Get Better Gear!

Premier Sponsors

Other World Computing

TechRestore

Top 5 Free Apps

Release Date: August 05, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: May 22, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: August 29, 2009
Genre: Games
Release Date: March 27, 2009
Release Date: August 07, 2009

iTunes New Music Releases

Release Date: September 29, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: September 20, 2009
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Genre: Rock
Release Date: August 25, 2009

Top 5 Paid Apps

Release Date: April 22, 2009
StickWars $0.99
Release Date: March 31, 2009
Genre: Games
Bloons $0.99
Release Date: April 05, 2009
Genre: Games

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
  • Abnormal Anonymous

    • 8 out of 10
    • Congo Norvell
    • Very few albums manage to capture snapshots of a quality of life in the manner that Congo Norvell's sophomore record, "Abnormals Anonymous," does.

      Comparisons to the Velvet Underground are

  • The Dresden Dolls

    • 10 out of 10
    • The Dresden Dolls
    • The energetic duet of Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione that make up the Dresden Dolls have created a wonderfully haunting sound in their self-titled album. They have been able to construct an imme

  • Haunted

    • 10 out of 10
    • Poe
    • Dropping like a bomb on some of the blah musical offerings of her contemporaries, Haunted was one of the best albums of 2000, obliterating the competition.

      Ostensibly a tie-in to her brot

  • The Printz

    • 8 out of 10
    • Bumblebeez 81
    • Part white rap, part alternative, part pop, and part rock, the Bumblebeez grabbed a hold of me with "Pony Ride," and didn't let go.

      This group does a marvelous job of moving seamlessly be

Reader Specials

Visit Deals On The Web for the best deals on all consumer electronics, iPods, and more!

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.

Post Your Comments

  Remember Me  Forgot your password?

Not a member? Register now. You can post comments without logging in, but they'll show up as a "guest" post.

Commenting is not available in this section entry.