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Unlocking the iPod

money.cnn.com — Jon Johansen became a geek hero by breaking the DVD code. Now he's liberating iTunes - whether Apple likes it or not.

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  • orvtech, on 10/12/2007, -17/+10w00t knoledge to the people!
  • monkeyrun, on 10/12/2007, -17/+30liberating iTunes ?

    He's just helping spread iTunes DRM.
    • zybch, on 10/12/2007, -17/+29Thats what I thought too.
      That he is just cracking their DRM in order to sell it to other music player makers so they too can lock their customers into crappy apple-like DRM too!

      DVD Jon has sold out on us all!
    • AstroPHX, on 10/12/2007, -3/+40WTF?! Why are the above 2 comments getting digged down???!!?

      From TFA:
      "Johansen has written programs that...would let other companies sell COPY-PROTECTED songs that play on the iPod"

      Why did I love DeCSS? Here's a hint: it's NOT so that I could give all my friends a copy of [enter movie here]. I have a 2 year old. Do you know how quickly a 2 year old learns how to eject a DVD from the player? Have you ever seen what a 2 year old can do to a now-ejected DVD?

      Having DRM on any of the products that I purchased only limit my ability to protect said investment. Sure, an 8-track/CD/DVD/Blue-Ray isn't a Franklin "not-guaranteed-to-increase-in-value" Mint hand-painted plate set , but I don't want to be forced to re-purchase "Finding Nemo" 8 times because my kid wants to take it to bed with him. [Yes, he does love the movie THAT much.]

      DRM is a physical manifestation of fear brought on by greed and loathing. Anyone who says otherwise is itchin' for a fight.
    • fitzfan, on 10/12/2007, -7/+8He has made it possible for all of us to back up our DVDs, and got nothing for it, he can do whatever he wants and "sell out" if he wants as far as i am concerned.
    • LycoLoco, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Spreading DRM or not, it's still getting around the lockdown that Apple has on the iTunes Store and the iPod, allowing anyone to profit from selling music, since now they can distribute in MP3, AAC, or WMA and still "protect their copyrights" or some BS like that.
    • nofxjunkee, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8If FairPlay is a technology that anyone can now license from DoubleTwist and make their songs play on the iPod, and have songs from iTunes play on other devices, that seems like he's still on the same path if you ask me. He's not 17 anymore and now he has (more) bills to pay, let him make a buck while trying to bring us all more interoperability.

      FairPlay is arguably the most successfull DRM for online music. Instead of creating something new that will have no market share he's taking the one with the most share and making it available to everyone. That's freakin' awesome!
    • osusilas, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2... Which isn't a bad thing. Apple's DRM is necessary, otherwise the RIAA would never license their music to Apple. Apple has implemented the absolute bare-minimum technology to satisfy the RIAA ... the files are merely *hidden* on the iPod. No encryption, no crazy watermarking, nothing ridiculous. Just hidden files. It's trivial to write an application like senuTi (iTunes, backwards) which reverses the process and allows the music to come off the iPod.

      I applaud Apple for complying with a necessary evil in a manner that impacts the conusmer in the smallest way possible. If you've ever used other DRM enabled devices, you'd realize the Apple model is the lesser of all other evils.
    • thunderer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Doh! senuTi/iTunes.... I feel like an idiot now for always putting extra letters in senuti.
    • rasterbator, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"DRM is a physical manifestation of fear brought on by greed and loathing. Anyone who says otherwise is itchin' for a fight."

      Or you could say:
      DRM is a physical manifestation of greed brought on by fear and loathing. Anyone who says otherwise is itchin' for a fight.
    • sophiaperennis, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2The emphasis of the story has very little to do with spreading DRM itself. The message of the story, is that Jon is making the closed iTunes/iPod system less closed, by adding the ability for people to play their iTunes-purchased songs on non-iPod MP3 players. That is a good thing, and is outside of the issue of the evilness of DRM technology itself.

      Imagine someone who bought 500 iTunes songs and wants to switch to an MP3 player other than an iPod, without having to convert them to a low-low-quality (not a typo) DRM-free format.
  • JuyLe, on 10/12/2007, -14/+3Mmmhh so if I understand well, his software allows to play other companies encrypted MP3, and to play iTunes encrypter elsewhere ? Damn there's really too much text I want more pictures !
  • ahhell, on 10/12/2007, -22/+4Another aaaz classic...buring.
  • SpamHater, on 10/12/2007, -18/+2Didn't he go to jail for that DVD hacking thing?

    What, does he miss being someone's b***h in prison?
  • maccam94, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10Um, afaik he hasn't been to jail. Had to live outside the country for a bit maybe...

    As for liberating iTunes, NO, it doesn't seem to strip DRM. It will be a product to sell to iPod competitors so that their players can play iTunes Music Store files.

    **Wishes he was still working on JHymn, but QTFairuse seems to have filled that gap :-
  • Sc0rian, on 10/12/2007, -4/+18that guy has skills.
  • cuzican, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3i vote for the liberation..
  • starguy, on 10/12/2007, -16/+6For those not in the know, checkout the free/shareware SHAREPOD and use it instead of Itunes. Itunes is a total junk. Sharepod lets you copy mp3s in BOTH directions (yes, off an ipod to your friends computer). Its so small you can drag and drop its folder onto your Ipod and run it from your Ipod. Its easy to use and more intuitive, you can drag and drop songs by the bushel load. You don't need to instally anything on your friends computer. And best of all, there is no need to destroy your entire library of tunes on your ipod every time you move to a different computer and want to add songs.

    http://www.sturm.net.nz/website.php?Section=iPod+Programs&Page=SharePod

    Note: I've found a few bogus format mp3s (maybe broken downloads) will crash Sharepod, so if you encounter Sharepod crashing when you try to copy a group of mp3s, just go through them one by one by one dragging them to sharepod until you find the one that crashes it, and delete it from your collection.

    Oh yes, and delete Itunes off of all your computers. Its crap, imho.
    • EvilCowSan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4The shaerpod site says you should no longer use it for file transfer as they are no longer updating the program to keep up with the changes of the iPod.
    • Petarded, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I thought he was working for Sharepod for a sec.
  • Topher06, on 10/12/2007, -13/+3Dugg down for inaccurate.

    The iPod itself is NOT a closed system. In fact, it is easy to decipher the iPod's media library and allow you to add or remove files at will with a simple program or script.

    In fact, to backup the iPod, simply show hidden files and copy the entire iPod_control folder to your hard disk.

    It might be harder to add-remove homebrew applications, but again, nothing is encrypted or DRM protected ON the iPod itself except for its ability to play iTunes DRM protected music.

    Also, I have yet to find an iPod that doesn't allow you to add any non-DRM protected mp3 or aac files to it.

    Breaking iTunes DRM has nothing to do with he iPod really.
    • InsaneMachine, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6You missed the point. Can you take the music bought of itunes and play it on another mp3 player?
    • trieste, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Yes. With QTFairuse.
    • addicted44, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3@InsaneMachine - Agreed, but the problem is legality. As the article points out, Apple does not sell you a song, but rather the licence to play the song on a specified set of devices. Whether you are happy with that or not is not the issue. When you buy the song, you agree to those terms.

      Lets use another analogous market. Software. WGA on XP, often prevents people from using XP on their own computers, (when there is a radical difference in the configurations). Creating a way to get around that, would still be illegal. MS, however, does provide you an escape route (I think you have to call and give your licence number), and similarly, iTunes also provides you with an escape route (burn to a CD, and rip it back), (both are inconveniences meant to deter, if not stop, piracy) so how does that make DVD Jon's solution any different from someone who figures a workaround for WGA?

      My point is, the issue is that people are not buying a song, but rather the licence to listen to the song, under certain restrictions. If they are unhappy with this, then they would not buy those songs, leading to the rise of alternatives (eMusic anyone?) that would satisfy them. However, although we agree that no sane consumer would be happy buying DRM infected music, a lot of people still are. Why is that? Probably because of a lack of understanfing as to what DRM actually is. The solution is not legally gray workarounds, but rather educating consumers, to convince them that they should not be supporting DRM by buying songs from Real, iTunes, Napster, etc. Rather buy your music from stores like eMusic.

      (Note: In FairPlay's defence, it is the most open DRM system, runs on macs and windows, and also allows conversion to DRM free mp3's through the aforementioned (admittedly laborious) method)
  • Keloran, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4if anyone can do it, it will be DVD Jon
  • streak, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3His new company has taken on the exact name of a dot-bombed bioinformatics company (DoubleTwist).
  • kamisama, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1You gotta love the man's dedication :)
  • paulstringer, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I don't think Apple cares less 'whether Apple likes it or not', The efforts required to reengineer the DRM every once in a while just enough to break this is less than the effort required by Jon to go break it again. I seriously don't think they give half as much of a crap as what the reporter and Jon would like them too.
    • drdaz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I don't think what you're suggesting can work. If Apple change the FairPlay protocol such that Jon's wrapper breaks, they will also break compatibility with the music they have already sold.
    • w0rd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Yeah, that would be a major undertaking by them to create a new version of iTunes which then edited each music file bought on iTunes. And if it just happens to not work on a lot of computers Apple would be in some serious trouble. It would be easier for them to try to sue him or buy him out.
    • DelMonte, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Apple can keep compatibility with old songs while changing the format for new songs. It's already the case.

      Microsoft also did it a few times with their WMA DRM. And actually they are doing a worse thing with the Zune, making it not compatible with Play-For-Sure on purpose. Funny how the anti-DRM crowd doesn't complain much about this...
  • astrotrain, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13okay I am not iPOD fan.... but there is one thing I believe in, and that is once you purchased your music, it is YOURS to do with and what you want to copy it to.

    I hate the fact is that once I purchase music, I can only use it the way the sellers allow me to. Thats like buying car, and having the Dealership tell you what you can and can not do with it.... bogus!
    • gildude, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Haha - that's a totally broken analogy. If you found a cheap way to duplicate the car and gave free or nearly free duplicates of that car to all of your friends and maybe "sold" copies on say "AllofFord.com" or something then I think someone from the dealer or from the union might come after you with a baseball bat.

      I TOTALLY agree with the first part of your statement - that the music should be yours to do what you want with it though. Format shifting and device shifting should be all fine.
    • RadiatedAnt, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8@ astrotrain

      Yeah its called traffic laws*.

      check & mate


      *sarcasm for the humorlessly dysfunctional.
  • djjuice, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2while this may be legal where he is at. And I do bet companies will pick up on this. My problem is that when they start to market their product in the U.S with this "hack", won't then apple be able to sue these companies in the US? I'm all for not needing DRM, but that problem lies within the RIAA and MPAA. I just wonder if companies will actually pick up on this knowing their largest market is in the USA and the possibility of facing lawsuits.
    Just my 2 cents.
  • offcenter, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4_more_ piracy, wonderful -- just what we need. Way to keep reinforcing the 'something for nothing' ethos.
    • pnyphnz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1How is allowing other companies to play back Apple's DRMed music which you still have to pay for on their mp3 players "something for nothing?"
    • offcenter, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I think, if you look at the state of the industry, that this is will be used pervasively to pirate music coming from the iTunes store. The ratio of "it won't play on my network player" problems to realworld piracy -- that is completely out of control -- says it all.
    • addicted44, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@pnyphnz
      Coz Apple sells songs for less than it should, because it believes that it will recover that money in the investment you make for an iPod.

      Kind of like how Lexmark sells printers below cost, so they can sell you their ink.

      You dont get something for nothing, but something for much less than its worth.
  • ohstoopid1, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5I like how it mentions DVD Jon's baking skills in the article. He celebrated his first client by baking an apple pie. For some reason that's just humorous to picture DVD Jon taking a hot pie out of the oven. lol
  • tcossey, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2I buy music via the legal and official itunes UK store, it does really annoy me when i can't play back that 'purchase protected' music via my network music player on my hifi (a roku soundbridge). My only option is to buy an ipod and a connection kit or to plug my powerbook into the hifi via a cable, the wireless roku is a much preferred solution for me. However back to my point, i don't mind paying for my music as the artist deserves the cash, apple provide the service (and the label rip off everyone) in return i also deserve the ability to playback on any equipment in my home/car. Not everyone copies music for their friends and family....i think doubletwist are helping the cause of legal digital freedom.
    • jonahan52, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Burn a CD and play it on your hifi? Or buy an airport express and hook it up to your hifi?
    • DelMonte, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Well some people are stupid enough to think that burning to a CD will reduce the sound quality.
  • ZPWeeks, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Another example of someone who *should* be hired for his genius, but will probably just get legal slaps on the wrists instead. Pity.
  • lbytesxk, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1when this dude hacks into Zune the story will get 2 million diggs
  • slickrick2k1, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@ lbytesxk

    That's gonna be sweet.

    @ everyone else

    Just buy CD's you morons.
  • nicroma, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I admire people with such dedication when it comes circumventing copy protection.
  • wowbagger, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2He'll get sued into oblivion. Apple will find some reason to press felony charges and then he'll get deported too.
    • lbytesxk, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1He may, but the fact remains; Steve Job and his croonies are a bunch of hypocrites
    • ejm508, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Regardless of whether you agree with them or not, how are they "hypocrites"?
  • buzzedlightyear, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1i just ordered that shirt he's wearin in that article picture.
    weird.
  • lilrabbit129, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1At the very least, DeCSS helped people play and work with things they already owned. What does this do? Enable other companies to get their stuff into a format that another company owns?

    If anything, DeCSS was to help people. DVD John is selling this to companies. Oh how the mighty have sold-out.
  • akinder, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4FTA: "I don't like closed systems"

    Well, I don't like your face, does that give me the right to dismantle it?
  • easy4lif, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1meh, I see this as neithe good or bad for Apple and iTunes.

    I wonder how many mp3 player will support mac though???

    My guess:
    NONE!
  • lagrange, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3He wants to license a hack of someone elses license...

    I hope the hypocracy of this is not lost on Jon Jon's fanboys.
  • uptown, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Now if somebody would unlock the ability to load games and apps onto the thing, we'd be golden!
  • DelMonte, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1How fun is that, now the RIAA will force Apple to make its DRM even more restrictive and hardware-tied.
  • PanicAttack, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Uhg, does it really matter? The only good iPod is a broken, smashed to pieces iPod.
  • BartSwordfish, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Great article whether you like the iPod or not; however, whenever I read one of these "sort-of-anti-Apple" articles, it makes me wonder why more people aren't publicly bashing Apple they way some people constantly bash Microsoft. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not a lover of Microsoft or Apple. I just find it curious that Apple doesn't get called on the carpet more frequently for its iTunes and iPod semi-monopoly. I wonder whether we'd see a giant court battle if Microsoft were the one to have invented iTunes and the iPod. Forget the question about whether Microsoft "could" invent such a thing "first", just imagine for a moment what if they "did" invent such a thing. I believe, without a doubt, they'd be in court right now.

    I should point out that I have an iPod and I like my iPod because it just works. I do, however, feel trapped by iTunes and am seeking an alternative. I have also tried products from Creative but my experience has been terrible with the Zen Micro and before that the MuVo. What I want in a digital music player, and supporting software, is freedom of choice. I want to manage my music and sync my player with whatever software best suits my needs. I want to "shop" in whatever digital music store that provides the best price and largest selection without having to install their "special" software. Unfortunately with the iPod and iTunes I really don't get that freedom and for that reason I am frustrated that such a nice product is so monopolistic.

    Anyway, pardon the semi-related rant. In short, great article and great following comments here at Digg.
  • vbagate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm too lazy to read the other comments on this story. But honestly, If you don't like iTunes, by your music somewhere else. The world is now a free market society... Just because you don't like the way a company sells something doesn't give you the right to 'hack' it and exploit it.

    I'm sorry. As a loyal Apple customer and first generation iPod user, I must say I hate this guy, while respecting his tech skills. I hope Apple sues to high hell, and I'll be paying their attorney bills via iTunes.
  • DelMonte, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Let me add a late comment to this thread...

    Before DVD Jon started this licensing scheme, the only way for companies to sell tunes that played on the iPod (outside from the iTunes Store) was to sell UNprotected MP3 or AAC files...

    Now, thanks to DVD Jon, competitors are not forced to sell unprotected files, they can now use DRM!

    How great is that! DVD Jon is now helping the proliferation of DRM!

    Not only that, but it makes Apple's DRM look weak, so it provides more leverage for the RIAA when it comes to negotiate more restrictive terms and higher prices with Apple.

    Thank you DVD Jon!

    Now, on the positive side, it does create a public debate about the merits of DRM.
  • diggdon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Now that Apple's DRM has been cracked, I think I'll go buy an iPod for the first time.

    Except that Jon doesn't seem to want to sell any software that simply cracks the code.
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