Apple's DRM-Free "iTunes Plus" Store Opens

Wed May 30, 2007 12:01PM EDT

See Comments (4)

Apple finally launched its DRM-free music store late last night, along with a new version of iTunes, and I just bought my first DRM-free song: "Ch-Check It Out" by the Beastie Boys. And I'm streaming it over my Xbox 360, something I haven't been able to do with my copy-protected tracks from iTunes. I like it.

Once you've installed and launched iTunes 7.2 (select "Check for Updates" from the iTunes menu), just click on the iTunes Store option in the left-hand column, then click iTunes Plus (that's what Apple's calling its DRM-free store) in the upper right-hand column. You should get a welcome page showing a selection of DRM-free tunes for purchase (mostly from Apple's DRM-free partner, record label EMI), along with the option to upgrade any previously purchased songs in your library to the higher-quality, DRM-free versions (provided they're available on the iTunes Music Store). Full-track iTunes Plus songs cost $1.30, compared to 99 cents for standard, copy-protected iTunes songs, although complete iTunes Plus albums cost the same as their DRM-saddled equivalents.

Based on my tests this morning (about 11 a.m. EST), it looks like Apple is still rolling out its library of iTunes Plus tracks. Some individual songs are still not available in DRM-free versions (although the Plus versions of some full albums were there), and I ran into some errors trying to upgrade my older, purchased iTunes songs to the DRM-free versions; hopefully, Apple will iron out these problems by the end of the day. Also, because my new iTunes Plus songs are encoded at a higher bitrate for better sound quality, they're considerably bigger than the older versions; for example, the unprotected MP3 file of "Ch-Check It Out" weighs in at about 5.9MB, versus 3.2MB for the Fairplay-encoded AAC.

So, will you buy upgrades to your purchased iTunes songs to the Plus versions? Or do you think it's just a rip-off?

Related:
EMI Allows DRM-Free Songs on Apple iTunes [Yahoo! Tech]
Raining on the EMI/iTunes Parade [Yahoo! Tech]

Comments on Apple's DRM-Free "iTunes Plus" Store Opens

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  • 1 Posted by insagent_30 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yes I do think this is a rip off. I've owned the second generation Ipod now for about 4.5 yrs. Now the thing doesn;t even work. Know I'm aware that the songs in my library can only be played with my Ipod. What a bummer. If I would have know this 4yrs again I would have choose not to purchase an Apple product. I feel like I've wasted my money downloading ITunes songs because I refuse to buy a new Ipod. In the world of electronics, a consumer should not be restricted with the use of any device. Know Apple wants me to be OK with paying an additional fee to download unprotected versions of a song; I don't think so! For this reason I would encourage anyone who is thinking of an IPod to check out MP3 players also.

  • 2 Posted by therousefamily on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't see what the big deal is. There has been freeware to remove DRM as long as there has been DRM. And I don't feel the least bit guilty using it since it's music I paid for.

  • 3 Posted by xell_13 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you click on the "DRM-free partner" link you will be brought to an article which, to me, says that the reason for iTunes' songs only being playable on the iPod is due to the copyright protection. These new songs without that protection will be playable on any device. Also, the iPod is the best music player out there which is why company's are continually trying (and failing) to make an "iPod killer." The success of the iPod shows that this has clearly not happened. Also, just so you KNOW, the word now, as in what is happening at the moment is spelled "now." The word know means to have knowledge about something (which I am questioning you do) or to understand something (again... I'm not sure you do). Sorry... but you really should "know" how to spell now.

  • 4 Posted by panama_connor on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    If I download this. . . can I still get the songs with DRM? Because $1.30 sound way too expensive. Heck, even $.99 is too expensive

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