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Real Networks recently called on Apple to open up its Fairplay digital rights technology so that other competing music services could transfer music content onto Apple's iPod players. But Apple apparently isn't really interested in open music standards. In fact, today Apple is beginning to act a lot like the MPAA or the RIAA, both of which strongly promote closed, proprietary digital rights management schemes for limiting the copying and the transfer of music from one device to another. Apple is apparently playing the same game now by blocking competing music services from being able to easily transfer music content to iPod devices.

It is a monopolistic practice by Apple, no doubt, and it runs counter to the philosophy of the Apple community, which has traditionally been far more open and fair-minded. Perhaps this is an indication of a fundamental shift in the philosophy of Apple computer. From here forward, the company seems intent on monopolizing its relationship with consumers and limiting their options rather than expanding them.

For my part, I think the iPod has always been an overpriced, underperforming consumer electronics device and I neither own one nor recommend it. If you want to play music files, go get yourself an iRiver flash MP3 player, which holds far more music than other flash players on the market, and has outstanding battery life to boot. It will be interesting to keep an eye on this situation and watch what Apple does down the road to inconvenience customers in its attempt to monopolize its intellectual property sales channels.

About the author: Mike Adams is a consumer health advocate with a passion for sharing empowering information to help improve personal and planetary health He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, impacting the lives of millions of readers around the world who are experiencing phenomenal health benefits from reading his articles. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a maker of super bright LED light bulbs that are 1000% more energy efficient than incandescent lights. He also founded an environmentally-friendly online retailer called BetterLifeGoods.com that uses retail profits to help support consumer advocacy programs. He's also a noted technology pioneer and founded a software company in 1993 that developed the HTML email newsletter software currently powering the NaturalNews subscriptions. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and enjoys outdoor activities, nature photography, Pilates and adult gymnastics.

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Additional Resources: iPod copy protection technology anti-competitive practices	Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com Email this article to a friend Share this article on: NewsVine | digg | del.icio.us Permalink to this article: http://www.NaturalNews.com/000497.html Reprinting this article: Non-commercial OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link. <a href = "http://www.NaturalNews.com/000497.html">Apple Computer Now Emerging As An Anti-Competitive, Narrow-Minded Company That Prefers To Limit Consumer Rights Rather Than Expand Them</a>
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