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New iPod Firmware Locks Out RealNetworks Music

Posted by michael on from the providing-negative-customer-service dept.

rishimathew writes "Apple Computer has quietly updated its iPod software so that songs purchased from RealNetworks' online music store will no longer play on some of the Mac maker's popular MP3 players." You may remember the backstory: Real found a way to allow their DRM-restricted music to play on iPods, Apple protested, and there was a little back-and-forth. You asked Rob Glaser about the situation, and he said Real had a "comprehensive plan", whatever that means.

9 of 718 comments (clear)

  1. "comprehensive plan" by k4_pacific · · Score: 4, Funny

    It turns out that this "comprehensive plan" involves a free screensaver download that DDOS's the iTunes store.

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    Unknown host pong.
  2. Re:Hammer Revolution! by darth_MALL · · Score: 1, Funny

    --;

    In Soviet Metallica, Hammer of Justice Crushes YOU!

    --;

  3. The reason why the story is old by Tibor+the+Hun · · Score: 5, Funny

    is because this morning was the first time anyone actually tried to play a song purchased on Harmony on an iPod.
    (In related news, that was also the first person to actually use Harmony to buy a song!)

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    If you don't know what AltaVista is (was), get off my lawn.
  4. Re:What? by reiggin · · Score: 3, Funny

    I don't think allowing Real to bypass their DRM technology can be called a "feature" of the iPod. More like a bug. Apple squashed a bug and its name was Real. Real has a history of being nothing more than a pest to the industry anyhow. Why should this be any different?

  5. What he would have liked to say.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I have a plan so comprehensive you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel.
    - Rob "Blackadder" Glaser

    http://www.createsomething.net/quotes/black_adder. html

  6. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  7. angry Real customers by Jodka · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm sure the RealNetworks customers who bougth tunes for their IPODS and now can't play them are going to be upset by this. Both the them.

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    Ceci n'est pas une signature.
  8. Re:Well, don't use iTunes by the+angry+liberal · · Score: 2, Funny
    And personally I consider my time to be the most valuable commodity I own. It is of limited, but unknown, supply. I am so jealous of my time that I do not participate much in the current fad of exchanging it for mere money.

    ..KFG says as he hits the submit button on his 5,954th post on slashdot!

  9. Re:Apple is under no obligation to support ANYONE by l-ascorbic · · Score: 2, Funny
    the DRM can be legally removed, unlike with WMD
    WMD could be removed, if anyone could find it...



    (sorry)