A group of anonymous programmers has released new software that allows music to be swapped via Apple Computer's popular iTunes jukebox.
Like an older piece of software called 'MyTunes', the newly released 'OurTunes' allows a person to browse complete iTunes libraries on other computers and download songs, either in MP3 format, or the AAC format preferred by Apple. Songs purchased from the iTunes music store and wrapped in Apple's copy-protection technology cannot be traded.
OurTunes works only among computers that share files on a network, however. That means that students or employees can swap songs on a local network, but cannot use it to browse computers on the Internet, as happens with file-trading programs such as Kazaa. Still, the software is likely to ring an alarm at Apple and among record company executives, who have waged war against file swapping since Napster's heyday. Their new vehicle for promoting legitimate online music purchases (iTunes) can't be hijacked if they are to suceed.
News source: C|Net News.com
