Apple has announced plans to drop the DRM anti-copying software from its popular iTunes music portal. The Silicon Valley based technology giant will also be adding a new three tiered pricing system to iTunes as a concession to the bruised and battered music industry.

Starting in April, iTune will begin charging between $.69 and $1.29 per individual download with the newly released popular songs being priced at the higher amount while older or less popular songs would cost users the lower price. Apple will also introduce the option of upgrading previously downloaded iTunes tracks to non-DRM versions at a cost of 30 cents per song. I guess it’s better late than never for Apple to finally release some of the 1980’s-esque shackles it puts into its products. However, the company is still not offering MP3s, keeping downloads off iTunes in its preferred AAC format. But this is easily rectified by using a simple AAC to MP3 converter.

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LINKS:

IndyStar: Apple’s iTunes staggers prices, axes copy limits

Seattle PI: iTunes changes: Big deal or what?

PC World: Convert your iTunes purchases to MP3s