The CEO of Sony BMG Music Entertainment says that the company is developing an online music subscription service that would give users unlimited access to its music and be compatible with a host of digital music players.
Sony BMG's artist roster includes newcomers like Leona Lewis, along with stalwarts like Alicia Keys and Celine Dion, as well as country singer Carrie Underwood among others.
In an interview with the newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung published Monday, chief executive Rolf Schmidt-Holtz did not offer a timeline for unveiling the service.
As for costs to subscribers, the newspaper quoted him as saying that the "simplest option would be a flat rate" fee per month of around 6 to 8 euros ($9 to $12) for unlimited access to Sony BMG's entire music catalog and that the downloads would be compatible with all players, including Apple's ubiquitous iPod.
He said that it was "even possible that clients could keep some songs indefinitely, that they would own them even after the subscription expired."
Fengtao Software has released a new version of its DVDFab software. DVDFab 4.1.2.0 has been rebuilt using VS2008 and features improved support for CORE X2 protection and removal of RCE protection.
DVDFab Platinum 4.1.2.0 Updated!
New: Rebuilt with latest development tool VS2008.
New: Improved support for CORE X2 protection as found on some Czech DVDs.
New: Improved removal of RCE protection.
New: Updated language files.
Fix: PathPlayer may remove playable content in certain cases.
Fix: PathPlayer may cause crash in certain cases.
Fix: A crash problem when selecting "jump to menu/title when disc inserted", in certain cases.
Fix: A freeze problem when copying FluxDVD protected DVDs.
Fix: A crash problem when converting to Xbox 360 in certain cases, for "DVD to Mobile".
Fix: Ouput file cannot be played on PSP since "Unsupported Data" in certain cases, for "DVD to Mobile".
SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), a leading seller of MP3 players in the United States, today announced the company will promote DRM-free music from more than 50 new and emerging artists on a microSD card. This U.S.-based program is the first of its kind to use microSD cards, and helps launch the new 8GB (gigabyte)1 Sansa Fuze MP3 player. The “Sansa Sessions” microSD card is comprised of a collection of rock, pop, and hip hop songs, music videos, and photos from more than 30 labels. Featured artists include All Time Low, Ladytron, Magnet, Nada Surf, Of Montreal and The Coup.
“The Sansa Sessions microSD card is an innovative medium for music distribution, and great exposure for our artists,” said Matt Lunsford, co-president, Polyvinyl Record Co., which represents Of Montreal and other artists featured on the card. “This promotion benefits all involved, aligning the interests of the musician, label and consumer. We look forward to doing more together.”
Film studios that have switched to Blu-ray may have crowed a little too early because the much-praised BD+ copy protection is an ad absurdum affair now, too. With today's release of version 6.4.0.0 of AnyDVD HD it is now also possible to make backup security copies of Blu-ray discs protected with BD+.
Richard Doherty of the Envisioneering Group will have to revise his statement from July, 2007 regarding BD+: "BD+, unlike AACS which suffered a partial hack last year, won't likely be breached for 10 years". It is worth mentioning that since he made that statement only eight months have gone by.
Random House was the first to announce it was backing away from D.R.M., or digital rights management software, the protective wrapping placed around digital files to make them difficult to copy. In a letter sent to its industry partners last month, Random House, the world’s largest publisher, announced it would offer all of its audio books as unprotected MP3 files beginning this month, unless retail partners or authors specified otherwise.
Penguin Group, the second-largest publisher in the United States behind Random House, now appears set to follow suit. Dick Heffernan, publisher of Penguin Audio, said the company would make all of its audio book titles available for download in the MP3 format on eMusic, the Web’s second-largest digital music service after iTunes.
Fengtao Software has released a new version of its DVDFab software. Build 4.1.0.0 features a number of improvements and fixes as well as a new "crop" feature.
DVDFab Platinum 4.1.0.0 Updated!
New: Added "Crop" feature to remove the black bar on many widescreen movies, for "DVD to Mobile".
New: Added option "Crop automatically", and it's enabled by default.
New: Added "Advanced Resolution Settings" to allow user to resize output from letterbox to pan&scan, for "DVD to Mobile".
New: Added thumbnail preview for "Crop" and "Advanced Resolution Settings" to see the real output before converting.
New: Preselect appropriate resolution and bitrate for better quality by default, for "DVD to Mobile".
New: Improved compatibility with DVD Shrink for DVDs like "3:10 to Yuma".
New: Improved DVD structure cleaning module to remove ending fake title-set.
New: Improved "Jump to main title when disc inserted" to select correct angle if it's multi-angle title.
New: Added TV-Out profiles for iPod and PSP2000, for "DVD to Mobile".
New: Added profile for BlackBerry cellphone, for "DVD to Mobile".
New: Updated language files.
Fix: Option "Jump to first menu when disc inserted" may cause playback problem, like "30 Days of Night", (US).
Fix: A playback problem on some DVD recorders/players for "Split" mode, finally.
Fix: A warning message "Failure to initialize burn engine" when choosing ImgBurn burning engine, in certain cases.
Fix: A warning message "Unable to lock volume for exclusive access" for ImgBurn 2.4.0.0.
doubleTwist Corporation, a company devoted to helping consumers liberate their media, unveils its initial product offerings and announces the close of its Series A venture funding from Index Ventures and Northzone Ventures.
Founded in March 2007 by Monique Farantzos and Jon Lech Johansen (also known as DVD Jon), doubleTwist’s mission is to enable consumers to enjoy their digital media on the widest possible range of devices. Although the explosive adoption of CE devices has enabled any consumer to create and consume digital media, the process of sharing and moving media between the desktop and various devices such as mobile phones, gaming platforms and set-top boxes has become increasingly painful. doubleTwist is addressing this pain point by empowering consumers to easily share, consume and sync audio, video and photos regardless of device, file format or social network.
“When you receive an email, you can read it on your Blackberry, web mail, or Outlook. E-mail just works. With digital media such as video from a friend’s cell phone or your own iTunes playlists, it’s a jungle out there. It can be an hour-long exercise in futility to convert files to the correct format and transfer them to your Sony PSP or your phone” said Monique Farantzos, co-founder and CEO of doubleTwist. “The digital media landscape has become a tower of Babel, alienating and frustrating consumers. Our goal is to provide a simple and well integrated solution that the average consumer can use to eliminate the headaches associated with their expanding digital universe.”
Fengtao Software has released a new version of its DVDFab software. Build 4.0.6.2 features a number of improvements and fixes as well as full support for Nero Burning ROM and ImgBurn.
DVDFab Platinum 4.0.6.2 Updated!
Happy Chinese New Year 2008!
New: Improved "Jump to first menu when disc inserted". Now DVDFab works with Disney FastPlay DVDs like "Santa Clause 3".
New: Improved "Jump to main title when disc inserted" to select correct audio, subpicture and highlighted button in advance.
New: Improved detection of main title. Now DVDFab can detect first title on season/episodic DVDs.
New: Added full support for Nero Burning ROM (all "DVD -> Write" options and layer break position).
New: Added full support for ImgBurn, a popular free DVD burning software from LIGHTNING UK!
New: Added full support for MKV format in "Generic" mode, for "DVD to Mobile".
New: Updated VSO burning engine.
New: Updated language files.
Fix: Removed DVD content accidentally when "PathPlayer" is enabled in certain cases.
Fix: Removed DVD content accidentally when it contains multi-story content.
Fix: "Jump to first menu when disc inserted" doesn't work in "Customize" mode in certain cases.
SlySoft has released yet another version of its AnyDVD software. According to the change log, this beta features improved AI scanner performance and reliability as well as support for a new type of structural protection found on some adult titles.
6.3.1.4 2008 02 03 - New (DVD): Added support for a new type of structural protection as found on some adult titles - New (DVD): Major rewrite of the AI scanner for improved performance and reliability - Change: Hooking of the IDvdInfo2::GetDiscID interface caused a false security alert in some anti spyware tools - Fix: Theater Tek bookmarking did not work while AnyDVD was running - Fix: Possible hang if DVD with defective structures was inserted - Some minor fixes and improvements - Updated languages
In celebration of their boss' 40th birthday, VSO Software is offering 40% off of all of their software.
It is an exceptionnal event today, our dear boss (also the main developer of ConvertXtoDVD) has turned 40 years today. So we have decided to do a very special discount of 40% (even on the Goldmembership which is the package of all our software with unlimited lifetime upgrades) ONLY today.
This special offer is available by typing "boss40y" in the discount coupon area of your order, it is only available if you buy with avangate payment system (the default method)
Online retailer Amazon.com Inc said on Sunday it will begin an international roll-out this year of its digital music store that offers songs without copy-protection technology known as digital rights management.
Amazon said it is the only retailer to offer DRM-free MP3s from all four major music labels as well as thousands of independent labels.
Hollywood laid much of the blame for illegal movie downloading on college students. Now, it says its math was wrong.
In a 2005 study it commissioned, the Motion Picture Association of America claimed that 44 percent of the industry's domestic losses came from illegal downloading of movies by college students, who often have access to high-bandwidth networks on campus.
The MPAA has used the study to pressure colleges to take tougher steps to prevent illegal file-sharing and to back legislation currently before the House of Representatives that would force them to do so.
But now the MPAA, which represents the U.S. motion picture industry, has told education groups a "human error" in that survey caused it to get the number wrong. It now blames college students for about 15 percent of revenue loss.
Fengtao Software has released a new version of its DVDFab software. Build 4.0.5.5 features improved PathPlayer performance and support for the new copy protection found on "SAW IV".
DVDFab Platinum 4.0.5.5 Updated!
New: Added support for a new copy protection as found on "SAW IV", (US).
New: Improved support for CORE X2 protection as found on some Czech DVDs.
New: Improved PathPlayer performance in certain cases.
New: Updated VSO burning engine.
New: Updated A/V codecs for "DVD to Mobile".
New: Updated language files.
New: Added mp3 320kbps bitrate to generic.avi.xvid.mp3 profile.
New: Added generic.avi.h264.audiocopy and generic.avi.h264.mp3 profiles.
New: Added profile for Archos 605, thanks for GregRocket.
Fix: "Failed to get DVD Information" when opening DVD in certain cases.
Fix: When choosing "Jump to first menu when disc inserted", backup jumps to "Parental Control menu" in certain cases.
Fix: "Split" mode does not work on some DVDs, like "3:10 to Yuma".
Fix: Error 400(20 9) when copying DVD in certain cases.
Fix: A crash problem on Windows 2000 and Windows XP (without SP2), for "DVD to Mobile".
SlySoft has released a new version of its CloneDVD software. According to the change log, this beta fixes the no audio bug in titles like "Mr. Woodcock" and adds improved layer break handling.
Fixed "Mr. Woodcook" (maybe other titles, too) no audio bug
Version 2.9.1.5: 2008 01 20 - New: Improved layer break handling - Fix: "Clone 0" error with some discs - Fix: If a PGC contained multiple programs per chapter, parts of the PGC were blanked. - Fix: In rare situations Audio and Subtitle streams were not copied, if "Enable auto-selection for removed streams" was enabled - Some minor changes and improvements
Fixes from 6.3.0.8 beta: - Clicking "Default" did not set the AI scanner to "Automatic" - AnyDVD ripper removed time maps from title sets
6.3.0.9 2008 01 14 - New: Added "Create Logfile" menu, removed "enable logging" from settings - New: Autoplay is no longer triggered, if settings are changed or AnyDVD is disabled / enabled. - New (DVD): AI Scanner has now different settings, "Disabled", Automatic" or "Enabled" - New (DVD): Added warn message, if logging is enabled. - New (DVD): Added support for new protection, e.g., "Mr. Woodcock", R1, US - New (DVD): Added support for new copy protection, e.g. "Paheli", R2, Germany - New (DVD): Added support for new copy protection, e.g. "Whisper", R2, Germany - New (DVD): Added support for new copy protection found on some adult titles to the AnyDVD ripper - New (DVD): Improved performance of the AI scanner. - Fix (DVD): Problems with "Shoot 'Em Up", R1, US - Fix (DVD): AnyDVD ripper removed parts of the Audio Test of "Ratatouille", R1, US. - Fix (DVD): AI Scanner missed one chapter of the full frame version on "Fun with Dick and Jane (2005)", R1, US - Fix (DVD): IFOTitles 2 error with some Macrovision RipGuard protected titles, e.g. "Funny Factory with Mickey - Volume 1", R1, US - Some minor fixes and improvements - Updated languages
Just announced at Macworld, Twentieth Century Fox today released the studio's first Special Edition DVD with Digital Copy for iTunes®, the Family Guy “Star Wars” parody FAMILY GUY PRESENTS: BLUE HARVEST – in stores now. Consumers who purchase BLUE HARVEST with the additional Digital Copy of the movie can effortlessly transfer a copy of the film to their iTunes library and then view on a Mac® or PC, iPod®, iPhone™ or on Apple TV®.
SlySoft has released yet another version of its AnyDVD software. According to the change log, this beta features improved AI scanner performance and support for new copy protections.
6.3.0.7 2008 01 10 - Happy new year! - New: Autoplay is no longer triggered, if settings are changed or AnyDVD is disabled / enabled. - New (DVD): AI Scanner has now different settings, "Disabled", Automatic" or "Enabled" - New (DVD): Added warn message, if logging is enabled. - New (DVD): Added support for new protection, e.g., "Mr. Woodcock", R1, US - New (DVD): Added support for new copy protection, e.g. "Paheli", R2, Germany - New (DVD): Added support for new copy protection, e.g. "Whisper", R2, Germany - New (DVD): Added support for new copy protection found on some adult titles to the AnyDVD ripper - New (DVD): Improved performance of the AI scanner. - Fix (DVD): Problems with "Shoot 'Em Up", R1, US - Fix (DVD): AnyDVD ripper removed parts of the Audio Test of "Ratatouille", R1, US. - Fix (DVD): AI Scanner missed one chapter of the full frame version on "Fun with Dick and Jane (2005)", R1, US - Fix (DVD): IFOTitles 2 error with some Macrovision RipGuard protected titles, e.g. "Funny Factory with Mickey - Volume 1", R1, US - Some minor fixes and improvements - Updated languages
Fengtao Software has released a new version of its DVDFab software. Build 4.0.5.0 features improved PathPlayer performance and accuracy as well as the ability to check for multiple sets of BOVs in the same cell.
DVDFab Platinum 4.0.5.0 Updated!
New: Improved PathPlayer performance, the DVD opening time is reduced from 3-4 minutes to 1-2 minutes in most cases.
New: Improved PathPlayer accuracy to detect real unplayable cells.
New: Added option "Check for multiple set of BOVs in the same cell (like Easter Eggs)" in "Settings -> PathPlayer" window.
New: Select correct main title for "Simpsons Movie" (US), with help of PathPlayer.
New: Improved compatibility with some standalone DVD players.
New: Updated language files.
Fix: "Jump to main title when disc inserted" doesn't working when copying "Eastern Promises" (US).
Fix: A reading error problem when copying some copy protected discs.
Fix: A/V sync problem in certain cases for "DVD to Mobile".
Sony BMG Music Entertainment will crack open the door to its music vaults on Jan. 15, taking the DRM copy-prevention wrapper off a limited selection of downloadable tracks.
The tracks will be offered in MP3 format, without DRM (digital rights management), from Jan. 15 in the U.S. and from late January in Canada.
The move is far from the all-digital service offered by its rivals, though. To obtain the Sony-BMG tracks, would-be listeners will first have to go to a retail store to buy a Platinum MusicPass, a card containing a secret code, for a suggested retail price of $12.99. Once they have scratched off the card's covering to expose the code, they will be able to download one of just 37 albums available through the service, including Britney Spears' "Blackout" and Barry Manilow's "The Greatest Songs of the Seventies."
Napster Inc, one of the largest digital music retailers, said on Monday it would start selling downloads in the MP3 format from the second quarter of this year in the latest blow to copy protection for songs bought online.
Napster had sold songs protected with Microsoft Corp's Windows-based digital rights management (DRM) to prevent buyers from illegally making multiple copies or distributing songs to other users.
But the use of DRM, originally mandated by the world's largest music companies, has proved unpopular with consumers. Many have been frustrated to find that songs they buy can only be played on certain compatible digital players or could not be moved from one computer to another.
News 
Film studios that have switched to Blu-ray may have crowed a little too early because the much-praised BD+ copy protection is an ad absurdum affair now, too. With today's release of version 6.4.0.0 of 
