Blogcritics: Comments on Real reduces price, ups ante against Apple

Comment by Jim Carruthers

Wed, 18 Aug 2004 19:47:11 EDT

If you want a crappy experience, but without the DRM, why don't you sign up at emusic.com. They don't offer ala carte, but you get unrestricted MP3 files and they have a great catalogue. You pay a flat fee for a certain amount of tracks (which is where it is stupid). Except for their business model, they are doing things right.

Comment by Mac Diva

Wed, 18 Aug 2004 19:20:48 EDT

I am not getting any downloads from Real because I use a Mac. But, I checked my PayPal account today and I am am getting bills from Real. They've tried to charge amounts from $1.00 to $9.95 on a dozen occassions for a two-week period. (Since I signed up and downloaded the player.) I actually don't owe them a cent. Proceed with caution.

Comment by Jim Carruthers

Wed, 18 Aug 2004 18:07:03 EDT

All Real has to do to make their tunes work with iPod is strip out the DRM entirely. Problem solved. This squabbling over incompatible DRM is just bullshit. What about me the person who is shelling out money for vaporware, it turns out, I don't even own. Screw both of them.

Comment by Mac Diva

Wed, 18 Aug 2004 15:07:22 EDT

MacNewsWorld has an article that does a good job of explaining the legal and practical issues involved in the Real-Apple controversy. I am still leaning toward Real's side from a legal perspective. DRM is meant to protect producers of music, not resellers in my opinion. If it can be changed without depriving producers of protection, I am not convinced the DMCA has been violated. Real's weaknesses are with practicality and taste. If Apple 'fixes' the iPod so it doesn't work with Real's online music store, all of Real's efforts will have been wasted.