RealNetworks may license Harmony, Apple must choose
updated 12:35 am EDT, Thu July 29, 2004
Real vs. Apple
Apple will need to respond to RealNetworks' Harmony application "fairly quickly, as the other digital-music download stores will likely want to add the 'iPod Compatible' sticker to their sites and ," according CNN/Money, who notes that Apple may have to balance iTMS song sales with iPod sales: "To create Harmony, Real reverse-engineered Apple's proprietary AAC format, and created a way for Real's downloads to appear in AAC format when loaded onto an iPod. Industrious hackers have attempted such a feat but have been spooked by legal threats. Apple may yet decide to challenge Harmony in court, but it should carefully think through the consequences: Harmony may actually prove beneficial to Apple and the industry as a whole....The question the company now must answer is, Is it strategically more important to preserve its closed system, or is the iPod the future profit machine for the company? In the latter case, it should pump up sales numbers at any reasonable cost. It's quite a pickle."
Did they crack Fairplay?
07/29, 01:11am reply
Non-DRMed AAC format is a standard.
aristotles
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
No crack here,
07/29, 01:47am reply
real is making their files playable on an ipod. What's the problem apple? you want a monopoly...... form a cartel, like the banks and oil companies then send kids to war. the end is near buy dell
Getoverit
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2001
Um...
07/29, 01:51am reply
Okay, they aren't making the Real downloads "appear" as AAC. They ARE AAC. Real just encapsulates the raw AAC data + their own DRM in their .rax file format (Real Audio 10). Apple does the same with it's .m4p format.
Eugene
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Nov 2000
for crying out loud
07/29, 03:56am reply
For the last time AAC is not a "Apple's proprietary format".
Dimwit media people.
ddukes
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2000
Won't really matter...
07/29, 04:13am reply
If what Apple has said all along is true, that the iPod is the money maker and the music store only exists to push iPod sales then other stores that are just trying to make money by selling music won't last long. Also, if that's true then Apple shouldn't care if other stores can make their music playable on iPod. In the end it's just one more reason to buy an iPod.
Anyway, look at it like this, if another store was selling tracks in unprotected MP3 format, they would also be playable on iPod. The way I see it, the store (which controls the DRM) should be able to decide where you can use the music (this sounds bad but it's what you agree to when purchasing from them) not the makers of various hardware for playing music. Therefore, if Apple says you can't play iTunes tracks on a competing player, that's fine but if Apple says you can't play another store's music on your iPod that's rather silly and seems like a PR mistake on their part.
Okonomiyaki
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2003
So now
07/29, 04:18am reply
You can remove the DRN from real store files by transfering them to your iPod, then copying them back and stripping the DRN like you would with iTunes Store AAC files.
bygimis
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2000
iTMS
07/29, 05:19am reply
I think Apple believes that the iPod is successful in part that that the iTMS is such a great product. If other music services, with worst DRM schemes, work with the iPod, the iPod's reputation may become ruined. Also, Apple needs all the business it can get to keep iTMS going and to ensure that they don't have to worry about modding the iPod to work with other formats.
pdot
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2000
Apple Wont Respond...
07/29, 06:16am reply
...until Real license it's technology to other stores. Then Apple will release a firmware to the iPod that will render it useless. It's far more efective and less media publicity than filing a lawsuit.
koolkid1976
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2003
Re: for crying out loud
07/29, 06:55am reply
> For the last time AAC is not a "Apple's proprietary format".
Yes, and no. While AAC is not proprietary, the FairPlay DRM Apple uses is.
jcarr
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 1999
RE: for crying out loud
07/29, 07:10am reply
> Yes, and no. While AAC is not proprietary, the FairPlay DRM Apple uses is.
Actually, from what I understand, Fairplay isn't either. Apple licensed it, therefore it isn't "Apple's proprietary format'
gudin
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2000