Last week in my column I wrote of Apple and music industry giant EMI teaming up to offer higher-quality music files devoid of DRM (Digital Rights Management) via Apple’s online iTunes Store. Once purchased, the new DRM-free files (called iTunes Plus) can be played on any computer (not just the previous five “authorized” computers), and any iPod, Zune, or other personal digital music player capable of playing music in the AAC (Advanced Audio Codec) format.

Apple’s iTunes digital jukebox software, when connected via the internet to the iTunes Store, can examine your music library and offer to upgrade your old DRM-laden music to the higher-quality, iTunes Plus versions.

My experience with the new system has gone without a hitch, and the reports of others I’ve culled through internet research seem to be overwhelmingly favorable. This week, however, a minor firestorm erupted among some internet citizens concerning information that is still encoded in the DRM-free music files.

Seems that when you purchase a new DRM-free song from Apple’s iTunes Store, the iTunes software puts your name and email address inside the file. I checked this out, by opening one of my new songs in TextEdit (yes, you can do that), and searching for the word “pete”. Sure enough, I found “pete” as part of my full email address and as part of my full name. Being the curious sort, I opened one of the older DRM-laden songs I’ve purchased, and the same information was in there as well. It’s not encrypted, either. They did spell my name right, which is a plus.

Why would Apple do this? Perhaps the information is used as a proof of purchase. Perhaps its used to facilitate the upgrading of previously purchased music that I’ve mentioned above. Perhaps its used in the iTunes Store’s “Complete My Album” feature. Perhaps its “all of the above”.

Whatever the reason (and Apple’s not talking about it yet), its there. Is it an anti-piracy measure, even though the music is supposed to be DRM-free? Are there RIAA agents monitoring music “shared” via peer-to-peer clients like LimeWire, looking for music files with the purchaser’s name and email address attached? Some of the anti-DRM fanatics on the internet are up in arms about it. Seems they’re never satisfied.

John Gruber, whose Daring Fireball blog is a must read, says the whole thing reminds him of an old joke.

A grandmother is sitting at the beach, watching her young grandson play in the water. Suddenly, an enormous wave crashes over the boy’s head, and when it recedes, the boy is gone, washed out to sea.
Frantic, the grandmother cries out to God, “Lord, what has my grandson done to deserve this? Please bring him back to me, and I’ll forever be grateful to you!”

Moments later, another enormous wave crashes against the shoreline, returning the boy to the beach, soaked but unharmed. He begins happily digging in the sand, oblivious to what just occurred.

The grandmother looks at the boy, then raises her head to the sky. She shouts, “He had a hat!”.

I’ll track the story and see if Apple’s doing anything nefarious.

Now, on to some iPhone news. Apple and AT&T (formerly Cingular) announced this week that the much-anticipated revolutionary phone/video/iPod/internet communicator will go on sale on June 29th. iPhones will be available only at Apple and AT&T retail outlets and through their online stores. No reservations or advanced orders will be taken. Use requires a minimum new 2-year activation plan. Of course, as your faithful correspondent, I will dutifully acquire one and offer a full report in early July.