Apple has now launched iTunes Plus, a digital rights management-free (DRM) version of their iTunes service. The price has bumped up a bit to $1.29 per song versus the previous iTunes price of $0.99. A 30% increase in price just to finally own what you’ve already paid for? Sheesh.

So what else do you get for your extra $0.30? iTunes Plus offers higher audio quality downloads. This new “Plus” service won’t replace the existing iTunes system, but rather operate in parallel to it. I’m glad they’re offering these now, but the whole rights-management stuff still ticks me off. Could you imagine going into Borders and buying a book only to have them tell you that you can only let X number of friends read it and they’ll need to register first? If I paid for it, it’s mine. Damn you Apple and your superiorly built technology!

Funny side note: Apple should have picked a name that wasn’t already registered as a domain. Oh but don’t worry, the owner says it’s for sale!

Apple’s iTunesPlus website (at time of posting this was loading verrrry slowly).