Macworld ’09: One Last Thing–DRM-Free iTunes Plus, 3G iTunes and Tony Bennett
by John Paczkowski
Posted on January 6, 2009 at 10:27 AM PT
Looks like today’s keynote will include a “One More Thing” moment after all, even without Steve Jobs to deliver it. And it will focus on iTunes. Three big updates to the iconic software today.
- Three new pricing tiers in April: $.99, $.69 and $1.29
- iTunes Plus eight million songs DRM-free today. By the end of this quarter, all songs will be DRM-free in iTunes Plus
- Finally, the iTunes store will be available to iPhone and iPod touch users via Wi-Fi AND 3G networks beginning today.
This is a big step for Apple (AAPL), says Phil Schiller, and a big step for music. And with that, he welcomes Tony Bennett to the stage to close out Apple’s final Macworld. Bennett’s first song: “The Best is Yet to Come,” followed quickly by a second, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
After a few parting words from Schiller, the keynote address ends. No jaw-dropper announcements, no cameo appearance from Jobs, but a good keynote just the same. Schiller did his boss proud, I think.
Comments
The iTunes pricing change came as a surprise as I thought the 99 cent charge was a brilliant idea. I guess it was one area where the music companies would not let stay the same.
Posted by Ken Okel at January 6th, 2009 at 2:36 pm