Musical chairs: RealNetworks makes overture to Apple

By CNET News.com Staff April 15, 2004 1:55 PM PST RealNetworks is feeling squeezed in digital music and wants Apple to open its iPod to other software. But could the multimedia pioneer instead be pushed into a partnership with longtime enemy Microsoft? Powerful strides by Apple and Microsoft point to the digital media pioneer's need for alliances. April 15, 2004 Apple critics again take aim at the company's "go it alone" strategy--but CEO Steve Jobs seems comfortable with risks. April 15, 2004 perspective CNET News.com's Charles Cooper says that if RealNetworks' CEO wanted to threaten his opposite number at Apple, he should have avoided using e-mail. April 15, 2004 previous coverage Have courtroom battles become just another business expense for the software giant? April 13, 2004 special report Net pioneer RealNetworks' tussle with Microsoft over streaming-media software is just one of a string of hardships the company has had to face in its 10 years in business. March 4, 2004 special report As the Macintosh celebrates its 20th anniversary, the iPod may define the company's new era of an open strategy. January 23, 2004 var playList = new Array(); playList[playList.length] = "DigiRightsManage"; playList[playList.length] = "MusicServices"; playList[playList.length] = "Apple"; playList[playList.length] = "RealNetworks"; playList[playList.length] = "SpecialCoverage"; playList[playList.length] = "PerspectivesList"; playList[playList.length] = "NewsmakersList"; function swapPlayList(which) { for (i=0;iMicrosoft, InterTrust iron out lawsuit Microsoft, Time Warner take DRM stake Microsoft's iPod killer? MP3 getting antipiracy makeover Wireless content gets new security spec CD lock loosened for freer copying Adobe, others slip anticounterfeiting code into apps Program points way to iTunes DRM hack iTunes helper allows MP3 downloads MPEG founder seeks copy-protection accord BuyMusic to join Buy.com Watch for falling music download prices Microsoft cues up Net music store Apple's iTunes sales hit 50 million Yahoo composing music download plan Napster fills in the blanks with CD deals MTV puts fans first at online music store Legal Napster up and running Real cues 250,000 music subscriptions Apple launches iTunes for Windows Crank it! iTunes sells sounds of silence--for real HP, Apple harmonize on iPod Apple unveils smaller iPod, new software Apple cracks open the iPod, slightly Apple tweaks iTunes for Windows Apple launches iTunes for Windows Apple customer resells iTunes song Amazon vs. Apple in music downloads? Apple's music: Microsoft's sour note? Apple unveils music store Real hits play on latest media software Real's Glaser exhorts Apple to open iPod IBM, Real forge digital media deal Real offers new tech, song store Real hits Microsoft with $1 billion antitrust suit Real cues 250,000 music subscriptions RealNetworks closes Listen.com buy Real pushes lower-cost Rhapsody Europe plays hardball with Microsoft Real's reality CES 2004: Digitizing entertainment Copy protection: Consumer vs. copyright holders Court mutes P2P crackdown Digital remix Napster's hired gun Napster wildfire Swimming with sharks MP3: Sound and fury For downloads, things are looking Online music's winners and losers Is the RIAA out of the ballgame? Justice Department as antipiracy shill? Facing the music Digital dreaming File-swapping's fear factor The pace of digital media Steve Jobs' half note Get ready to be fleeced Rob Glaser: The (online) music man Cary Sherman: Why file swapping tide is turning Michael Weiss: Streamcast's new boss--same as the old boss Pam Horovitz: Can music retailers turn illegal fileswapping to their advantage? Nikki Hemming: The brains behind Kazaa Alan McGlade: Why we're better than Napster

Musical chairs: RealNetworks makes overture to Apple

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