View this article at: http://www.macnn.com/articles/04/08/23/apple.should.share/ Monday, Aug 23, 2004 9:35am Consumers say Apple should share The vast majority of consumers are unaware that an Apple's iPod only plays proprietary iTunes files, while a smaller majority support RealNetworks' effort to create iPod-compatible music, according to a report in Media Daily News. In a report about consumer perceptions on music download services, eight percent of respondents were aware that files from other digital music stores were not compatible with the iPod: "However, once they were alerted that several weeks ago, RealNetworks announced that it had figured out a way to re-create Apple's proprietary technology, enabling it to sell iPod-compatible songs without Apple's permission, a 46 percent majority agreed that RealNetworks should have the right to do so. When asked if Apple should have the right to a proprietary format, 28 percent agreed, while 52 percent were either neutral or unsure." Update: The iPod only directly plays purchased music from the iTunes Music store; however, users can convert purchased music from other stores or directly playback standard MP3 files.