Apple Disabling RealNetworks Harmony Technology
A CNET news.com story claims that iPods will no longer be able to play tunes purchased from the RealRhapsody online music store operated by RealNetworks, which relies on technology named Harmony to allow their digital-rights-managed music to play on iPods. There was no doubt that Apple wanted to disable or defeat this technology, given Apple's statement in July that RealNetworks was using the "tactics and ethics of a hacker".
Apple Computer has quietly updated its iPod software so that songs purchased from RealNetworks' online music store will no longer play on some of the Mac maker's popular MP3 players.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.
It is not clear which iPod software updates contain or will contain this change, which has not been mentioned in any of Apple's software update notes. The last iPod software update was November 18, but did not apply to all iPod models, so some iPods, particularly the iPod mini and iPod photo, may already be unable to play RealRhapsody-purchased music.Top Rated Comments
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94 months ago
Apple has said nothing about this, but RealNetworks has already reacted:
RealNeworks said in a statement that it remains "fully committed to providing consumers with the freedom to use the music libraries they purchase from us on different portable audio devices they acquire, both now and in the future--including the iPod photo."
94 months ago
For a smaller company, I'd probably side with Apple... but the way Apple has become such a market leader, I'm feeling a little unsure as to who I'd stand with, if I was asked to.
94 months ago
Stick it to Real I say. They've just been asking for it to happen.
You have feel a little sorry for people who are perhaps not as tech savvy as us lot who have spent money on tracks they won't be able to play without really knowing what they were doing. Or am I being too soft hearted?
You have feel a little sorry for people who are perhaps not as tech savvy as us lot who have spent money on tracks they won't be able to play without really knowing what they were doing. Or am I being too soft hearted?
94 months ago
real is just using iPod's popularity to its advantage, while giving nothing back to apple. it's pretty clear who needs the other more in this case...
real can do whatever it wants. so can apple. and real has no real grounds to complain...
is there any compelling reason iPod users would purchase songs from real instead of iTMS?
addendum: in 3 weeks of half priced promotion, real sold 3 million tracks. iTMS does that in less than two weeks, while charging 99 cents... :rolleyes:
real can do whatever it wants. so can apple. and real has no real grounds to complain...
is there any compelling reason iPod users would purchase songs from real instead of iTMS?
addendum: in 3 weeks of half priced promotion, real sold 3 million tracks. iTMS does that in less than two weeks, while charging 99 cents... :rolleyes:
94 months ago
Good. Real deserves this.
I'm sorry for those that have purchased the Real files but at the same time the amount of news about Apples reaction in the first place should have been enough of a warning.
I'm sorry for those that have purchased the Real files but at the same time the amount of news about Apples reaction in the first place should have been enough of a warning.
94 months ago
There was a previous discussion about whether Apple could make this change, given the way Apple combines standards with a proprietary implementation. Since Apple wouldn't license Fairplay to Real, Real used reverse engineering to mimic it. So an interesting question is how, technically, the iPod software determines that a given tune is from Real?
94 months ago
Like it or not, this is the way it always goes - it happened with Virtual Game Station.
I really don't think there are that many people out there who just love their iPod but don't use iTMS because of Real's service. To those that do, my condolences, but I consider it an acceptable loss in the face of the fact that Apple wants to win the music download market war - and they have yet to face M$.
I really don't think there are that many people out there who just love their iPod but don't use iTMS because of Real's service. To those that do, my condolences, but I consider it an acceptable loss in the face of the fact that Apple wants to win the music download market war - and they have yet to face M$.
94 months ago
Damn. :( I was hoping my iPod Photo would be susceptible to Real's Crap. I wanted to go update my iPod and feel good about the fact that I'm not aiding an ***hole company leech off of Apple. 
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