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.