Storm + V Cast = Headache

[jbezorg]

On a subscription and I am not to impressed.

Day one:

1. Authorized my computer and memory on the phone, then transfered songs from Rhapsody to the phone then attempted to play them.
   
   "You do not hav..." flashes and then gone.
2.  From the Rhapsody desktop application Main Menu -> My Account -> Update Track Licenses.
   
   "You do not hav..." flashes and then gone.
3. From the Rhapsody desktop application Sources Pane -> Right-click on Device Memory -> License
   
   "You do not hav..." flashes and then gone.
4. Time passes trouble shooting and not listening to music until finally, on a blackberry forum, it is suggusted that the battery be removed.

I finally have music for my morning commute.

Day two:

1. I want to swap out some songs and do so. I play one to test.
   
   "You do not hav..." flashes and then gone. On all the songs
2. Time passes trouble shooting and not listening to music.I try the battery trick... again. It's been about an hour since I started.
   
   Okay, time to listen to elevator music and some woman tell me how great the company I am calling is... because that's what I really want to hear afer bashing my skull against the wall for an hour trying to get the product they sold me to work.
3. The tech support guy Mr. Freeman is understanding but we go over many of the same things I did on day one.
   
   It call ends when  Mr Freeman suggests the battery trick and it fails to work. I really wasn't in the mood to troubleshoot it anymore.
4. I open up the Blackberry Desktop application to sync my iTunes songs to my Storm and guess what? As soon as it's done and the phone scans for music, the song that was looping in a state of denial starts playing.

I have music for my next morning commute.



Day three:

1. I don't want to upset the balance and risk connecting my phone to my PC and opening Rhapsody

Day Four

1. Why didn't I follow the procedure established of day three to get Rhapsody to function?
   
   "You do not hav..." flashes and then gone.

It's becomming apparent that to get Rhapsody to function, I have to open the Blackberry Desktop application and and use Media sync. Is this Standard Operationg Procedure? Rhapsody has started it's migration from the "useful" category to the [please keep it courteous] annoying" category.

So, am I missing a setting? Update?

Message Edited by WendyM on 04-05-2009 01:13 AM

[TimmyD]

I've been a Rhapsody customer for many years, so it was important to find a phone that supported my Rhapsody To GO service. I had the same problem as you though...

The first time I connected I was able to tranfer music over with ease, and had success playing songs for a while, until I started getting the "You don't have the rights to play this song" message.

I pulled the battery, and the songs started playing again...but only for a little while. I got the error messages again, but this time pulling the batt didn't help. Even new tracks I dropped in wouldn't play.

Then, I opened up Rhapsody with my Storm hooked up and went to "My Account", and then "Update Track Liscences" and that seemed to work. I haven't had a problem since.

Make sure you have the latest version of Rhapsody downloaded and give that a shot.

Rhapsody is all I use to listen to music on my Storm

[BradC]

To edit a post that you've made, left click "Options" at the top right of the message post. Then choose "Edit Message" from the menu.

[Ransomed]

I too called Verizon support (note the small 's'), did the battery removal, reauthorized, relicensed, etc. Worked for a while and then the DRM message started appearing again. Eventually in frustration I simply deleted all the music from my Storm and restarted afresh this morning, downloading a couple of albums from my library (I subscribe to Vcast Rhapsody to Go). Let's see how long my reprieve is this time.

This is ridiculous. It's time for mass action until Verizon  / Rhapsody solve the problem. Why don't we all conspire to phone support DAILY until a software patch is released that solves this DRM problem.

Also, as a To Go subscriber, WHY CAN'T I LISTEN DIRECTLY ON MY PHONE WITHOUT HAVING TO PURCHASE TRACKS??? (I apologize for shouting, just frustrated )

[TimmyD]

Think I figured it out...maybe.

First I tried to hook up the storm using Desktop Manager (which I never tried before). media manager didn't see any Rhapsody tracks.

Then I tried Vcast Rhapsody and it prompted me to download the program. I already use a another branded version of Rhapsody, which I was already using to put music on my phone. They're all the same.

With desktop manager still connected I opened Rhapsody. It scanned all the songs and recognized the Blackberry but as storage devices and assigned them drive letters (which are normally Blackbery Storm - Device Memory, and -Media Card). Thought maybe it would work somehow, but rhapsody failed to recognize the storm as a liscenced device and wouldn't authorize it. It also wiped out my entire library, but only while it was connected.

Don't use desktop manager if you use rhapsody.You don't have to use V cast rhapsody either. I should have checked this before, but there is a software update for rhapsody under help > check for updates.  I've noticed when things start screwing up in this program it's usually because it needs updated.

Yeah, so I updated rhap and it recognized my storm properly, and assigned it as -Device Mem and -Media card again. Before it scanned for tracks. it said "updating storm device memory" . I dropped one album in and closed rhapsody, disconnected and it worked.

For how long? Who knows. Let me know if you guys have any luck.

[TimmyD]

Sorry to keep posting here, but I found something interesting.

In Rhapsody, if you go to Tools > Device Compatibility Report, you can generate a report on any device to be sure it is liscenced and working.

Just pick the device from the list and click "Generate Report"

At the bottom it gives you the option to "Update Track Liscences". The interesting thing is, that when I run a report on the Storm everything checks out but it gives me an error message when I try to update the liscences on my Storm.

When I connect my Walkman, everything checks out, and I can successfully update the tracks....

Regardless, I haven't had any trouble with music on my Storm still, and thank God for that. I need music.

Like I've said before this problem is caused by shoddy software on RIM and Verizon's part, the multimedia functions of this phone are mostly  broken with the current OS.

Verizon, don't let us down with the next OS update. It's taking a while, but if that means the best possible software you can produce than so be it.

Message Edited by TimmyD on 04-11-2009 11:15 AM

[Kayde]

Ok. Here's the problem I'm having. When I start Rhapsody My Storm shows up but Authorize isn't an option for me. I've spent over an hour on the phone with Verizon and with Rhapsody with them talking to me like I'M the idiot. I've uninstalled, reinstalled, taken batteries out, uninstalled and reinstalled again... The whole nine yards and STILL am unable to authorize my stupid phone. I've yet to get ONE song on this phone.

[LCromwell]

I am using Slacker & Pandora radio. No commercials and Pandora has a learning curve if you check songs you like and don't like it will send out songs that you like. In Pandora you just need to type in the song title, the singers name or albums name and it will pull it up and save it in that group and the best part is it's all free. Then you can also use i2B a new ITunes program for handheld and make up your own playlist from your ITune library and transfer it to your handheld, subject to how big your media card is? It needs to be at least 8GB, they have 16GB on eBay running about $50 delivered, you may find one cheaper if you are patient. All in all much less than paying for Rhapsody. IMHO