DRM Free: Free DRM on digital music
DRM Music Converter
Advanced legal converting technology includes virtual burning and virtual recording that can covert DRM audio to open MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, AIFF and other types of audio formats, without cracking the DRM protection. These two approaches provide better solutions for converting DRM audio files without cracking any protection or breaking DRM regulations.
The most popular DRM audio converter utilizing virtual burning technology is NoteBurner Audio Converter. It can convert iTunes M4P, AAC, protected WMA to MP3 and unprotected WMA.
NoteBurner Audio Converter can also convert any other type of audio format to MP3, WMA and WAV.
Learn how to Remove DRM and Crack DRM. Find DRM Music Converter to convert DRM music.
DRM Music Industry & the of DRM-free Trend
The following information about DRM industry and the trend of DRM-free music is provided for information's sake only.
More DRM-Free on Amazon
WMG announced that it will be joining EMI and UMG in offering DRM-free MP3 music on Amazon.com. Amazon acquired Audible two months ago. Amazon is destined to be the largest seller of MP3 music. It has no direct interest in devices for audio (Amazon's Kindle e-book reader plays audio but does not support DRM); therefore it has no incentive to keep DRM for audiobooks.
Rhapsody has been offering MP3 music for the past several months, but alongside DRM-protected tracks. Napster was clearly betting that all four majors will make their entire catalogs available without DRM. Neither WMG or SonyBMG are giving up DRM on iTunes, as only EMI has to date. At the same time, Napster announced that it will be moving to MP3s only for its download sales sometime in 2008. It will still use DRM for subscription service.
Sony Ericsson and Google launch new DRM-free music service
Google is going to run music service in China that will offer DRM-free unencrypted MP3 songs. But this Google deal is the most visible evidence yet of a growing schism among the majors -- deeper than the initial schism over DRM on downloads between EMI and the other three.
DRM-based models lead to the idea that users should have rights to play music on whatever devices they have, wherever they are. Paid DRM-based subscription services will still be available, but it remains to be seen how fast they will grow in popularity.
Sony Ericsson announced an expansion of its PlayNow mobile music download service recently. The majority of the content is DRM free. That means that EMI and the many independent labels will offer DRM-free music while WMG and Sony BMG Music will stick with DRM, presumably Windows Media DRM. The majors are in the process of abandoning DRM for paid permanent downloads, but this news confirms that this strategy is limited to Internet downloads and may not extend to the mobile world.
A survey taken at a panel discussion on DRM earlier this month reveals content owners' attitudes about the technology. The upshot of the survey results was that content owners believe that DRM is still necessary and content should not be free. The survey finds that, 77% agreed or strongly agreed that DRM is necessary.
Nokia to Embed Microsoft PlayReady
Microsoft has reached agreement with Nokia to include PlayReady DRM technology for mobile devices in Nokia's Symbian-based S60 and Series 40 mobile device software. PlayReady is designed to support multiple content formats, including AAC, AAC+, and H.264 in addition to Windows Media Audio and Windows Media Video.
PlayReady also contains some features for unidirectional DRM interoperability by exporting content packaged in DRM schemes other than Windows Media DRM. Now Microsoft is opening up further to allow non-Microsoft codecs as well as, potentially, export to other DRM. With Windows Media DRM for Portable Devices, Microsoft enabled consumer device makers to implement WM DRM on non-Windows devices, albeit with higher license fees.
Nokia was one of the most important instigators of OMA DRM, and its embrace of PlayReady sends a signal to the industry that its support of OMA DRM is wavering. Nokia plans to release several PlayReady-compatible devices starting next year.
DRM-free Audiobooks Available Now
The leading audiobooks publishers have decided to license their audiobooks for DRM-free distribution. Random House made an announcement in February 2008. Penguin will also release MP3 audiobooks on eMusic. Simon & Schuster will make a limited number of titles available in an unprotected format soon. The move to DRM-free audiobooks seems fairly obvious considering the context.
DRM for audiobooks has been as much about device lock-in as it has been about piracy deterrence. The audiobook industry is dominated by a single company, Audible, which provides audiobooks to iTunes.
The biggest reason for audiobooks going DRM-free is to provide the same type of user experience as the major record labels are now providing for music downloads on sites other than iTunes, except for EMI titles. Audible's original business was providing digital audiobooks. But most of the audiobooks are FairPlay DRM format for iPods on iTunes.
Windows Media DRM was Hacked
Windows Media DRM was hacked again recently. An updated hack to Windows Media DRM was released on the Doom9 forum. Unlike previous versions, this one appears to work with files from subscription services like Napster, not just permanent downloads. It also works on files from Microsoft's Zune Marketplace, which uses a different DRM. This is the third release of FairUse4WM and features an easy-to-use user interface, in the manner of DVD-ripping tools such as 321 Studios' DVD XCopy.
FairUse4WM appears to address the point about applying the DRM technique. As both hackers and surrounding technologies get better, DRM technologies will need to get better if they are to remain viable.
Microsoft has licensed Windows Media DRM and partnered with numerous industry-leading content providers, service providers, solution providers, application developers, hardware manufacturers, and processor companies to offer the best digital media solutions.
DRM stands for Digital Rights Management DRM is used in video and music files. While DRM is most frequently used for movies, it is gaining more widespread use in other media as well. Digital music sold on Apple's iTunes Store, Wal-Mart Music Store, and other music stores, have various DRM schemes built in to limit the number of devices they may be played on. Many producers of eBooks (audiobooks) are using a similar implementation of DRM to limit how many computers a book may be viewed on, and even how many times it may be viewed.
