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Apple and RealNetworks Alliance?

Ha ha! This RealNetworks guy is like a modern enterprise version of Commodore Perry!

"Yes, we come on friendly terms, and we want to have a good relationship with you. Why are you so afraid of opening up? You have something we want, and we can give you something you need. But beware, if you don't agree with us, we will be forced to take up violent means to resolve the matter."

I give this guy a thumbs down. Who the hell does he think he is? Threatening Apple is not how you do business with Steve. Even I know that! Stupid guy...




irmongoose
 
The New York Times reports on efforts by RealNetworks to partner with Apple.

According to the newspaper, an offer was made from RealNetwork's Rob Glaser to Steve Jobs to consider licensing Fairplay -- Apple's Digital Rights Management system -- to RealNetworks to allow compatibility of RealNetwork's music store with the Apple iPod. In exchange, RealNetworks would reportedly make the iPod the primary MP3 player for their music service.

Glaser is reportedly meeting with Apple this week, and is considering WMA as their other alternative if Apple does not accept the offer.
 
This is pretty suprising news. I guess it just proves that Apple is THE powerhouse to contend with in the MP3/online music store market.
 
wow. Real mustbe hurting bad. and ya - this would be bad for M$. I don't care about M$ though - I always want whats best for us and for Apple.
 
open up

I think it would be a very good idea for Apple to open up its FairPlay technology. Clearly they would have a huge advantage if companies start jumping to Apple's format and Apple controls the entire music encryption industry. It would boost iPod sales, QuickTime distribution, and would strongly weaken Windows Media. Apple would be stupid not to aggressively seek to license its technology.
 
on one hand i would like apple to tell him to f... off (which steve in his wisdom surely will do) on the other hand i see a huge potential and am afraid of isolationism. has happened to the mac before, don't want it to happen to the whole music story here too. so yeah, take him up on it steve, your enemy's enemy should be your friend
 
I think Apple should take the offer. Oh, and I own 8 Apple stocks so they'd better listen to my advice ;)
 
Read this on CNet's News.com earlier today.... letter reads more like a threat than an "offer." Maybe they wanted to send Jobs an "offer he couldn't refuse."

from article: "But if an alliance with Apple could not be struck, Glaser strongly hinted in the e-mail message that he might be forced to form a partnership with Microsoft to pursue "very interesting opportunities" because support for Microsoft's media-playing software seems to be growing."
 
Nny said:
Read this on CNet's News.com earlier today.... letter reads more like a threat than an "offer." Maybe they wanted to send Jobs an "offer he couldn't refuse."

from article: "But if an alliance with Apple could not be struck, Glaser strongly hinted in the e-mail message that he might be forced to form a partnership with Microsoft to pursue "very interesting opportunities" because support for Microsoft's media-playing software seems to be growing."
Click to expand...

either way, if Apple's goal is to sell as many ipods as it can... seems this would help.

arn
 
The article seems to think Apple will say no. If it is true that the iTMS is only there to sell iPods, this makes no sense. But, if Apple think they can make real money from the iTMS long term (by becoming the de facto standard and then squeezing a better deal from the record companies) then freezing out Real would seem to be the right thing to do.

Apple should be careful not to freeze out a company who could help them sell iPods. If they do turn down Real's offer, we should ask the real (no pun intended) reason - long term music download sales?
 
Try as I might, all I can see in this is a desperate plea from Real to get Apple to save them... if Real partners with Microsoft, Real will just disappear... And Glaser, being an ex-Microsoft person has to know this.
That being said, I would be happy to see Real and Apple play nice together.. they can start by switching to Quicktime.. or at least allowing Quicktime to play Real streams. That clotted chunk of afterbirth that they try to pass off as Real Player for the Mac is an embarrassment.
 
I would much rather see Real crash and burn, fading into oblivion, than I would see them partnering with Apple. I hated them when I used a PC and I still hate them now.
 
Other comments

Real says it will use AAC with FairPlay DRM

Real says it will promote the iPod as the default standard music player.

This is a VERY good deal for Apple if they want to promote iPods and their own technology. They may lose a few music sales but those are not profitable anyway so who cares, they might get more iPod sales as a result.

Oh and if you own less than a few million shares of Apple's stock they won't care about you.
 
ill be disappointed in apple if they dont take Real up on this offer, why? because then the Fairplay AAC standard is going to become isolated to iTunes only and the iPod, and in turn all that this will do is cause apple to lose money in the long run. By licensing the Fairplay AAC to Real, apple has a chance to sell more iPods (since its currently the only player that can play protected AAC) and apple also gets to take a step ahead with their music format against wma which just sux.....
 
I don't think it's a bad idea, if Real's music store only worked with the iPod, and Real paid a royalty for every song sold, then this would be good for apple, wouldn't it?

I do think however, that Real is desperate and they want to work with Apple, they threat to go with M$ just shows how desperate they are, not long ago they were attacking M$.
 
It's win-win for Apple. They get royalties on FairPlay, and they sell more iPods. And they kick M$ between the legs. :D
 
Guess we'll see if Apple is true to it's word. If iTMS really doesn't make any money, and is just for selling iPods, then Apple should take this deal hands down.
 
"The Microsoft of Music Stores"

This is what happens when you try and compete with the "Microsoft of Music Stores" ...
 
IndyGopher said:
Try as I might, all I can see in this is a desperate plea from Real to get Apple to save them... if Real partners with Microsoft, Real will just disappear... And Glaser, being an ex-Microsoft person has to know this.
That being said, I would be happy to see Real and Apple play nice together.. they can start by switching to Quicktime.. or at least allowing Quicktime to play Real streams. That clotted chunk of afterbirth that they try to pass off as Real Player for the Mac is an embarrassment.
Click to expand...


I simply ignore any and every site that requires realplayer - I refuse to even have the program on my machine.
 
Yes

Also I think Real should use FairPlay and promote iPods.

They can promote video streaming content on quicktime as part of the deal and drop their video format. Apple should also get Quicktime support for Linux. Perhaps Real can still offer a front-end player for the Quicktime format so they can still do that spyware stuff, perhaps offer full screen support for users that don't want to buy Quicktime pro.
 
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