is immediately available as a free download for Windows, Macintosh and Linux platforms from http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer . To learn more about Adobe Flash Player 9, please visit http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/ .
Via Joostteam.com
