Saw this e-mail from Bigpond today (they're not my
ISP).
**************
*Dear BigPond^® Music Member,*
BigPond Music won't be supporting the Windows
Media Audio ('WMA') file format after 1 April
2010. That means you won't be able to download new
DRM (Digital
Rights Management) 'unlock' keys for the WMA files
you've bought from us already
- so you should back up your music now.
Any MP3 files you've bought from us won't be
affected. Read further if you want to know more
about WMA files.
*Here's why you should back up your music.*
As long as you keep using the same computer and
operating system, you shouldn't have any trouble
playing your WMA music files. But if you try to
move them onto a new computer or operating system,
they won't work if you don't transfer their DRM
keys as well.
Besides, backing up your collection is a good idea
- for your MP3 files too.
*So here's what to do.*
You can back up your music collection now, by either:
1. Burning it to audio CD (Click here
<http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/knowledgecenter/howto/burn_how_to.aspx>
to find out how.)
2. Backing up your WMA files and licences
separately (See how to do it here
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/265473>.)
*Additional information on WMA's & DRM.*
All our music was in the secure WMA file format
when BigPond Music started. Whenever you
downloaded a WMA file you downloaded it's
encrypted Digital Rights
Management ('DRM') code at the same time.
DRM is a kind of lock and key system. The key
unlocks the music so that it'll only play on your
software. The downside of this security is that
WMA downloads
don't work on popular systems like Apple's iPod
and iTunes software. It's also hard to move WMA
files without downloading a new licence key.
We started selling MP3 files without any DRM or
licence key restrictions in August 2008. MP3's are
a much more universal format that works on most
digital music players and software. We stopped
selling WMA files in March 2009, and only offer
MP3 music now.
*
The BigPond Music Team*
**************
Feel sorry for those who were suckered in.
Regards,
Patrick
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