Whoops, not all European governments take too kindly to DRM. The Fairplay DRM system for Apple's iPod and iTunes service, has raised some tempers in Norwegian consumers and, apparently, even its own legality (how ironic...). The Norwegian Consumers Council called Forbrukerradet (now don't hurt yourself pronunciating it) filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman on behalf of the Norwegian consumers.

The complaint said that Fairplay prevented songs bought from iTunes from playing on any other device other than the iPod. This is illegal in Norway. Guess what? The Ombudsman agreed.

Torgeir Waterhouse, a senior adviser at the Consumer Council, said, "It doesn't get any clearer than this. Fairplay is an illegal lock-in technology whose main purpose is to lock the consumers to the total package provided by Apple by blocking interoperability." It would seem that iTunes Music is trying to "kill off" interoperability in order to boost its own profits.

Waterhouse said that the Ombudsman has already written to Apple saying that Fairplay is illegal. He also said, "iTunes Music Store must remove the illegal lock-in technology or appear in court. As of right now we're heading for a big breakthrough that will hopefully pave the way for consumers everywhere to regain control of music they legally purchase."

iTunes must now choose to license the DRM to manufacturers of players so they can play iTunes songs; it can co-develop an open-standard with other companies (make interoperability easier); or it can drop the whole DRM system.

The Ombudsman supports the NCC's claim that the DRM is not just simply a copy protection scheme. The heavy restrictions in the DRM broke the contract law in Norway. How did Apple react?

Tom Neumayr, spokesman for Apple told the AP news agency earlier this week:

Apple is aware of the concerns we've heard from several agencies in Europe and we're looking forward to resolving these issues as quickly as possible. Apple hopes that European governments will encourage a competitive environment that lets innovation thrive, protects intellectual property, and allows consumers to decide which products are successful.

Hmmm... Didn't know something to solve illegal issues could be illegal? What's your take?

If the European Commission had its way, MP3 player owners in Europe would be facing a  tax revision that will jack up the iPod's price by a wallet-burning 25 euros ( USD).

The law, already under fire from companies like  Nokia and Philips Electronics, was introduced back in the 1960s on tapes to compensate musicians for privately copied music. It's undergoing revisions this year, and would include blank CD's and MP3 players (phones included, since they can store tunes, too) in its revised itinerary.

Dirk Visser, attorney for the electronic industry, had this to say regarding the revision. "This will lead to double or triple taxation. Soon, a consumer will pay rights to the artists when he buys on iTunes, then again when he buys a blank disc, and undoubtedly it will be extended to mobile phones which can also store music."

The law is expected to collect 1.57 billion Euros (roughly billion USD) in its corresponding states this year, and a further 4.67 euros (roughly $ 6 billion) next year. Some countries like Britain are yet to implement these taxes. The European Commission is expected to publish their views by the end of the year, though countries like Denmark are already going through the motions of implementing the tax law.

Another Apple Expo is confirmed to be Jobs-less. Nope, it isn't a typo. Jobs-less as in no Steve Jobs.

This time, the charismatic Chief Executive passes on to give a keynote address at the largest annual Apple trade show in Europe. This was confirmed by organizer Reed Expositions spokesperson, Clementine Tisserand.

"There will be no keynote at this year's show" she said, adding that the decision was not made by Reed. The expo is slated to run from September 12 -16 at Porte De Versailles in Paris, France.

It is worth mentioning also that such non-appearance is not the first of its kind. Because of one reason or another, Jobs has failed to attend their company's expos since the year 2003.

It will be remembered that the new iPods and new fall Mac computer line were introduced using special media events last year of September and October.

With its new offerings catering to the iPod market, Logitech has its eyes set on providing the best-sounding most powerful speaker with the AudioStation brand. The AudioStation and the AudioStation Express are scheduled to be released in Europe and the US this October.

The AudioStation is a boombox-sized speaker system designed to function as a home stereo measuring 16 inches long, 4.5 inches deep, and 7.25 inches tall.  For that wide frequency response, installed in it are high-power long-throw woofers at four inches, and an 80-watt bi-amplified design.

It sports an integrated AM/Fm tuner and features a large LCD where the station information, track information and a spectrum analyzer are displayed. Peculiar to its design is that the AudioStation fashions no buttons, switches or knobs as its font panel is touch-sensitive. The controls emit white LEDs when the unit is powered on.

It also comes with a remote, 3D stereo imaging, sleep timer and more. iPods charge while playing aboard the AudioStation, and it is compatible with any iPods that offer Universal Dock connector.

The AudioStation Express on the other hand is more portable, offering flexible power options, a protective case and wireless remote. It can be powered with either an AC adapter or 6AA batteries. The wireless remote offers volume, track-hopping, play, and pause controls. At the back of the speaker system is a storage slot where it can be stored when not in use. Like the AudioStation, it supports any iPod with a Universal Dock connector, and offers a 3.5mm jack for older iPods and other audio sources.

The AudioStation Express is priced at $129.99, while the AudioStation is offered at $299.99.

VS

Get ready to rumble!

Last week, Nokia announced that it was buying the digital music site Loudeye, a US firm that is active in Europe through its affiliate OD2. This means competition for Apple, who so far, is the leading name in the music downloading business. According to Nokia, the acquisition will "offer consumers a comprehensive mobile music experience, including devices, applications and the ability to purchase digital music".

Nokia's move is definitely bad news for the fruit company, who initiated a technical revolution with its iPod products. It doesn't help at all, either, to know that Apple incurred the ire of several European governments for monopolizing its propriety technology by creating a software that would limit the iPod's downloading capacities exclusively to iTunes.

Because of this development, Apple may just be forced to work double-time on a new iPhone to fend off the threat. Furthermore, experts believe that the company might have to be forced to offer iTunes to other companies under license. Steve Jobs of Apple has already initiated steps to work with mobile phone manufacturer Motorola, but the results were inconclusive.

But while this turn of events is making Apple break out into cold sweat, this is certainly a boost for Nokia. Mark Mulligan of Jupiter Research explains, "This is all about boosting Nokia's digital music footprint, primarily though not exclusively across mobile."

Oh, but we all need some good competition every once in a while.

You read that right; I did say fuel cell.

A lot of companies support fuel-cell technology because it seems a perfect solution for recharging batteries of devices like mobile phones, PDAs, laptops and mp3 players. We've only seen products like Toshiba's reported fuel cell prototype (which, by the way, isn't even portable.)

Now we have a company that's already started shipping portable fuel cells in several areas such as mainland China, Europe, Taiwan, US, and Japan. More Energy, a company in Lod, Israel and a subsidiary of Medis Technologies, has developed a disposable fuel cell that will recharge any device that needs recharging.

The creator of this portable fuel cell is Gennadi Finkelshtain who is also the general manager of More Energy. His invention is housed in a flexible plastic shell (compared to a deck of cards, this one's a bit larger). To use it, one has to squeeze the shell container which will resist lightly before you hear a click. You then plug the cable in and connect it to the device you will be recharging.

The fuel cell recharger pack from More Energy will be the first commercially-distributed device if the company meets its deadlines (in terms of mass production and shipping) come 2007.

The UK may soon legalize gadgets which convert MP3 audio output into an FM radio signal. These signals are then picked up by devices such as car radios. Though widely available (and popular), low-power transmitters, such as the iTrip, are banned in Europe as signals coming from the transmitter can interfere with legal stations.

The ban is based on the the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1949, which forbids the use of radio equipment without a license. But with communications regulator Ofcom holding a public consultation over the issue, these low-power FM transmitters are expected to become legal to use without license by 2007.

Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Don Foster welcomes the proposed legalization, "I am delighted Ofcom have ended this ludicrous ban, based on 1940s legislation... which threatened two years imprisonment to music lovers using iTrips."

Gadget magazine T3 deputy editor Jason Jenkins is also delighted with the proposition and said, "They are nifty little things and an easy way to listen to your iPod tunes in your car."

  

EyeTV 2.2.2, which is bundled with the new EyeTV for DTT stick, will feature a new Full Screen Menu. The Full Screen Menu allows users to watch and record television shows on a Mac as well as browse Front Row. EyeTV works with the Apple remote (although it comes with its own clicker). It is also compatible with other remotes like the ATI Remote Wonder after simple programming using keyboard navigation. This Full Screen Menu, now a standard feature of EyeTV software, will work with all EyeTV 2 and higher software. EyeTV 2.2.2 is designed to work with EyeTV for DTT.

EyeTV for DTT features include:

• Watch, pause and rewind live television on the Mac.
• Record hours of TV shows directly on the HD and edit unwanted content using EyeTV 2Â?s powerful yet easy-to-use interface.
• Find TV shows and schedule recordings using EyeTV 2Â?s built-in Electronic Program Guide (EPG) from tvtv in Europe. Includes a free one-year subscription to tvtv.
• Create playlists to manage recordings and TV channels.
• Export clips and entire episodes to video-capable iPod.
• Store collection on an external storage drive, or burn it to DVD.

Meanwhile the EyeTV 2.3 with the Full Screen Menu will be released later this month. EyeTV 2.3 features a Full Screen Program Guide and scheduling recording not available in the EyeTV 2.2.2. EyeTV 2.3 compatible EyeTV compatible hardware device and will available as a free update for existing EyeTV 2 users.

 

A few days ago, the UK newspaper The Mail reported that Apple's iPods were being manufactured in "iPod City" -  a Chinese factory that allegedly treat its employees poorly and unfairly (known as "sweatshops"). Sweatshop controversies are not new. Other famous companies have been involved in similar sticky PR situation including New Balance, Nike, Walmart, Gap Old Navy,  Banana Republic and Kathie Lee Gifford's line of clothes.

Apple came out with a statement reiterating the company's commitment to "ensuring that working conditions in our supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and manufacturing processes are environmentally responsible." The company also said it would look into the allegations regarding the poor working conditions in the iPod manufacturing plant in China.

While results of the company's investigation is still underway, Gary Bowerman, editor of Shanghai Business Review, defended Apple. Bowmwan said iPod factory workers "do work long hours, they donÂ?t get paid very much, but the factories are state-of-the-art. They really are impressive." Adding that although "itÂ?s monotonous and routine, but the quality of the factories is even better than in Europe. TheyÂ?re clean, hi-tech, even air-conditioned - not sweatshop stuff. TheyÂ?re purpose-built for high-volume production and have to turn out high quantity and high quality.Â?

Unfortunately, Bowerman's statement does not satisfactorily explain the images posted by The Mail on Sunday. The one on the left, according to the UK newspaper shows the crowded domitories where iPod factory workers stay. The one on the right shows factory workers allegedly performing military-style drills before starting their day.

Distributor Vital: PIAS represent a huge number of independent record labels both in the US and Europe. Their digital arm has just signed a deal with Apple to start providing music videos for sale through the iTunes Music Store.

Just to give you an idea of the sort of artists this will mean coming to the iTunes Music Store, here's a very short list of some highlights: Oasis, Roots Manuva, Lady Sovereign, Idlewild, Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, Death in Vegas, Sigur Ros, Roni Size, UNKLE, Teenage Fanclub, Soulwax, Jurassic 5, Amp Fiddler, Evan Dando and Royskopp.

[Via MacWorld]