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New iTunes-locked iPods unlocked again

By Stevie Smith Sep 18, 2007, 13:30 GMT

Following the recent unveiling of Apple’s latest generation of iPod music and media players, it has come to light that California-based computer company has also taken the opportunity to slide new code into existence that locks its new players to the iTunes Store and prevents users from purchasing content through rival download services.Soon after the code’s unmasking, Daily Tech reported that by adding "SHA1 hashes" to the beginning of the iTunesDB file – which is a database file designed to track digital content stored on the iPod – Apple has been able to secure the iTunes database to one iPod while also preventing further modification. Ultimately, the code ties the user to iTunes and only iTunes, thus positioning Apple’s download store as the only way to add or delete media from the connected iPod player.Daily Tech also suggests that Apple’s iTunes lock is likely a consequence of rival download portals choosing to remove the contentious Digital Rights Management (DRM) copy protection from their services, potentially shifting the overwhelming market dominance of iTunes to one side and making it "easier than ever for services like Rhapsody to load non-DRM music directly to iPods through its own player."However, those new third-generation iPod owners who previously enjoyed their music from sources other than iTunes can breathe easily again, according to US-based software developer J. River. Specifically, the beta version of J. River Media Center has been released to once again unlock Apple’s recent iTunesDB lock and allow iPod users to freely sync their audio, video, and imagery to Apple’s digital media devices. J. River hopes to unleash the final version of its software some time this week in order to solve "a problem that Apple recently created for millions of users."Digital delivery solution specialist J. River believes that such locking moves by Apple, which result in a closed system for its user, could see the company subject to "closer government scrutiny" that may lead to "Apple joining Microsoft as an industry leading monopoly."

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SteveSep 18th, 2007 - 16:15:53

I have a 8Gig Nano and love it. I was considering the new 160Gig Classic. If this is how Apple is going to treat its customers, I think I'll just hang unto my Nano. Apple is increasingly becoming like Micro which makes Linux look that much better.

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roger shoemanAug 9th, 2009 - 01:18:49

I uprchased a ipod and before I could use it, it was stolen. 3 days later the okeechobee police recovered it, and returned it to me. When I got home it was locked. Help 863-467-0745 or email (bo_rabbit@yahoo.com, thanks

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