I know it was already touched on, but I gotta visit it again. I, like most, use iTunes for my organization. My music comes from a variety of sources, CD's, vinyl, iTunes Music Store, Limewire, and my work (recording engineer). I think it's a shame that I can play songs with SSL that I got from Limewire, but I can't play my "protected" files from the iTMS. How does that translate to people downloading music? I mean, I know us SSL customers are a niche market, but it sucks that my illegal music plays, but music I buy online instead of in the store won't be compatible. So when I'm doing some preparations for a gig and I decide I need a particular song I don't have, I have to Limewire it instead of paying for it, or downloading it legally.

Of course if anyone has good tips to getting around the protection, I would appreciate it. I don't want to burn CD's of my purchased music, then re-import them. That's not a good solution. I want to just play them with SSL. I heard you could use Toast to convert the protected files, but Tiger has closed that hole supposedly...

Regardless, if SSL could read and play that format, I would be thankful.

I don't think this will ever happen, I don't think SSL will be able to play any DRM content, I'm sure in the future SSL will support more audio formats (some lossless ones and maybe AAC) but I think DRM content is out of their hands, once apple start to allow other applications to use the files it won't be long before applications appear that can remove the DRM protection.

Personally I think DRM is a bit of a waste of time, it doesn't stop Piracy and doesn't even really hinder it, it just makes it harder for people to listen to and use music they've paid for. It's almost like Sony saying any CDs on a Sony label can only be played in a Sony CD player.

There is one program called megaseg that does play itunes music store files. I think not being able to play itunes purchased songs is a MAJOR flaw in the majority of computer DJ apps. I'm not sure if it's because of Apple or what, but since this program can do it, I doubt it. But who know's?

i am a former megaseg user, it's a great program. but its no ssl.

megaseg can play them because it uses the quicktime engine for all its audio. ssl uses its own audio engine (one that works much better than the standard quicktime version). this proprietary engine isn't built for support of the drm files. but to use apples engine would require a slight pause whenever a track is loaded i believe.