RealNetworks proposes alliance with Apple

This seems like a great idea, Real promoting the iPod.
What's Job's problem?

Remember Steve, the iTMS is all about selling iPods, not music. Glaser wants to help you do that. His agenda is to get back at Bill Gates and Co., and there's nothing wrong with that. Just do it.

A while back, Steve himself said that itunes existed to to sell ipods. Despite the success of the itunes store, he said that it was an expensive service to operate and had tough margins. if this still holds true, then the real music store will simply be another marketing arm to sell ipods.

however, there is recent talk that the itunes store is making money. apple's decision here will determine whether they plan to make money distributing music or selling hardware.

-Winston
macshootout.com

Why can't Apple just buy Real out?

Do it, it'll get the "iTunes is closed critcs to shutup" and it could lead to Real adopting/intergating Quicktime into it's services and content. This would be a good thing. Quicktime is great but there is very little content on the web in Quicktime.

This should be an ASAP.

Apple and Real networks proposed a simalar alliance and a single all-in-one quicktime/realplayer over 2 years ago.
But Real networks wanted all of the Quicktime code but wouldn't hand over any codeing for its player. In other words realtime would "take" Quicktime and all Apple would get is some money (which it does not need) for its licenceing.
Maybe thats what Steve Jobs is worried about. That this is just a way for the number 2 guy to just walz in and take the best of the number 1 guy.
I do think it is funny that Real networks is comeing to Apple. Rember for the past year they have been telling people that iTunes will never work, the iPod to exspensive and that Apple and the world needs to follow there bussiness model (a bussiness model that has gone out of bussiness twice before).
For a company that is going out of bussiness and no one wants to develop for there sure are a lot of companies comeing to Apple for help or copying what ever Apple does.

Apple didn't report a huge increase in revenues yesterday because they sold lots of songs through iTunes. Make the deal! Sell more iPods!

"Steve is showing a high level of fear that I don't understand." Funny, it doesn't sound like STEVE is showing the fear here...

"But Real networks wanted all of the Quicktime code but wouldn't hand over any codeing for its player. In other words realtime would "take" Quicktime and all Apple would get is some money (which it does not need) for its licenceing. "

Good point, and what is Real offering now? They're offering to push/help market the iPod if Apple lets them license their stuff so they can sell more songs in their own music store. That doesn't seem like a very good trade for Apple, they should definitely hold out for more from Real because this only benefits Real. Apple props up Real and gets not much in return.

There doesn't seem to be too much of a rush to buy/use songs coded in WMA over mp3/aac formats.