News
RealNetworks restores iPod compatibility
In addition to expanding its Rhapsody subscription service today, RealNetworks also quietly restored iPod support for songs purchased from its online music store with an update to its Harmony technology. A RealNetworks executive confirmed the move to CNET News.com. “Harmony now supports all shipping iPods, including iPod photo,” said RealNetworks Chief Strategy Officer Richard Wolpert.
RealNetworks released Harmony without Apple’s blessing last year making the company’s online store the first to offer copy-protected digital music (other than the iTunes Music Store) that could play on the iPod. Apple said at the time it was “stunned that RealNetworks has adopted the tactics and ethics of a hacker to break into the iPod,” and updated the iPod firmware a few months later to break compatibility.
It should be noted that songs downloaded from RealNetworks’ new subscription services do not work with the iPod and are only compatible with a small number of Windows-based MP3 players.
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21
RealPlayer Music Store files are 192Kbps RealAudio 10 AAC.
Rhapsody files are 128Kbps WMA
Posted by Galley in Greenville, SC on April 27, 2005 at 9:18 PM (PST)
22
Fair points Geoffrey - it’s still harming online potential I think (the lack of a standard).
If you buy iTMS files and you’re not tech savvy then you’re unwittingly tying yourself to Apple hardware too.
I know for a fact that if I approached friends of mine and explained that then they’d not be interested. Why would Joe Public want to spend the same money on a download as a full price CD when it gives them so much LESS for their money?
Posted by PugRallye on April 28, 2005 at 12:21 AM (PST)
23
^^^ Generally speaking now, the average “Joe Public” that isn’t smart, or tech savvy, enough to know how to get the most out of their iTMS files probably isn’t going to be smart, or tech savvy, enough to really care about what they “can’t” do with those files, so in the end it doesn’t really matter.
You can’t argue that the system isn’t successful. So if they’re spending their money on what they want and they’re getting precisely what they need and expect out of a product, who are you to say it’s a bad idea?
Posted by ACLeroK212 on April 28, 2005 at 6:37 AM (PST)
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