Rumor: iMusic to Play April 28?


AppleInsider reports that Apple may launch its new music download service as early as April 28. Expected to be integrated with iTunes, Cupertino is set to make pay-per-song a key part of its iApp's internet services.

The story says that users will be able to sample 30-second audio clips, and then users and pick-and-click the song they want to buy once they've signed up with Apple's 1-Click system. AppleInsider says the iTunes schemes will be implemented in a similar fashion to iPhoto's ordering system.

The audio format will reportedly be AAC, which can be ripped to MP3 for CD burning in iTunes.

AppleInsider also says that the music files will all be hosted on Apple's servers, although it is unclear at this stage whether Windows users will be able to access the library in the absence of iTunes. An April 28 release, warns AppleInsider, is also subject to the vagaries of the iCEO.

Analysis: AAC audio can only mean one thing: iTunes 4.0. A mere dot-point upgrade wouldn't greet the 'iMusic' release with sufficient fanfare. We've got to admit we'll be surprised if AppleInsider's report on 'rippable' (i.e., not copy-protected) AAC audio proves correct. Maybe so, as no one would buy copy-protected MP3s. But just as record companies get set to unleash copy-protected CDs on the US market, it would be almost odd to give permission to users to circulate unlimited digital copies of an AAC/MP3 file.