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MacDawg

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Mar 20, 2004
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"Between the Hedges"
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/TechNews/TechAtHome/2004/08/05/570157.html

iTunes on the way for Linux users

By MATTHEW FORDAHL

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Linux users frustrated that they can't partake of Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes software and music store or the iPod music player may soon get some relief.

A program under development by CodeWeavers Inc., which specializes in software that allows Linux computers to run Windows programs, is to include support for all three -- something currently available only to users of Windows-based and Macintosh computers.

"ITunes has been our number one, most requested application," said Jeremy White, chief executive of CodeWeavers. The support will come in the next release of the company's CrossOver Office.

Apple spokeswoman Liz Einbinder declined to comment.

But the company has not taken kindly to attempts by other companies to adopt its technology without permission.

Last month, Apple threatened to sue after RealNetworks Inc. announced it had created a technology to permit iPod users to play music purchased from Real's online music store.

Linux, an open-source operating system developed by a community of paid and unpaid programmers, has not been widely adopted by desktop PC users in large part because popular programs and peripherals are not easily supported.

St. Paul, Minn.-based CodeWeavers said its CrossOver Office Version 3.1 with iTunes support will be available later this year in both its standard ($40) and professional ($75) editions.

Besides iTunes, it supports Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer and others.
 
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