8/30    My friend just ripped a bunch of CDs with iTunes to AAC format.
        Are those files going to be DRM-encumbered like the ITMS stuff?
        \_ no
        what are the limitations currently- 5 computers?  7?  What about
        her ipod?
        \_ Thanks for the answer, now part II: is AAC playable by players other
           than the ipod?  It's just an MPEG standard with optional Apple DRM on
        \_ Thanks for the answer, now part II: is AAC playable by players
           other than the ipod?  It's just an MPEG standard with optional
           Apple DRM on
           top, right?
                \_ at the moment, only the ipod plays AAC.  i bet the HP branded
                   ipod plays AAC too.  i bet the ipod will not be the
                   only AAC capable player for long, witness Real
                \_ at the moment, only the ipod plays AAC.  i bet the HP
                   branded ipod plays AAC too.  i bet the ipod will not
                   be the only AAC capable player for long, witness Real
                   offering a software program that plays AAC on your
                   computer.
                   \_ AAC is a different encoding than MP3; it's not just
                      the DRM.  The HP iPod is just the Apple iPod in an
                      HP box.  -meyers
                      \_ But it still is an MPEG standard format. Anyway AAC
                         isn't that big a deal right now. Some folks did a
                         double-blind listening test indicating that at 128kb,
                         the LAME MP3 encoder essentially tied with AAC, while
                         both were beaten by a Vorbis encoder. Vorbis is
                         supported by several players and also competes well at
                         high bitrates. I do expect AAC to get wider support
                         and better encoders over time.
                         \_ AAC is a mpeg standard however dolby requires
                            royalties that most arent willing to pay. The
                            version that apple uses dumps its own DRM on
                            top of it. Apple DRM != Real DRM. You may very
                            well see a player sometime soon that plays
                            Real AAC files while not playing Apple AAC from
                            ITMS because Apple won't license out their DRM
                            to anyone.
                            \_ Just to be clear, the DRM only applies to
                               files from the iTunes Music Store. If you
                               rip a CD of your own to AAC using iTunes,
                               you get a regular MPEG-4 file with just an
                               audio track.