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iPod on Windows
niola writes "A story on Yahoo mentions the XPlay -- a cool software package that allows a Windows box with a FireWire port to mount the iPod as if it were a drive (gives it a letter too) so that you can upload songs to it. Looks really cool and has the ability to integrate with Windows Media Player." Will Apple sue over this? I guess it'll depend on whether or not they stand to lose money in lost Mac sales or gain money in extra iPod sales.
Why would Apple sue? It's not in any sort of violation of their copyrights, etc. Unless there's something funky in the license, people can use their hardware whenever and wherever and however they like. It's not like it's a song, it's a song player.
How different is this from connecting my Apple USB keyboard to my PC?
There should be a moratorium on the use of the apostrophe.
Max V.
NeXTMail/MIME Mail welcome
Apple has reviewed their software, and has (sorta) blessed it. It even has the same copywrite controls that the mac software has, preventing you from copying the audio tracks from the iPod.
That's NOT to say that you can't use it as a hard drive. You CAN copy stuff to and from it, in hard drive mode, but if you copied mp3's to it in hard drive mode, then you can't listen to them, and if you can listen to the music, then it's not in hard drive mode.
In fact, from their site, other then asking them to change the name from XPod, they don't seem to care, and they've known about it for a while:
December 10, 2001
Mediafour commits to demonstrating both XPlay and MacDrive in booth 4021 at Macworld Expo; exhibit runs January 8-11 at Moscone Center in San Francisco
November 30, 2001
Product name is changed to XPlay at urging of Apple
Free Mac Mini
Well, since it's brand new pre-release software, it probably hasn't been tested under WINE... Did you want to give it a shot, and let us know?
When encryption is outlawed, ?o'AZ-,++o+i++##4AoA+-/-C++bI+/.+~
His Web site (http://www.ephpod.com) has received over 37,000 visits to date
I bet that changes really quick
I can't imagine too many people were buying Macs because the iPod software was only written for the Mac; however I can see the huge numbers of Windows users who would love to get the iPod. With this software Apple wins two ways:
1. Windows people start buying the iPod, which increases the sales.
2. Apple doesn't have to support the moving target that is Windows, instead this other company can deal with all of the support headaches while Apple makes money hand over fist.
I'm having trouble seeing why Apple just didn't outsource this eariler, unless Jobs is trying to make the Windows users feel like the Mac users have for so many years with the "That looks really cool, too bad it's for the platform I don't run." envy.
I read the internet for the articles.
I can't tell if you're being sarcastic, but the answer is yes. Sort of. I know several people personally who wanted to get into the whole digital media thing: MP3s instead of portable CD players, digital cameras instead of film, digital camcorders and DVDs instead of plain old videotape. The combination of OS X plus iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, and iPod won them over. About $2,000 bucks later-- counting the iMac and the camera and iPod and whatnot-- they were in business.
I've seen it happen more than once among my little circle of friends.
So does this mean cygwin users have to watch out for the rm -rf /* bug?
Does anyone know if this will come pre-installed on the floor machines at Comp USA or will I have to install it myself?
So far as I can tell, it's basically just using the iPod in FireWire target mode, where the device is basically just a harddrive.
I would guess that XPlay doesn't allow you to update the iPod playlists in the same manner that you do on the Mac, which means that anything you do only works so long as the iPod is attached to the PC.
I think most people are assuming this will work identically to the integration between iTunes and iPod, which doesn't sound likely.
* As is generally the case, my opinions do not reflect those of my employer.
Free Mac Mini
Yes. Apple Stores began to see an increase in sales after the iPod was released. You an probably find more detail on Apple's site or by calling your local Apple Store. I believe 125k were sold in the first two months. Many of those were sole with new macs to former PC users.
I am not 100% sure of Wine's capabilities, but it needs to support windows' Firewire driver interfaces. The iPod is just a glamorized Firewire hardrive, and all that xPlay does is extend windows firewire support to include the proprietary mp3 storage format found on the iPod's disk. It also integrates with indows media player to ease use for normal users who don't want to drag and drop from explorer.
Bye!
I actually just received my 10 gig iPod today. I had ordered the 5 gig and returned it when I heard of the 10. At one point of time during the few times I called the customer representitives, I mentioned that I was debating whether to wait for Apple to perhaps release a windows version of the iPod or simply get this one.
The rep quickly told me about XPlay (which I had known about before anyway).
From what I read on some iPod websites, it's fairly common for them to refer PC customers to MediaFour and I believe they have had agreements with MediaFour in the past.
I also find it interesting that the iPod (or at least Apple media) has it's own section now.
They just asked, and Mediafour did it, it wasn't a big deal.
Free Mac Mini
Apple generally does not litigate against third-party applications of their products. That would be silly--it would ultimately discourage software and hardware additions such as PCI cards and software which might augment the Mac OS or its hardware. A computer is a computer, and Apple learned long ago to allow other companies to play when the rewards work both for Apple and others.
Other products which have had third-party adaptations, although not necessarily with the tacit blessing from Apple that XPlay has includes:
--the original iMac (an early expansion slot was used for video cards, although Apple discouraged use of the port and discontinued it on later models)
--LinuxPPC, other operating systems
--USB floppy drives (when the iMac dispensed with them)
--The Outback (the first, but unofficial, Mac portable, which used the ROM from a Mac Plus)
--Basilisk (PC software which emulates an early Macintosh, ala Virtual PC for Macintosh)
Apple tends to keep to themselves unless someone appears to be directly violating their copyright, trademark, or intellectual property rights. Using the iPod is, well, using an iPod. Apple probably expects other companies to adapt it for their work. Saves Apple the trouble of manpower to create any software, but also releases them from supporting the iPod since a third-party (and non-Apple) product is in use, which may be a warranty violation.
Vos teneo officium eram periculosus ut vos recipero is.
I predict that Apple will not buy XPlay. Why should they? They're already selling iPods faster than they can make 'em, so there's no benefit to Apple to release and support iPod software for Windows. Apple is really good at writing Mac software, either from scratch or acquired from somebody else. iTunes and Final Cut Pro were acquired; as far as I know, iPhoto was written from scratch.
Right now, Apple's in the best possible situation. While they don't sell XPlay, or officially support it, they don't discourage it in any way, either. Those people who would buy an iPod but won't buy a Mac have an option, albeit not a great one. And all the while Apple gets to point at the iTunes/iPod combo, with all of its functionality, and say, "Only on Mac."
Buying and releasing XPlay would be a waste of effort.
I have a coworker whose girlfriend gave him an iPod for Christmas, so he promptly went out and bought a new Titanium Powerbook.
There are several reasons why Apple won't think this is the greatest news.
1) People really are buying Macs just to use the iPod. I know that the slashdot crowd doesn't fit that mold, but if you go into an Apple store and actually ask one of the salespeople, you'll hear story after story about customers that heard about the iPod, and walked out with an iBook to go with it.
2) This might raise Apple's support costs substantially. Every call to Apple's support line costs money, even if the customer doesn't really deserve the support. Does someone who buys an iPod knowing Apple doesn't support using it via Windows deserve 90 days of toll free assistance from Apple if XPlay corrupts data on the iPod? Should Apple have to support callers who are having problems with their FireWire ports on their PC? These are just examples, but keep in mind that Apple exists because these are exactly the kinds of problems PC users have all the time. What should Apple tell the users who call support with these problems?
Now, I don't think Apple should sue anyone over this software. But this isn't the excellent news most people think it is. Apple will be making less money per iPod sold because of this. The iPod's reputation of no-brainer ease of use might be tarnished.
In the end, hopefully Apple will sell more units, make more money, and get positive exposure to new customers.
-pmb
Apple sues over violations of their copyright, trademark, and trade dress. As everyone here should be well aware by now if you don't actively defend them you lose them.
The ability to talk to a device of theirs isn't an issue. As to more iPods/fewer Macs who knows, I doubt Apple has a strong concern as they've supported the product and stand to make money whichever way. However it is sad when that kind of flamebait is gratuitously tacked onto a story.
I don't read ACs: If a post isn't worth so much as a nom de plume to its author then I wont bother either.
The initial preview releases of XPlay were very basic and somewhat flaky, and could do little more than copy mp3s to the iPod. You couldn't even delete anything, let alone manage any playlists.
But Mediafour have been gradually adding functionality over the last few months, and the last release (preview 5) is easily the best yet - it's the first release that actually delivers most of the functionality you'd have on a Mac, albeit with a "Windows" spin.
I suspect the biggest problem currently delaying the full release of XPlay is the dreaded "write behind" error rather than any legal wranglings by Apple.
Basically there appears to be a bug in some (but not all) IEEE 1394 chipsets commonly used in notebook PCs/firewire cards which occasionally causes the trashing of the database containing the mp3 data. The upshot used to be that your iPod was rendered useless until a reformat - wiping all data from the device and requiring you to retransfer your music (hoping another "write behind" didn't happen again in the process).
Preview 5 handles these "write behinds" by providing a facility to rebuild the database, so you don't have to re-transfer your music. It's not pretty but hey, it works 8).
But overall, the product is shaping up to be pretty good. Whilst it's not quite as easy to use as iTunes (well, it *is* PC software!), it certainly fulfills its purpose when it comes to accessing the device under Windows, and I'll definitely be buying the release version when it arrives.
Read my online journal: http://chris.carline.org
Who said $2,000 was pocket change? I have three friends who each wanted to get into the whole digital media thing. One of them is about to have a baby, one of them just did, and one of them is just kind of a gadget freak. Then there's me, of course.
We each decided to buy (new or first) Macs for pretty much the same reasons: iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, et cetera. For my friends the parents, it was to have an easier way to document their kids. For my gadget freak friend, it was so he could listen to MP3s while he rode his bike. (Not the safest thing maybe, but he's a grown-up, so it's not my problem.)
None of us thought $2,000 was pocket change. If we were just throwing money away, we probably would have bought some high-end PC, because depending on your point of view you do get more bang for your buck that way. But the thing we all had in common was this: none of us wanted to waste time or effort. Make it easy, we said, and we'll buy it.
For us, that $2,000 or so was a sort of investment. The proposition was basically that I gave Apple an extra $600 to promise me that managing my MP3s and movies and pictures and whatever else would be as simple and foolproof as humanly possible. So far, they've kept up their end of the bargain.
I think ordinarily Apple would have sued, but after that comment that Eisner made about Apple's 'Rip Mix n Burn' campaign, I don't think Apple has any intention of doing anything to help either of these industries.
I tell you what, if Apple doesn't attack this product, I would seriously consider getting one. Anything to help them fight the SSSCA. (I can never remember the acronym of the new version. When I pronounce it it sounds like a kid learning how to talk.)
"Derp de derp."
Apple has given MediaFour their blessings to work on the application. Apple merely requested that they not call it XPod as they had intended, MediaFour complied and now calls it XPlay.
I have a website. It's about Macs.
What are you talking about? Drive letters are a great example of Microsoft innovation!!
It's actually called a tariff. That $600 tariff means that he doesn't have associate with the likes of you, who wouldn't or couldn't actually pay the $600 tariff. It's sort of like protection money; he gives Apple $600, and Apple makes sure you never bother him since you won't be using the same computing or hardware platform.
GPL Deconstructed
From Mediafour website:
" What happened to the "XPod" name? Why did it change?
Apple Computer, a company with which Mediafour has always had an amicable relationship, expressed concern over our use of the name "XPod", due to its similarity to the "iPod" name. We chose to change the name to XPlay early on in the project."
read more, click here!
Yes Apple is aware of this, and I believe that Apple will benefit from XPlay.