learnandteachonline.com

According to a story in the NYTimes, the newest Microsoft MP3 player has a software overhaul.

Under the old rules a user who received a squirted a file from another user couldn't pass it on. That's possible now but each Zune can only play the shared file three times, even if its rights are not protected.

MS is thinking hard about DRM, and will offer a large library of unprotected songs, along with a place on the web to get all social about them.

The Times article leaves a lot of unanswered questions. I'm with Dave. It would have been nice if bloggers had been clued in on this announcement. There could have been a lot more informed discussion. Maybe that's what they don't want, deep down.

My questions:

- I wonder if they still have that crazy deal to give over a percentage of each player's purchase price to a record label (was it Universal?) and if other labels haven't clamored for and been granted the same deal.

- Why limit unprotected files? There shouldn't be any restrictions on podcasts.

- Considering the Gates Foundation's interest in education, I wonder if they've considered educational uses of the file sharing feature. Like squirting lectures or guided tours. It's such a unique feature, it seems like they'd try to get more creative with it.

Here's the Zune press website with specs and stuff. Ah, Edelman is handling the launch. Maybe that's a clue to why no blogger involvement, some perceived risk of the important Christmas announcement reeling out of control.