So we have indeed seen a worldwide launch – that actually includes us – from Apple on the DRM-free EMI tracks, and local pricing on these 256kbps AAC files is…
$2.19
Great to see we’ve got it, but that price differential again stretches out just too far for me to want to pay it. Album pricing is $22.09 (haven’t seen it directly, but that’s based on their $5.10 upgrade price for previously purchased albums) Oh yeah, forgot that albums work differently, and so far I’m seeing iTunes Plus options from $17.99 to $20.99, and you do have to pay about $5.10 “for most albums” to upgrade them. I can (still) go and buy ANY album I want on CD for a lot less than that price.
More than ever I’m inclined to go buy discs, and rip them in the format of my choice. But I do appreciate us getting the choice, so cheers for that.