iTunes Plus Expanded, Becomes Largest DRM-Free Catalog

Bravo, Apple! Now that there's no price premium, I have to make sure my account is set to get iTunes+ versions when possible.

Good news.

I've never really used iTunes music store for much more than sampling songs that I may like, or finding out the names of songs stuck in my head. I rip all my music in Apple Lossless.... I don't even like the degradation in 256k encoding... I'll wait till they start selling Lossless music at 1.29

This is excellent news. DRM free is definitely the way forward

Well that's great news! I'll definitely be buying more music from iTunes now. For me, the indie labels get most of my money, so this seals the deal, but for worldwide domination, more major labels are going to have to jump on.

tbobmccoy said:

I've never really used iTunes music store for much more than sampling songs that I may like, or finding out the names of songs stuck in my head. I rip all my music in Apple Lossless.... I don't even like the degradation in 256k encoding... I'll wait till they start selling Lossless music at 1.29

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Don't get your hopes up.

This is great. I hope that the other companies will pick up on this and understand that this is what people want.

P-Worm

Finally! Apple was starting to get shown up by Amazon... Since AAC > MP3 I will continue to stick with Apple. Now they just need to get Universal and Warner to sign on and world domination will be at hand!

Great news for consumers. Competition is a good thing in business

Must get more memory... feeling urge to buy more... trying to resist...

Really glad to hear this. More selections is always a plus.

Go

Upgrade

Any way to upgrade old purchases at no cost like you could for .30 before?

so - will it still cost to enhance my previously bought itunes to itunes plus versions, now that they're the same price? i guess it will

but definately a good thing - i was waiting until next year when i get a bonus from work before upgrading all my tracks to itunes plus quality

Awesome!

Now we're really moving into the fully digital non-protected era that makes a lot more sense.

Finally!!!

Thank you Amazon

P-Worm said:

Don't get your hopes up.

P-Worm

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In the near future, you're probably right, but Beatport sells WAV's for an extra $1 (for bandwith). I don't think it is totally unreasonable that Apple offer Apple Lossless for a premium... maybe $1.49 or so. Someday. Maybe.

Anyway, I agree with the above poster... I've given up lossy music too. More and more people are, so I think eventually (probably at least a few years) iTMS will have to respond to the demand for lossless files. Someday. Maybe.

Kitrik said:

Now they just need to get Universal and Warner to sign on and world domination will be at hand!

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But that's what THEY want as well...


Hmmm...we may at last get the answer to the question of what happens when the immovable object is struck by the unstoppable force...

'That's no moon...it's the iTunes music store.'

tbobmccoy said:

I've never really used iTunes music store for much more than sampling songs that I may like, or finding out the names of songs stuck in my head. I rip all my music in Apple Lossless.... I don't even like the degradation in 256k encoding... I'll wait till they start selling Lossless music at 1.29

Click to expand...

Do you hear dog whistles also? I can't tell the difference between 160 and 128 and that is with using noise cancelling in-ear buds. I wonder if your sense of 256 is psychosomatic, that you think you hear a difference.

I'm not calling you crazy, just that I would love to see if there is a research paper out there that determines what the human ear can really differeniate between.

It's kind of like when a new OS X update comes through the pipelines and people say they think Safari is snappier, at least those who aren't joking around now that that has become the catch phrase with "PowerBook G5's coming out this Tuesday".

and the solo catalogs of all four Beatles

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I'll bet they want to change that blurb at some point, hopefully soon.

PDubNYC said:

Any way to upgrade old purchases at no cost like you could for .30 before?

Click to expand...

I was wondering what the deal with that is going to be, too. I just checked the "iTunes Plus Frequently Asked Questions" via iTunes, and it still lists iTunes plus songs as $1.29 along with the old upgrade prices. So I guess we'll see when they update that document if they change the update policy/pricing too.

You guys really shouldn't be giving Apple all the credit. If it wasn't for Amazon selling DRM free music for .89cents Apple would have never lowered the price from 1.29. Its funny because it took Apple less than 1month to lower its price after Amazon annoucned it enetered into the music business and its pricing model. Amazon is cheaper and we owe it to them for really setting the standards.

overanalyzer said:

I was wondering what the deal with that is going to be, too. I just checked the "iTunes Plus Frequently Asked Questions" via iTunes, and it still lists iTunes plus songs as $1.29 along with the old upgrade prices. So I guess we'll see when they update that document if they change the update policy/pricing too.

Click to expand...

Right now, iTunes still asks you to pay to upgrade if you try. Can't see that lasting. Think I'll wait.

This is a step in the right direction for Apple. Competition is always good, as long as Apple stays on top

Now maybe it's time to redeem some iTunes gift cards I have lying around here.

mm1250 said:

You guys really shouldn't be giving Apple all the credit. If it wasn't for Amazon selling DRM free music for .89cents Apple would have never lowered the price from 1.29. Its funny because it took Apple less than 1month to lower its price after Amazon annoucned it enetered into the music business and its pricing model. Amazon is cheaper and we owe it to them for really setting the standards.

Click to expand...

That's a fair point. I've actually yet to try using the Amazon service, which is something I've been meaning to do.

Dammit, none of the indie stuff I want has been converted over yet. Guess I keep waiting.

I Am Going To Sue Apple Over This!!!

WHA??? Apple dropping prices? NEVARRRRR!!!

I just spent $599 on "iTunes+" tracks, and now Apple drops the price! That amounts to me over-paying Apple $180!!!

I am going to sue Apple for.... Two BEEEEELYUN Dollars!!!





</ just kidding>