Subscription Services and UMS firmware

[Fathom]

I have changed my T10 MTP(US) 1GB and my H10 MTP(US) 6GB to UMS firmware.

I would have done it a long time ago but I keep reading on these forums that Subscription Services are unsupported in UMS. Most of what I listen to are audio books I download from public libraries subscription databases (OverDrive, NetLibrary) and they all use WMA(DRM) that expires after a weeks.

Happy to find that iRiver Plus does migrate licenses to both devices and the files play fine.

As far as I know WMA is the the only subscription file type that T10 and H10 play. They load, licenses install, files play. Files with Digital Rights Management have transfered fine with all three versions of iRiver Plus as well as other migration software.

So when I keep reading that UMS "Won't work with subscription services" am I mis-understanding what they are talking about or are such statements untrue?

I am considering changing my sister's iriver to UMS but could this limit files she can play in the future?

Thanks,
Fathom

[ShyAnne]

Some subscription services require use of their own proprietary software to transfer files or to update DRM licenses, software which generally either doesn't work at all or is glitchy at best with UMS devices. There may be ways around such issues of course but most users either aren't going to know how to do that or just not want to bother, instead preferring a device that works seamlessly with files from any subscription service and with whatever software the subscription service may require. Your success also may be due to the type of files you are using, the kind that have single-use DRM licenses that expire rather those needing periodic license renewal updates.

Incidentially, how did you get NetLibrary files to play on a T10? Any work-arounds involved? The T10 and T30 don't normally play large DRM 10 files to completion, at some point in the file each will either go back to the beginning of the file or reboot long before the file completes playing. The official answer from iriver is that very large DRM 10 files are not supported by either T10 or T30.

[Fathom]

Thanks for the info, my [subscriptions] have been limited to wma audio books. My sister would eventually want to try a variety of services. I will leave hers as MTP device.

NetLibrary makes me gag. Seems idiotic for anyone to think that a single 24 hour long audio file on a DAP makes any kind of sense. Absolulty stupid. NetLibrary will die a long slow death. IMHO, of course.

No workaround needed for Netlibrary books 3:45:00 or less in length on MTP T10 1GB.

Workaround for longer books is to rerecord the file (at normal speed with any recorder, or faster with TuneBite, MuvAudio, or WMAConvert) so it can be split it into managable one hour tracks. Bothersome and time consuming. I wrote a macro to automate the process, it's distastful to have to do this, but this is the only way long Microsoft protected files can be made to actually 'play for sure' on Microsoft PlaysForSure logo'd devices. Or play on any Microsoft Zune... blah, blah, blah.

Fathom

[ShyAnne]

Thanks for the info on getting Netlibrary files to work, especially the suggestions on faster recording programs.

Agree with you though, it IS a pain in the butt and I haven't been using Netlibrary either for the same reason. Why they don't just break those files into chapters or sections like every other audiobook provider is a mystery, also agree they're going down if they don't decide to just bite the bullet and change their format already. There's just too many players their ridiculously long files don't work on, so much that they have had to backpedal on their "any Plays For Sure device" advice for finding a compatible player.

But even players that do work with their files still have problems. You would think it would occur to them that if an end-user is trying to rewind or fast forward and inadvertantly does a quick press instead of press-and-hold that they will accidently go straight to the beginning or end of the file? Imagine trying to find your place again in a 24 hour long file. Yikes!

[Jack.]

Hi there Fathom, i'm glad ShyAnne was able to help you with this issue.

I really have no idea about these subscription stuff and i hate .wma files lol..
In fact, i have changed to UMS only to be free, so i could put and remove whatever i want and whenever i want from my device...

Everything that makes me hooked to a 3rd party software really disturbs me...

Good luck!