Earlier this week, RealNetworks announced its plans to release software that will allegedly crack Apple's digital rights management allowing users of Real's music store to play their selections on Apple's iPod.

This announcement is widely believed to be how RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser intends to make good on the ultimatum he issued back in April when he emailed Jobs suggesting Real could either ally with Apple against Microsoft or with Microsoft against Apple. It seems Mr. Glaser has chosen to take on the world.

In regards to all of this intrigue, this morning Apple released the following statement:

We are stunned that RealNetworks has adopted the tactics and ethics of a hacker to break into the iPod, and we are investigating the implications of their actions under the DMCA and other laws. We strongly caution Real and their customers that when we update our iPod software from time to time it is highly likely that Real's Harmony technology will cease to work with current and future iPods.