Apple has released an important 7.2 update to iTunes that brings the much anticipated DRM-free music tracks. DRM-free tracks cost $1.29 each rather than the $0.99 “protected” tracks. The new DRM-free tracks feature better audio quality than the “protected” DRM’ed tracks (256 kbps AAC versus 128 kbs AAC). You must update iTunes to 7.2 to see what Apple is calling iTunes Plus. You can update via Software Update on Macs.

Apple also announced that iTunes U will now be available via the iTunes Store for everyone. iTunes U started a year and a half ago as a pilot program at Stanford which put some lectures online with iTunes. Now the general public will have access to materials from top rated universities, for free.

Apple released a security update for its QuickTime media software. The patch, a 1.4 megabyte download, repairs two issues in which an outside user could both execute malicious code as well as access critical information on a Mac.

The update can be accessed via Mac OS X’s Software Update feature and requires Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later to run. For more information on Apple QuickTime 7.1.6 Security Update 1.0, click here.

Apple has released Pro Application Support 4.0 which improves general user interface reliability for Apple’s professional applications and is recommended for all users of:

• Final Cut Studio
• Final Cut Pro
• Motion
• Soundtrack Pro
• Soundtrack
• DVD Studio Pro
• Aperture
• Final Cut Express HD
• Logic Pro
• Logic Express

Mac OS X 10.4 or later required. Pro Application Support 4.0 is available via Software Update and also as a standalone installer. More info and download.

Apple released a new security update (2007-004 v1.1) revising an earlier update (2007-004) that addresses two bugs introduced with last week’s update. An update to Quicktime (7.1.6) for Windows and Mac users was also released that addresses two important zero-day QuickTime flaws that can affect security for both platforms. This flaw was recently used with Safari to hack a MacBook in a recent “hackers” conference. Both of these updates are for ALL users.

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