Apple Releases iTunes 7.2, Launches DRM-Free Songs

Apple has released iTunes 7.2 this morning. It's a free download available from Apple's site or through the company's Software Update tool that comes installed on all Macs and gets installed on Windows when iTunes. The major feature of iTunes 7.2 is that it paves the way for iTunes Plus, the new feature of iTunes that will offer the DRM-free tracks announced in April.

The iTunes Plus songs will be free of DRM, will cost US$1.29, and will be encoded at 256Kbps, much higher than iTunes' standard 128Kbps. Existing purchases can be upgraded. Though no iTunes Plus songs are available at the iTunes Store yet, they're coming soon.

When users buy an iTunes Plus song for the first time, they will be asked to decide whether they always want to buy iTunes Plus songs when possible.

UPDATE: The DRM-free music is now available.