Posted on 08/19/2004 3:04:03 PM PDT by Stoat
RealNetworks has stepped up its music "war" on Apple Computer--with results it clearly didn't expect.
Hostilities started in late July, when RealNetworks cracked Apple's FairPlay code, meaning songs bought from the RealPlayer Music Store could be played on the iPod--a move that went down very badly over at Apple. RealNetworks then decided to ratchet up the pressure by slashing the cost of its downloads to below the 99-cent price barrier favored by Apple.
The next step--a campaign and petition to get music fans to support the company's open stance--hasn't worked out quite as it might have hoped, after some people besieged the petition with obscenities and anti-RealNetworks postings.
The petition, on RealNetworks' www.freedomofmusicchoice.org site, is titled: "Hey Apple! Don't break my iPod."
"Your company has long stood for innovation and open competition," the petition reads. "We're asking that you...support the right of your own customers to make their own choices about where they buy music for the iPod. We want Freedom of Music Choice! Don't lock us in to purchasing digital music from one source. That's bad for competition. It will stifle innovation. And it will slow the adoption of digital music devices like the iPod."
Readers were encouraged to sign up and leave comments on the petition, now running at more than 900 signatures. However, many comments left by petition signers were less than complimentary and featured a selection of tartly worded phrases and four-letter epithets, with the target being RealNetworks itself. CEO Rob Glaser came under particular attack from the Web site's visitors.
Visitors--some of whom identified themselves as "Michael Jackson," "The Pope" and "Bill Clinton"--expressed the view that they already have freedom of choice and would be exercising it by using Apple's iTunes music service.
One poster, Rich Mertz, wrote: "You people are wrong, wrong, wrong. If we wanted 'choices' like yours, they wouldn't have to be foisted on us. Most of us, given a real choice, would rather see you and your tactics go away. 'Competition' doesn't give you any right to reverse-engineer when you feel like it, but come down on those that hack into your IP rights. It's theft, pure and simple."
Others took issue with the fact that RealNetworks' Rhapsody song shop doesn't support Macs. A poster by the name of MacUser wrote: "I choose to use a Macintosh. Why won't Real support me? Rhapsody doesn't work on the Mac. So even if I was interested in buying music from Real, I can't do it."
RealNetworks' stock price appeared to react badly to the price-cutting and free music campaign, with shares dropping 20 cents to close at $5 on Tuesday.
Some people, however, did support the campaign. Juan Noyles wrote: "Stop being so stingy, Jobs!" Another poster, going by first name "Jason" only, added: "I've got to give this particular move a thumbs-up. Proprietary file formats are never good for customers...Anything that opens up competition in the market can't help but be good, even if it comes from a P.O.S. developer like Real."
The deluge of anti-RealNetworks sentiment prompted the company to take down the original petition and replace it with one without a comment section, but where the names of those who signed up were visible. Most signed up as 'Real sucks' or something similar. The ability to see names was then removed.
People can still post comments on the issue via the freedomofmusicchoice.org Web site, once they register with the site. Similar anti-RealNetworks tirades are already appearing there, complete with intermittent swearing.
RealNetworks isn't the first company to criticize Apple over its stance on digital rights management. Virgin Mega recently took issue with the iPod, saying its proprietary stance was anticompetitive.
What has Real Networks foisted on anyone in this situation?
"...they wouldn't have to be foisted on us...
What has Real Networks foisted on anyone in this situation?"
Nothing at all. This is just another example of a hysterical preteen who is worried that he won't be able to play "Cop Killer" on his Ipod.
Nothing says "idiot" quite like "@aol.com" or having RealPlayer installed on one's computer.
Real won't be able to maintain the lower price.
I've looked at the Apple pricing structure and the profit margins are tiny. Even if Real manages to sell more, the lack of a popular player of their own, and the threat that they might have to lower their royalty payments to the record companies will reduce the size of their digital inventory, and chase away other labels and music groups.
The Apple iPod, iTunes combination is a competition killer. The 99 cent price point is necessary for iTunes Music Store to maintain its fast and flexible infrastructure, as well as pay for future development, and ensure that record labels are happy with their payments.
Agreed.
To be fair, Real Networks is famous for foisting a lot of stuff on people with RealPlayer.
But all they're doing here is giving iPod users an alternative--for which some iPod users are complaining bitterly. LOL
"Nothing says "idiot" quite like "@aol.com" or having RealPlayer installed on one's computer."
Agreed. They both rely on intrusive, aggressive and Stalinistic, domineering software installs in order to market their products and services, which instantly turns off thoughtful people.
Only those who need to go through their computing experience (and likely the rest of their lives as well) while someone is holding their quivering, shaking hand will keep such services.
Now, now..be kind. "Moron". :-)
Real will never live down their spyware past in some quarters. Real.com is in my hosts file just in case, in an moronic or drunken lapse, I unconciously try to load their (severely crippled, muzzled, and neutered) copy on this machine.
Though to be fair, MSFT Media Player is not a lot better at forever pounding on the firewall, offering to "Manage" my media files for me, and who know what else. (Cured by Winamp, and of course not a problem at all on the Red Hat box.)
My Tiffany cat smells chicken cooking and is camped in front of the monitor as usual, with her twitching tail on the keyboard.
"Real won't be able to maintain the lower price."
Agreed....they are probably hemorrhaging cash over this venture, which they are undertaking in order to gain market share and drive others out of the picture, after which they plan to raise prices to a profitable level. I don't know which company has deeper pockets (I suspect Apple) but it's clear which company carries the greater customer loyalty and goodwill, which is like gold and is absolutely essential with something like this.
Apple/Mac fans are oftentimes passionately supportive of their systems and of Apple Computer and what it does, and this goes a LONG way in insuring the viability or downfall of a company, especially when it's in a bitter fight.
I haven't been given the indication that RealNetworks carries ANY goodwill at all....quite the contrary. Their clunky, aggressive and RAM-hungry software has bitterly turned off every single person, without exception, that I have ever talked with about this sort of thing.
I believe that most people only have things like RealPlayer installed on their systems because they aren't aware of alternative players and applications that will play RealNetworks content just fine, and without all of the hassle that RealNetworks' software approach inflicts upon the user.
My personal fave is Jet Audio
http://www.jetaudio.com
but there might be other, better solutions as well, and probably other options for the Mac.
Methinks it's not the time to buy RealNetworks stock at the moment :-)
Apple has over 4 billion dollars in cash reserves.
"Apple has over 4 billion dollars in cash reserves."
What's that sound I just heard? Oh, it's the death-rattle of RealNetworks :-)
Real doesn't have a chance.
I used to work for an Apple Specialist. My job description was complicated, but I spent a lot of time with Apple employees whenever they were in town.
I used the time to fish for information.
Apple has an R&D department that makes Real look like yesterday's technology.
Amen. I didn't have quite the nerve to say it.
If so, why would anyone want to spend any significant amount of money on content with those restrictions? Maybe $0.05/song to sample tunes and see what I like, but I wouldn't want to regard such downloads as anything more than a 'throwaway'.
LOL... very funny. :-(
;-)
Unfortunately, Apple doesn't send out cute girls to pose as their regional reps...
Just one thing to remember when dealing with Steve Jobs. Don't expect him to do you any favors.
If you follow that rule, you'll be fine.
I don't know the answer to your question, but if your understandings are true, then what RealNetworks is ultimately accomplishing is a solidification of the foundation of absolute loathing that so very many people feel toward the major-label recording industry, and a dedication toward illegal downloading that will last another generation at least.
The antiquated, neanderthal and belligerent RIAA needs to have a "sit-down" with the RealNetworks folks, and if they were smart (which they have taken great pains to illustrate is not the case) they would bring some truly up-to-date tech people into the conversation to find a rational solution.
The internet represents freedom, and the heavy-handed tactics of the RIAA are more akin to Stalinism than to an attitude and demeanor that has any hope of flourishing in a free world. They are sealing their own fate with their current path, which is fine with me.
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