Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

New Products

Apple Drops Copy Protection On All iTunes Songs

541140.jpg

Changes Coming to the iTunes Store

  • All Songs DRM-Free
  • Users Can Download Songs Directly Onto iPhone 3G Over Their 3G Network for the Same Price
  • In April 2009, Songs on iTunes Will be Available at Three Price Points

Apple today announced several changes to the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com). Beginning today, all four major music labels–Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group and EMI, along with thousands of independent labels, are now offering their music in iTunes Plus, Apple’s DRM-free format with higher-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding for audio quality virtually indistinguishable from the original recordings. iTunes customers can also choose to download their favorite songs from the world’s largest music catalog directly onto their iPhone™ 3G over their 3G network just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price as downloading to their computer. And beginning in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points: 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29, with most albums still priced at $9.99.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer our iTunes customers DRM-free iTunes Plus songs in high quality audio and our iPhone 3G customers the ability to download music from iTunes anytime, anywhere over their 3G network at the same price as downloading to your computer or via Wi-Fi,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “And in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points–69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29–with many more songs priced at 69 cents than $1.29.”

iTunes offers customers a simple, one-click option to easily upgrade their entire library of previously purchased songs to the higher quality DRM-free iTunes Plus format for just 30 cents per song or 30 percent of the album price. The iTunes Store will begin offering eight million of its 10 million songs in Apple’s DRM-free format, iTunes Plus, today with the remaining two million songs offered in iTunes Plus by the end of March.

iPhone 3G users can now preview and purchase the entire iTunes Store music catalog on their iPhone 3G over their 3G network, just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price and in the same high quality format. Songs purchased on an iPhone will automatically sync to a user’s computer the next time they sync their iPhone.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Latest Products

Goldmund Theia and Rhea Passive Loudspeakers

Floorstanding Speakers

Priced at $108,000 and $215,000 respectively, these luxurious speakers require serious power to drive, making them ideal for use with Goldmund’s premium amplifiers.

Beats Cables Promo Image Beats Cables Promo Image

Audio Cables

At $18.99 each, new Beats branded USB-C, USB-A, and Lightning cables are now available in red, navy, black or stone.

Stratton Acoustics Element 6 (Left) and Element 8 (Right) Loudspeakers Stratton Acoustics Element 6 (Left) and Element 8 (Right) Loudspeakers

Bookshelf Speakers

At $20,000 or $25,000 per pair the latest Stratton Acoustics stand-mount loudspeakers aim to offer uncompromising sound and beauty.

Audio-Technica Hotaru Turntable Colors Audio-Technica Hotaru Turntable Colors

New Products

Audio-Technica unveils the Hotaru, a $9,999 floating turntable combining cutting-edge levitation technology with premium audiophile performance.

SilentPower Omni Lan Connection Front SilentPower Omni Lan Connection Front

Networking

If you have an extensive home AV network, the OMNI LAN network switch might be worth considering

Toshiba Aurex AX-RP10 Portable Vinyl Record Player Toshiba Aurex AX-RP10 Portable Vinyl Record Player

New Products

Toshiba's Aurex AX-RP10 Portable Turntable is perfect for music lovers who want to spin records anywhere. The TSA would like a word.

Gift Ideas?

Cost-no-object Audiophile Gear

Floorstanding Speakers

When money is no-object in building a high-end audio system, this is the audiophile gear you'll want to check out first.

You May Also Like

Advertisement

ecoustics is a hi-fi and music magazine offering product reviews, podcasts, news and advice for aspiring audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts and headphone hipsters. Read more

Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.



SVS Bluesound PSB Speakers NAD Cambridge Audio Q Acoustics Denon Marantz Focal Naim Audio RSL Speakers