Apple to educate iPod lovers

Apple has launched a service for students and non-academics alike to access lectures for free via their iPods.

Universities from the US, including Berkeley and Stanford, have contributed to the 'iTunes U' service, which provides audio and video content including lectures, lab demonstrations, sports highlights and campus tours.

iTunes U is based on the iTunes Store so anyone who wants an educational download can access content from the dedicated iTunes U area and pop it on an iPod, Mac or PC.

John Etchemendy, provost at Stanford University, said the iTunes U service provides a way to share the knowledge generated by Stanford's faculties and students with millions of people.

More than half of the US' top 500 schools use iTunes to distribute digital content and the dedicated educational area will make it easier to search the thousands of audio and video files already on the iTunes site, according to Apple.

In other Mac-related news, Apple has also launched its DRM-free iTunes Plus service so customers can download tracks from music label EMI's track listings without any restrictions on the type of music player or number of computers purchased songs can be played on.

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said more than half of the songs on iTunes are expected to be offered as iTunes Plus versions by the end of this year.

Apple and EMI announced plans to offer DRM-free music last month.