Online retailer Play.com has launched a new MP3 download service called PlayDigital. The store now sells digital music tracks without DRM (digital rights management) copy protection, in a move it is describing as “taking on iTunes in the UK”.

All of the downloads available at PlayDigital will be in the MP3 file format. This is the most common format for digital audio, so that the widest possible range of computer media players and portable music players will be compatible with the music you download.

The top 100 tracks will cost from 65p per track and albums from £4.99. Play.com said albums in the top 100 would be available £1 cheaper than on Apple’s download service, iTunes.

Now you will be able to download DRM free music onto your iPod or any other MP3 player.

Research analysts have reported in recent days that Apple is aggressively cutting back production on iPods and iPhones, while increasing production on Mac computers.

Craig Berger, an analyst with FBR Research, told clients in a research note this week that Apple has reduced orders for iPhones and iPods for the second time in two months.

“For both iPods and iPhones, we believe Apple was previously targeting a roughly 50 percent quarter-over-quarter decline for first quarter units, whereas we now think the firm is targeting a 60 percent quarter-over-quarter unit decline for first-quarter units,” he wrote.

Apple has filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office seeking trademark protection in relation to a variety of gaming products. On the application, Apple requests protection of its “Apple” trademark for products that include “Toys, games and playthings, namely, hand-held units for playing electronic games; hand-held units for playing video games; stand alone video game machines; electronic games other than those adapted for use with television receivers only; LCD game machines; electronic educational game machines; toys, namely battery-powered computer games.” Apple currently sells iPod games through the iTunes Store, several of which were developed internally by the company.

There have been rumors going around that Apple is planning to delve into the video game market even further by coming up with its own platform, either in the form of a console or a handheld device.

Apple, even up to now, has remained mum on the matter but it seems that the rumors have a basis after all. One search at the database of Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval website will yield a patent dated February 5, 2008.

The said patent tells of new “goods and services” that are describe as the following:

• Toys, games and playthings, namely, handheld units for playing electronic games
• Handheld units for playing video games
• Stand alone video game machines
• Electronic games other than those adapted for use with television receivers only
• LCD game machines
• Electronic educational game machines
• Toys, namely battery-powered computer games

Given the success of mobile gadgets iPhone and iPod Touch, it seems that a portable gaming device from Apple is going to be a sure hit among its loyal fans. While the company has yet to give an official comment, Sony and Nintendo better look after their market as early as now.

Apple has released two new TV commercials for the iPhone focusing on the device’s internet capabilities. The first, ”Facebook," talks about how you can check on your Facebook account from the iPhone, while demonstrating the social networking site’s iPhone and iPod touch interface. The second new advertisement, ”Cars," shows how the iPhone’s internet access can come in useful when dealing with a car salesman. Both are filmed in the style of Apple’s original series of iPhone ads, with the device being used against a black background, while an unseen narrator speaks above the song ”Perfect Timing” by Orba Squara. Both ads are available for viewing on Apple.com.

Apple have released updated versions of the iPod touch and iPhone.

The latest iPhone features 16 gigabytes of memory and retails for £329. The new iPod Touch comes with 32 GB of memory and also retails at £329.

The new devices are available through Apple’s online and retail stores. Apple have confirmed that these new iPhone and iPod Touch models will be shipped with updated software that the company announced in January.

Even though Apple’s stock prices are in the slumps, iTunes usage is certainly not! Website Optimization posted that iTunes has surpassed RealPlayer usage in terms of online streaming — for the first time in history. They cite that iTunes was the only online streaming player that had a positive growth over year 2007. Here’s how the online players break down as of December 2007:

• iTunes - 35,664
• QuickTime - 12,787
• RealPlayer - 27,565
  
• Windows Media Player - 75,865

iTunes is now the second most popular streaming player behind Windows Media Player. Web Optimization also stated that iTunes has an annual growth of about 26.8%. There’s no doubt that we will hear about this more when Steve takes the stage at a future music-related event.

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