PC World's Annabel McAleer has managed to extract news of iTunes NZ's pricing for new DRM-free, higher-quality tracks from Apple: and the pricing isn't pretty. A single-track purchase will cost $2.49 - a premium of 70 cents over the non-DRM, 128k version.
If this sounds a lot, it is. PC World compared the premium to be charged here with that at iTunes Stores elsewhere in the world:
US: normal US$0.99; DRM-free US$1.29 = 30% premium
Europe: normal €$0.99; DRM-free €$1.29 = 30% premium
UK: normal £0.79; DRM-free £0.99; = 25% premium
NZ: normal $1.79; DRM-free $2.49 = 39% premium
Apple, which has been understandably shy about revealing the premium pricing, has offered no reason for the extraordinary hike. The recent strength of the New Zealand dollar against the US further extends the pricing gulf between the US and here. I couldn't find any Australian pricing for comparison.
Even assuming that Apple keeps to its promise to sell non-DRM album downloads at the same price as the lesser versions, we're paying significantly more in New Zealand than US consumers are paying.
The DRM-free files will for the moment only come from the EMI catalogue, but it seems certain that a good deal more, including catalogue from at least one more major label, is coming this year.
The locally-based Digirama told PC World it's hoping to make the new files available at its present price: $1.75. I hope it does well for them.
Meanwhile, hints at preparations for iTunes movie and TV sales in Australia.
And Forrester Research releases a report declaring that paid video downloads are a dead-end. It's going to be an ad-supported world. Someone call the advertising industry back from lunch.
And could someone at the BBC please sort out its online video? John Sweeney's controversial Panorama programme on Scientology has screened in Britain, and is theoretically able to be viewed here, but I couldn't get the Windows Media version to play. The comparison with the brilliant PBS site does not flatter the Bebb. Technically able readers may prefer to go for the torrent.
I watched it last night, and it certainly casts a different light on Sweeney's screaming fit. If I'd been constantly followed, spied on and goaded by the nasty little bastard the Church of Scientology had on Sweeney, I'm not sure I'd have responded very well either.
And, finally, amid the national outbreak of Bain-mania, as mobs of reporters clamour to ask David Bain variations on the "how do you feel?" question (although I did quite enjoy Campbell Live's deconstruction of the scrum), when will someone ask the question that really matters?
What's on David Bain's iPod?