Navio Gaining Industry Momentum As Fairplay Alternative

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif

CNN Money/Business 2.0 reports that Navio, a Cupertino California startup specializing in DRM technology, is gaining some prestige for their efforts in reverse-engineering Apple's Fairplay DRM technology.

Already, early Navio customers like Fox, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Walt Disney Internet, Cingular and Verizon Wireless have been experimenting with Navio's software to sell digital content. Disney, for example, will be using Navio to power content sales on its website promoting the Pixar/Disney animated blockbuster Cars.

The report does not elaborate on Steve Jobs' reaction to Disney using Navio, or what his role was in the process surrounding the decision to use Navio's technology.

Navio plans to launch software by the end of June that will allow its customers to distribute copy-protected videos that are compatible with the iPod. Movie and Music studios are apparently eagerly awaiting the arrival of the software.

Hollywood, which has seen Apple rapidly seize control of the paid music-download business, is especially eager for an alternative to iTunes. In fact, they'd like to run their own stores.

Navio's efforts were first reported in November 2005. RealNetworks has also attempted to reverse-engineer Fairplay, and has had varied success. This is the first time that any reverse-engineering attempt of Fairplay has seen this level of interest from movie and music studios.

[amac4me]

Steve won't be happy given the fact that Navio is getting interest from the movie and music distribution companies. Gotta get that Video iPod out ASAP

[Thataboy]

Time for an iPod Updater!

[Jesus]

Steve will not be happy, unless this is all his idea...

[andiwm2003]

so, i'm buying this navio protected videos and songs, put them in my itunes and play them on my ipod.

then, when i buy a new ipod or itunes is updated the navio protected videos won't play anymore because apple changed the drm codes.
at least until navio releases a patch to circumvent the changes apple made.
so i will have hundreds of songs and videos that don't play mixed up with hundreds of songs that will play in my itunes library.

sounds like i'm gonna pass on that one.

[Stridder44]

Originally Posted by andiwm2003

so, i'm buying this navio protected videos and songs, put them in my itunes and play them on my ipod.

then, when i buy a new ipod or itunes is updated the navio protected videos won't play anymore because apple changed the drm codes.
at least until navio releases a patch to circumvent the changes apple made.
so i will have hundreds of songs and videos that don't play mixed up with hundreds of songs that will play in my itunes library.

sounds like i'm gonna pass on that one.

Agreed! And what the hell isn't getting past Apple's DRM kind of illegal?? Did I miss something!??

[heisetax]

Originally Posted by andiwm2003

so, i'm buying this navio protected videos and songs, put them in my itunes and play them on my ipod.

then, when i buy a new ipod or itunes is updated the navio protected videos won't play anymore because apple changed the drm codes.
at least until navio releases a patch to circumvent the changes apple made.
so i will have hundreds of songs and videos that don't play mixed up with hundreds of songs that will play in my itunes library.

sounds like i'm gonna pass on that one.

Some will choose to pass on the iPod. I know I am not happy as to all of the difficulty I have in playing my music from my iPod on my different computers. Because of the low quality of the music on the iTunes Music Store or any of the other online music stores I only have music downloaded from my CD collection on my iPod. All of this trouble just makes me wonder why I purchased an iPod in the first place.

The many recording studios know that it is not in their best interest to have only one supplier. They still want to support Apples version since it is the largest. They just want & need more than one source for their sales.

[VanMac]

Competition is good. As long as Apple keeps on top of the 'goodies', people will buy their products (me being one of them).

[dizastor]

Of all the places in the world for a competing company to be located... Cupertino. Seems to be more than coincidental to me.

EDIT: Apple HQ - Navio HQ Driving Directions

Less than a mile from the Apple campus also. hmmmm. Suspiscious.

[macgyver2]

Originally Posted by greenmonsterman

Of all the places in the world for a competing company to be located... Cupertino. Seems to be more than coincidental to me.

EDIT: Apple HQ - Navio HQ Driving Directions

Less than a mile from the Apple campus also. hmmmm. Suspiscious.

LOL, their idea of "reverse engineering" must be something along the lines of "let's case the joint then wait until the time is right to break in and steal the code".

[bigandy]

it's only just coming up to 10am here, but this thread has really made me wake up. by making me laugh so much at that realnetworks "buffering" picture that i slipped off my chair and hit my head on the filing cabinet next to me.

[Nermal]

Most of the comments so far seem to be positive, yet when Real introduced their iPod-compatible service, most people blasted them.

I have no problem with either company. More choice is always a good thing.

[Pancake]

Am I the only one thinking that the competition of the movie studios/record companies opening their own ipod compatible stores could end up being bad.

Why negotiate down to a fair price on iTunes when you can sell it yourself for a stupid amount?

[vniow]

Originally Posted by Nermal

Most of the comments so far seem to be positive, yet when Real introduced their iPod-compatible service, most people blasted them.

Because everyone hates Real.

[milatchi]

I've never heard of Navio, and I believe I speak for most when I say that; "If it doesn't work in iTunes or on my iPod, I don't care."

[NitRam Den Gale]

As much as I love Apple, I cant stand DRM! I hope that FairPlay will burn on the stake, and I will certainly not buy music from Apple before it does.

[weg]

Originally Posted by amac4me

Steve won't be happy given the fact that Navio is getting interest from the movie and music distribution companies. Gotta get that Video iPod out ASAP

My impression is that music industry takes the major part of the $0.99 of each song. Therefore, neither Disney nor Apple have any control over the price (they could change it by a few cents, but not more). Therefore, the better service will make the race. If Disney comes up with a music store that provides songs for all MP3 players, including the iPod, AND a nice user interface for that store, then they are able take it up with Apple.

[840quadra]

Interesting read. I am hoping that the competition from others will keep iTunes prices down when (not if) they start to sell feature movies.

It may be bad for Apple in the long run, but this could also benefit us by offering us more choices for purchasable "pod compatible" videos.

[solvs]

Originally Posted by 840quadra

It may be bad for Apple in the long run

Why would it? Apple doesn't sell a whole lot of movies (1 last I checked), but this could help them sell even more iPods if it works. Even if they did start selling more movies, they can point to this as competition if anyone starts screaming monopoly (which it isn't any more than video games for consoles, and duh, you don't have to buy iTunes to use your iPod, and vice-versa). They could even license it to them officially for a small fee and claim they don't support it if it doesn't work.

I hated the Real thing because of the way they went about it and because, as V said, Real sux.

[zzal]

But, sorry, you can't hear that. You already know too much. . .
Pif!