Editing Microsoft PlaysForSure (section)

{{Short description|Microsoft certification}}
[[Image:Playsforsure.png|right|Playsforsure logo]]

'''Microsoft PlaysForSure''' was a certification given by [[Microsoft]] to portable devices and [[online music store|content services]] that had been tested against several hundred compatibility and performance requirements. These requirements include codec support, [[digital rights management]] support, UI responsiveness, device performance, compatibility with [[Windows Media Player]], synchronization performance, and so on. PlaysForSure certification was available for [[portable media player]]s, network-attached [[digital media receiver]]s, and media-enabled [[mobile phones]]. The PlaysForSure logo was applied to device packaging as well as to [[online music store]]s and online video stores. 

PlaysForSure was introduced in 2004.<ref name="Branding"> 
 [http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39164619,00.htm Microsoft plans branding assault], [[CNET News]]
</ref>
In 2007, Microsoft rebranded and scaled back "PlaysForSure"<ref name="Slide13">
 
 [http://download.microsoft.com/download/a/f/d/afdfd50d-6eb9-425e-84e1-b4085a80e34e/CON-T418_WH07.pptx PlaysForSure Network Media Devices and Windows Vista (WinHEC 2007; 1.7 MB)],
  Slide 13, Retrieved 2007-12-14 from
 
 [https://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/media/DMD.mspx Digital Media Devices and the Windows Logo Program: New Directions for PlaysForSure Testing].
</ref>
<ref name="Slide32">
 
 [http://download.microsoft.com/download/a/f/d/afdfd50d-6eb9-425e-84e1-b4085a80e34e/CON-T419_WH07.pptx PlaysForSure Portable Devices and Windows Vista (WinHEC 2007; 3.0 MB)], Slide 32. Retrieved 2007-12-14 from
  [https://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/media/DMD.mspx Digital Media Devices and the Windows Logo Program: New Directions for PlaysForSure Testing].
</ref>
into the subset '''Certified for Windows Vista'''.<ref name="GrowingUp">
 
 [https://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/playsforsure/ PlaysForSure is growing up!].
  Retrieved 2007-12-14
</ref>

Microsoft's [[Microsoft Zune|Zune]] worked only with its own content service called [[Zune Marketplace]], not PlaysForSure. The Zune and PlaysForSure music were both Certified for Windows Vista, yet the Zune could not play PlaysForSure music purchased from the MSN Music Store.<ref name="ZuneNotPlay">
  {{
    cite web
      | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6120272.stm
      | title=Technology &#124; Zune problems for MSN customers
      | publisher=BBC News
      | date=2006-11-06
      | accessdate=2012-06-26
  }}
</ref>

Microsoft announced that as of August 31, 2008, PlaysForSure content from their retired MSN Music store would need to be licensed to play before this date{{when|date=June 2013}} or burned permanently to CD,<ref name="MS_Discont">
  {{
    cite web
      | last=Hutchinson
      | first=Lee
      | url=https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080422-drm-sucks-redux-microsoft-to-nuke-msn-music-drm-keys.html
      |title=Microsoft to Discontinue PlaysForSure Support
      |publisher=Arstechnica.com
      |date=2008-04-22
      |accessdate=2012-06-26
  }}
</ref>
although this decision was later reversed.<ref name="JustKidding">
 [http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2008/06/19/msn-music-store-support-notification.aspx ]
  {{
    webarchive
      | url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124025750/http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2008/06/19/msn-music-store-support-notification.aspx
      | date=January 24, 2009
  }}
</ref>
With the exception of Windows Media Player, all of the PlaysForSure offerings were made or run by 3rd-party companies, while Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division developed and marketed the Zune.