Well this ought to stir up a ruckus. Apple quietly released a new firmware for the iPod that wont let it play Real Networks downloads any more, at least on "some players", whatever that means. We knew it was coming and now it's here. Can Real fight back? What about the customers that are loaded up with tunes from Real? It's the Hatfields VS McCoys as we have to figure Reals technicians are busy trying to find a way around this latest volley from Apple. I hope this battle doesn't end soon! Hey, who's got the popcorn!
|
The move could render tunes purchased by many iPod owners unplayable on their music players. For the last four months, RealNetworks has marketed its music store as the only Apple rival compatible with the iPod, following the company's discovery of a way to let its customers play their downloaded tunes on Apple's MP3 player.
The high-tech feud may be as grounded in public relations as it is in genuine technology development, but it highlights what remains a serious issue in the digital music business. Unlike CDs, songs sold by competing online stores are often not directly compatible with different brands of MP3 players. |
It warms the cockles of my heart to see these two fighting over DRM. Burn those profits baby! You know, the ones you aren't supposedly making. In a way I hope Real wins this battle as there are just too many DRM's out there to suit me. Of course, I wont purchase a DRM track anyway, but still I find it annoying for those that are struggling with them. Why not standardise to one type of DRM?
Supposedly, the motive of DRM is to protect copyright owners from piracy.
Seems to me some companies are using it as a tool to get people hooked on their
hardware or as a means of control. Because the Real Harmony flavored DRM still
protects the beloved copyright holder, so what's the problem Apple? Can't we all
just get along? Guess not, true colors are starting to show. Now we see who the
DRM is protecting, corporate interests.
Source: C|Net
