Hacker enables iTunes copying

A notorious Norwegian hacker has unveiled software that lets you copy songs bought on Apple's iTunes to other devices.

Jon Lech Johansen, known as DVD Jon, is already known for his involvement in the release of software which breaks copy-protection for DVDs.

According to his company doubleTwist, the digital media landscape has "become a tower of Babel, alienating and frustrating consumers". The new software, also called doubleTwist, converts media stored in one file format to formats used by other devices, making it possible to play songs from Apple iTunes on non-Apple devices.

Currently, the only portable music player which can store content downloaded from the iTunes store is Apple's iPod.

Monique Farantzos, co-founder of doubleTwist, said: "When you receive an email, you can read it on your BlackBerry, webmail, or Outlook. Email just works. With digital media such as video from a friend’s cell phone or your own iTunes playlists, it’s a jungle out there."

"It can be an hour-long exercise in futility to convert files to the correct format and transfer them to your Sony PSP or your phone. Our goal is to provide a simple and well-integrated solution that the average consumer can use to eliminate the headaches associated with their expanding digital universe.”

The free Desktop application is compatible with Windows XP or Vista, with a Mac OS version expected in a few months.

www.doubletwist.com