It looks like Apple did get the EMI catalog out by the end of the month, but barely. Today Apple launched iTunes Plus along with the iTunes 7.2 version release, which is now offering DRM-free music downloads.

For now the songs that are available without the DRM restrictions or only from EMI’s catalog (excluding the Beatles, but including Paul McCartney), but hopefully more labels will follow suit in the near future. The songs cost slightly more without the DRM at a price of $1.29 each, and any existing songs that you previously purchased for $.99 can be upgraded for $.30 if they are from EMI. Songs purchased for this higher price have no restrictions on what MP3 player, the number of MP3 players or the number of computers that the song can be transferred to. Once you buy it, just …

Remember back in the beginning of April when Apple announced that it would be offering a DRM-free catalog from EMI in May? Well May is almost over and we haven’t seen it yet, but the French site MacBidouille (translated) has a source that’s saying the catalog is only a few days away and could be available by the end of the month.

When the catalog does roll out on iTunes, the music from EMI (aside from the Beatles songs) will be available with no Fairplay DRM restricting the number of computers or MP3 players the music can be transferred to. It will also be recorded at a higher bit rate, which according to the report may be part of the reason that the release is taking so long. The only small catch with this deal …

Whoa… In the midst of Apple dropping their DRM with some labels and DVD codes being cracked, from out of nowhere comes a crack for the DRM on downloaded music from iTunes.

The creators of QTFairUse6 have made a way to rid your iTunes downloaded music of that pesky DRM and do with it as you wish, but of course this only works for the current version of iTunes (7.1.1), and unfortunately it only works for Windows.

No doubt by now Apple is working on the next version of iTunes to plug this hole so you’ll have to take advantage before the next upgrade, and Mac users will have to wait a little longer to see if something comes their way soon. Check it out:

hymn via Cruchgear

Despite a plea that Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, made to the big music companies in an open letter asking for DRM-free music, it appears that an issue with the European Union and Apple is coming to a head.

The European Union consumer chief Meglena Kuneva has been quoted by Reuters stating that she is unhappy with the restrictions that Apple imposes on their downloaded music. “Do you think it’s fine that a CD plays in all CD players but that an iTunes song only plays in an iPod? I don’t. Something has to change,” said Kuneva. This quote was taken from a preview to an interview that is to be fully published tomorrow.

The rights management that Apple has built into the iTunes music download service restricts consumers from transferring the downloaded files across the internet and to different devices. …

On Monday Apple released both an updated version of its iTunes digital music software and updates to the QuickTime media player software to fix eight security flaws.

According to a security alert from Apple, the 7.1.5 version of QuickTime fixes security issues involving how the player handles certain types of “maliciously-crafted” files including QuickTime, MIDI, 3GP, PICT and QTIF. The update also adds some functionality updates with the new version which can be downloaded through the Software Update preferences or from the QuickTime download page.

iTunes 7.1 adds features for improved sorting, full screen Cover Flow and most significantly additional support for the upcoming Apple TV. “Using iTunes 7.1, you can now enjoy your favorite iTunes movies, TV shows, music, and more from the comfort of your living room with Apple TV. iTunes 7.1 also supports a new full screen …

If the theme songs and music that plays during some of your favorite games is not already burned into your subconcious and playing in your mind during all hours, Electronic Arts has now made the music from its best selling games available for purchase and download through the iTunes store so you can take them with you wherever you go.

The new addition to the EA website is at EA Trax which lists featured artists, news, videos, screenshots and of course music from some of the most popular EA games of past and present. Games are listed with links to the download through the Apple iTunes Store with currently listings for games such as Madden NFL , Burnout and Need for Speed to name a few, with specific songs such as Snoop Dogg’s version of “Riders …

Macrovision CEO Fred Amoroso has written an open letter to address his feelings on the letter that Steve Jobs wrote regarding digital rights management (DRM) of Apple iTunes music along with offering his companies services to manage the Fairplay DRM.

In the letter from Jobs last week, he had addressed concerns rising with iTunes consumers about the DRM restrictions on downloaded music, which include the number of devices and computers that a single downloaded music file could be transferred to. While Apple is not the only company that has a DRM that restricts its downloaded music to its own music players, Apple has been under increased ridicule due to the large popularity of iTunes and iPods.

In his letter Jobs had also proposed that they do away with a DRM all together and allow purchased music …

Apple has recently updated information on its website about iTunes compatibility with Windows Vista from Microsoft, urging iTunes users to wait for an new iTunes version before upgrading to the new OS.

iTunes software is the key to syncing up music from Apple iTunes to the iPod portable media players, and although it has worked well with the current XP and 2000 operating systems from Microsoft Apple has noted some issues with the new Vista OS and has a new iTunes release on the way to address them. Apple states that iTunes 7.0.2 may work well with Vista on many PC’s, but due to some known compatibility issues iTunes users should wait until the next release of the iTunes software is out in a few weeks.

Some of the known issues Apple has noted range from serious …

In case you miss any of Sunday’s Super Bowl action you can rest assured knowing that the video highlights of the game will be available for download from Apple’s iTunes Store.

The announcement came on Tuesday from the NFL, saying that highlights from Sunday’s game can be purchased online starting Monday. The download will cost $1.99 and will be viewable on computers or iPods. A special 90-minute video of the NFL’s coverage of the Super Bowl will also be available for $1.99.

This marks the first time that football fans will be able to download video highlights of the Super Bowl. Video highlights from the regular-season and playoff games have been available from the iTunes Store since September. The iTunes library contained highlights of each NFL regular season game in addition to a “Follow Your Team” Season Pass. …