Real Networks will this week demonstrate their new Harmony Technology which, the company claims, will enable music fans to play their digital music on any devices, oblivious of which download platform they buy their MP3s from.
The new technology aims to overcome one of the big issues for the digital download sector - the confusion that surrounds which kinds of MP3 files can be played on which digital music players. Real Networks reckon the Harmony system will output files that can be played on the iPod as well as digital music devices made by Creative, iRiver, RCA, Rio, Samsung, and palmOne. Sony players are, however, notable by their absence from that list.
Announcing the Harmony technology, Real Networks boss Rob Glaser told reporters: "Compatibility is key to bringing digital music to the masses. Before Harmony, consumers buying digital music got locked into a specific kind of portable player. Harmony changes all that. Thanks to Harmony, consumers don't have to worry about technology when buying music. Now anyone can buy music, move it to their favorite portable device, and it will just work, just like the way DVD and CDs work".
The Harmony technology will be demonstrated at a conference in New York tomorrow.