San Francisco - Capitulating to insistent demands from the major labels, Apple (NASD: AAPL) on Tuesday introduced a three-tiered variable pricing scheme for songs sold from its iTunes Store, and further announced that its entire library will be available for purchase free of digital rights management (DRM) restrictions by the spring. Beginning in April, labels may choose to sell older tracks for 69 cents and newer, popular tracks for $1.29, or continue with the standard 99 cent price tag.

Cupertino, Calif. - Hoping to deflect further questions about his health, Apple (NASD: AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs on Monday issued a statement addressing his continuing weight loss over the past several months. "Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause -- a hormone imbalance that has been 'robbing' me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this," wrote Jobs, adding that he has begun treating what he terms the "relatively simple" nutritional problem.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) is discounting the prices on its Flash-based Zune music players, Silicon Alley Insider reported, citing MobileDevicesToday. A 16GB Zune will now cost $179, while the same capacity iPod sells for $199. Likewise, the 8GB Zune was reduced in price to $139 (iPod: $149), while the 4GB Zune will now sell for $99.

San Francisco - A federal judge has ordered Apple's (NASD: AAPL) new head of engineering for its iPhone and iPod teams, Mark Papermaster, to cease working for the company while the court examines whether his employment at Apple violates a competition clause in the contract with his former employer, IBM, Reuters reports.

Cupertino, Calif. - Apple (NASD: AAPL) on Tuesday named Mark Papermaster as its senior vice president of devices hardware engineering.

Los Angeles - Children's retail store chain Toys 'R' Us will being selling Apple iPods and related accessories in "iPod Boutiques" within its stores, Engadget reports. The company had already been selling the Microsoft Zune since last year.

Los Angeles - While the Beatles' songs are still not available for sale from Apple's (NASD: AAPL) iTunes Store, department store chain Bloomingdale's has partnered with a custom laser etching firm to offer a limited edition Apple iPod boxed set that comes with all of the Beatles albums on CD, Wired.com reported.

Oslo - Norway's consumer ombudsman on Monday announced plans to petition that country's Market Council to compel Apple (NASD: AAPL) to open its iTunes Store to competing digital music players aside from its own iPod, the Associated Press reported.

San Bruno, Calif. - Global Lost & Found, a provider of tracking and recovery services for portable electronics, said on Tuesday that it has raised an undisclosed amount in its first round of funding, led by DFJ Frontier.

Tokyo - The Japanese trade ministry is looking into the cause of three fires reportedly caused by overheated batteries in Apple (NASD: AAPL) iPod nano digital music players, Reuters reported. "We are not in the position to speculate on the outcome of the investigation. But after several incidents like these, it would be appropriate for Apple to take some measures to raise the public's awareness," a trade ministry official told Reuters.

Los Angeles - Apple (NASD: AAPL) has applied for a patent on technology that would allow users to stream their iTunes libraries from a remote device, such as an iPhone or iPod, Apple Insider reported. The system would stream songs -- or potentially photos, video, audiobooks and games -- from your home computer via a Wi-Fi connection or mobile network. Another element would allow users to stream songs directly between iPhones or other remote devices, similar to a feature offered by Microsoft's Zune.

Tokyo - Japan has at least temporarily abandoned plans to enact an "iPod tax" that would have provided part of the cost of each device to copyright holders and recording artists, from presumed sales lost to piracy, officials there told the Associated Press.