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That is not to say that iTunes Plus downloads are now available - they're not. This update simply prepares the iTunes software in advance and revises the iTunes Help files to include an explanation of the forthcoming new service.

'The iTunes Store also offers songs without DRM protection, from participating record labels. These DRM-free songs, called

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"iTunes Plus", have no usage restrictions and feature higher-quality encoding,' the Help files notes under 'Usage rights for iTunes Store purchases'.

'The first time you buy an iTunes Plus song, you specify whether to make all future purchases iTunes Plus versions (when available). You can change this setting by accessing your account information on the iTunes Store

EMI announced last month that it would make its entire catalogue available without usage restrictions in May, so if it keeps to that deadline tracks should be available later today. The 256Kbps AAC files will cost 99p, 20p more than DRM-restricted 128Kbps files. Previous copy-protected purchases can be replaced with DRM-free versions for the 20p difference.

iTunes 7.2 is available from apple.com/support/downloads.