iTunes download formats?

RE protected files?
Simple just burn em to CD and reload at the lossless codec.

Knownothing
you might want to recheck that price point of the 256 ACC files... I was charged 1.30 for the PLUS files. OR maybe I should yell at ituens... course they don't often listen to folks without MACs or IPODS.

I do have to say in their favor, that they did allow me to redownload over 1000 files for free. Once. Just once. I was very grateful for that although the redone files still did not cover the whole loss... but it sure did help a lot. I've since burned/backed up to DVDs.

In fact, recently I went to download something I had lost or misplaced and was notified about 100 + files I had previously downloaded in the 125 AAc format were available in the 256... and was given a one time upgrade price of about 27.00. so I opted to do it.

one reason was i saw I had lost about 20 or 30 files that were in the list itunes provided me from their list of my previous purchases... so for 30 cents to obtain a replacement, and a better quality at that, I went for the deal.

RE: higher res downloads
Linn offers some from their website... John Atkinson makes mention of another website too in an article he did on music servers... I'm sorry I can't remember exactly which article but I did remember the Linn part. The other was not a common named site IMO.

I would think pretty soon higher res downloads will be available... or should be available from any number of sites offering 128 downloads now. The only caveat I'd think would be the biggest portion of the cherry picking public (like me) might well not opt for the added price/quality in the long run. natuarlly I'd prefer some lossless downloads other than symphonic & operatic tracks. that would be super IMO.

Knownothing

Yep. that's right. I went to get a huey Lewis & The News track off their greatest Hits cd... Once I put it into the cart I got the pop up saying this file and a number of others were available in the PLUS (256) format... and did I want to upgrade the existing ones now available in the PLUS or higher bit rate.

Then clicking onto the link the cart then displayed all the titles of the (for me, missing) tracks and some I still had.

The one thing I did notice was there wasn't any cherry picking going on at that point though... it was an all or nothing deal then. Either yes I'll buy em all for the 30 cents or so each... OR Nope... leave me alone choice.

the reason I mentioned "...do re-check that pricing on PLUS file downloads" was because some time back when they first were available, there was indeed a cost diff. Either 25 or 30 cents more per track.

That may not be the case now however... but I'm unclear on that particular point. All I know is I was charged additionally for the PLUS files just then.

If you want I can send you a list of those 256 files. Let me know. it sure didn't seem like they were spotlighting any particular genre... as some of the artists were Dean martin, Odetta, Charles Mingus, maysa, Third World, Trace Adkins, rick Braun, Huey lewis, etc.

It does seem odd to me they'll sell a better quality file for the same price as the 128's, though. but it's OK with me, I'll take them instead everytime. Rip & reload into lossless.

Good luck

Super! Such is life on the bleeding edge.

I really need to get a better relationship with paitience.