Music DRM down, video next?

Stick a fork in music DRM; it's dead. Apple has moved 8 million of its 10 million total iTunes Music Store tracks to its DRM-free iTunes Plus format. Starting in April, the full catalog will be offered without digital-rights-management restrictions, able to play on iPods or competing devices.

Also beginning in April, iTunes music prices will begin varying from the $.99 structure; music will also be offered at $.69 and $1.29. Phil Schiller said that more of the catalog would be sold at the new, low price point versus the higher mark. Although we'll see in April if the quality tracks are suddenly $.30 more.