Apple gives away free songs on iTunes

In celebration of the Australian iTunes Store's first birthday on Wednesday, Apple is giving users five songs and an audiobook for free.

While the calibre of songs on offer left a few of us here at CNET.com.au scratching our heads, we're not ones to turn our noses up at legitimate and free music downloads from Australian and New Zealand artists. They can be downloaded here -- you'll need to have installed iTunes and signed up for an Australian account first -- and include:

• Holly Throsby -- Only A Rake
• Celebrity Drug Dealers -- Getting Better
• The Hiptones -- I've Been Loving You Too Long
• Tyree -- Ladies and Gentlemen
• The Follow -- Christian Girl

A 20-hour unabridged audio reading of Bryce Courtenay's The Power of One can also be downloaded for free.

Apple sold its one billionth song worldwide through the online store on 23 February this year, but local representatives wouldn't comment on how successful music sales have been in Australia for the first year.

Since the launch of the Australian iTunes Store (née iTunes Music Store), Apple has increased the music library from one million songs to over two million, and now has over 16,000 audiobooks and 2,000 video clips available for purchase. While video-capable iPods were released in October last year, Apple has only added two short Pixar films in that time to its video collection, bringing the total number up to a measly eight. Unlike iPod owners in the US, Australian users don't have access to TV shows and feature-length movie downloads, although BigPond Movies has been offering PC-based downloads from $1.95 to $5.95 since February.

With the launch of the Nike+iPod Sports Kit tomorrow, Apple is also expected to release a 45-minute LCD Soundsystem mix on iTunes, with tracks chosen by the group specifically for exercising. On 7 November, Australian runner Craig Mottram is also expected to debut on the Australian iTunes Store with coaching mixes to train fitness buffs in speed, distance and endurance.