September 02, 2004

Another way of looking at it

Fred at the EFF examines how Microsoft's new online music service.

Tech support for Microsoft's new MSN Music service is responding to the incompatibility between its downloads and the iPod by advising its customers to burn the downloads to CD, then rip the CD to a compatible format:

Although Apple computers and Apple iPods do not support the PC standard WindowsMedia format for music, it is still possible to transfer MSN Music downloads to an iPod, but it will require some extra effort. To transfer MSN-downloaded music to an iPod, you need to first create a CD with the music, and then you need to import that CD into iTunes. This process will convert the music into a format that can play on the iPod. We're sorry that this isn't easier - unfortunately Apple refuses to allow other companies to integrate with the iPod's proprietary music format. If you are an iPod owner already and unhappy about this policy, you are welcome to send feedback to Apple requesting that they change their interoperability policy.
Now that's what I call freedom of music choice, in contrast to Real Network's misleading campaign of the same name.

Thanks to Donna for the tip.

Posted by Casper at September 2, 2004 09:25 PM
Comments

Oooh, they lie like a rug!

"...unfortunately Apple refuses to allow other companies to integrate with the iPod's proprietary music format."

This is misleading. They make it sound as if the iPod will play ONLY Apple's protected AAC format. The truth is that it will play nearly every major format EXCEPT Microsoft's proprietary WMA format. iTunes Muisc Store (just like the MSN Music Store) has a proprietary format, not the iPod.

The quoted phrase above SHOULD read:

"unfortunately, Apple's business plans are not chiefly concerned with the betterment of Microsoft."

I do suspect that MS will put a hasty stop to this tech support advice, seeing as it instructs users on how to circumvent WMA's anti-piracy measures in order to use a competitor's player...

Posted by: MH at September 2, 2004 10:00 PM