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http://www.macnn.com/articles/02/02/21/ms.windows/

MS Windows Media Player logs songs, movies

updated 09:00 am EST, Thu February 21, 2002

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Microsoft's Windows Media Player software is logging the songs and movies that customers play: "When a CD is played, the player downloads the disc name and titles for each song from a Web site licensed by Microsoft. That information is stored on a small file on each computer in the latest version of the software."

by MacNN Staff

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ROFL
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2002

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02/21, 09:08am | report spam | close Reply |
BFD

Yet another news site posting a non-issue news item without doing any research first.

This is nothing new. It's just a local cache of the CDDB database. Nearly every program that accesses CDDB does this (itunes included). People always seem to enjoy bitching baout this stuff when MS is involved. Grow up.

Nitride
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Joined: Sep 2001

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02/21, 09:10am | report spam | close Reply |
Uhm, no

The point is Microsoft's site is doing the serving so anything you use is directly logged by MS who can then target you or sell your digital persona to record companies or whomever to target ads at you.

Everything MS offers as a service/client tracks its users from WebTV to Ultimate TV to Media Player.

Geeze, why don't they just get a deal with the Government to buy everyone's social security number and track us that way.

GadgetDon

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02/21, 09:25am | report spam | close Reply | delete
Also DVDs

They're also storing what DVDs are watched. Since there is no need to get a list of chapters from a database, you have to wonder why.

Fortunately, on the Mac, WiMP isn't usually used for ripping/playing CDs or watchin DVDs. It's great to have a Mac.

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02/21, 09:31am | report spam | close Reply |
Nothing new

Logging CDDB information in a local file is nothing new. The first poster is correct, most apps that access the CDDB or freedb.org use a local cache file. On Mac OS 9, this information was stored in a local file called CD Remote Programs in the preferences folder. Assuming Microsoft has no way to look at that local file, then they are committing no crime here.

But if you read the actual article linked above, you''ll see that "As part of downloading the information about songs and movies from the Web site, the program also transmits an identifier number unique to each user on the computer. That creates the possibility that user habits could be tracked and sold for marketing purposes."

If that's the case, then Microsoft could be up to some nasty tricks. But there's no reason to get alarmed over a local cache file.

beno
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02/21, 09:47am | report spam | close Reply |
well, duh

People always seem to enjoy bitching baout this stuff when MS is involved

well yes of course, don't you know Microsoft are a bunch of lying, evil, immoral, greedy, law-breaking b******* who are not to be trusted?

(no sarcasm)

TheAdmiral
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02/21, 10:03am | report spam | close Reply |
whew

If the report is true, then thank God I don't defile my machine with Microsoft bloatware AND spyware!

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02/21, 10:15am | report spam | close Reply |
Odd

Clearly iTunes downloads information about audio files and tracks that are played, from CDDB, and creates a log on a person's computer.

What is odd about WMP is that it is sending information about the user to the database it acquires information from, and this database is owned and operated by M$. It would appear that M$ is tracking what CDs it's users listen to. What if a person is listening to a bootleg or unauthorized recording? M$ knows. And what M$ knows, other people can know, including government thugs.

Furthermore, there is absolutely no reason to look up information on DVDs...this would appear to done for the sole purpose of tracking the movies or p*** being watched by M$ users.

Nothing M$ does ever surprises me any more, but what continues to surprise me is that M$ USERS never get tired of the BS and look for an alternative. They think Windows is all there is, the only platform, and wouldn't even consider a Mac because they are "toys" or no compatible or whatever. It's pathetic.

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02/21, 10:28am | report spam | close Reply |
what caught my attention

"If you're watching DVDs you don't want your wife to know about, you might not want to give her your password," said David Caulton, Microsoft's lead program manager for Windows Media.

Is that not one of the dumbest things you've ever heard? I mean, to promote dishonesty and exclusion in a marital relationship?

Unbelievable. Are we still so primitive as to not grasp the honesty concept?

Then again, money and honesty have been divorced for some time at Microsoft.

db

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02/21, 10:46am | report spam | close Reply |
OK... reality check...

Don't what planet the previous poster is from but Microsoft didn't invent the idea of non-disclosure in a marriage. My love for my wife and her trust in me is not compromised by the fact that I don't tell her about every dirty picture I ever look at. She knows me, she knows men and she knows there are just some things she doesn't want to hear about. I hardly think Microsoft is trying to erode family values. Guys will just always be guys.

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02/21, 11:00am | report spam | close Reply |
Re: reality checky

While you may be right for your relationship or others, it's still a poor choice on their part. And your point may stand, but the idea of discouraging dishonesty is a poor choice, and it implies that, despite what you say that your wife knows you and she knows men, she would 'go looking for this information if she could, so you definitely need a way to cover it up'

Looking at dirty pictures and your wife trusting your judgement, etc. is one thing--fine. Having to carefully cover your tracks that you've ever done this is another...

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02/21, 11:01am | report spam | close Reply |
oops

Not discouraging dishonesty, ENCOURAGING dishonesty... :-)

MacNN.com Reader
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02/21, 11:40am | report spam | close Reply |
Microsoft...

What comandment do you want to break today?

MacNN.com Reader
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02/21, 01:16pm | report spam | close Reply |
Whoppdee..

...frickin' doo.

And the list of iTunes Internet Radio Stations comes from a site licensed by Apple.

Get a job, people.

MacNN.com Reader
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02/21, 03:32pm | report spam | close Reply |
Microsoft wants to help

Usher (in the article) says that the information could be used to give recommendations, should the user wish it. What a load of BS!! They are sooo ready to sell that info to marketers and retailers you can practically hear them panting from here. Give them any excuse and the deal (probably already in negotiations) is done. And Microsoft is making a little bit more money at your expense and with your personal information. Notice also how impossible they made it to delete the file or stop the computer from sending back your information? Just ask yourself one question; will Microsoft stop tracking it's users listening and viewing habits now that some are asking what's the point of this? I don't think so. Apples iTunes and the database sites it has does not track users and the music or movies each listens to as far as I know (please correct me if I'm incorrect) So these sites are really just information databases, not receiving what the husband watched and listened to or, what the wife watched or listened to. BTW that was a stupid thing to say: telling people to play childish games with their marriage because Microsoft has a greedy player in your midst.

Raman
Mac Elite

Joined: Mar 2001

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02/21, 03:50pm | report spam | close Reply |
Stop bitching

#1 There's a setting in windows media player that you can uncheck that says something to the effect of "allow websites to identify me personally". DUH.

#2 If you don't like it, don't use it.

#3 If you don't read the EULA then don't complain when someone tells you what the EULA says.

#4 If you want to keep secrets from your wife then you deserve a swift kick in the nuts. If she, legally, is allowed to not incriminate you then you should have a trusting relationship with her.

#5 If you are stealing media then you're guilty, wether or not the law or anyone knows it. If you believe in God then you're SOL anyway.

#6 No one is forcing you to use any particular software.

#7 If you're worried about covering your tracks then you know you're guilty so get over it.

MacNN.com Reader
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02/21, 04:12pm | report spam | close Reply |
RE: Stop bitching

"If you believe in God then you're SOL anyway."

Geez, I kinda thought this was about privacy issues associated with Windows Media Player. The argument about morals and religion is kinda unrelated to whether a person wants his/her information to be visible (or even remotely visible) to somebody at MS.

And don't give me the EULA argument. (Man, if you read every single one of those before--or even after --installing software, then you've got far too much time on your hands. But that isn't my point.) Writing in a hazy way that a user's viewing/listening habits are captured with an identifier in a database doesn't make it right.

C'mon, you understand that, don't you? I hate to say that it's kinda the principle of the thing, but you've got to back up and view this in a bigger scope.

Behaving mysteriously (at best) is still behaving mysteriously even if you tell people about it.

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02/21, 04:20pm | report spam | close Reply |
RE: stop bitching

You are the reason people view computer "nerds" or "geeks" (or whatever those of us who know a good deal about computers are called these days )with such disdain. It's comments like these:

'There's a setting in windows media player that you can uncheck that says something to the effect of "allow websites to identify me personally". DUH. '

and

If you don't read the EULA then don't complain when someone tells you what the EULA says.

Perhaps many of the users here recognize that attitude. Ever dealt with system administrators in your workplace like this guy? The cocky, simple minded, "I'm better than you" attitude is so infuriating. Maybe some of the American users recall seeing the character on Saturday Night Live played by Jimmy Fallon (Nick, I think is his name) who is a complete a**hole to people who don't know how to get on a network or install a new video card.

Despite what many of us think, there are people out there who use computers, but whose professions are outside of this realm (doctors, professors, lawyers, social workers, etc.).

michaelb
Mac Elite

Joined: Oct 2000

0

02/21, 07:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: That Attitude

Absolutely.

In fact, there has been a column going for eight years on what people like this get up to -- in both fact & fantasy.

It's called the "BOFH" (b****** Operator From h***).

http://bofh.ntk.net/b******.html

Read a couple of the stories. If you're like me, you just might not come back for a few hours, and will have been laughing out loud for most of that time.

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MS Windows Media Player logs songs, movies

updated 09:00 am EST, Thu February 21, 2002

BFD

Uhm, no

Also DVDs

Nothing new

well, duh

whew

Odd

what caught my attention

OK... reality check...

Re: reality checky

oops

Microsoft...

Whoppdee..

Microsoft wants to help

Stop bitching

RE: Stop bitching

RE: stop bitching

Re: That Attitude

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MS Windows Media Player logs songs, movies

updated 09:00 am EST, Thu February 21, 2002

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BFD

Uhm, no

Also DVDs

Nothing new

well, duh

whew

Odd

what caught my attention

OK... reality check...

Re: reality checky

oops

Microsoft...

Whoppdee..

Microsoft wants to help

Stop bitching

RE: Stop bitching

RE: stop bitching

Re: That Attitude

Login Here

Register for our weekly email newsletter:

Connect tools:

Subscribe

to our RSS

Follow us

on Twitter

Most Read

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