Dell grapples with Apple in Mini arena

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RE: no monopolization

let's break that down

>No monopolization on store

Though Apple doesn't have a total monopolization on the music store, as there are choices, they do basically own the market. Just as I've criticized MS in the past for some of their business practices, I think Apple should do something about this. At a minimum, they should consider a licensing arrangement for other stores to offer fairplay protected files compatible with the iPod. (I do not think, however, they should be required to make iTunes work with other players.)

>No monopolization on format

I don't believe anyone has this. I'm confident that, by far, the most common file format currently being used on just about every player these days is mp3. WMA, AAC, ACTRAC3, etc. would all have to make major leaps to have the reach mp3s have enjoyed. I'm not saying that won't ever happen, but it is surely not today.

Beyond that, what so many refer to as Apple's lock-in is not a file-format at all. AAC files are not the proprietary part of iTMS tracks... the FairPlay DRM model is, and there are so many DRM models out there (Apple's FairPlay, Microsoft's protected WMA, Sony's protected ACTRAC, several in use on protected CDs sold every day,) that it would be difficult for any to claim a monopoly. If any DRM did approach a monopoly, it would likely be on the CD side of the music industry.

>No monopoly on interoperability

Interoperability where? Based only on interoperability between the player and the music store, Apple is definitely controlled tighter than most (though Sony is arguably worse.) Based on interoperability between the player and operating systems, or the store and operating systems, compared to competitors iPod and iTunes are among the best.

Posted by: JakAttak   Posted on: 10/14/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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