The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

What is iTunes Plus?

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It seems somewhat suspicious that you can't simply view the 'original recipe' iTunes tracks and the iTunes plus tracks at the same time. Why would Apple segregate the two options?

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Suspicious?

Dan, what are you talking about? You make it out to be some form of conspiracy. Have you thought that it is more of a preference to stop confusion?

iTunes users are asked in a dialog box on starting the app whether they'd prefer to see DRM-free tracks (iTunes Plus) where possible instead of the DRM'd lower bitrate versions with the natural - and in my opinion, correct - assumption that someone buying a DRM-free track is likely to want to buy DRM-free in the future.

If you displayed both the DRM-free and the DRM'd track, you'd have the potential of a misplaced mouse click starting the purchase of the DRM'd version when the DRM-free version was intended (particularly if the one-click auto purchase option is active). That would cause more annoyance and disruption I'd imagine as the user would then have to go through the separate 'upgrade' process.

They don't need to show the DRM'd track if there's a Plus track available. I can work out that if there is a DRM-free version, there has to be a DRM version as well.

Sure, DRM-free is *slightly* more expensive than DRM'd music, but to everyone I've spoken to about it, they prefer paying an extra 20 pence to get double the bitrate and no copy restrictions. Ideally we'd prefer to go back to 79p but until everyone is DRM-free there's going to be that horrible twin-track approach (plus the odd argument that "some people prefer to pay less and get the DRM", which puzzles me as to why one would want to do that)

Apple chose the sensible route, particularly as we all want to see the end of DRM as quickly as possible.

Sometimes I don't understand Mac users, or people in general. They complain about restraints from DRM, and then when it is removed, they point the finger of suspicion. What is wrong with people?

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iTunes Plus music is DRM free and better quality... So why the hell would anyone want to buy music that isn't iTunes Plus. Apple is putting so much effort into getting Labels to loosen their over protective grip with DRM on music. Support that and buy the iTunes Plus content!!

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@Ian:
(quotes)
If you displayed both the DRM-free and the DRM'd track, you'd have the potential of a misplaced mouse click

The '+' sign is so huge, I don't think it's easy to make a mistake. Not more so than with any track which has other tracks above and below it.

>Sure, DRM-free is *slightly* more expensive than DRM'd music

DRM-free is not *slightly* more expensive, it's 30% more expensive (US/EU), which is a lot if you buy lots of music.

>but to everyone I've spoken to about it, they prefer paying an extra 20 pence to get double the bitrate and no copy restrictions

This post was inspired by at least one reader who didn't.

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Why WOULDN'T anyone want iTunes Plus?

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@ mentalsticks

What the hell are you on about?

The Plus symbol is there yes, but you don't seem to understand that when you have millions of people using any sort of service. There will be retards mixed in there somewhere finding problems with anything. Such as not clicking on the right button. So it makes PERFECT sense to enable/disable Plus content in your preferences rather than choose it every time you go to buy a track. It's really the simplest way of splitting these two formats.

20p extra on single tracks and 0p extra on albums isn't asking the earth for such a superior product. Even if your buying large amounts. If your buying hundreds of pounds worth of music and your sniffy about paying 20p extra on DRM free and double the bit rate single tracks, then you shouldn't even be considering buying downloads. You would get the most for your money ordering CD's online or buying second hand music off Ebay.

The 1 person who didn't want to pay the extra for the Plus content couldn't figure out how disable the Plus content. I think that says it all about their intelligence.

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Interesting. I seem to have hit a nerve. Personally, I like having the better quality, DRM-free tracks to choose from. That said, not selling the tracks side by side doesn't make sense to me. If trying to prevent mistaken mouse clicks is the best argument for segregating the store via a preference (that many new users might never be aware of), then I think something is wrong. If you walk into a store, you assume that all of the wares are on display. Imagine how upset you would be to find out that, if you had only known to ask, there was a less expensive option to your purchase.

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>That said, not selling the tracks side by side
>doesn't make sense to me.

So, there's a good reason for this, and it's not mis-clicks, it's about maximizing revenue and simplifying the transaction. By segregating Plus & non-Plus, you get to see one product "on the shelf", so-to-speak, and you're more likely to just buy the iTunes Plus one if it is enabled: because "why not" have DRM-free if you can (unless you are frugal and want to save .30 a track)

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