Vivendi-owned Universal Music Group is at again. After striking a deal with Microsoft where Universal gets a fee for every Zune sold, Chief Executive Doug Morris is on a mission to make a similar agreement with Apple and its iPod.

Morris said, "It would be a nice idea. We have a negotiation coming up not too far. I don't see why we wouldn't do that...but maybe not in the same way."

Though no figures were disclosed, the Microsoft deal must have given Universal's revenues a boost, prompting the company to push for a royalty deal with Apple. If the agreement pushes through, it wouldn't be surprising if other music companies follow suit. It's very possible as music companies are finding ways to increase revenues while competing with the insanely popular pastime: music downloading.

Someone must have rolled over in his grave when MacUser.com's Aaron Freedman wrote the following words: "I never thought IÂ?d say this, but it seems that Microsoft has a product that works better with the Mac than the Sony equivalent." He was talking about his observation that the Xbox 360 system meshes with Apple systems, but that the Sony PS3 didn't.

However, just looking back at our coverage of both consoles, and the comments to Aaron's article, sounds like he needs to make a revision of observation.

There's the observation that "the PS3 can't play music directly off the iPod." Uh, Victor B., can you help me out here? "... the 20 GB video iPod was recognized by the PS3, but you'll need to use the above-mentioned Display All feature to view everything on your iPod." (The "Display All" feature is simply pressing Triangle to browse through - and play - the content of connected media storage devices like the iPod).

And besides, as a MacUser commenter pointed out, both the PS3 and Xbox 360 won't play iTunes-signed music content. But then again, that's Apple's DRM, not MS or Sony.

Now there are things that the Xbox can do with Apple that the PS3 can't, but that's because of the one-year lead time of the Microsoft console, which gives hackers time to play with both devices. The 360 controller could be used with a Mac through a hacked driver and the USB cable, which we won't visit for all the potential EULA repercussions. Even Aaron admits that the SIXAXIS communicates through Bluetooth, which can, in due time, talk to a Mac as well (again, with all potential EULA repercussions). And the SIXAXIS has a USB connection too, by the way.

That's Aaron's admission: in due time, hackers will probably develop more drivers and code that will enable the PS3 to communicate with the Mac and iPod and God-knows-what-else, creating a very weird menage-a-troi lovefest electronica that neither MS, nor Sony, nor Apple would have envisioned (toss in the Wii and now we have a party!). Enough said.

Apple's jump to portable video not being appreciated much? As Ars Technica reports, owners of video-enabled iPods haven't been using the video capabilities of their iPods much. Based on Nielsen Media Research's findings, only 15.8% of vid-iPod owners actually played even a single video on their iPods. And for those who actually watch video on vid-iPods, it only took up around 11% of their iPod time.

Nielsen's theory is that most who purchased a video iPod simply purchased them for the extra gigs of memory rather than the video playback function. Another probable reason is that portable video isn't taking off as fast as the market hoped it would (Insert implications for Microsoft's Zune here). Nielsen did admit that there had been some "technical difficulty" in collecting this research data, which led to instances of incomplete data in their presentation.

On the other hand, video sales on iTunes are taking off, despite this apparent low portable video usage from vid-iPods. The probable conclusion drawn (we don't know if it was by Nielsen or by Ars Technica - they weren't specific) from this is that watching video on the boob tube pwns watching video on the small screen of an iPod any day of the week. Nothing earth-shaking about that discovery, come to think of it.

Okay, before we start, let me just clarify that I'm merely reporting my source's opinion on Zune and iPod, so that means this isn't my, or QJ's opinion on the said topic.

Having that said, let's go on RDM's take on Microsoft's latest gadget, the Zune. For those who aren't in the know, Zune is Microsoft's portable media player, slated for release tomorrow.

As such, it was touted as "iPod's latest killer." However, our source points out that it may not be the case. Why? Let's check out all three reasons.

First off, Apple's winter strategy was to lower the iPod's price, to make it a viable gift for the holidays. Our source reports that most users would consider the iPod as a luxury item for themselves, and because it's branded as such, consumers won't think of it as a feasible gift for the holidays. Apple seems to know that, so to cash in the holiday frenzy, the price of the iPod is slashed during its winter season so that consumers will see it as an affordable gift this Christmas, generating more income for Apple in the long run.

Second, our source points out that the Zune is rather heftier than the iPod, and it being bulky may become a problem, as it is a portable music device.

Lastly, RDM says that the Zune's radio transmitter and rather large screen drains the battery life faster, which may lead to customer complaints. After all, a portable device should have long battery hours, as it is always on the go (and stopping over some place just to charge it is such a hassle).

As said earlier, these are just our source's views on Zune. How about you, what do you think?

Just a few days ago, Apple has released a warning that 25 iPods had been infected with a virus. The RavMonE.exe virus was found in a peripheral device attached to a PC. The device then was used by an Apple contractor to test compatibility for the iPods before they get shipped. In attempt to describe their situation, Apple merely said in their website, "As you might imagine, we are upset at Windows for not being more hardy against such viruses, and even more upset with ourselves for not catching it."

Guess Microsoft didn't like the quip and let out an onslaught of response: "It's not a matter of which platform the virus originated [on]. The fact that it's found on the portable player means that there's an issue with how the quality checks, specifically the content check, was done." This came from Microsoft security expert Jonathan Poon.

While this may be a cause for concern for would-be Video iPod users, perhaps it's important to remind consumers that only 25 iPods have been infected. And it's not like there's no solution to the problem. The virus can be removed and Apple has already issued instructions for the virus removal using their own and third party software. Microsoft and Apple need a break to cool off their heads. But even with cooler heads, something tells us that this debate will go on forever.

This should spark some debates among the die-hard Apple-addicts reading this. Analyst house Gartner says that if Apple wants long-term success, it should do what game firm Sega did in response to the Sony PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Xbox. In case you're not a gamer, what Sega did was to retire from the game console manufacturing business and concentrate on software publishing and development.

Yep. In an ambitious analytical report, entitled "Apple Should License the Mac to Dell," Gartner is suggesting exactly that. Apple licenses Mac-making to Dell, and quit hardware manufacturing altogether, to concentrate on OS and software.

Why, oh why must Cupertino give up on those little bundles of computing joy to Dell? Same reason Sega bailed on their Dreamcast: competition. In Apple's case, Gartner believes that increasing market pressure will cut into Apple's profit margins with the Mac. This is because Apple is recently using Intel chips, which is also a big reason for a surge in Mac popularity, says Gartner. They also say that Intel, as a component maker, effectively "subsidizes" Apple production.

But with pricing pressure from other computer firms like HP, Gartner believes that Intel "cannot go on supporting Apple (or any other customer) indefinitely." Instead, Apple could license Mac production over to Dell - which also uses Intel chips, and is "Intel's closest ally" - which has a more robust production and marketing infrastructure in place. The firm even believes that by doing so, Mac OS could capture 20% of the market, and Macs themselves could become more affordable.

Will Steve Jobs take heed? Silicon.com's conclusion is that he's not worried much about Apple's position in the market - or about the competition either. Most likely not, in that case. Nothing in the report either about other Apple hardware, like the iPod and upcoming iTV. What do you guys think?

Apple programmers may arguably make some of the best software in the world. And lets face it, Macs are so much cooler than PCs, but the men behind Macs aren't the halo-bearing geniuses you think they are. Sure, they are geniuses and you can take Mac OS X as evidence for that, but they still have their own outbreaks of anger which we all experience, and it appears that some negligent programmers have implemented some non-standard code into the comments of their programs.

With web tools like Google's code search allowing you to search the source code for thousands of programs, you can now easily gain access to a lot of code samples from big companies and small developers alike. The sample above was taken from some kind of Apple Corp. program and obviously shows the programmer's anger in coding. Another programmer even made a dig at Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser in the middle of a function.

Some internet users are calling for this to stop, saying it's an outrage that programmers should be able to add lines like this in source code. The more light hearted users will probably find this very funny, as I for one laughed as I read the source code. However, after this blunder was exposed to the criticisms of the worldwide web, programmers might be a little more careful in the future. See the full code extract by clicking the link below.

We'll be celebrating the iPod's 5th birthday in a week. With that in mind, Newsweek's Steven Levy interviewed Apple CEO Steve Jobs about Apple's much-beloved MP3 player, about how it all began, about Job's outlook on Microsoft's Zune player (reputed to be the next iPod killer), and about Job's outlook towards the near future.

First up. Jobs, when asked about the iPod's success as a player, and how it had succeeded where players before it failed. The secret? "Look at the design of a lot of consumer productsÂ?they're really complicated surfaces. " Jobs said about the designs that had been there before. He further explained that the iPod's forte had always been its simple elegance - it was a very well thought-out system that didn't burden its user with complicated music libraries; that was what iTunes was for.

The other more pressing note, Newsweek inquired what was Job's opinion on the Zune, Microsoft's contender against the iPod. Was he worried? "In a word, no," Jobs said about the Zune, as he explained how the internet vids of Zune users being able track other Zune owners, and its ability to share music had not impressed him. His suggestions for sharing tunes? Share the earphones. Simple, practical, foolproof.

Lastly, he was quizzed regarding his outlook for the iPod as a music player. With features like web books and podcasts now part of the iPod's functions, would the iPod still be a music player? "I think that music faded in importance for a while, and the iPod has helped to bring music back into people's lives in a really meaningful way," he said, implying the iPod's core would always be its music-carrying ability, even as it expanded into uncharted waters.

And with this, we kick off (NOT the iPOD!) the week prior to its birthday.

Mac OS X users are now safer from worms such as Blaster and they can thank virus-prone Windows for it.  According to the research group Gartner, Microsoft has more security plugs than Ted Danson's scalp that mass attacks have finally ceased.

Allthough the OS X has always been less attractive to attackers it doesn't translate to total invincibility. For one, Apple people are not safe from spyware. While there are not enough Macs around that make mass attacks worth the time, threats from deliberate attacks remain a possibility.

"Targeted attacks are difficult to prevent because many of them look like something that a user would do. The Mac OS puts good security around user activity, but this can still be overridden. Bottom line: pay attention to odd behaviour from any computer, it could be a hacker after your stuff. Don't just authorise anything that asks, think about it first," according to the firm.

It's been five years now since the world's known the iPod, and with the Zune expected to be Microsoft's "iPod killer" (the Zune's a hot-sell with Xbox 360 owners, for good reason), we thought it'd be a good time to look back, and see just what one decidedly hardcore iPod fan over at foronceandforall.com thinks has kept Apple's bid to the MP3 wars so survivable. To be taken with a pinch of salt (and humor), here are his reasons:

1. The "Cool" factor
First impressions last, and most people who've seen an iPod of any sort won't forget the smooth, curved lines and white color tones it's become famous for.

2. Fame
Like it or not, the iPod is an unofficial mascot for MP3 players. Back then, there was no central idea for people to think about regarding MP3s, and the iPod's appearance became a example for those wondering what an MP3 player was, kinda like how McDonald's is the poster boy for fast food.

3. Price
Okay, so higher end products like the iPod video are a tad pricey - burn a hole in my wallet, why 'doncha - but the iPod nano and iPod shuffle are decently priced for the cash-conscious buyer keen on owning a high-end player.

More reasons after the jump!