1. 

   jimboden
   Moderator

   I just found a (possible) quirk in the iPhone DPS app. I have an INXS album which I bought on iTunes long ago. The album is called Switch and it has a "bonus" track titled Let's Ride. I tried to play it through DPS on the iPhone and it says the track is DRM protected and won't play it. It plays via the normal iPhone music app and it also plays fine on iTunes (Windows 7) with DPS running.

   How does DPS determine that DRM is present and why does the song play with DPS on a computer but not on an iPhone?

   Posted 6 months ago #
2. 

   jimboden
   Moderator

   OK, I looked at the file in Windows Explorer and see that it has an M4P extension. Presumably the P means protected. Normal iTunes files have an M4A extension. I thought that DRM was meant to keep people from copying a file but still let you listen to it. If DRM were to prevent you from watching something, like a Blu Ray disc, or listening to DRM protected music, then it would be pointless. You could buy any of these items and not be able to use them even though you are the legal owner.

   Posted 6 months ago #
3. 

   Joey Butera
   Audio and Computer Systems Engineer

   Yea, DRM is pointless IMHO! Apple thought so too which is why they got rid of it for music. I bet the INXS track was purchased before they made this change. This doesn't apply to DPS on Windows because of its low system level status as an audio driver.

   Posted 6 months ago #
4. 

   jimboden
   Moderator

   Hi Joey:

   Thanks for the reply. Yes, it appears the file in question is quite old, so that would explain why it's protected. I'm still wondering why the iPhone music app will play it, but the DPS app won't. That seems to be inconsistent. Oh welll, no big deal. It's the only protected song I have (that I know of).

   Posted 6 months ago #
5. 

   Joey Butera
   Audio and Computer Systems Engineer

   The Music App is actually the Apple iPod player. They just changed the name for iOS 5. It is the only app that will play DRM.

   Posted 6 months ago #

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