MacRumors

Apple has issued a statement in response to the Real announcement that they would be offering reverse-engineered iPod-compatible songs. Apple states:

We are stunned that RealNetworks has adopted the tactics and ethics of a hacker to break into the iPod and we are investigating the implications of its actions under the DMCA and other laws

Apple also warns that the song compatibility may be broken in the future.
This statement comes on the heels of hints that Real was looking into licensing the unofficial format to 3rd party companies wanting to create iPod compatible songs.

[Update] MacWorld's MacCentral posts RealNetwork's response to Apple's comments.

There is ample and clear precedent for this activity, for instance the first IBM compatible PCs from Compaq. Harmony creates a way to lock content from Real's music store in a way that is compatible with the iPod, Windows Media DRM devices, and Helix DRM devices. Harmony technology does not remove or disable any digital rights management system. Apple has suggested that new laws such as the DMCA are relevant to this dispute. In fact, the DMCA is not designed to prevent the creation of new methods of locking content and explicitly allows the creation of interoperable software.

Despite scattered reports of Dual 2.5GHz PowerMac shipments in mid July, Appleinsider claims that mass shipments of the latest PowerMac are due to begin this Friday (July 30th).

The initial shipment, however, is expected to be "quite limited" according to the rumor site... however, on a positive note, Apple is expected to also ship at least a limited number of the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL graphics cards alongside the new machines as well.

eWeek provides more information on the upcoming dual-core version of the PowerPC 970 due from IBM.

The original Power4 processor which was the basis of the PowerPC 970 design began as a dual core processor. According to eWeek, the additional of the second core should improve efficiency:

IBM documents suggested that hardware and software optimizations would make this processor more efficient in many computing situations than two separate processors at the same clock speed.

Similar details were previously provided by ThinkSecret.

According to AdWeek, the southern california offices of TBWA|Chiat|Day have been given the green light to begin the next rendition of the iTunes-Pepsi cross promotion to begin in the next Super Bowl. The first attempt was made by BBDO Worldwide with its 'I Fought The Law' campaign using previously-sued music downloaders drinking Pepsi products. BBDO has handled the Pepsi brand since 1964. Reportedly Steve Jobs wanted the new commercial to be produced by TBWA|Chiat|Day so he could have more say in its creation.

Apple announced today that Motorola and Apple are partnering to bring iTunes Music Player to next-generation Motorola phones.

Motorola, Inc. and Apple today announced they are partnering to enable millions of music lovers to transfer their favorite songs from the iTunes jukebox on their PC or Mac, including songs from the iTunes Music Store, to Motorolas next-generation always with you mobile handsets, via a USB or Bluetooth connection. Apple will create a new iTunes mobile music player, which Motorola will make the standard music application on all their mass-market music phones, expected to be available in the first half of next year.

This represents the first officially supported use of Protected AAC iTunes on 3rd party hardware.

According to an article in the New York Times, RealNetworks will debut a technology dubbed "Harmony" tomorrow which mimics the licensing rules of FairPlay, and provides compatibility with the iPod. After attempts by Ron Glaser, CEO of RealNetworks, to contact Steve Jobs to license FairPlay went ignored, Real moved ahead with development of Harmony through reverse engineering. Planning to incorporate the technology into its Rhapsody online music distribution system, Real also admits they have plans to license the technology to other companies, which could open the door for others to provide iPod compatability.

ThinkSecret reports that a dual-core processor code-named "Antares" is in the works at IBM.

The new processor, officially dubbed the PowerPC 970MP, will provide two interconnected microprocessors each with its own 1MB L2 Cache. In comparison, the current 970FX has only 512KB of L2 cache.

Apple is said to have already committed to their use in future Mac products. Timeframe of new products is "sometime in 2005".

In a press release, Apple announced today that it has signed licensing agreements with three of the largest European independent music labels, Beggars Group, Sanctuary Records Group and V2. This ads tens of thousands of new tracks to each of the 3 European stores, growing each of the catalogs significantly.

With three of the most influential independent record labels on board, iTunes Music Store customers in Europe now have access to an impressive catalog of independent artists including Basement Jaxx, The Crystal Method, Interpol, The Libertines, Morrissey, the Pixies, Prodigy, Stereophonics, Paul Weller and The White Stripes.

CNet reports that two of the major companies responsible for Audio-CD based copy protection methods are approaching Apple to make their CDs compatible with the Apple iPod.

Reportedly 80% of complaints generated from the copy protected CDs are due to iPod incompatibility. As a interesting side-effect, this may hurt Microsoft's dominance in this field. Current schemes involved providing protected Windows Media Audio files along side the copy protected tracks. While this allows Windows users to load the songs on their PCs, it prevents their use on the iPod - which does not support WMA files.

The upcoming versions of the copy protection appears to be more flexible and will also diminish Microsoft's control of the media:

SunnComm and Macrovision each say that the new generations of their technology, due later this summer and early next year, respectively, will let people effortlessly create versions of songs for computers and portable players, in almost the same way people rip CDs to create MP3 files today. Software will be loaded on the music CDs that will help create a new copy-protected file in a form that can be played on an iPod, or on Microsoft-compatible players such as the Rio Karma, or on whatever else a consumer might be using.

The only sticking point, however, is from Apple - who has not yet licensed their FairPlay digital rights management format to these companies. This could represent a new revenue source for Apple, depending on the terms of such a license.

In this Reuters article, Apple's vice president of hardware product marketing, Greg Joswiak, played down rumors of a 60GB iPod model.

Joswiak states "We have no plans in regard to announcing 60-gigabyte models. We are trying to create a much more compelling lineup with two models for 20 and 40 gigabytes at extremely compelling prices"

Rumors of a 60GB iPod started with a premature Toshiba announcement that Apple had already ordered the 60GB 1.8" drives.

Last week, id Software announced that Doom 3 had gone Gold Master for the PC, and provided hints at the coming Mac version.

According to MacCentral, Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id, reported in his .plan file:

... Mac and Linux: Unfortunately I don't have dates for either of these. However, Linux binaries will be available very soon after the PC game hits store shelves. There are no plans for boxed Linux games, More remains to be done for the OSX version of DOOM 3 and that will take some time. We won't release the OSX version until it's just as polished as the PC version. The date for OSX DOOM 3 remains 'when it's done', but I can confirm that it's definitely coming.

Trailer/preview of the upcoming game can be found at Doom3.com.

In followup to a Page 2 rumor that Duke University would be offering iPods to their incoming freshman, CBS Marketwatch provides confirmation of this report.

According to the news site:

Apple also said that this fall Duke University will give iPods to all incoming freshman. Duke will hand out approximately 1,800 iPods that will be pre-loaded with Duke-related content and will allow students to download supplementary university material in addition to being able to play music.

A letter sent from the Provost to Duke Faculty is posted in its entirety

Apple has released an iPod Software Update for new and previous model iPods & iPod Minis.

New for Click Wheel iPods
- Shuffle songs with one click
- Create multiple On-The-Go playlists
- Delete songs from On-The-Go playlists
- Select reading playback speed for audiobooks
- Hear the clicker user interface sound through headphones
- Charge via USB 2.0 connection
- Enjoy improved playback performance

Updates for iPod with a Dock connector and iPod mini
- Compatibility with iTunes 4.5 or later and the iTunes Music Store
- Improved playback performance
- Support for the Apple Lossless Encoder, to enable compressed music encoding at high quality

Updates for iPod without a Dock connector
- Compatibility with iTunes 4.5 or later and the iTunes Music Store
- Improved playback performance

As predicted, Apple announced the 4th generation iPod today.

Apple today introduced the new iPod, the fourth generation of the worlds number one portable digital music player, featuring Apples patent pending Click Wheel, which combines the smooth and continuous scrolling of a touch-sensitive wheel with five push buttons for superior one handed navigation. The new iPod also features up to 12 hours battery life and Shuffle Songs, a new command in the main menu which gives users instant access to one of the most exciting new ways to listen to their music library. All iPods work effortlessly with Apples iTunes, providing music fans with the best digital jukebox on either a Mac or Windows computer and access to the iTunes Music Store, the number one digital music service in the world. The new iPod is available immediately in a 20GB model for $299 and a 40GB model for $399.

Apple's online store has been updated to reflect the new product.

MSNBC has posted the Newsweek article providing details, more photos and pricing for the new iPods.

New features include:

- Click wheel (like the iPod Mini)
- A millimeter thinner
- More efficient Menus
- Multiple on-the-go playlists
- Listen to audiobooks slower or 25 percent faster without affecting pitch
- Longer play - 12 hours of battery life due to more power conservation
- Lower price: 40GB - $399, 20GB $299 (no 15 gig model now)
- Still white
These new models leave a gap in the high end ($499) price point which will presumably be filled by the previously rumored 60GB iPod. Toshiba had previously announced that their 60GB 1.8" HD would be available in July-August and that it had already been ordered by Apple.

The cover of the upcoming issue of Newsweek, dated July 26, 2004, will apparently feature Steve Jobs holding an updated, previously rumored iPod with this text:

Steve Jobs and The Must-Have Music Player Everyone Is Talking About
iPod, Therefore i Am

The new iPod shows incorporation of the iPod Mini's pushbutton scrollwheel design, removing the 3G iPod's row of 4 control buttons above the wheel. Size seems comparable to 3G models, while price is expected to decrease.

The cover can be seen at the MSNBC Newsweek site in medium and large sizes.

The issue should be shipping Sunday, on newstands Monday, and received by subscribers Tuesday.
Update: William Crawford provides a link to the full Newsweek article.