Question for I-tuners

[rthomas]

I was about to buy a song on itunes and itunes asked if I wanted the song as a DRM-free, highest quality audio format.

I've not seen this message before. Does anyone know what DRM means?

[The Gordog]

DRM = Digital Rights Management

[mr. synellinden]

I was about to buy a song on itunes and itunes asked if I wanted the song as a DRM-free, highest quality audio format.

I've not seen this message before. Does anyone know what DRM means?

It means you can buy the song without the copying restrictions that until now have been on all itunes purchased content. What that means is you can buy the song, burn it to a CD and give it to everyone you know and they can all download it to their computer/mp3 device. For this luxury you pay .30 more. The .99 cent song can only be played on 5 computers and if you are not the original purchaser, you need the original downloader/purchaser's itunes password to dowload it.

[BlueDiablo]

It also means that the bitrate (sound quality) on the file is much better, so that you should be able to burn it to a CD, then re-rip it without any noticeable loss in sound quality.

It was big news when EMI agreed earlier this year to have Apple start selling songs without DRM. It's my understanding that some other music labels (mostly indie labels, I think) have followed suit.

[rthomas]

Well, it p's me off that it cost .30 more per song (does that mean the whole album will be .30/song more?).

And also that most of my tunes won't be the same sound quality as new songs.

[hc5duke]

It means you can buy the song without the copying restrictions that until now have been on all itunes purchased content. What that means is you can buy the song, burn it to a CD and give it to everyone you know and they can all download it to their computer/mp3 device. For this luxury you pay .30 more. The .99 cent song can only be played on 5 computers and if you are not the original purchaser, you need the original downloader/purchaser's itunes password to dowload it.

Well, if you burn it on a cd, you could copy it anywhere to begin with. However, I'm pretty sure they still have a way to link the MP3 file to your account so that if it turns up in a big file sharing site, you're still likely to hear from RIAA.

[cato]

Well, it p's me off that it cost .30 more per song (does that mean the whole album will be .30/song more?).

And also that most of my tunes won't be the same sound quality as new songs.

Well, you should be able to "upgrade" previously purchase songs with DRM to the format without DRM. You'll still have to pay the extra dough, and (obviously) you only have this option for songs that are available without DRM. Doesn't seem there are too many of those, yet.

[Dukerati]

DRM is the music industry's way of making sure that people do not share music. Itunes songs can only play on apple-proved hardware (i.e. Ipod and Apple TV) so tread carefully when buying music from the Apple store. hc5duke is correct in stating that personal information is still encrypted in the "DRM-free" music for tracking purposes.

There is a huge underground movement to do away with DRM together and there are programs out there that can decrypt your DRM should you want to forego the higher cost...

[HaveFunExpectToWin]

You'll be able to use the DRM-free files on non-iPod MP3 players that support AAC files and XBox 360s.

BTW, these DRM-Free files (aka iTunes Plus) are only offered by EMI and some independent record labels.

[alteran]

Well, if you burn it on a cd, you could copy it anywhere to begin with. However, I'm pretty sure they still have a way to link the MP3 file to your account so that if it turns up in a big file sharing site, you're still likely to hear from RIAA.
They embed your name (or more incorrectly, the name on the iTunes account which purchases the song) in the files. I'm not sure if it's in the ID tags or somewhere else.

[DevilAlumna]

First person to PM me with your personal email address wins 4 free songs (4 iTunes codes, technically) courtesy of ticketmaster via me, the non-Apple-product-user.