scottishduck Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Even as it attacks DRM on music, Apple is continuing to add more DRM to its own hardware (we recently documented all of Apple's various hardware DRM restrictions). The latest example is the new iPod Shuffle. According to the careful reviewers at iLounge, third-party headphone makers will have to use yet-another Apple "authentication chip" if they want to interoperate with the new Shuffle.Normally, of course, independent headphone makers could simply reverse engineer the interface. The "authentication chip" is there so that Apple's lawyers can invoke the DMCA to block those efforts. So this shows us, yet again, what DRM is for -- not stopping piracy, but rather impeding competition and innovation. iLounge sums up what this means for consumers: This is, in short, a nightmare scenario for long-time iPod fans: are we entering a world in which Apple controls and taxes literally every piece of the iPod purchase from headphones to chargers, jacking up their prices, forcing customers to re-purchase things they already own, while making only marginal improvements in their functionality? It’s a shame, and one that consumers should feel empowered to fight. Couldn't have said it better myself. One final thought: why have so many of the reviews of iPods failed to notice the proliferation of these Apple "authentication chips"? If it were Microsoft demanding that computer peripherals all include Microsoft "authentication chips" in order to work with Windows (or Toyota or Ford doing the same for replacement parts), I'd think reviewers would be screaming about it. Apple once again misusing their monopoly to damage the market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netkas Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 Apple is for 1984 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superhai Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 This could be in a legal grey area here, as we have laws against restricting hardware in such way. And also reverse engineering for interoperability is perfectly legal. I am also sure that DMCA is not applying, as there are no copyright infringement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick14 Posted March 15, 2009 Share Posted March 15, 2009 At least in my contry It's not allowed to do stuff like that So limiting a Hardware to One brand will give apples problems here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synaesthesia Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 Apple have confirmed that there's no DRM or encryption in the iPod shuffle. The little chip is a controller for the iPod (click/double click etc.) but there's nothing stopping manufacturers from making there own. http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/03/16/m...er-confirm.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RetepNamenots Posted March 16, 2009 Share Posted March 16, 2009 The little chip is a controller for the iPod (click/double click etc.) but there's nothing stopping manufacturers from making there own. http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2009/03/16/m...er-confirm.html Yes there is - Manufacturers have to pay for a license from Apple in order to use the technology. So you are limited in terms of choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synaesthesia Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Oh well. I don't see anything wrong with that. No one's forcing us to buy iPods. As someone who likes good quality earphones, I'll just not buy this iPod. Unless a really cheap adapter comes around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts