The iPod, iPhone, and soon the iPad are from what I can tell the first time DRM has been successfully deployed in a non annoying way. I remember when 3DStudios

The iPod, iPhone, and soon the iPad are from what I can tell the first time DRM has been successfully deployed in a non annoying way. I remember when 3DStudios used to require a hardware dongle(A device you had to have plugged in for the software to run.) The iPhone and co. are like dongles that you actually want to buy. We are paying for the store and then only buying from it as well as being held hostage by the fact that we don't actually own what we purchased as it requires the devices controlled by apple to use our purchases. It's the ultimate lock-in. Note: Protecting content can not occur without tight control by apple, otherwise apps for accessing pirated content would proliferate. I'm starting to actually think that Apple has found the perfect racket and there is no way open systems can compete until someone comes along with Apple's design and manufacturing skills. There platform is just bigger and more consistent than any other competitor's with better tools and less variation in hardware designs. ps. If you think the App approval process is annoying try being a game developer, it takes months to get your game through the processes required by Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. Games love it, it's the rest of you that aren't used to it, for us it's a welcome improvement plus it's a platform that extends beyond games into lifestyle applications and communication.