Music Arsenal Blog

Bruce at Hypebot made an interesting post about Navio, a company which I had not yet heard of.

Apparently Navio is working on reverse engineering Apple FairPlay after being unable to successfully license the technology. Navio is working with such companies as TVT Records and Sony BMG to allow them to sell their records out of online stores other than iTunes yet still have them on iPods.

I'm sure the first thing on the minds of Navio is the ability to download single songs/albums but I hope they focus on the newer subscription models like Rhapsody 's and Yahoo's as well. I've been a happy iPod owner for about two years now however I'd be happier to trade my 20gig 3g model in for an iRiver. Not because the iRiver has any superior technology, but simply because I could utilize subscription services for my music as well.

I've been subscribing to Yahoo! Music for over a year now and I legally listen to a lot of music I would otherwise never purchase. I could put those songs on an iRiver and listen to them while away from my computer... with my iPod I can't. I'm not entirely sure of the technology behind the subscription models, but if Navio could develop a way for me to use my iPod with them it would give my old 3g a new life.