Video iPod Vs Creative Zen Vision: M

wolfman

Digital Rights Management.

Actually there's a good article on the BBC today by Bill Thompson about it.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4816930.stm

wolfman

Yeah, fair use rights have gone right out of the window. As mentioned in the article I linked above, the industry is using copyright as "an absolute property right", rather than a "limited monopoly on certain forms of exploitation and use".

The consumer will always find a way round it. It is one reason why I don't use iTunes though, shame. And another reason why so many people use such services as allofmp3.com.

herman2811

Surely if I got mp3's from sources other than itunes, be it from other websites, or even from p2p, that these mp3's would still work on an ipod???

wolfman

Yeah they'll work. Sorry for the confusion.

If you buy from a source such as iTunes, or Tesco's online music store, the music files will most likely come with DRM protection. They'll work on an iPod, but it'll basically restrict the way in which you can use the track in that you'll only be able to burn (copy it to cd), or transfer it to another computer or device so many times.

The best way to avoid this is either to rip your own tracks from any cd's you may already own, using an application such as Cdex or dbPowerAmp. Or to buy from a music store that doesn't use DRM.

whotook316

IMO the Creative Zen Vision is the best allround MP3/video player you can buy at the moment. Creative are very good on sound quality - they supply soundcards for most of the ready built PCs on the market, including Dell. The Vision M also has a video capability that is actually works on a practical level because it supports the full variety of video formats you find on the internet. With the iPod video you have to spend a couple of hours converting each video you want to pay on it (with the exception of the stuff you buy on itunes). Finally, the Vision M has decent battery life for video playback, unlike the iPod.

Alternatively, you can pick up an Archos gmini 402 for around £150. I think this is the best value for money you can get on a mp3/vid player, but it has the same problem as the iPod in that it only supports one type of video format (but at least it the more recognised avi format).

But if you don't care about vid playback - I cant count the number of times I have watched video on my zen vision on my fingers (while wearing mittens) - you should go for an iPod nano. They really are good.

whotook316

I don't think an iPod can play DRM protected files download from sources other than iTunes. As I understood it iPods only play DRM protected AAC files. Everyone else sells MP3s. I think you have to get a 'plays for sure' accredited MP3 player if you want to play other DRM protected files.

aliasojo

dk143 wrote:

Cheers aliasojo,

how's the battery life on the Vision M? For example, can you get through an entire film, and still have power to play music?

And does it play .avi files, as that isn't listed in the files supported?

Thanks again,
K x

I'm so sorry I never answered you earlier - I completely forgot I'd posted here.

It does play avi files and they transfer in seconds (depending on size of course).

Can't answer your question about the battery life as OH has never actually watched an entire film on it yet, but he reckons he could easily and still have power.