MacDailyNews is reporting that they were just tipped off to a special media event hosted by Apple in late September that includes some very interesting announcements for iTunes and mobile music lovers alike.
According to their source, the event will cover two main product areas:
iPhone, iPod Touch, and MobileMe
- Enable disk use
- When enabled for disk use, iDisk folder accessible
- iDisk app
- Viewable formats can be opened, other formats grayed out
- Button to sync with MobileMe
- Photo syncing support via MobileMe
- October launch
iTunes Unlimited
- 256 Kbps music; highest quality digital music subscription service ever
- 50% of U.S. store available for iTunes Unlimited at launch, U.S.-only launch
- Available through iTunes or retail box a la MobileMe, funds applied through iTunes gift cards cannot be used towards subscription purchase
- $129.99 stand-alone or $179.99 with MobileMe, current MobileMe subscribers can add iTunes Unlimited for $99.99
- One-year subscription period
- Current a la carte options unchanged
- When signed in to subscription account, “Buy” is “Get”
- “Download and Play throughout iTunes Unlimited Subscription” or “Buy and Keep”
- “Buy and Keep” option available for downloaded subscription songs, purchased version replaces subscription version
- Late October launch with iTunes 7.8
The September event and all of the details above are obviously just rumors at this point and should be treated as such. However, there has been long-standing discussion over why Apple has yet to release a subscription-based iTunes membership like some of it’s “competitors” and this might just be the time when they flex their music muscle and get the ball rolling.
