Radio Microsoft ?

[Dave Looney]

I took a look last night at all the internet radio stations here in San Diego. 
I'm not a big multimedia fan, and probably last looked at internet broadcast
stations about a year ago.  At that time, more than half offered audio streams
using RealPlayer, although a fair number only used Windows Media Player.  

Now, every station in San Diego is using Windows Media Player, and though one
offered RealPlayer as an alternate, the link warned that it was being
discontinued shortly, so no one will be able to listen to "local" internet radio
unless they use WinXXxx.   They all seem to be using a single provider (CTSNET)
as well, so one wonders if CTSNET is pushing for the change. 

The same seemed to be true of several other broadcasts which I tried, including
KPIG, which offers a RealPlayer stream only in Mono, while offering stereo
Windows Media Player streams.

This seems fairly ominous.  I somehow doubt we'll see a Linux version of the
Windows Media Player anytime soon, despite some rumors to the contrary
(http://www.vnunet.com/News/105831), esp. as there is not even a Mac version as
of yet.   I'm also not sure that I would like to use it, even if they do, as itt
seems like an implementation of the strategy described in the Halloween
document.   I wonder if  Windows Media Player inclusion of "Digital Rights
Management" software also has the recording industry pushing stations to make
this move.

Bummer.

Dave Looney


"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin