Grab the RSS feed

Apple's DRM-free tunes - Singing A New Melody


Apple, who is renowned over the world for its launches in technological segment, has yet again buzzed the world by making the much awaited provisions for higher quality DRM free music. Apple has finally cut the deals that will aid the iTunes to offer a large number of songs and that too, free of copy protection software from three music labels. In addition, Apple has also come on terms of being more flexible as far as pricing is concerned. This deal also encloses the terms related to the song prices. It has been decided that the price of the song will be broken down in three categories, that is older songs from the catalog, mid line songs (newer songs that aren't big hits), and current hits. Though on speculation earlier, Apple has confirmed the acceptance of this deal at the Macworld.

DRM (Digital Tights Management) free songs were the demand that was being pestered upon the company by many iPhone users. DRM is considered to be one of the most reviled technologies of all time and although the launch of the software at US largest music store did create some ripple but it soon died down due to the increased prices of the hit songs. Though initially the company was not in the favor of bringing down the price, it now has done so. The price of catalog music is falling to 79 cents per song though some hit songs are priced at 99 cents. This approach of Apple has won many accolades by their fans.

To give it another favorable dimension, Apple has also offered songs that are free of digital rights, and that too even for one whole year. To further expand iTunes DRM free library Apple has sought new deals that include three major labels namely Sonly BMG, Universal and Warner Music. Along with this, Apple has also come to agreement with music labels on the issue of over-the-air downloads that are aimed to allow iPhone users to download any song on their mobiles sets only via cell networks. In short, this term will enable the iPhone owners to download music without using the Wi Fi system. This announcement was made public at the Macworld Conference and Expo that was held in San Francisco on January 6th 2009.

The company ensures the users, that not only will new music downloads be free of copy-protection software, but Apple and the labels will begin removing DRM from music that are already available in the iTunes Stores. However, the fate of the songs that have already been purchased is still dubious.

Further than this now, listeners can choose from millions of iTunes Plus songs from all major music labels and thousands of independents and that too all free of burn limits and digital rights management (DRM). This means that from now on iTune Plus music will play on iPod, Apple TV, all Mac and Windows computers, and many other digital music players. It is also easy to upgrade and one need not buy the song or album again.

0 comments:

  •