In an attempt to block other media players from synching with the new iPod models, Linux users now find themselves unable to use their third-party software of choice to load songs into their new iPods.

An article in the ipodminusitunes blog states that there is a code embedded in the iPod, locking the iTunes database to a specific iPod. Any attempt to do modifications on the code will result with the iPod thinking that there are "0 SONGS" in its memory, even if there are songs uploaded into the iTunes database.

Other online sources think that this is not a measure to prevent piracy in itslef, but rather to eliminate competition of the iTunes store. Since most major music labels have eliminated DRM from their digital tracks, the likelihood of other music players that automatically load DRM-free music is very high, thus competing with iTunes Store.

This new move limits the choices of software to be used with the iPod, and since iTunes doesn't work on Linux, Linux users may need to either change to Windows or Mac, or not buy the newer iPods. Does Apple really want to lose its iPod Linux users? More updates as they come!

Not content with just selling movies and music online, Apple is now engaged in talks with major movie studios about renting movies for a paltry amount of US$ 2.99 for a 30-day rental period.

This may be a challenge toward existing cable and satellite TV companies, most of them offering Video-on-Demand (VOD) which lets people download movies into their cable box or gain access to premium programs.

This move may prove to be advantageous to Apple, who already sells films through distribution deals with Walt Disney as well as Paramount. Other entertainment moguls are hesitant to make deals with Apple simply because of fear that online distribution may hurt optical media sales.

But because of the 30-day limit made possible by the Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology, DVD sales will unlikely get affected by Apple's proposed download-to-rent format, purportedly to be launched in autumn.

A studio executive has acknowledged that Apple's plan would most likely "compete against cable companies and anyone else offering VOD into the home". VOD and similar formats have already become a staple for the cable TV industry such as Comcast, DISH Network, and TiVo. Apple's edge over them, however, is that it has a larger customer base.

Currently, Sony Pictures Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Bros., and Disney have no comments regarding this issue, though the inside buzz have studios getting inwardly excited with Apple dabbling in the VOD market. Says one studio executive, "When you think about Apple customers they are so connected to the brand they will try anything to do with it."

  

If you've been keeping tabs on Apple's war against DRM, you probably already know that users can now download DRM-free tracks from the iTunes store. But what you probably didn't know is that while you're able to download all the high-quality music you want, sharing it with others might not be such a good idea, as you could probably end up sharing your account info along with your playlist.

And no, we're not kidding. Try these simple steps to see that we're dead serious about this.

1. Launch Terminal.
2. Go to one of your iTunes plus downloads. Try downloading a song (an iTunes plus single of the week would do).
3. Use the UNIX "strings" command to take a gander at the text in your data and grep to search for your own name. (strings 01 Ooh La.m4a | grep name)
4. Similarly, you can try to open all the strings in TextEdit. (strings 01 Ooh La.m4a | open -f.)

If you did it correctly, you'll be able to find your own name embedded in that music file you've just downloaded - which would pretty much leave a direct trail to you should you torrent the songs you've just downloaded. So think first before making any rash decisions about illegal file-sharing - you may be giving away more than just free music.

Version 7.2 of Apple's iTunes software has finally been released. This new version also supports Windows Vista, so those of you who don't run a Mac OS at home but have an iPod can still use it.

Perhaps the hottest feature in this new iTunes version is added support for "iTunes Plus", Apple's new DRM-free offerings. These DRM-free tracks cost an extra 30 cents but also boast higher-quality encoding. DRM-free tracks will start popping up on the iTunes Store today, if they haven't already.

Users will also be able to upgrade their previous iTunes Store purchases to their DRM-free versions as they became available. The installer (available for XP, Vista and Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later) can be downloaded for free by clicking on the "via" link below.

According to comScore Media Metrix's data, the number of American visitors at Apple.com went from 27.3 million to 38.8 million, placing Apple at 13th rank for most visited properties on the web.

Others have speculated that this increase in site visits was due to the new iPhone, the fight for DRM free music, Apple TV, and the infamous Leopard delay. What's even more amazing about this is that even without detailed news about the new iPhone, it's still one of the (supposed) main reasons for the site's increased popularity. Could this mean that the demand for the phone is that high?

MacUser, an Apple news site, points out that ultimately it wasn't a "shabby month" for Apple.com when it came to content, but they find it hard to believe that the stories alone could generate 11 million additional users. They speculate that either Apple as a whole is getting more popular in the us or comScore's data is flawed. We here at QJ would go with the former.

As talks between Apple and major music companies ramp up this month, the biggest topic on the floor will no doubt be the issue of DRM-free music. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has long been steadfast on the 99-cent price for a song on iTunes, but now he's willing to go higher in exchange for DRM-free tracks.

"At this point, no one can ignore Apple or what Apple wants, given its position in the marketplace," said Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg. "The fact that they were able to do this deal with EMI puts more pressure on some of the other labels to follow suit."

According to the San Jose Mercury, at least two major recording companies will ask Jobs to "sell a wider variety of content in digital bundles of songs, videos and other multimedia." This from two recording company executives familiar with their companies' plans. Apple already offers bundled tracks, but the companies hope that expanding these offerings can boost revenue.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs got some flak for his call for DRM-free music a while back, with some people saying that it's for publicity and the like, but it looks like Apple is really gung-ho about going the DRM-free route.

According to MacRumors.com, the Cupertino-based company sent short notices to their iTunes partners yesterday to let them know that they would soon be able to offer DRM-free music music videos to customers through the iTunes service. Apple is currently gearing up for contract renegotiations with Here's a quote of what the notice reportedly says:

Many of you have reached out to iTunes to find out how you can make your songs available higher quality and DRM-free. Starting next month, iTunes will begin offering higher-quality, DRM-free music and DRM-free music videos to all customers.

Apple and EMI have already announced earlier this month that they would be distributing DRM-free EMI songs over iTunes. In one of our previous posts here on the QJ Apple blog, we also quoted Steve Jobs as saying that "a lot of people in the other music companies" are "very intrigued" with the idea, so we're guessing that it's only a matter of time until it becomes a widespread reality.

Earlier in the week, we reported a deal between EMI and Apple regarding selling Digital Rights Management (DRM)-free content which has pleased digital music fans around the world. In a move to react with the status quo, Microsoft has followed by announcing that it, too, will do the same for the Zune community.

In a statement by Katy Asher, a spokeswoman for Microsoft, it was revealed that the company has also been holding talks with record outfits in an attempt to cut the consumers some slack.

It can be remembered that there has been an outcry both in the U.S. and in Europe against DRM because the policy essentially restricts compatibility and transferability of content in an attempt to curb piracy of copyrighted material. Apple and Microsoft has embedded DRM code in their media formats, making consumers clamor for a more flexible policy.

"We plan on offering it (DRM-free content) to them as soon as our label partners are comfortable with it," says Asher. She said that Microsoft has recognized what the people want and is working on giving them what they desire.

Analysts suggest that the move by Microsoft is based on Apple's policy because of the influence that the iPod line of players have over the community. We'll keep you posted as the situation brews in the ranks of the Zune team.

Newsflash: you might want to upgrade your digital audio player to support the AAC format. After all, this is the format to be used by Apple in selling their non-DRM music from EMI from now on, with lots of major music labels expected to follow suit on the months to come.

AAC is known to be the better digital audio format in terms of sound quality compared to the more popular MP3. Yesterday, Apple and EMI announced that they will be selling non-DRM tracks for US$ 1.29 per song. Such songs will be available in the AAC format.

Will your digital audio player support AAC? As of now, Microsoft, Nokia, Sandisk (e200 line), and Sony already include AAC playback on their devices. Those that don't have AAC format support are players from Creative, Toshiba, Cowon, Philips, etc.

Thankfully, upgrading your digital music player to support AAC can be done via firmware update. Just check your manufacturer's support if you want an upgrade.

We can drop the question mark now. EMI releases word via its press office that it IS dropping digital rights management (DRM) protocols on "premium downloads" of its music tracks. No DRM = full interoperability across all music platforms, so as long as it can play the file format.

Here's the kicker: making the joint announcement with EMI, Apple says that iTunes will be the first to retail EMI's premium downloads. They also announce that these premium AAC-format tracks at twice the quality of existing downloads, and with the DRM removed, at only US$ 1.29/� 1.29/£ 0.99 on iTunes. Their regular-quality counterparts, still with DRM, will retail for the standard US$ 0.99/� 0.99/£ 0.79. Customers who already have the standard-quality tracks can upgrade to the double-quality DRM-free version for US$ 0.30/� 0.30/£ 0.30. EMI music videos will also be DRM free - no change in price!

There's the shock, ain't it? Pay a higher price for the DRM-free? Of course, at twice the quality of the regular download, it's both a larger file and certainly a premium, which would justify the higher price; we can't exactly envision the higher price as a "disincentive" to DRM-free files with that kind of setup. Or perhaps it's a cautious step by EMI - seeing how the market reacts to this.

Still, EMI expects that customers will flock to the new premium downloads - both for the higher quality and the full interoperability of the files. They've been tinkering with DRM-free tracks since the end of last year, the PR notes. On the other hand, EMI will continue to use DRM in other models of digital distribution, such as subscription-based models, super-distribution (file-sharing with friends - think Zune), and time-limited downloads (such as those subsidized by ads).