Category: Zune

Zune DRM has been Cracked

The digital rights management that is used by all of the music in the Zune market place has been cracked. A new version of the cracking software FairUse4WM is floating around that claims to be able to remove the DRM from the music files.

“This post introduces a new tool for uncovering the individual keys from Microsoft’s DRM blackbox components (“IBX”), up to version 11.0.6000.6324. Lacking the source code to the extant programs, I can only offer this output of my own efforts.

To actualize fair use rights with the new IBX, first run ‘mirakagi’ which will enter the IBX keys into the FairUse4WM blackbox-keys.txt text file.
Next, you should use the attached version of FairUse4WM, 1.3Fix-2. This includes an important fix for a video corruption bug, often seen in scenes affording high compression.

If problems occur, please provide the program text. IBX versions after 11.0.6000.6324 are not currently supported.

This version should be capable of interfacing with both Windows Vista and Zune software versions.”

The hackers versus the DRM makers will go on forever as a cat and mouse game until one of the two groups gives up and all I’m going to say is I highly doubt that the hackers are going to be that group.

Doom9 Forum

New Zune Ad

The Zune is a pretty cool player and no matter what others say I am still willing to suggest it to friends and family as a good music player, I don’t think that anyone can dispute the fact that being able to pay $15 a month and download all the music you want is one heck of a cool idea.

Anyways Gizmodo posted this ad and I think that it is a cool looking ad, a lot better then their older ones.

Gizmodo

The Guest Zune Hack

On ZuneBoards someone has come up with a way to connect a guest Zune to a computer as if it was the home Zune. This is pretty handy for adding files to your Zune from another computer without erasing everything.

I have been talking to my friends lately about MP3 players. They all love iPods and I do too but I do believe that iPods are not for everyone. I don’t think the Zune is great however I do believe that in time with many hacks and so on the Zune will become a very interesting mp3 player especially for those who love to hack stuff.

Anyway check out a pic of the hack and check the link after the jump.

The Guest Zune Hack

Microsoft Getting Ready for Zune Filling Stations

Microsoft is getting ready to build “filling stations” for their Zune media player. The filling stations will be able to send via Wifi songs to your Zune for you to listen too, of course it will still be the 3 days or 3 plays rule but its still pretty cool. It’s not like you would be able to walk into Abercrombie and download the cool song playing with your iPod, only on your Zune.

This is a great idea and might cause some people to rethink the Microsoft player.

Steve Balmer Laughs at the iPhone

Well Steve Balmer seems to think that the iPhone is a big joke, at least he laughs at it like it is. In about a year and a half I’d like to see what he says when the iPhone is down to about $300 subsidized and selling like hot cakes.

Podcasting, Zune! Oh, Wait no

On the Zune.net | Pass It On page over their on Zune.net they have an interesting sponsor. NPR podcasts, not only that but they also talk about sharing podcasts with your Zune. Could this be coming soon? I hope so. I’ve actually really liked the look and feel of a Zune and thought it was something I would buy if I didn’t want a iPod. I really hope that Microsoft begins to add podcasting support to its Zune market place because that would help all the podcasters out but would also turn peoples thinking that you can only get podcasts if you have an iPod into: anyone can listen to podcasts.

What the Heck Microsoft?

I’m not sure what the heck to think about this ad. It is very strange, the creatures look a bit like the creatures from the video game Spore. I’m not sure what they are trying to do with this commercial and they are obviously targeting at teenagers but I don’t know how this is going to appeal to them.

Linux on a Zune

According to Zune-Online.com Someone has managed to put Linux on a Zune, well this is something I have been talking about and had mentioned on my old blog, I think it is one of the most interesting ideas ever. Just imagine the possibilities, I think that this is one step towards making the Zune a huge competitor especially for all of those Linux Hackers out there. If Linux on the Zune meets my expectations as I think it will, I will buy one and put Linux on it.