iTunes going primarily DRM free? (Update: yes, it is! 3G downloads, too)
By Paul Miller 
posted January 6th 2009 1:31PM
posted January 6th 2009 1:31PM
[Thanks, Greg]
Update: As you've you probably noticed in the liveblog, Apple just made this very much official, and announced that some 8 million songs from all the major labels will indeed be DRM free, with a full ten million planned by the end of the quarter. As if that wasn't enough, it's also announced a new pricing structure for tracks, including a new $0.69 tier and a $1.29 one, which music companies will apparently be able to use at their own discretion. And, to keep things really spicy, the company has also announced that music store downloads are now finally available over 3G, and at the same price and the same quality.
Does this really good for us?I hope Apple gives more options on upgrading my original purchases. I have hundreds of music in my itunes library,and I'm counting the money that will cost if I update all of them!
So,I still use software to help me.I came across one through google search,and it is a cute thing:
http://www.flash-on-tv.com/media-converter.html#141
I'll just wait for Apple to carry out more actions.
i rent most of my music for free from the library or borrow it from a friend and burn it...tell apple i said hi!!
all i have to say about this one is.. go to download.com download limewire.. and songs are completly free! turn off your sharing and you are golden.
i bought the albumn, then i bought the cassette, then i bought the cd, so i justify any music i can download from bit torrent for free, the music companys have gotten threefold from me
Makes Real Rhapsody look good!
And to think that I almost canceled my Rhapsody to Go service!
wait, i'm comfused: so are all (or most) songs going to cost $1.29, or only the "higher quality" ones? will there still be songs available for $0.99?
Hi- I'm new to this forum and not very high tech, but since most of you seem to be, maybe you can answer a question for me. :)
Two computers ago, we bought LOTS of music from iTunes. That first computer and its replacement pooped out on us and we recently got another one.
Of course we lost the songs that were on that first computer.
Now Apple is offering me to upgrade those songs.
Will I get them back if I do it? Or will I be paying for upgrades to songs that I still won't have?
Any ideas?
Thanks!
There is a way with iTunes to be able to de-authorize all your computers that you use. I've done it before through a link. Once that is done, you can then re-authorize other computers as long as you itunes account is still valid. You do not have to upgrade your music to do this.
Check out this link for specific instructions on authorizing and deauthorizing computers: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1420
If you want to avoid all this BS and have the freedom to do what you want with the music you purchased, then you are left with doing it by breaking the law set forth in the DCMA, or fork over the dough to Apple for the upgrade.
I know they say the music is going to be better quality than the originally bought music, but it still sounds like extortion to me.
I hate i tunes........ i stick with BearShare!
Call me crazy but what is DRM? What does it do that would make iTunes want to switch to it?
...this is the dumbest forum i've ever ran accross.
I think I'm starting to miss vinyl...so much simpler then. :(
RHAPSODY. That is all.
Just go buy a Zune. $15 a month I can download as much as I want. It warms my heart seeing ipods falling of their pedestal.
I used my Ipod 120 Classic strictly for music only. Also recently I purchased a new computer and found out that my Ipod 120 does not work on my new computer. I have been handed different ways on how to make that transfer to my new computer but it is so difficult. I wish Itunes would create a software or patch where its possible to use a 2nd computer. I got rid of my aging old PC.
ummmm, i'm just a person that uses their ipod to listen to music. i occasionally purchase songs from itues when I don't want to buy the whole album. so what's this mean for us simple folk? i will be charged for updating my ipod if i choose to change my playlists or something for songs that i have purchased from itunes? what is DRM?
Nothing is more of a pain in the butt than reading initials by writers who never define the initials they use.Excuse me for not knowing the meaning behind the letters used so freely.Would someone be so kind to explain the meaning of DRAM,WAV,MP3,you know,it would help me a lot to understand W is G O.T Y.
I don't quite understand, is this going to effect the music I already have? Am I gonna lose my music? I'm not technically savvy. Someone clarify for this me:O)
Apple, does it again, charges a rediculous price for their "player" to begin with, charges you a rediculous price for the songs you want to download, when you can get them cheaper or FREE from other sites, then if thats not enough, they try to LOCK you into a more restricted format, under the "guise" of an upgrade, and raise their already rediculous prices even more. This just validates what I've told most of my friends all along, I'll buy just as good of a Player, for less money, be more free to choose whatever format I prefer, not "HAVE" to get my songs from itunes, and get them at a cheaper price too. This is what happens when people are more worried about keeping up with the Jones, and having to have the "IT" player, then just getting the best all around value, for the player and the songs you want. AHHHHHH the laws of supply and demand in action, what will they think of next.
Everyone should protest itunes and not deal with them stealing our money. It is not fair that itunes peeps are trying to rip us off. STOP the GREED.
All of you saps still paying for entertainment are a colossal collection of epic fail. Not to mention sheep.
i am so glad i dont own an ipod. total waste of money. i have mp3 that has all the same bells and whistles as an ipod and i got it for half the price and the quality in sound is excellent. all you people bought into a stupid fad and now you really are paying for it.
Confused 78 year old...wife Lorraine going into Kidney Dialysis..3-4 times a week...3-4 hours per session...want to set her up with music etc....have old i-pod that finally died...like to be able to change/add musicetc....read about Slacker G2..free vs $ 3.99-$ 7.50 per mo...buy Hacker G2 4b@ $199.99-8b@ $249.99...need to replace old I-Pod...HELP...am not very tech,,,THANX Harry Stay with I-Pod???
The 1st word that came to mind when reading this was this:
extortion: definition - Law. the crime of obtaining money or some other thing of value by the abuse of one's office or authority.