Steve Jobs Whacks Rob Glaser of Real Networks

[drewprops]

http://news.com.com/2010-1025-5192344.html?tag=nl

Basically, Rob Glaser sent Steve Jobs an email indicating that Real Networks was open to exploring how to make RealPlayer/RealJukebox compatible with iPods. He went on to say that if Apple didn't take them up on the deal then Real would be forced to make an alliance with Microsoft.

Somehow the email got leaked to the press.....tee hee.

Now Real has no bargaining power with anybody....notably Microsoft.

go read the article, it's a chuckler

[rok]

Originally posted by drewprops
http://news.com.com/2010-1025-5192344.html?tag=nl

Basically, Rob Glaser sent Steve Jobs an email indicating that Real Networks was open to exploring how to make RealPlayer/RealJukebox compatible with iPods. He went on to say that if Apple didn't take them up on the deal then Real would be forced to make an alliance with Microsoft.

Somehow the email got leaked to the press.....tee hee.

Now Real has no bargaining power with anybody....notably Microsoft.

go read the article, it's a chuckler

the really funny part is how both glaser and real "representatives" are publically blaming apple for not joining them. the man reeks of desperation, kinda like napster...

[pscates]

Everyone wants to jump on that iGravy train, and Engineer Steve is pouring on more coal and leaving them stranded at the depot.

(hey, at least it wasn't a car analogy!)

:p

[ZO]

either:

1) Apple (Jobs) is on a frikken power trip
2) Apple KNOWS what its doing (learned their lessons from Mac glory to "irrelevancy")
3) Apple (jobs) is being arrogant as hell
4) destined to go the Way-of-the-mac

(some redundancy, but who cares...)

I really think Apple is not playing fairly. I can understand the other "small guys", but COME ON!!! REAL FOR CHRISSAKE!!! They cant be ignored. They have some good stuff and can only HELP.

Lets see what happens in the next 2-3 years...

No deal for RealNetworks
Apple has reportedly turned down RealNetworks' offer to license its Fairplay DRM technology, and a meeting that RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser sought with Apple CEO Steve Jobs this week to discuss the matter is not taking place. "Steve just doesn't want to open the iPod, and we don't understand that," a RealNetworks spokesperson said. Apple declined to comment on the matter. Earlier this week Jobs told The Wall Street Journal, "The iPod already works with the No. 1 music service in the world, and the iTunes Music Store works with the No. 1 digital-music player in the world," he said. "The No. 2s are so far behind already. Why would we want to work with No. 2?" Meanwhile, an article in today's Journal reveals that Apple has previously turned down other partnership proposals regarding the iTunes Music Store. Last year, Rio Audio approached Apple to open the store so that other hardware players would be compatible with its Fairplay AAC files. Apple turned that offer down. "We can do nothing," a Rio Audio vice president said.

[blabla]

This will really make MWA the standard, with more and more DVD players supporting it, and the majority of all MP3 players sold is also able to play mwa files.

Hopefully the industry will agree on a DRM standard, and since it doesnt look like Apple will license FairPlay and Sony is busy pushing their own format, it looks Microsoft got another winner on the hands. As usuall this is the result of Apple/Sony being unable to license out the relevant technology. I accuse these two companies of being slow learners. :mad:

For the consumers, its a good thing the industry now seems to move to the Microsoft DRM standard. Its also a good thing that when you buy a mp3 player you wont be tied to a service provider. So if you prefer to buy&own the music, go ahead and do it. But if you other hand wants a subscription service and being able to play those songs on a mp3-player, you can also do as soon as Microsoft release the technology this summer. Clearly this will make subsription based services more attractive. But because Steve Jobs RDF´ed us we know that consumers DONT want this kind of service, despite that Real Networks got 450 000 subscribers ( and growing it by 20% over a period of 3 months).

While Apple is enjoying an early success in the audio media war, I suspect Microsoft will , with their DRM innovations, change the competitive landscape. My personal guess is that subsription based services will grow much faster with this new technology.

[CosmoNut]

Apple's got another deal with...um, HP that can't be overlooked. We don't know what kind of contractual conflicts might come into play by Apple joining up with Real.

[Luca]

What the hell is Apple thinking? How many deals like this have come along that they have refused? Right now it's Real. Way back when, Gateway wanted to join up with Apple and make computers that run the Macintosh OS right from the start, and Apple turned them down. That was a pretty stupid move. I guess this means Apple prefers to go it alone. Good for them... let's see where it gets them in the business world. I honestly have NO IDEA what they were thinking... how is getting more partners to push their media standards bad? Real practically BEGGED Apple to allow them to join their side in pushing AAC vs. WMA... I just don't see how there could have been a benefit to turning down the offer.

[Ebby]

I would have liked to see apple buy out/deal with Real and incorporate their technology into Quicktime. One application that can handle almost every type of media out there. Not to mention that Apple gets a boatload of new bragging rights.

[MacsRGood4U]

Ebby (Music stealer you so proudly proclaim!)

Apple approached Real about making Quicktime and Real compatible about 4 or 5 years ago. Real refused to supply Apple with the necessary code although they said they wanted compatibility (in other words they really didn't).. It's pay back time. Right now Apple does not need to placate or give in extortion from a money-losing operation like Rhapsody. If Apple intends to eventually join a dark side they'll simply implement WMA capability in the iPod. It's only a software issue and as has been revealed previously there is already a WMA icon hidden in the software.

[ZO]

Macs,

You then forget that Real came back to Apple a few years ago and asked for QuickTime Streaming Server (QTSS) to be able to stream Real content as well... And now, I think it DOES.

I remember Steve was talking about it at a Keynote alooooong time ago.

Bah.... maybe Real will just die off and leave us all alone. I dont think I've used Real player in over a year anyway. Good riddance.

[Wrong Robot]

I can't believe that Real media is even used at all. Maybe it's superior on windows, but damn, I shudder whenever I have to use it. Sure it works, but it's almost always a hassle. Slow downs et al.

I guess Real got where they are from being ahead of the game with streaming video(can anyone verify this notion?, or am I misinformed?) I remember when it was like a REALly big deal to have live video streams, even when they were terrible quality. But in the age of broadband, it's kind of a moot novelty.

I prefer using WMP to REALone, at least with .wma and .avi you can always use VLC.

[a_greer]

with the way they burry thier free player, real just got their just deserts.

long live real alternative (a cute lil windows clasic mediaplayer with a few hacked dlls to decode and play all real content)

[Wrong Robot]

Originally posted by a_greer
with the way they burry thier free player, real just got their just deserts.

long live real alternative (a cute lil windows clasic mediaplayer with a few hacked dlls to decode and play all real content)

translation please :???:

[a_greer]

Originally posted by Wrong Robot
translation please :???: of real alternative?
it is a great little application for windoze that is windows media player 6 ish with the nessesary elements and hacks to play real media content. uses half the resources or real 10, and no annoying nags or popups

coded and put together by some hackers

[ast3r3x]

Originally posted by Wrong Robot
I can't believe that Real media is even used at all. Maybe it's superior on windows, but damn, I shudder whenever I have to use it. Sure it works, but it's almost always a hassle. Slow downs et al.

I guess Real got where they are from being ahead of the game with streaming video(can anyone verify this notion?, or am I misinformed?) I remember when it was like a REALly big deal to have live video streams, even when they were terrible quality. But in the age of broadband, it's kind of a moot novelty.

I prefer using WMP to REALone, at least with .wma and .avi you can always use VLC.

...because we all know how well VLC plays .wmv over WMP...and if you didn't get that, I mean because it plays them horribly if they are streaming stuff.

REAL, although not being the greatest program, does have good streaming technologies. I thought they were just bragging about almost being able to stream at full DVD quality with one of their codec's? I mean it was a lot of bandwidth needed, but we'll be there soon enough.

I personally, still QT movies. They play while they load, and the nice thing about them, is that the quality is always real (not to be confused with REAL;)) good. Normally you don't have to wait more then 30 seconds or so, because the movie loads faster then your play it, assuming the server can handle that.

[FormerLurker]

Originally posted by Ebby
I would have liked to see apple buy out/deal with Real and incorporate their technology into Quicktime. One application that can handle almost every type of media out there. Not to mention that Apple gets a boatload of new bragging rights.

A pretty good idea, especially if implemented right. Real's client software would just go away, and if you wanted to download a client for any Real media type, you would be downloading Quicktime. As QT is one of the key components of the digital hub, and a major Trojan Horse for getting Windows users to install Apple software, this would be quite a coup indeed.

Real's current market cap is $1.1 Billion. (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=RNWK&t=1y), so this is indeed a purchase Apple could make if they wanted to badly enough. Of course, one of Real's big "assets" is their lawsuit (http://news.com.com/2100-1025-5129316.html) against Microsoft.

I wonder how the leak of this email, with its threats of partnering with Microsoft, will affect the potential value of a settlement?

I wonder what Glaser will do if he gets the same response from Gates and Ballmer that he got from Jobs?

:wow:

[ast3r3x]

Originally posted by FormerLurker

I wonder what Glaser will do if he gets the same response from Gates and Ballmer that he got from Jobs?

:wow:

Why would he? MS is offering a crappier solution to all and makes money by licensing. Apple offers the best integration, but has to do it alone to keep the quality to Apple standards. The biggest problem is that the iPod works best with iTunes and apple wants to keep it that way. If REAL's program loaded songs into iTunes after it downloaded that would be great, but I don't see that happening. It would be good for Apple to buy REAL though.

[FormerLurker]

Originally posted by ast3r3x
Why would he? MS is offering a crappier solution to all and makes money by licensing. Apple offers the best integration, but has to do it alone to keep the quality to Apple standards. The biggest problem is that the iPod works best with iTunes and apple wants to keep it that way. If REAL's program loaded songs into iTunes after it downloaded that would be great, but I don't see that happening. It would be good for Apple to buy REAL though.

Of course it's possible that MS will welcome Real with open arms.

But it's also possible that they'd prefer to drive them into irrelevancy like they did to Netscape (which being purchased by Apple would certainly accomplish). I don't think Bill is too happy with the billion dollar antitrust suit that Real filed against MS about 4 months back.

The main point, though, is that the leak of the memo is a blow to Real, and makes the whole game much more interesting.

[groverat]

Jobs is one of the most arrogant people I have ever witnessed evidence of.

His platform is so insignificant in the big world people often act surprised that Apple still makes computers, but he wants to act like King Shit because he can sell a lot of mp3 players?

Jesus, no wonder Apple's marketshare and mindshare is tinier than his penis must be.

[SilentEchoes]

Everyone seems to be jumping on this Jobs is an idiot binge, so I am going to assume you guys know something that I don't If some one could point me to the link where it gives the exact details of this partnership or where real said that it would not take the licensed fairplay tech and build its own digital device. Thanks

Yeah...

either way, Real slams Apple every chance they get, and you think they are going to be a good partner? **** no, they are going to screw Apple as soon as they get some footing against MS.

Real practically BEGGED Apple to allow them to join their side in pushing AAC vs. WMA

No real practically begged Apple to save its ass. Thats all.

I really think Apple is not playing fairly. I can understand the other "small guys", but COME ON!!! REAL FOR CHRISSAKE!!! They cant be ignored. They have some good stuff and can only HELP.


What stuff? And who says Real is going to help anyone but them self. Unless there are some specific details of the partnership someplace on the net that I am failing to see then I say Apple probably made the right choice.

[FormerLurker]

Originally posted by groverat
Jobs is one of the most arrogant people I have ever witnessed evidence of.


Always nice to see you come out of your shell, Grover!

And in general, I can't disagree with this particular statement.

I've always held the philosophy that arrogance is tolerable if there is something backing it up. And even though the arrogance does get in the way of business judgment at times (although I don't think that's the case with Glaser's email), I think it's been years since Job's arrogance exceeded the track record, skills, and intelligence to back it up.

EDIT - geez, I was hoping for an interesting post #666 - I guess this will do.

[FormerLurker]

Originally posted by SilentEchoes
Everyone seems to be jumping on this Jobs is an idiot binge, so I am going to assume you guys know something that I don't If some one could point me to the link where it gives the exact details of this partnership or where real said that it would not take the licensed fairplay tech and build its own digital device. Thanks

Yeah

Um, there are no "details" other than what Glaser said in his email. Jobs did not accept his invitation to meet to even discuss the potential details.

Pretty arrogant of him, huh? :smokey:

[Barto]

Originally posted by groverat
Jobs is one of the most arrogant people I have ever witnessed evidence of.

His platform is so insignificant in the big world people often act surprised that Apple still makes computers, but he wants to act like King Shit because he can sell a lot of mp3 players?

Jesus, no wonder Apple's marketshare and mindshare is tinier than his penis must be.

Rough day today, groverat?

[Messiahtosh]

Jobs is a smart man, arrogance when at the top is justified. Sort of like BR.

But seriously, I know enough to to know that I dont know anything about the behind the scenes and in depth situation that this must be. I'm sure there are two sides or more to every story, this one being no exception. Steve has reasons, Glaser has his reasons, everyone has reasons and stories and conflicts, it's just the way it is.

Everything looks so easy from the outside looking in. "This is a huge mistake!" Well, maybe it is, but we arent the professional business people being paid to know if this was the right decision for Apple or not.

[CosmoNut]

I don't see how this could be a GOOD deal for Apple. Consumers will say, "Oh, Real's service can play songs on the iPod now? Heck, I'm not using iTMS anymore!"

And that's the end of iTMS. Sure, they might sell some more iPods, but I imagine the people who want to stick with Real's service will just buy a cheaper mp3 player.

[groverat]

Keeping the iPod closed is very smart for Apple, business wise and there is no compelling reason right now to "open" it.

That is not my point.

My point is that Steve Jobs is an egomaniacal cockbiter with an overinflated sense of his place in the technology world.

Pixar is great, but it was headed for greatness before he got there, it is great partly because he has almost no involvement with it at all. Apple he revitalized (1) because the Mac userbase is a cult of personality and (2) he knows computers.

But let's not act like he's immortal here, remember the cube? Flower Power iMac?

[sCreeD]

Originally posted by groverat
Pixar is great, but it was headed for greatness before he got there, it is great partly because he has almost no involvement with it at all.

WHAT!? Jobs (http://www.apple.com/pr/bios/jobs.html) co-founded Pixar. He, no doubt, is responsible for pulling Pixar out of Disney's clutches (or rather Eisner's mittens, shall we say) and rightly so.

If your going to have issues have them with facts rather than pure bile to back them up!!

Screed

[Concord]

Originally posted by groverat:
My point is that Steve Jobs is an egomaniacal cockbiter with an overinflated sense of his place in the technology world.

Pixar is great, but it was headed for greatness before he got there, it is great partly because he has almost no involvement with it at all. Apple he revitalized (1) because the Mac userbase is a cult of personality and (2) he knows computers.

But let's not act like he's immortal here, remember the cube? Flower Power iMac?

STEVE JOBS

75% Genius
25% Idiot


C,

[Wrong Robot]

Originally posted by Concord
STEVE JOBS

75% Turtleneck
25% Jeans


C,

[groverat]

screed:

Jobs has little to do with Pixar's creative process.

He may have gotten them out of the Disney deal, but guess who got them in it?

macbot... engage!

[Luca]

Originally posted by Wrong Robot
Originally posted by Concord
STEVE JOBS

75% Turtleneck
25% Jeans


C,

He must have very short legs.

[Wrong Robot]

Originally posted by Luca


He must have very short legs. [/QUOTE]


Well you know what they say about guys with short legs...


...



...


...










they are 25% pants.

[Arty50]

Originally posted by groverat
He may have gotten them out of the Disney deal, but guess who got them in it?

Getting them in it was brilliant. Disney's distribution empire helped put Pixar on the map. Naturally Disney got the better end of the original deal. Now that Pixar is able to stand on its own name, it deserves a bigger part of the cut. Disney wasn't willing to do that, so Pixar said adios. Both actions were the perfect move.

[drewprops]

I think Mikey Dell stole groverat's account

:lol:

[Luca]

Actually, you know what? I can't believe I didn't notice that Steve was only 25% pants until now. I mean, look. It's pretty obvious if you know what you're looking for.

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~resc0030/jobsshort.jpg

:p

[groverat]

[B]Getting them in it was brilliant. Disney's distribution empire helped put Pixar on the map.

No, Pixar's fantastic movies put them on the map.

Brother Bear got the same "distribution empire" backing and went nowhere.


Jobstron unite! Form of, sycophant!