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[molarman]

Let me begin by stating that I have on many occassions previous to this succesfullt converted to mp3 format - however this time is differreent.

Today I downloaded a song from WalMart's website.  I assumed it was an mp3, but found that in actuality it was in wma format.  The kicker is that it MC9 will not convert it to mp3.  I get the message, "Failed To Convert".  I did notice that in the Media Center's small conversion window that tells me the current format as well as the desired format it says, "DRM Protected File".  This makes it sound as if the file is protected from conversion.  I also looked in the file's properties and under the "License" tab it states, "Protected Content".  

I have not run across this before.  How can I convert this to mp3 format?

[crowfan]

The protection built into the file does indeed keep it from being converted. The only way to get it into mp3 format is to burn it to CD and rerip it, but then you lose quality.

crow

[molarman]

Yep.  That did it.  Thanks.  

I assume I will have this issue with all of WalMart.com's songs (in wma format and unable to convert to mp3)?  I have a 2nd gen. iPod and don't believe they can read wma's, so conversion to mp3 is important.  I did not see on WalMart's site where I can specify a preference as to file format.  Will this experience be repeated on iTunes website and others?

[modelmaker]

Most purchaced music files are DRM protected now. Some  you can't even burn to CD (Napster, I believe is play only).Sometimes it helps to turn off the DRM protection in the WMP. Good luck!

[crowfan]

molarman,

Pretty much any tracks that you buy from a legitimate site are WMAs that have the DRM protection, with the exception of iTunes. They have AAC songs that have DRM protection, but they will play on your iPod without any conversion or burning-and-reripping. Of course, iPod will play regular mp3s too. RealPlayer also sells AAC songs, but I'm not sure if they work on the iPod.

Napster has 2 options: pay 9.99 a month and get play-only capability with all songs in their catalog, or don't pay a monthly fee, and you can permanently download songs for 0.99 per track or 9.99 per album. If you pay for the songs that way, you can burn them to CD or transfer to a portable player (although not the iPod; the songs are in WMA).

I did read on the internet somewhere that Apple is supposed to start supporting WMA because of the recent deal with HP. I still find it hard to believe, but I really hope it's true.

crow

EDIT:

Here is the blurb that I saw:

Exclusive: HP Working to Get WMA on iPod
HP's blockbuster deal with Apple will have one exciting side effect, I discovered today. The company will be working with Apple to add support for Microsoft's superior Windows Media Audio (WMA) format to the iPod by mid-year. You heard it here first.

Here is the link (that blurb is about 25% of the way down the page):
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/ces04.asp