Thats it, Do not use Media Player 8!

[docmanhattan]

<<

<<

<< So does this effect only CDs and DVDs that you play? or does this effect all files (avi, mp3, etc..) that you play in media player 8? >>


It sounds like it tracks all files it can play, period. >>

The impression I got from the article was that it only applied to CDs and DVDs. The idea that the software is "logging" the information seems to be a bit of a stretch from what the software is actually doing, which is simply creating a list of the discs you play on your local hard-drive so the program is not constantly downloading track info every time you put in a CD. Personally, I don't care if my computer "knows" that I have a Warren Zevon CD or that I've watched the DVD of Patton. Every time MS makes a mistake or misjudges something in an attempt to create a service for users, the conspiracy theorists come out in screaming hysterics about how MS is out to spy on you, sell your personal information, and kill your firstborn male child. It seems to me that people tend to get disproportionally bent out of shape over things that are most likely just oversights on the part of MS.

ZV >>



I'm not saying it's a conspiracy, but it definitely wasn't an oversight. user agreements are pretty specific and if the company could get away with requiring your firstborn, they would. there was a similar flap over Borland's user agreement (that has since been changed) that basically said that by accepting their user agreement you are allowing them to come to the location of said software and search the computer for proof thaty ou own a legal copy. linkie to what i'm talking about.



EDIT: original review of broland license on freshmeat.net

 

[Argo]

Geez, who the hell cares. You people should stop being so paranoid.

 

[Zenmervolt]

<< I'm not saying it's a conspiracy, but it definitely wasn't an oversight. user agreements are pretty specific and if the company could get away with requiring your firstborn, they would. there was a similar flap over Borland's user agreement (that has since been changed) that basically said that by accepting their user agreement you are allowing them to come to the location of said software and search the computer for proof thaty ou own a legal copy. linkie to what i'm talking about.



EDIT: original review of broland license on freshmeat.net >>

I'm can't agree that it wasn't an oversight. The EULA stated that the player was downloading name and track information for CDs. "Downloading" means finding the information and storing a copy locally on your computer. Seems clear enough to me. To say that the program downloads and stores the information is a bit redundant. Since this function existed for CDs before it did for DVDs, it seems perfectly reasonable to me that MS simply overlooked the necessity of updating the EULA to state that information was downloaded for DVDs too. I mean, think about it. If you're MS, you know that there are millions of people who gleefully search through everything you do in the hopes of finding something that they can throw back in your face. Is it more likely that you would try something that was sure to get thrown back in your face or that you simply made an honest mistake? I certainly don't claim to be right, but I think my explanation seems a bit more plausible.

ZV

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

<<

<< I have ZA set to block all communication from WMP. If i need a codec, i d/l it myself >>


plz explain how u did that
thanks >>



Double click on the Zone Alarm icon on the taskbar, go to programs, scroll down till you see the media player and disallow it any client or server activity.

 

[Elledan]

<<

<< I'm not saying it's a conspiracy, but it definitely wasn't an oversight. user agreements are pretty specific and if the company could get away with requiring your firstborn, they would. there was a similar flap over Borland's user agreement (that has since been changed) that basically said that by accepting their user agreement you are allowing them to come to the location of said software and search the computer for proof thaty ou own a legal copy. linkie to what i'm talking about.



EDIT: original review of broland license on freshmeat.net >>

I'm can't agree that it wasn't an oversight. The EULA stated that the player was downloading name and track information for CDs. "Downloading" means finding the information and storing a copy locally on your computer. Seems clear enough to me. To say that the program downloads and stores the information is a bit redundant. Since this function existed for CDs before it did for DVDs, it seems perfectly reasonable to me that MS simply overlooked the necessity of updating the EULA to state that information was downloaded for DVDs too. I mean, think about it. If you're MS, you know that there are millions of people who gleefully search through everything you do in the hopes of finding something that they can throw back in your face. Is it more likely that you would try something that was sure to get thrown back in your face or that you simply made an honest mistake? I certainly don't claim to be right, but I think my explanation seems a bit more plausible.

ZV >>


Why does WMP8 send a unique ID to Micros~1 every time time it downloads some titles? I don't see what use this unique ID would have for the service.

 

[aphex]

<< Geez, who the hell cares. You people should stop being so paranoid. >>

As a matter of fact... I do (as im sure alot of people here do as well).

 

[Anubis]

another reason for me to not use MS crap. any way i havent used media plaier in a long time. I use a winamp plugin that plays .AVI and <ASF a hole lot metter the win media. also plays divxs. Its called "NiceMc" its really cool and so many more options then Win media. I havent seen 8 seeing as i dont use XP but when i do i still wont use it anyway.

 

[CocaCola5]

XP makes these kind of things too easy by having a fixed "box" ID, me stayed with w2k.

 

[flavio]

Is it related to this?

 

[RGN]

I've never used it, thought it always sucked. So, I guess I'm ok.

 

[MikeO]

<< Geez, who the hell cares. You people should stop being so paranoid. >>



:Q

Who the hell wouldn't care that they're using a program that keeps a record of every media file, CD and DVD they've accessed and that there's a possibility that someone's looking at it right now!?!?

Even tho I don't have anything to hide, I don't f**king want some M$ program keeping a record what I do with my machine, that's complete BS.

:|

 

[GTaudiophile]

I run ZoneAlarm and have noticed that every time I use WMP8, "wm_setup.exe" tries to call home to MS or something. Of course, I don't let it.

This sh!t is getting out-of-hand. Mac OS X anyone?

 

[Killbat]

You know their fscking web browser keeps a list of what sites you access?!?! :|:|:|

 

[MikeO]

<< I run ZoneAlarm and have noticed that every time I used WMP8, "wm_setup.exe" tries to call home to MS or something. Of course, I don't let it. >>



Yeah I noticed that too, about ~15 minutes after launching the program it tries to access internet.

 

[GTaudiophile]

<< You know their fscking web browser keeps a list of what sites you access?!?! :|:|:|

>>



Yeah, it's called the "index.dat" file in your cookies folder.

 

[swayinOtis]

I would suggest people use Winamp for music CDs. Someone else mentioned the NiceMC Winamp plugin for videos so give that a try instead of using WMP. I'm sure there are DVD players out there other than WMP so try one of those instead.

 

[RalfHutter]

Download xp AntiSpy. One of the things you can do with this wonderful little app is disable the unique ID number of wour M$ Media Player.

There's LOTS of other stuff you can do with this great program also. It gives you the option to disable a lot of the M$, phone-home spyware crap without having to dick around in your registry or edit files. It's kind'o like TweakUI for MS spyware!

 

[Derango]

I don't see why this is causing such a fuss. There are many, many, many many other audio players that download the Album name and Track Titles from the internet and store them on your computer. Actualy, I think its about time Microsoft did this! Thats why I never used their old version of the CD Player, because I had to type in all the names for myself. Instead, I found a very nice Audio player and used that instead (I'm still going to use it because I don't like WMP, but not because of this announcement)

 

[glen]

This Thread is a repost.
The original thread was LOCKED by the MODs.
original thread

 

[Kadarin]

For me the thing about Windows Media Player is that there really seemed to be no "need" for Microsoft to "upgrade" it.. (but of course, there were "reasons", which is different). On my machines, if it doesn't play in WMP 6.4 then I probably didn't want to see it anyway.

 

[wolf550e]

<<

<< Hint for all users, go to start / run and type in mplayer2 to get the media player 6.4 >>

Yep, that's what I've always used >>


exactly.

 

[chibchakan]

:|

 

[rh71]

I never even went to Media Player 7. Version 6.4 does everything I need (even today) without all the clutter and bulk.

 

[deftron]

Has anyone figured out how to disable it or delete the log file ?

 

[Ns1]

no big deal to me lol