The ball is in the recording artists' court. Apple is pushing for DRM to be removed from its online music, allowing other music players to be compatible with the designer fruit's music service.

I have long been of the opinion that DRM is a bad idea, creating too many stumbling blocks in the lives of consumers. Ever felt like you need a PhD to operate an electronic device? This move from Apple is a men-or-mice step. The line is drawn; who's next to brave the free-er music world?

Not Microsoft.