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Release Date: August 05, 2009
Genre: Games
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iTunes New Music Releases

Release Date: September 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: September 20, 2009
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Genre: Rock
Release Date: August 25, 2009

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Discover New Music

  • Life's Rich Pageant

    • 8 out of 10
    • R.E.M.
    • In the long series of R.E.M.'s evolution, this album (finally?) showcases their ability to capture on tape what had been happening in the live for years: heartfelt, sweat-filled performances that just
  • Trouble

    • 8 out of 10
    • Ray LaMontagne
    • At first, Ray LaMontagne might strike you as just another breathy-voiced knockoff of folk/rock guitarists like John Mayer and Jack Johnson. But he's actually got a better voice than either, he tell

  • The Wall (Deluxe Packaging Digitally Remastered)

    • 10 out of 10
    • Pink Floyd
    • Okay, someone had to say it, and though others on the iPO staff are more qualified to review this album, I decided the time was now. This is the quintessential concept album. Though others came before
  • An Evening with George Shearing & Mel Torm�

    • 10 out of 10
    • Mel Torm� & George Shearing
    • Of the three men who taught me how to sing, the last was Mel Torme. Apparently, Mel Torme is a joke to anyone more than a decade older than me, a living parody of a Vegas crooner. But I stumbled on th
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Once More, with Feeling

    • 10 out of 10
    • Various Artists
    • Most musical episodes of TV shows frankly stink. They are usually little more than ill-conceived vehicles intended to let the stars show off what musical talent they have. Once More, With Feeling,

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News

Wal-Mart Offers DRM-free Music Downloads

Big box retailer Wal-Mart has joined the iTunes Store in offering copy protection-free music downloads, but instead of Apple’s US$1.29 per track, Wal-Mart is charging $0.94 per track. So far, EMI and Universal Music Group have signed on, while EMI is the only label that is offering DRM-free tracks through the iTunes Store.

Wal-Mart’s copy protection-free songs are available as 256kbps MP3 files, and it will continue to sell DRM laden tracks in 128kbps WMA format for $0.88 each. In comparison, the iTunes Store sells its iTunes Plus (256kbps AAC) tracks for $1.29, and protected tracks (128kbps AAC) for $0.99. Wal-Mart’s music service, however, is compatible only with Windows, where the iTunes Store is Mac and Windows compatible.

Regardless of pricing differences, Wal-Mart has joined Apple in weakening the major record label’s stance on music download copy protection. Sony BMG and Warner are still holding out, but with the other two big labels already in the DRM-free game, they may not be able to stand their ground much longer.

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