Adobe Flash is the king of online video playback. It is cross-platform and provides for animation and interactivity that no other mainstream player can touch. Until now…
Microsoft have announced their own cross-platform player that reports to support animation and interactivity. One thing it has that is missing from Flash is support for HighDef (720p or better) video. Details are still a bit sparse but considering they have deals in place with MLB and NetFlix to use the player it may get a decent shot at taking some of the limelight away from Flash (yes, pun intended).
Big names back Microsoft’s Silverlight browser plug-in
And in the continuing saga of the ‘Me too Zune’ player from Microsoft they have ‘announced plans’ to offer DRM free tracks on the Zune Marketplace and some undisclosed future date.
Yawn.
Don’t waste my time telling me that you plan to do something, shut the frack up and do it already! Sheesh…
Microsoft sees DRM-free music in Zune’s future | CNET News.com
The first crack in the DRM’ed content wall!
EMI, the smallest of the ‘big four’ labels, have inked a deal with Apple to offer tracks via the iTunes music store without copy protection.
This is H U G E!
Assuming they don’t pull some other shinagins this means that you’ll be able to download tracks into iTunes and then move them between computers, iPods, burn to CD, etc. without limitation. You’ll still likely have to convert the tracks to MP3 if you want to play it on some portable device other than an iPod but that’s a small inconvenience.
Hurray to EMI!
EMI-Apple pen deal to sell songs – CNN.com
Digital Media and whatever else flows through my head…