Macworld ’09: One Last Thing–DRM-Free iTunes Plus, 3G iTunes and Tony Bennett

January 6, 2009 at 10:27 am PT

Looks like today’s keynote will include a “One More Thing” moment after all, even without Steve Jobs to deliver it. And it will focus on iTunes. Three big updates to the iconic software today.

Three new pricing tiers in April: $.99, $.69 and $1.29
iTunes Plus eight million songs DRM-free today. By the end of this quarter, all songs will be DRM-free in iTunes Plus
Finally, the iTunes store will be available to iPhone and iPod touch users via Wi-Fi AND 3G networks beginning today.

This is a big step for Apple (AAPL), says Phil Schiller, and a big step for music. And with that, he welcomes Tony Bennett to the stage to close out Apple’s final Macworld. Bennett’s first song: “The Best is Yet to Come,” followed quickly by a second, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

After a few parting words from Schiller, the keynote address ends. No jaw-dropper announcements, no cameo appearance from Jobs, but a good keynote just the same. Schiller did his boss proud, I think.

MacWorld 2009 Keynote Photos: iTunes and Tony Bennett

View photos at SmugMug

Tagged with: Apple, DRM, DRM-free, iTunes, iTunes Plus, John Paczkowski, Keynote, MacWorld, music, One More Thing, Phil Schiller, pricing, San Francisco, software, songs, Steve Jobs, Tony Bennett, updates

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http://www.kenokel.com Ken Okel

The iTunes pricing change came as a surprise as I thought the 99 cent charge was a brilliant idea. I guess it was one area where the music companies would not let stay the same.