DRM-free iTunes set this week?
updated 11:30 am EDT, Sun May 27, 2007
DRM-Free iTunes This Week
Apple is prepared to launch its DRM-free catalog of music from EMI this week, according to French sources familiar with negotiations for multiple online music stores. The seeming delay for introducing the new tier of content has been primarily attributed to a desire to offer the entire catalog at once in the unprotected format rather than a gradual rollout. The companies' technicians are simply in the later stages of encoding and hosting the files before they go live, the contact says.
Apple's terms will require that whole albums be offered as a second tier of 256Kbps AAC files without the iTunes-only FairPlay copy protection scheme, necessitating that the company revisit existing master copies on an individual basis. The iTunes Store itself was not described as an issue with the upgrade.
Legal issues may also have contributed to the relatively late debut, with Apple and EMI having reportedly signed a final deal only last week following negotiations of similar contracts with both the just-announced Amazon store and Europe's VirginMega service. Both Apple and EMI are nevertheless hoping to "ideally" have the change implemented before the end of the month, the report says. Whether or not this will meet Apple's regular Tuesday update schedule is currently unknown.
Offer lossless, ...
05/27, 12:13pm reply
...pass at least half of the e-distribution savings on to the customers & offer a 'digital sidegrade' at a nominal fee for those with vinyl & then I'll be a true advocate of the digital lifestyle movement, happily sending my money to both the suits & the artists that offer me a seemingly fair, valuable & upgraded purchase option... ;-)
bobolicious
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doubt on tuesday
05/27, 04:34pm reply
The reason Apple likes a tuesday rollout is because (a) Its not Monday (the beginning of the week when lot's is happening) (b) But still early in the week to keep it in the press for several business days (no one reads the news over the weekends, so late releases are reserved for bad news).
But Tuesday this week is like Monday, so they'd either do it Wednesday, or, because its a holiday week for a lot of people, just wait a week and do it the first week of June, which allows them to still have the buzz as the enter the madhouse of WWDC (OK, its only a madhouse if Ballmer's dancing and chanting, but, hey, you never know, maybe that will be this things "Just one more thing!"
LouZer
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Tuesday is also...
05/27, 08:41pm reply
Tuesday is also the day that new CDs and movies hit the stands, so they are in sync with the brick 'n mortar side of the industry.
luomat
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iPhone?
05/28, 03:33am reply
Why is this story accompanied by a picture of the iPhone? I don't get it.
Jeronimo2000
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Re: tuesday is also
05/28, 07:46am reply
Yes, but that's why they announce new music and movies on Tuesday. But this is some grand new feature of the iTMS. It needs press, not just a press release.
LouZer
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Re: iPhone?
05/28, 12:45pm reply
The iPhone is also a music player, so that's why there's a picture of the phone, showing album covers.
Person Man
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deleted
05/28, 08:22pm reply
deleted
Feynman
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deptaro
05/28, 11:41pm reply
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deptaro
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progress
05/29, 06:20am reply
Baby steps. I'll be happy for higher bitrates, not so much the DRM-lessness.
BTW, nothing so far on iTMS today, Tuesday AM East Coast.
brainiac_7
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Well, they have 2 days...
05/29, 01:40pm reply
...left if they plan on sticking to the original announcement...
BlueDjinn01
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