NexTune to open up iTunes tracks?
updated 01:45 pm EST, Mon February 12, 2007
NexTune to open up iTunes?
A company called NexTune is claiming to have developed software that will bridge all the major DRM (Digital Rights Management) technologies protecting musical tracks to offer consumers a simple, unified means of acquiring music without locking them into one particular type of player. Apple in recent months has come under intense scrutiny -- especially overseas -- for binding iTunes Store customers to its iPod portable player and iTunes software. NexTune "puts all the pieces of the puzzle together and provides a complete user experience," according to NexTune president and CEO Michael DuKane. The company is planning to release NexTune 3.0 next month, offering compatibility with Apple's FairPlay DRM-protected tracks sold from the iTunes Store. Apple has thus far refused to license its FairPlay DRM to competitors, and has historically worked aggressively to update its protection scheme whenever it becomes compromised.
wrong direction
02/12, 02:22pm reply
The key isn't to wrap yet more layers over media, but less. This sounds like another layer to me.
Stop with the DRM madness (which only serves to hurt honest consumers) and free the music from all restrictions.
Unless online music has 0 DRM, I will no longer buy it.
e:leaf
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2006
Cost?
02/12, 02:49pm reply
And how much will these guys charge me to "liberate" my music?
jasong
Mac Elite
Joined: Mar 2000
re: cost?
02/12, 02:56pm reply
that's a good point. Cost is already an issue. Why would I want to add an additional cost to my purchases?
eldarkus
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2004
Windows
02/12, 03:49pm reply
I'm sure will be unlocking their multitudes of DRM, including WM Player 10. Oh, but the focus is on the hated Apple right now, right Europe?
zl9600
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2003
re: wrong direction
02/12, 04:39pm reply
Isn't punishing the honest consumers just the way things are done? There are thousands of examples of where everybody is punished for the wrong doing of a few.
unclelar
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2006
If they break it there in
02/12, 04:45pm reply
If they break it there in deep do-do. You can't do this legally. I'm sure the record labels will definately not be happy if this actually works. Apple will find out what they are doing and break it like they have before with this kind of thing. Only way this is going to happen legally is if the record labels permit DRM free music to be sold online. Right now this is a form of piracy and is illegal.
horvatic
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2002
It's not Apple you should
02/12, 04:49pm reply
It's not Apple you should hate, it's the record labels. They're the ones who require DRM or Apple couldn't sell music at all. Until the record labels stop this madness and say it's okay to sell DRM free music online this kind of thing will continue. Right now I don't have much hope of DRM free music judging by all the record execs crying fowl.
horvatic
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2002
Looks like a scam to me
02/12, 04:59pm reply
Nextune looks like some sort of scam to me. They say they'll pay you for song profiles? What the h*** is that? If they were legal why would they need our CD's? It looks like some sort of illegal club membership but they don't say anything about DRM free music in there website. Not out right at any rate.
horvatic
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2002
soon
02/12, 05:25pm reply
look for a aapl security update that prevents NexTune from doing its' magic....or just a law suit directed at the parent company for breaking patent laws...i doubt aapl will let this slide...
hokizpokis
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2007
what
02/12, 09:14pm reply
It's just QuickTime, folks.
outZider
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 1999