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RealNetworks' Harmony technology plays files on iPod

updated 11:05 pm EDT, Sun July 25, 2004

RealNetworks plays on iPod


RealNetworks says it has created technology that allows songs purchased through its online music services to be played on Apple's iPod: will allow users to securely transfer music bought using RealNetworks' music download services to an iPod or virtually any other portable music player. A test version of Harmony will be available on Tuesday: "Glaser said the new the system works by essentially translating the various anti-piracy technologies, to make the players' systems compatible with RealNetworks' system. RealNetworks said it was not concerned that the system would be illegal."


by MacNN Staff

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  1. rbarris

    Blizzard Staff

    Joined: Feb 2003

    0
    07/26, 12:02am | report spam | Reply |

    DMCA

    Has RealNetworks made a clear cut DMCA violation by doing this ?

  1. slipperfrog

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2002

    0
    07/26, 12:47am | report spam | Reply |

    Um...so?

    Sounds like a whole lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing. I mean, nobody's buying their c*** anyway, and Apple's gonna sic their lawyers on Real about five seconds after their software hits the 'net, so why worry about it?

    And even if it's a legitimate offering, I don't see it being a problem. Nobody's going to start buying Real's compressed audio instead of Apple's just because they can use it on their iPod. Just gives people another choice, and having more choices is a good thing, right?

  1. TheGreatButcher

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Jun 2000

    0
    07/26, 12:48am | report spam | Reply |

    ...

    Sounds like Real is getting desperate

  1. ericdano

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2002

    0
    07/26, 01:15am | report spam | Reply |

    Yeah

    Yeah, Real is REAL desperate ;-)

  1. GORDYmac

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Dec 1999

    0
    07/26, 08:51am | report spam | Reply |

    Real just wants to play

    Until now, Apple had the best player, and noone else could use it. If their software merely strips the DRM or converts the files to MP3 for a music player, I don't theink there's a foul.

    I'm sure that whatever they did had Microsoft's blessing.

  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    0
    07/26, 09:04am | report spam | Reply |

    Conversion

    They're converting their music from one DRM to another, so it doesn't technically need MS's blessing let alone Apple's, as long as they aren't violating the whole copyright thing (for example, if they just read the file through real, strip the DRM, then DRM it through Quicktime, they aren't backward engineering the DRM).

    As for the DCMA, the funny thing is they could get sued on two fronts: one from the RIAA for breaking the music's DRM, and the other from Apple for breaking their DRM. It all depends on how they do it.

    Finally, per these comments:
    Sounds like a whole lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing. I mean, nobody's buying their c*** anyway, ...

    ...And even if it's a legitimate offering, I don't see it being a problem. Nobody's going to start buying Real's compressed audio instead of Apple's just because they can use it on their iPod. Just gives people another choice, and having more choices is a good thing, right?

    First, you say no one's going to buy it, then say choice is a good thing (if no one's going to buy it, its not much of a choice). Second, I would think this would attract a lot more buyers to Real You say nobody's going to buy it instead of Apple's (as if there's something inheritently wrong with Real's downloads, although its obvious you've never heard them), but why wouldn't people, and a lot of people? Choice is good. If I download from Apple, I'm stuck with listening with my iPod or iTunes. If I download with Real, I have a large choice of playback software AND a large choice of devices. I can install my music on my iPod for work, but also my light Rio 128MB player for jogging.

    It seems to me Real is the only one trying to give users choice. Apple likes choice, as long as its their player and their DRM. And MS likes choice, as long as they use their DRM (but you have the choice of any DRM-capable player). Real's saying "s**** you all, use whatever player and whatever DRM you need to!". You all should be behind this move, not laughing at it.

  1. srrojo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2004

    0
    07/29, 05:07pm | report spam | Reply |

    Hypocrites.

    Real's getting 'real' desperate.

    They tried to bully Apple, and got rebuffed.

    Now they're trying to 'side with the consumer' and say that Apple's system is restrictive. It's just more misleading tripe from a company that can't get it together.

    Apple is out to sell iPods. They're a hardware company, the iTMS doesn't get them any margin of consequence.

    Real is blowing smoke and trying to ride on the coat tails of the iPod marketting model. Expect Apple not to take this for long. Expect them to hit as hard as they did with Playfair.

    The RIAA, racketeering gangsters that they are, won't take this either; now that Real has said that they're targetting not just a margin hardware player like Apple, but most if not all of the mp3 player vendors.

    If you were a racketeering record exec for the RIAA who would raise lawsuit as soon as f***, and some company comes along that wants to mess with your system... Gee, do I even have to finish this sentence?

    All I can say is, this one is going to be fun to watch. It would probably be a good idea, if you're a Real employee, to update your resume.

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