RealNetworks CEO pushes Apple to open iPod

No one is being forced to do anything. MP3 format still works wonders on the iPod.

Doesn't Mr. Glaser know that iPods play mp3s?

Actually, it is not a bad idea if and only if it is done in a way that increases ipod sales.

Real is telling others to open their format?
Do they mean just like they do?
Please.

1) Why would they care if Apple is hurting itself? Seems any good businesperson would WANT the competition to do things bad for themselves ;-)

2) The iPod was available before the iTunes Music Store even existed, wasn't it? In fact, the iPod originally shipped without AAC support. I'm not sure what the Real problem is.

Apple themselves said that they make no money on iTunes to support the higher margin iPod. If they opened the iPod up to work with other services, so much the better. Then, people could buy an iPod with confidence that they will be able to play music no matter where they buy it. However, they should not do the reverse; they should not let iTunes purchases be played on other players.

You know if someone is using mp3-iPods-ripping their music, any of this, they're capable and do know that any music bought in a format other than Apple AAC can be burned to a cd and imported into their iPods. I assume this is why Apple is not all that concerned right now of all the whining of competitors not having access to the number one music player, the iPod. Because any bought music can be put on any mp3 player with a couple of additional steps. Inconvient maybe. But WMA can be put on an iPod by re-ripping the track & importing it into iTunes and then the iPod. And any Apple AAC can be re-ripped and put on any other mp3 player from Dell, Sony or any others.

Why NOT open up the iPod to ALL formats? Apple has been preaching the use and full support of open standards with Mac OS X, broswers and file formats. So, why not take the next step and open up the iPod too? You can BET iPod sales will jump!

Apple made the mistake in the past of not licensing the Macintosh way back whenever (PLUS selling out to Microsoft). This is a similar situation, but Apple can hold off opening up the iPod to currently unsupported formats until they absolutely MUST.

they're not fooling anybody.

MS, Apple, Linux, somebody please send these people the way of the failed dot-com. They've been singing their death song for years...

"Apple has been preaching the use and full support of open standards with Mac OS X, broswers and file formats. So, why not take the next step and open up the iPod too? You can BET iPod sales will jump!"

Is WMP an open standard?? no.
Is Real an open standard?? no.

If anything 'tweaking' how the iPod can work with other proprietary formats would be a good thing, but then I'm SURE, Microsoft will ask for licensing fees???

As long as they support the Open Standards, I would hope Apple doesn't have any with these. They keep evolving and now that some DVD's will be using AAC to do certain things on them, I'd think that AAC is a good choice. I'm sure the DRM part of it will continue to be modified over time though and this might cause some issues?

to give away free computers. People say "that Apple is creating problems for itself by forcing consumers to buy computers from Apple....'Apple's (market) share will go down if they continue to do this,' People said. "The only way to presently get Apple computers is to (buy) them from Apple (indirectly or directly).