Real Networks have reverse-engineered Apple's iPod and written a player for its DRM "Helix" format, which they're giving away. This means that you'll be able to play the Helix files you buy from Real on your Apple iPod.
I'm cautiously glad about this. It's the right idea: tech vendors should be writing tools that allow anyone to play anything on anything: it's insane to own an Apple "record player" that only plays Apple "records" — meaning that if you buy your records from Real, you need to buy another record player.
My only disappointment is that Real is engaged in the same behaviour: Real's records only play on players licensed by Real: it would be much more customer-friendly if Real went into the business of providing us with music in a patent-free, open standard that could be implemented by anyone.
(Thanks, Jeff!)
Update: Ernie Miller's posted a lengthy analysis of this on his blog:
Note, however, what Real is not doing (and strangely, the news reports
don't seem to mention either). You can convert Real files into
FairPlay files, but you can't convert FairPlay files into Real files.
Real is not allowing people to copy their iTunes into Real's DRM'd
format. Why? Because it would likely be a clear violation of the DMCA.
You may be able to play Real's DRM'd music on an iPod, but you still
won't be able to play iTunes on a portable music player other than an
iPod.So, this isn't quite the breakthrough the analysts and whatnot seem to
be claiming. If you buy anything from iTunes, you're still locked into
Apple. If you buy an iPod, you can buy from Real's music store, but
what real advantage does that provide? A DRM connoisseur might say
that you will have the option of using other players in the future,
but so what? Anyone who knows anything about DRM knows that you can't
trust any of these competing formats. Perhaps in a few years one might
want to buy another brand of portable music player, but what happens
if Real's DRM fails in the marketplace and is squeezed out? What good
did the flexibility do?
