RealNetworks made a direct appeal last week to Apple Computer, its Internet music rival, suggesting that the two companies form a common front against Microsoft in the digital music business. The offer to create a "tactical alliance" was made on April 9 by Rob Glaser, chief executive of RealNetworks, the Seattle-based Internet music and video service, in an e-mail message to Steve Jobs, Apple's chairman.
But if an alliance with Apple could not be struck, Glaser strongly hinted in the e-mail message that he might be forced to form a partnership with Microsoft to pursue "very interesting opportunities" because support for Microsoft's media-playing software seems to be growing. A pact with Microsoft would be a startling reversal for RealNetworks, whose complaints about Microsoft's business tactics form a major part of the European Commission's antitrust case against the company.
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News source: news.com
But if an alliance with Apple could not be struck, Glaser strongly hinted in the e-mail message that he might be forced to form a partnership with Microsoft to pursue "very interesting opportunities" because support for Microsoft's media-playing software seems to be growing. A pact with Microsoft would be a startling reversal for RealNetworks, whose complaints about Microsoft's business tactics form a major part of the European Commission's antitrust case against the company.
View: The full story News source: news.com
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Real will try anything to keep from going bankrupt. Just die will you! Your software is crap anyways.
it seems that almost every company loves to hate microsoft, but when their bottom line can get better, they put on a happy face and kiss Microsoft's ***. It must be neat to have that kind of influence and power.
STV
As far as im concerned REAL seems to be acting desperate. But Im not sure why because there are many sites out there that offer up only their player to view content (which stinks big time).
But if I were MS or Apl I'd tell them to F*^@ off.
Two wrongs equal a right. OH NOES!!!!!!!111!!!1
Quicktime is the best player around, especially since it is capable of downloading web content on the fly and playing it almost immediately.
Quicktime a wrong? Far from it...
That's EXACTLY what I was gonna write when I saw this news, very good point
Those are the only players I put on my PC. I have not used Real in over 6 years or more and any site that requires use of the Real player, I simply skip over.
Hmmm... I don't know where you live, but where I live it's a total piece of poo and only used to scare off the devil!!!
And who the hell said Microsoft would ally with them? LOL
Let your player die!
There's not a need for a huge alliance; Real is just trying to select an audio format that is compatible with devices. If Real went to MS and said they'd pay for a license, and MS refused that would be a slam dunk case... And an end to MS's marketing speak about how they openly license WMA to anyone.
If what your saying is correct a court can rule against Apple in the same manner in which it would against MS simply because the closed nature of Apple's iPod and iTunes site restricts competition.
- The simple act of making the iPod propritary, keeps competitors from eating into Apple's profit margin.
- Unless MS made that statement in regards to it's settlement with the US it is in no way obligated to give Real any special treatment that it would not give any other competitor.
The way Antitrust law works is that there are very few practices which are out and out violations of the Sherman act without first being judged a monopoly.
Your second point: so?
Thirdly, no, that doesn't matter. Yes, if MS violates the consent decree that could be more porblematic, but since they already have a couple of times and things have moved slowly ... that's not really the most airtight enforcement anyway.
What I am saying is it would bring on another complaint from Real. And it would be an airtight complaint: MS won't licens us their WMA even though they have said they would do so non-discriminatorily and there is no technological or competitive reason to do so (it would benefit MS and consumers as much as Real). Just because MS has successfully disregarded the law doesn't mean that they are stupid and would make such a blatant and foolish violation for Real to latch onto.
but i dont like real.. and i dont understand anybody who uses real as their default player..
OH, heres a quick one:
Real Networks was going to do it earlier but they were buffering *rimshot*, kekeke.
STV
Last edited by 1665 on 15 Apr 2004 - 17:25
But Jobs doesn't understand the landscape and Glaser does? How can someone who has already lost understand anything, and how can the leader be the one who doesn't understand?
This ultimatum shows a few things about Glaser: he doesn't understand the market, he doesn't understand his own interests and business (lawsuit against MS, the tech they've developed for the last 3 years, the fact that Rhapsody allows subscriptions but Fairplay doesn't, etc...), he's desperate, he's a poor negotiator, he's willing to signal his own companies' demise simply to access the iPod, and he's going to get chewed up by Jobs.
Can't you picture Jobs just giggling to himself, wondering: "Jesus, has this guy ever played poker? How did he get this far in business?"
Last edited by 9953 on 15 Apr 2004 - 17:40
Ugh. I really do not like Real.
Seriously though, it looks like Real has been abandoning it's own format with the buffering issues for the .mpa (MPG4 AAC) format already. Maybe Apple should give them a handout for good PR and Real could sell more iPods for them.
I'm betting most folks would just Apple. That makes me think that Real would just loose out anyway.
It wouldn't be a choice of format as the format would be the same.
It wouldn't be a choice of format as the format would be the same.
You probably wouldn't use Real's store unless you're a n00b
Last edited by 9953 on 16 Apr 2004 - 23:34
Then (maybe this happened first I'm not really sure) Real starting insulting Apple saying their model for selling online music was wrong and would not work.
Now Real is crawling to Apple for help, and saying if they don't open up FairPlay to them they will go to Microsoft. Ohh this is just too funny.
STV
DId I miss something?
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