TTL – The Tech Link Blog

Dell

Recently, Dell started offering pre-installed movies on their computers during online checkout. They are now pushing the media distribution further by offering pre-installed “music packs” on their PCs.

Dell’s agreement with Universal enables the computer maker to offer attractively priced music when a customer buys a new computer. A 50-song pack will cost $25, and a 100-song pack will cost $50. That’s half of what it would cost if the same amount of songs were bough on iTunes!

All songs will be DRM-free. Users will be able to use and listen to the purchased songs anywhere, anytime. As of now, the XPS One and Dell Mini 9 netbook are excluded from the offering.

The Boston Globe

Wal-Mart

On September 26, Wal-Mart DRM music users received an email telling them to backup all of their music to CD since the company decided they would close down their DRM servers.

Not more than 2 weeks later, Wal-Mart changes their mind and send another email saying they would keep the DRM servers operational afterall. The decision has been taken “based on feedback from our customers”.

Seems we do have power afterall

Engadget

Wal-Mart

Starting October 9, Wal-Mart will change their music format and become 100% DRM-Free. Music downloads will now be in MP3 format with no DRM whatsoever.

This is really good news for new users but less if you have downloaded songs that were covered with DRM at Wal-Mart as they will shutdown their DRM server very soon. Anyone that bought protected WMA music files, will have to burn them to disc.

TechRadar UK