iTunes Plus

I’ve just bought my first tune from iTunes Plus, the new section of the iTunes Store that offers customers tunes that are DRM-free and double the quality for 99p each (20p more than the protected, lower quality tracks). I also bought my second and third ‘Plus’ tracks, but they’re still downloading. In fact, after half an hour of trying, they’ve both stopped downloading completely. I appear to be experiencing the same problems a lot of other people are experiencing. Dodgy downloads, the iTunes Plus preferences screwing up and that much talked about “Upgrade My Library” button not working at all. I imagine Apple are working their socks off to tackle these problems. I really wish they’d find problems in their software before sending it out though. It’s starting to become a regular thing.

Are tracks from iTunes Plus worth an extra 20p? No. Not for me anyway. Even though I totally object to DRM, it doesn’t restrict me in doing what I want to do with my music. There are only two ways in which I listen to music, through iTunes and via my iPod and I don’t think, if I had the freedom, that that would change. As for the higher quality, it isn’t particuarly noticable. Perhaps I’ve just gotten used to poor quality music.

For some (audiophiles and zune owners), I’m sure iTunes Plus is a god-send, and once they’ve ironed out the bugs and answered a few questions about hidden personal information (very naughty), it’ll be a much valued service. For me though, I’ll decline the offer to spend 20p extra per track, and instead, buy sweeties and pop.