“In the midst of a broader music release, RealNetworks has quietly renewed its iPod technology battle with Apple Computer,’ John Borland writes for CNET News. “Last year, RealNetworks released a technology called Harmony that for the first time let copy-protected songs from a music store other than Apple’s iTunes play directly on the iPod. RealNetworks had independently mimicked the antipiracy tools used by Apple and hadn’t gotten Apple’s permission first.”
Borland writes, “Apple called the company’s actions ‘hacker tactics’ and a few months later changed its software to break the compatibility, at least on iPod Photo devices. On Tuesday, a RealNetworks executive said his company had re-established compatibility with all iPods. ‘Harmony now supports all shipping iPods, including iPod Photo,’ said RealNetworks Chief Strategy Officer Richard Wolpert.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: How long will this last? Yup, you guessed it, about as long as a Krispy Kreme in Real’s corner office. Listen, if you have an iPod, rip CDs or buy online from iTunes Music Store to make certain that your music will always work. Using Real’s so-called “Harmony” for music that you intend to play on your iPod would be foolish. It’s so unused that the last time “Harmony” stopped working, nobody even noticed for a month and a half!
If RealNetworks really cared about music freedom of choice, and blah, blah, blah, why does their Windows-only Rhapsody music service exclude Mac users?
Related MacDailyNews articles:
The Motley Fool: RealNetworks’ new Rhapsody ‘is still largely on the sidelines of the music war’ – April 26, 2005
RealNetworks launches new Rhapsody services, gives away 25 songs per month – April 26, 2005
Apple iTunes Music Store killer? Real expected to add subscriptions to Rhapsody music service – April 26, 2005
Real CEO Glaser calls Apple ‘deceptive’ with iTunes Music Store – March 07, 2005
Real CEO pitches to half empty room at tech symposium; Apple draws standing-room-only crowd – February 25, 2005
RealNetworks’ CEO Rob Glaser grabs 3 of top 10 spots on ‘Dumbest Moments in Business 2005’ list – January 31, 2005
RealNetworks ‘Harmony’ stops working on iPods but nobody notices for a month and a half – December 15, 2004
Bono-Glaser photo caption contest now open – October 25, 2004
Real’s CEO Glaser: ‘Harmony’ hack legal, Mac lovers are very sensitive to Apple criticism, and more – September 14, 2004
Analyst: Rob Glaser’s ill-advised war against Apple ‘is going to bite RealNetworks on the ass’ – August 30, 2004
RealNetwork’s CEO Glaser crashes Apple’s music party – July 30, 2004
Real CEO Glaser: Steve Jobs’ comments on Real ‘not succeeding’ are ‘ridiculously humorous’ – April 29, 2004
NY Times: Real CEO Glaser was close to having ‘iPod’ before Apple, but let it ‘slip through his fingers – April 24, 2004
Real’s CEO Glaser: Apple’s iPod/iTunes combo ‘threatens to turn off consumers’ – April 20, 2004
Jobs to Glaser: go pound sand – April 16, 2004
Real CEO Glaser begs Apple to make iPod play nice with other music services – March 24, 2004
Real CEO Glaser: ‘iTunes is only going to be used for playing songs you bought using the iTunes store – January 16, 2004
I don’t know why they put so much time and money into this app.
I wouldn’t think that too many people who owns iPods would want to use this service. Specially one that can be broken…
If they are doing it at all, it must be for spite…
I wouldn’t mind if their service actually worked on a Mac. But, since they ALWAYS screw Mac users, I say screw ’em. I hope Apple permanently destroy their hack in the next iPod update.
It was funny that no one noticed for over a month and a half that the hack stopped working.
hmmm…I wonder if this means the subscription service from Real will work with the iPod. I don’t think the music subscription services and music download stores compete for the same customers. If that’s the case, then this probably wouldn’t have much of an effect on iTMS or iPod sales. In fact, it might actually increase iPod sales for the (very) few people that would want to use the Real subscription service.
HAHAHAHA…Thats funny
(MW) Fire!, Fire! Ah-huh, Shut up dumb ass…
from the article:
“Incompatibility between the major download stores and music players has fragmented the digital market. “
I’d be willing to bet this hasn’t had much impact at all. First, the iPod is very much in vogue for several reasons (the design, the easy interface with iTunes, etc) and iTMS was the first store to have a sane pricing model and user interface. Those two combined have given Apple their large lead in share. This statement implies the market is somehow damaged or held back by the state of affairs. There is no real problem with the current download model except for product: DRM and low bit rate files are the major problem for consumers. I have yet to hear any CONSUMER complain about incompatibility of their player (iPod, creative whatever, etc) and music stores. Only analysts and journalists seem to care…OK, so college students who own an iPod and whose university administration makes them pay for Napster, yeah, they don’t likes it so much. Blame the out of touch administration for signing up for donkey service.
MDN get over yourself already… The reason these other services don’t welcome Mac compatibility is because Apple won’t let them. You can bet your ass that if Apple allowed the iPod to be compatible with these other services they would be “Mac friendly” in an instant.
Apple is playing the big bully here, not these other guys. Get off your fricking high-horse for once!
I love Apple and it’s products, I also like coming to one site to read Mac/Apple related news, BUT I am so sick of reading MDN arrogant one-sided remarks. Why do you constantly have to preach to the converted? Can’t you just let the articles speak for themselves??
I guess this situation is comparable to IBM and the evolution of PC clones.
One thing different is that M$ didn’t make the hardware and had nothing to lose from clones developing.
At some point Apple should license the DRM and make money out of everyone else selling songs, to eliminate M$ WMP as a competitor. Probably this won’t happen until the market has matured a bit.
Quote –
“At some point Apple should license the DRM and make money out of everyone else selling songs, to eliminate M$ WMP as a competitor. Probably this won’t happen until the market has matured a bit.”
How would that work though? Companies would pay a license fee to the AAC group for using AAC [I]and[/I] a license fee to apple for their proprietary AAC DRM?
MDN Bull,
You’re wrong! Read carefully – Rhapsody can certainly be made to work on the Mac, just like Windows Media Player, if Real wanted it too. Real just doesn’t think it’s worth their time to do so (they said that!) So MDN is exactly right!
It’s true that Apple doesn’t allow any DRM other than Fairplay on the iPod. And Apple won’t license Fairplay to Real for its store. But MDN said neither of those things!
So get OFF your high horse of disinformation. (OFF being the Magic Word)
I wouldn’t use it anyway period. Just like everyone else who won’t use it. And Apple will update the iPod firmware and block it again like before. And no one will notice the difference like before.
Strategy.. No I’m not wrong.. Think about it. Why do you think it is that Rhapsody, Napster, etc.. don’t think it’s worth it to service the Mac platform? I’ll tell you why… because Mac users use iPods and by Apple’s choice, iPods are compatible with none other than iTunes. If Apple opened up the iPod to these other services they would most definitely be Mac friendly for a shot at selling music to users of iPods. Back when Napster was illegal they did have a Mac version of their software. You can hardly blame or criticize these other services for not being Mac compatible. Apple has tied them by their hands and feet.
And MDN is always on a high horse. They do much more harm than good for the Mac communtiy with their childish, one-sided, narrow-minded, zealot takes.
“F” Real
Wow, “MDN Bull”, way to contradict yourself and make yourself look like a total retard! So the reason that Real doesn’t support the Mac is because Mac users only use non-Real-compatible iPods? I thought the whole point of this article is that Real has once again made the iPod compatible! Kinda blows away your “reason”, don’t it?
“childish, one-sided, narrow-minded, zealot takes.” right. this is a perfectly legit MDN take. I have no idea what your deal is, MDN Bull. Are you upset because they are being honest? think about it-apple WILL disable this sooner or later…so why take the chance? MDN is only giving people a fair warning, albeit unneeded (they are pretty much preaching to the saved on this site). So…take a chill pill, let MDN make the comments they want, and if you don’t like them, try not to flip out.
Children –
So long as Apple commands a70%+ marketshare, they’ll do wahtever they damn well please.
The MP3-buying public has spoken. LOUDLY! 5.3 million iPods sold in the past three month. Over 1.25 million songs downloaded EVERY DAY from the iTunes Music Store [and that will increase with the (supposed) opening of 5 more ITMS on Thursday 4/28] .
Are there a small percentage of folks who don’t want an iPod? Sure. Just as there are a small band of die-hards that won’t own a Windows machine.
The market is still very young. Buy whichever MP3 player suits your fancy, pocketbook, or personality. Then relax and enjoy the music.
ThinkSecret (see left) says iTunes 4.8 is going to be out in a couple of weeks, so I guess we know how long Harmony will work this time.
You can bet your ass that if Apple allowed the iPod to be compatible with these other services they would be “Mac friendly” in an instant.
—-
I don’t agree for a second about the Mac friendly part, but as for the iPod.. DUH!
Apple is maintaining a competitive advantage, and other stores are giving money away, trying to compete..
Remember, way back when, Apple was innovative and they thought they had legal protection.. they were robbed for about 50 billion because of that assumption (there were contracts that waived certain rights, yes, i know)
Here we are.. you think Apple’s gonna be nice?!
Obviously Apple has a competitive advantage… that’s why they’ve set things up this way.. Only the courts will force them to lisence (or if marketshare plummets)
“Wow, “MDN Bull”, way to contradict yourself and make yourself look like a total retard! So the reason that Real doesn’t support the Mac is because Mac users only use non-Real-compatible iPods? I thought the whole point of this article is that Real has once again made the iPod compatible! Kinda blows away your “reason”, don’t it?”
*********
No it doesn’t. You seem to be missing the point. This temporary compatiblity will be closed by Apple within a matter of days.
All I’m saying is that these services would love the opportunity to sell songs to iPod users… Both Mac and PC.
Unless Apple opens up the iPod to non-iTunes services, you can not blame them for their inoperablity with the Mac platform… And that is exactly what MDN did.
No MDN Bull, you are missing the point.
Rhapsody is a service. The service is not compatible with Macs. Napster is a service. The service is not compatible with Macs.
Harmony is a technology. It attempts to make the songs offered by the Rhapsody service work on an iPod. But the whole SERVICE is incompatible with Macs. Get it now?
Informed,
No, I am not missing the point. My entire message was in direct response to the following MDN take:
“If RealNetworks really cared about music freedom of choice, and blah, blah, blah, why does their Windows-only Rhapsody music service exclude Mac users?”
I have explained the answer several times in my above posts. I’m not saying I agree with the harmony hack, I’m saying there is a resaon these service don’t service the Mac community.
Not saying that I agree or disagree, but the fact is Apple has monopolized the Mac community with iPod and iTunes and shows no signs of letting others in. I am perfectly happy using IPod and iTunes, but I hate it when you get the type of above MDN remark.
MDN Bull,
Apple are forcing Mac users to buy iPods? Most people, Mac and Windows users alike, choose iPods for a reason or reasons. 60% of iPod owners are Windows users.
Your argument has no merit and makes no sense.
Fred,
No, I am being very misunderstood here. Let me clarify:
Apple are not forcing Mac users to buy iPods, but they are forcing the other services to be non-compatible with the Mac platform by not opening up the iPod.
My whole point is that MDN was criticizing Real and Rhapsody for their Windows only music service when it is really Apple forcing them to be a Windows-only service. Bottom line – Mac users are gonna buy iPods, and If these services had the option, they would happily be iPod compatible.
MDN Bull,
Apple makes the iPod for both Mac and Windows.
Apple makes iTunes for both Mac and Windows.
Apple makes iTunes Music Store for both Mac and Windows.
Real makes no hardware player. Too bad for them.
Real makes Rhapsody only for Windows.
Apple offers the best-in-class portable music device for both Mac and Windows. Apple offers the best-in-class music jukebox software for both Mac and Windows. Apple offers the best-in-class legal online music store for both Mac and Windows.
Real just offers another also-ran WMA music store for Windows users and/or non-iPod owners. Real also offers Windows iPod owners another also-ran WMA music store that sells music that breaks repeatedly and won’t reliably play on their devices guaranteed.
Which company offers more music freedom of choice?
Mac owners only buy iPods and no other MP3 players? Is that your assumption, MDN Bull? Well if that’s true, Jobs’ RDF sure has those 25 million users locked up doesn’t he? Or is it brand loyalty because the brand is so … so just works cool!
But let’s see: 15 million iPods sold. Majority sold to PC users. So at most 7 million iPods for Mac users, leaves about 18 million users who might still actually use something other than an iPod. But if Rhapsody and Napster don’t sell Mac versions, then those 18 million users will more likely choose iPod because of iTunes.
Guess we have a chicken and an egg. Who should we blame?
I say GO REAL! Look how many freaks you are keeping up all night on this board…all the best freaks are here.