A recent Entertainment Technology World article reported that Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been demonstrating iTunes 4.9 in a variety of settings, with an emphasis on the forthcoming podcasting features of this latest version of the online music store that, in conjunction with iPod hardware, is transforming music distribution as it renders FM radio and CD into legacy technologies.

Apple iTunes and its Microsoft Music rival are online stores that offer songs for sale.

Napster, as reported in "Napster Offers Music to Go" in September 2004, and Yahoo! Music Unlimited are already offering music consumers a rental alternative to the Apple and Microsoft sales options.

Apple is considering joining them, as reported in an "Apple might offer iTunes subscription service" posting on May 16, 2005, on the TechWhack News: Tech Food for Geeks web site.

And today, in an e-mail to Entertainment Technology World, Christine Andrews, MSN Lead Product Manager, said:

"When we launched MSN Music download service last year, we knew also offering a subscription service was an important step in helping people find and discover great music online.  We are actively investigating the subscription model, but we don't have anything to share today.  Once we are ready to talk more, we'll let you know."

When they tell us, we'll tell you.

To see and hear Apple CEO Jobs performing a demonstration of iTunes 4.9 at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (Apple WWDC 2005), in a QuickTime video clip, click here.