Yes, OK, we called the software lame and poked fun when it earned that inevitable injunction, but that was just too predictable to get all earnest about. Well, RealNetworks might’ve been playing a long game.
Last week a judge put a temporary ban on the sale of RealNetworks’ DVD backup program RealDVD, claiming that it violated the DMCA. The court has decided to uphold the ban indefinitely, and judging by the tone and nature of the judge’s statements, it doesn’t sound like they’ll ever change their mind.
Unlike other DVD backup software that has succumbed to movie industry pressures, RealNetworks’ RealDVD gives you a new way to copy DVDs to your computer caked with so much DRM that you’ll question why you went through the trouble in the first place. (But maybe that’s the point.) Fully approved by the DVD CCA, RealDVD rips DVDs to your hard drive complete with CSS encryption…before they’re layered with an extra topping for RealNetworks’ DRM.
As if it hasn’t been a rough enough patch for Yahoo, the company just announced that it would be ditching its iffy attempt at all-you-can-eat DRM music, Yahoo! Music Unlimited, and turn what subscribers it does have over to Rhapsody. This is good news for people who may have signed up for Yahoo before reading reviews; in our observations, Rhapsody is a much better service. The only thing that strikes fear in us, from the press release: “A simple process…will convert Yahoo! Music Unlimited subscribers’ music libraries to Rhapsody.” Uhhh, just don’t call it ConvertsForSure, okay? Thanks. Press release after jump.
In a raft of announcements, Sonos today confirmed the existence of the $US99 ZoneBridge 100, and launched two more PC-free music-store options on the system, including Napster and Best Buy’s new Digital Music Store. More »
UPDATED Real and MTV are putting together a Voltron-like online retailer called Rhapsody America in order to better combat Apple’s iTunes Music Store. The V Cast Music over-the-air service from Verizon Wireless will form the 3G-powered mobile-distribution arm. Though no pricing or timing details were announced, Verizon’s John Stratton did allude to the future availability of over-the-air all-you-can-eat subscription downloads.
The positioning is obvious to anyone who’s watched the bloodbath of non-Apple music stores over the past few years. Urge was supposed to be Microsoft’s darling, and the key to its Windows Media Player 11 and Vista music strategy. That is, until the new baby Zune came along and Urge was left playing in the road like a foster child. An article today in the Wall Street Journal said that the Verizon Wireless angle is also clear, since Apple “angered” many carriers by deciding to go exclusive with AT&T.
Regarding DRM-free music, Real chairman Rob Glazer said that the company started its trial of DRM-free tracks fro Universal today, but did not indicate if DRM-free music would ever be available for download to a cell phone.
As the Journal predicted, Urge’s GM, Michael Bloom, will run the new company, and the Urge brand will cease to exist.
