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By John Borland, 27 April 2005 10:30

NEWS RealNetworks has re-established software compatibility with iPod devices, renewing a technology battle with Apple that dates back to 2004.

Last year, the software firm released a technology that enabled copy-protected songs bought from stores other than Apple's iTunes to play directly on the iPod. The so-called Harmony technology, which independently mimicked the anti-piracy tools used by Apple, was the first of its kind.

Apple called RealNetworks' actions "hacker tactics" and a few months later changed its software to break the compatibility - at least on iPod Photo devices. But on Tuesday, a RealNetworks executive said his company had re-established compatibility with all iPods.

RealNetworks chief strategy officer, Richard Wolpert, said: "Harmony now supports all shipping iPods, including iPod Photo."

The technology tussle, which focuses on a relatively small portion of RealNetworks' music business, is at the core of one of the most controversial issues in online music.

Incompatibility between major download retailers and music players has fragmented the digital market. For example, songs purchased from Apple's iTunes store can only be played directly on Apple's iPod, while songs purchased from Napster or Microsoft cannot be played on the iPod.

Record company executives have been bitterly critical of this Balkanisation, and have asked technology executives - primarily Apple CEO Steve Jobs - to reconsider their technology decisions. As yet, no broad move towards compatibility has emerged.

RealNetworks' Harmony software, which allows songs to be played directly on an iPod or on a Microsoft-based device, is limited to the company's pay-per-song store. Songs downloaded through the new Rhapsody portable subscription service are compatible only with a small number of Windows-based MP3 players.

An Apple representative could not immediately be reached for comment.

John Borland writes for CNET News.com