> Bob Ammerman wrote:
> > > But I still have to load a -driver- for each and EVERY device.
> > > With Firewire there is ONE driver and each app ties to it
> > > as needed (and as expected).
> >
> > This is blatently NOT TRUE.
> >
> > HID and storage devices all use common drivers.
>
> Is not an MP3 player a 'storage' device. Why then the
> multiplicity of drivers?  It just seems so -stupid-
> since this proprietary protocol business only makes
> things needlessly more complex.

        Nope, it was the RIAA that required MP3 players to be "difficult" in the
ways you describe.

> Perhaps it's because it IS difficult to write code to emulate
> a storage device?

        Nope, dead simple, my $20 card reader shows up as a mass storage device, if
a $20 card reader can do it a $300 MP3 can do it, they choose not to.

> > I was designing one, I'd let it have two modes: 'storage only' and
> > 'enhanced'. Only the latter would require a custom driver.
>
> Exactly what I expected to find in an MP3 player.
> Storage mode with an obvious directory structure
> for contents.

        RIAA would make any MP3 maker that does it so simply in VERY big trouble
since copying music would be "too easy".

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