We sure did have some fun at the MacWorld keynote today, huh? Apple announced a slew of updates, Peter yelled at Coldplay, and we learned about some changes to how iTunes is going to work from here on out.
Good changes, too — not like the day I showed up for eighth grade and found that my pant legs were about five inches from my shoes and my voice sounded like Yoko Ono warbling.
Anyway, here’s what’s happening with iTunes:
1. Apple’s finally going the tiered pricing route. Coming in April, songs will be priced at 69 cents, 99 cents, or $1.29 depending on awesomeness. That’s good news for people like you and me who prefer rock from before the turn of the century as we’ll get most of our songs for 69 cents while Apple’s revenues get propped up by today’s youth buying some P Diddy song sampling seventeen other songs for $1.29 — thanks kids!
2. All songs will be DRM-free and encoded at 256 Kbps AAC by the end of the quarter. Either Apple’s feeling generous or they’re feeling the heat from Amazon’s DRM-free music service that nobody but me uses. Most of the iTunes library is DRM-free now – called iTunes Plus – but the entire thing will be DRM-free by spring.
3. The iTunes music store now works on your iPhone over 3G. Again, finally — this should have been there since the beginning. Also, songs you buy on your phone will sync with your computer and vice versa and they’ll all cost the same price regardless of which device you use to purchase them. This will hopefully put pressure on carriers, who gouge people into paying twice as much for a song for the privilege of downloading it to our phones.
Any word on whether or not iTunes will retroactively remove DRM from song files you’ve already downloaded?
Good question.
it looks like they’re still charging to upgrade your songs. 30% of the album price or $0.30 per song
So am I still going to have to pay more if I want DRM-Free MP3 files? DRM-Free is good but they still are going to use AAC.
i heard a report that there will be a “convert to mp3″ option now with “itunes plus” purchases
Wouldn’t it just be easier to use Amazon and get it as an MP3 in the first place?
Yes, DRM is very bothering when you want put the music to other player.So I have searched many way via some article, and found that :to remove DRM, there are many methods, such as CD burning and ripping and so on. and there are many tool,such as there is article presents you a easy way, such as Wondershare Media Converter to convert your protected files to DRM-free ones.
here is its info:
http://www.removing-drm.com/drm-tips/remove-drm-protection.html#146
I can hear the BitTorrent Servers swelling with traffic from here.
Amazon all the way. Amazon right now is selling albums for 2 and 3 dollars less than Apple. Amazon has been selling DRM free for 99 cents. Apple has been selling locked up DRMed music for 99 cents AND now wants you to pay 30 cents extra to un-DRM it. Are you kidding me? No thanks Apple!
AAC? Really??? Ugh. I’ll keep using Amazon thank you very much.
So moral of the story: DRM is dead forever?
Amazon has an amazing music service. They need to go client and get a lockin with SongBird installs on Dell. They trump iTunes in every way, except ease of attaining and listening to tracks.
Making people who played by the rules (customers!) have to pay to unlock their music is fucking sick. Apple is the master at double jeopardy. *barf*
Well Apple has brought down its prices but its not only a question of a company but a matter to look upon as why Apple has slashed its prices. I have my views on http://controversial-affairs.blogspot.com/2009/01/price-or-prize.html