Apple allows album-level iTunes Plus upgrades
updated 11:00 am EST, Thu January 29, 2009
iTunes Plus album upgrades
Apple has introduced album-level upgrade options for iTunes music libraries, experimentation shows. When users previously attempted to upgrade tracks bought at the iTunes Store to the DRM-free iTunes Plus format, they were presented with only two options: single-track upgrades, or conversion of all protected files. Users can now choose the intermediate album step, though there appears to be no special discount over upgrading tracks individually.
The convenience is still considered significant however in light of Apple's progression towards going completely DRM-free. The majority of tracks at the iTunes Store have had their restrictions lifted, and Apple's stated goal is to have most or all tracks available in Plus format by the end of the first quarter. Lifting DRM enables music owners to copy tracks freely between computers and non-Apple music players.
by track
01/29, 12:00pm reply
Now I wish they could do it by track.... some tracks I like more than others
Chris Paveglio
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2002
You can...
01/29, 12:16pm reply
At least it shows the option to upgrade single tracks now. I think that's the real news... you don't have to upgrade all 1000 tracks at once.
resuna
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2005
hmm
01/29, 12:53pm reply
it doesnt seem to work for me yet... if you click buy you are presented with two options... either to re-buy the album at full price, or be sent to the screen you are on, the itunes plus upgrade screen....
jayparry
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2005
one-click
01/29, 01:27pm reply
As reported on other sites, the upgrade pricing doesn't work if you use the shopping cart. So you have to switch to one-click purchases to get the 30c price. And people are reporting instances of getting charged the full purchase price. So unless you really really need to strip the DRM ASAP, it might be a good idea to wait a little longer until the kinks are ironed out (or proven not to exist).
malax
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2006
Only one option
01/29, 02:44pm reply
The story above is wrong -- previously there was only one option: Buy them All. Even though single tracks were listed, you couldn't convert them singly. It was all or nothing.
chromos
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 1999
Re: Only one option
01/29, 03:58pm reply
That's correct. And it also forced you to upgrade tracks you didn't even have anymore, which was a complaint I sent to Apple. Apparently iTunes uses your purchase history to determine what's available for upgrading and unfortunately, it had a few albums i've since thrown out. However, in order to upgrade the rest of my songs, i'd also have to pay to upgrade those as well.
Thank gawd, that's over. And it's good that Apple listened.
mjtomlin
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 1999
I'm up-to-date anyway.
01/30, 10:23am reply
I've been upgrading to iTunes Plus as new tracks become available anyway, so all I had on offer was three tracks from Kikujiro and I wanted them all. :)
resuna
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2005