iPod/iTunes
Are you gonna be my girl?
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from http://news.com.com/DVD+Jon+reopens+iTunes+back+door/2100-1027_3-5630703.html:
'DVD Jon' reopens iTunes backdoor
A group of underground programmers has posted code online they say will reopen a backdoor in Apple Computer's iTunes store, allowing Linux computer users to purchase music free of copy protection.
The release comes just a day after Apple blocked a previous version of the program, called PyMusique, in part by requiring all iTunes customers to use the latest version of Apple's software.
from http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-5628616.html
Apple Computer has closed a security hole that allowed an underground program to tap into its iTunes Music Store and purchase songs stripped of antipiracy protections.
...
"The security hole in the iTunes Music Store which was recently exploited has been closed, and as a consequence the iTunes Music Store will now sell music only to customers using iTunes version 4.7," the company said in a statement.
ratbastards! That's a 20 MB download to upgrade. Ugh!
from http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-5625991.html:
A trio of independent programmers has released new software that allows people to tap into Apple Computer's iTunes music store and purchase songs free of any anticopying protections.
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A test of the PyMusique software showed that it did allow the purchase of songs from iTunes, and that the songs were saved in the unprotected AAC digital music format rather than in Apple's protected Fairplay format. Songs could not be downloaded without establishing an iTunes account and paying the ordinary price for the music.
.NET Rocks! now available in bookmarkable iPod format
We've decided to start publishing .NET Rocks! shows in a new format, in addition to WMA, MP3, and low-fi WMA. This all came from Luke Hutteman's suggestion for renaming iTunes .m4a files to .m4b files to get the bookmark feature when listening on an iPod. We gave it a shot, but we don't have an iPod to test it on. So, again, we're asking that anyone who tries it leave us some feedback so we can fine-tune the process.
Way to go Carl! Consider it tested tonight.
This post has been moved to http://www.rjdudley.com/blog/AwesomeIPodEarphones.aspx. Please update your bookmarks.
source: http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=26327
Norwegian hacker Jon Johansen, known for breaking the security code on movie DVDs, reportedly has succeeded in hacking into Apple's AirPort WLAN technology and has released a key to users. Breaking into Airport "has the potential to cause serious damage to a developing market," says Yankee Group analyst Michael Goodman.
Sheesh! And I barely understand all those CryptoAPIs!
In the wake of Real Media's release of its Harmony software (see http://dotnetjunkies.com/WebLog/richard.dudley/archive/2004/07/26/20374.aspx), Apple threw a little hissy fit:
Apple blasts RealNetworks' iPod 'hacker tactics'
source: http://www.vnunet.com/news/1156980
"We are stunned that RealNetworks has adopted the tactics and ethics of a hacker to break into the iPod," Apple said in a statement.
"We are investigating the implications of their actions under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and other laws.
"We strongly caution Real and their customers that, when we update our iPod software from time to time, it is highly likely that Real's Harmony technology will cease to work with current and future iPods."
Real Media denied the DMCA violations (making an argument similar to the one I posed the other day--see link above)
Real slams Apple's iPod 'hacker' attack
source: http://www.vnunet.com/news/1156985
Consumers, and not Apple, should be the ones choosing what music goes on their iPod.
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In fact, the DMCA is not designed to prevent the creation of new methods of locking content, and explicitly allows the creation of interoperable software.
Not that I'm any fan of Real Media's software, but Apple has been far more interested in control rather than compatability, an idea that largely accounts for the nickel-sized market share Apple maintains in its PC markets. My little iPod will rock on regardless.
RealNetworks has debuted its Harmony software, which lets users play digital music on virtually any secure device -- including Apple's popular iPod. Copyright and patent issues also may be brought to the fore if Apple decides to get tough with RealNetworks' competing technology.
source: http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=26016
Some of the other articles I've read about this (including one in the Wall Street Journal today) argue that Apple could sue under the DMCA, which was passed to prevent the circumnavigation of copy protection devices. I think Apple would have a tough argument to make here. Real Media's software does not open up iTunes downloads so thay can be copied anywhere (like Hymn does), but rather adds their own downloaded files to the iPod, using the DRM solution already in place. Real Media isn't breaking the copy protection per se, but integrating with it.
At any rate, for so very long I have hated the way Real Player takes over your desktop and annoys the crap out of you, it'll be a long time before I'd install another piece of software from Real Media.
Sweet indeed! Although my iPod leaves me nothing to be jealous about in other similar devices, I do slightly envy that WMP "Now Playing" plug in. Soon, I will have one too...
Hat tip: http://weblogs.asp.net/danielfe/archive/2004/06/08/151212.aspx