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[Valisystem]

I'm mulling over the Yahoo Music Unlimited service - sixty bucks for a year of unlimited downloads is pretty tempting, even with all the DRM restrictions. I assume I'll have to use the Yahoo software for the downloads, but I'd like to immediately move the songs into an MC library and do everything else there. Does that work? Specifically -

 - can MC import the songs and play them on the initial client computer, or does the DRM cause problems?

 - can MC push the songs out to other devices thru Library Server and Tivo Server?

 - can MC push the DRM songs out to the supported portables?

I assume the answers will be the same for Yahoo, Napster & Rhapsody - all using the same Microsoft DRM, right?

Thanks!

[skeeterfood]

- can MC import the songs and play them on the initial client computer, or does the DRM cause problems?

I can tell you , that at least for Rhapsody (non "to Go") downloads, YES you can play them in MC.  I haven't tried serving them over Library/Tivo server and I don't subscribe to the Rhapsody to Go service, since my crappy old RCA MP3 player isn't compatible...

-John

[jgreen]

I've had Napster for the last few months and I love the selection.  The files are 128 kps WMA's, and the sound quality is good.  A little crisp on the high end, maybe, but plenty good for the price.
However, I've had problems with the DRM software.  I run win2k as a "power user" priviledge level, but Napster itself won't run unless you're logged in as "Admin" (this according to Napster tech).  So I have to log out to download songs, and it appears I have to be in admin mode for MC to import the songs.  Once they're imported I can play them and do all other library functions, including renaming, at a reduced priviledge level.
Playing a DRM song is a two-step process.  You hit play, and the program must first verify the license.  First song of the day, it can take a few seconds.  After that, things go smoothly unless you are doing heavy multitasking.  Then the DRM step can cause significant pauses.  This is a DRM thing, not a Napster or MC thing.
If you're running your music off a dedicated server, multitasking shouldn't be an issue.  The restrictions are the DRM are fairly liberal, surprisingly so.  There should be a way for you to do what you want over a network, although you may need to work it a bit. 

[511PF]

My understanding is that MC will not stream DRM'd content through Library Server to a TiVo, which pretty much kills the Yahoo service for me.

[brossmac]

I've been using the service for about a week and so far am loving it.  I don't have a compatible portable or TiVO, etc. so I can't help you there.

But so far I haven't had any problems playing downloaded tracks in MC.  They show up just like regular tracks.  The sound quality is pretty decent (192 WMA) and the selection is great and getting better every day.  And you can't beat the price...yet.

My dream is to run the entire service from within MC, but I can wait....

[Valisystem]

I signed up and experimented a bit tonight with the Yahoo Music Unlimited service. No surprises - MC observes the DRM restrictions and does not stream the songs freely to other locations.

Media Center can import and play songs on the computer that downloads them using the Yahoo Music Engine software. There's a few second delay before the first one starts to play; MC displays "Acquiring license."

When MC Library Server streams one of the songs to MC on a second computer, the second computer also tries to acquire a license. An account on the Yahoo Music Unlimited service apparently can run on up to three computers. If I had installed it on the second computer and connected it to the same YMUnlimited account, I think I could have played the songs on MC on the second computer.

Without it, though, MC on the second computer could not acquire a license and would not play the songs.

Same result with Tivo Server and UPnP Server - the songs won't play on a Tivo or on a Netgear MP101. In general, I assume the songs can't be streamed to any device that can't separately acquire a license to play them.

Too bad. It's an appealing service, but I'm becoming too accustomed to moving music around from place to place.

[mikesm]

Try muvaudio.com...  Works great with Yahoo/Napster.

Thanks,
Mike