User guide

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Digital audio terms
DRM, security
Digital Rights Management (DRM) technologies protect copyright ownership of digital infor-
mation. DRM became an issue with the rise of MP3 technology and Internet distribution of
music. DRM platforms serve as a security “wrapper” around digital audio supporting Internet
distribution while at the same time protecting and managing rights related to that digital infor-
mation.
The security mechanism in the Rio supports several secure file formats. If the audio manage-
ment software you are using supports secure file formats, when you download a secure track
to the Rio, you must have the license associated with the track. If the Rio doesn't read a cor-
responding license for a track, the tracks themselves contain information on where you can
purchase them. Publishers can program restrictions on how many times you can play, copy,
or distribute a song directly into the music files. Although the Rio includes security, it is still
able to accept and play standard MP3 files.
Encoding, or Ripping (a CD)
Encoding, or “ripping”, refers to converting an audio file from an audio CD into a compressed
digital audio format, such as MP3 or WMA, that may be played on the Rio or on a computer.
Firmware
Firmware is software–programs or data–that has been written onto read-only memory
(ROM). Firmware is a combination of software and hardware that is comparable to an operat-
ing system on a computer. The Rio firmware controls everything from the liquid crystal display
and codec support to the Rio’s many other functions.
To see your Rio’s firmware version:
1 Press the Menu button.
2 Press the
7 or 8 (Forward or Reverse) navigation buttons to highlight About.
3 Press Select (center navigation button). The firmware version the Rio is using displays.
How to upgrade the Rio firmware
Gracenote
Gracenote, formerly known as the CD Database (CDDB), is a vast database of CD informa-
tion that includes artist, disc name, song title, and other information. Gracenote supports hun-
dreds of third party software CD players. Software programs use a CDs serial number to
search the Gracenote Web site for CD information. Access to the Gracenote service is
offered free of charge to end-users. Visit the Gracenote Web site
for more information.