We're fascinated with the ongoing Universal vs. Apple smack-down, mainly because we can't wait to see who blinks. But The New York Times has a different idea, saying in this article that they think it's much ado about nothing.

"It looks like a little bit of saber-rattling," said Susan Kevorkian, an analyst who covers the consumer audio business for IDC. "We're not seeing ultimatums being dished out here. It's a very symbiotic relationship."

Universal could have the upper hand. But it's possible that even if Universal strikes an exclusive deal with another online store, it will likely be Amazon or another shop that plans to sell unprotected MP3s. In turn, that would spurn additional iPod sales, making Apple happy in the end anyway.

All Shook Up, Right Down to the Musical Core [NYT]