If you live in Europe and are bothered about the tracks you download having DRM, well then here's some good news that's surely to make you guys jump for joy.

7digital.com has just announced that will be offering mp3s from Warner Music International that's DMR-free. more on this after the jump!

With the growing number of applications being developed for the iPhone, it wouldn't be a surprise if people would want one. In a report, Apple's latest handheld gizmo is gaining popularity in countries located in Europe.

According to Deutsche Telekom, they were able to sign up 70,000 iPhone customers since it was launched last year. Details in the full article.

Looks like the most popular gadget in Europe this Christmas is the Wii if online searches are anything to judge by. According to the figures released by comScore Inc., the gadgets most frequently searched for in online engines in Europe during the first three weeks of November is the Nintendo Wii followed by the iPod. Next comes the DS lite, the PSP and the iPhone. More in the full article.

Despite Apple's constant reminders regarding the irreparable damage that can be caused by iPhone hacks, the underground community remains adamant and keeps on finding ways to pass through the security features of the mobile phone.

Just like now, we got word that third-party programs were already ported to iPhone running on firmware 1.1.1. The hacker responsible for this latest development goes by the user name asap18 and the picture on the right is the proof of his work.

The home screen can now reportedly hold up to 15 icons with the last one reserved for iTunes. Both the official and third-party programs have been tested and are working fine. Furthermore, reports added that sap18 was able to access an option that will allow users International capabilities in Springboard.

When developed to the fullest, this may lead to foreign language application support for the phone in countries like Germany and France.

If you're still not satisfied with the amount of rhythm games out there for the Wii and you're just interested in a little freestyle jamming, then some students from the University of Potsdam in Germany have just the thing for you. Using a Wii controller and the Nunchuk attachment, they've created a program which simulates playing a drum set complete with an adjustable system included to it.

The program makes use of the Bluetooth wireless system to connect to the Mac and transmits the motions taken from the Wiimote into sound. It even uses the accelerometer to measure how hard you're beating your virtual drumsticks and reflects the loudness or harshness of the sound. In fact, if you take a look at the video below, you'll notice there's no delay with the hitting of the "drums" and the sound they make.

What's more is that the program itself is free! This open source creation is easily downloadable at their website at ScreenFashion and can easily be tweaked using customizable MIDI settings for those who want to experiment with their own creations. So until Nintendo decides to release their own drum simulator, you can access the site through the read link below for those interested in downloading this freestyle drumbeating rhythm simulator.

Remember the news bit that stated that T-Mobile will be getting exclusive rights to Apple's iPhone? We've picked up more information about its upcoming launch for Germany, which includes a new launch date, and pricing details.

According to a recent press release that Apple's circulating, the iPhone's previously reported November 1 launch date has been moved. The iPhone's new release date is set for November 9, and will be available for purchase via Telekom Shops of Deutsche Telekom, and the T-Mobile web shop. As you've guessed, Germany's getting the new mobile at about the same time as the UK.

As for pricing, T-Mobile plans to offer the iPhone's 8GB model for Â? 399 (US$ 560) including V.A.T. The phone will also require a 2-year T-Mobile tariff.

It has been suggested before by analysts that Vodafone would be the iPhone's official carrier in Europe, but AppleInsider reports that Vodafone may not be the only European wireless carrier under consideration.

According to AppleInsider, MarketWeek reported last week that Germany-based T-Mobile is being favored as the sole outlet for iPhone sales in the continent. Other European such as O2 and Orange were said to have been in the running but were unsuccessful in reaching the later stages of contract negotiations.

Some analysts suggest though that it might be in Apple's best interests to get more than one operator to distribute the iPhone in Europe because "the European market is more fragmented than the U.S."

A bizarre thing happens to European patrons of iTunes online music stores. When a European consumer buys music from the iTunes Belgian store, for example, they may only use a credit card issued by the bank with an address in Belgium. Because of this territorial restrictions, consumers are then limited in their freedom to purchase the songs they want, and where they want it bought. As such, the European commission has opened an antitrust probe into Apple's iTunes and the way it sells music online in coordination with major music companies.

The EU Commission does this probe amidst complaints from consumer groups coming from Germany, France, the Netherlands and Nordic countries. Such groups have demanded Apple to change the rules it imposes on its online music stores.

Apple, meanwhile, responds that the company actually wants to operate a single store for all of Europe. But publishers and music labels alike won't have any of this, as they believe Apple's rights are not all-encompassing. Spokesman Steve Dowling says Apple does not believe it did anything to violate the EU law.

Apple has been given a "statement of objections" by the EU Commission. The electronics giant has two months to answer the questions issued in the letter. If found guilty, Apple may be forced to part with as much as 10 percent of its total world income to pay for the EU fines.

Germany, France, Finland and Norway have decided to put together a collective stand against Apple's policies on iTunes songs being playable only on the IT giant's popular iPod mp3 players.

The four nations say that the download system used by Apple does not give way to the liberalization of the digital content market and threatened to take legal action if Apple refuses to budge until October 1.

"Do you think it's fine that a CD plays in all CD players but that an iTunes song only plays in an iPod? I don't. Something has to change," said Meglena Kuneva, EU's Consumer Protection Commissioner. He seconded the argument of the European countries that Apple's digital rights protection system prevents the copying of audio files between consumers and bars them from using their iTunes on other mp3 players.

Apple has not been available for comments on the matter. We'll keep you posted for the latest developments.

Truth be told, when we first heard of the BluPod, the first thought that entered our minds was, "It came true!" As it turned out, we were wrong. No biggie, though, since the BluPod is still a very welcome addition to the huge catalog of iPod accessories.

Here's what it does: when a BluPod is connected to your iPod, it allows you to check Bluetooth phone calls on your iPod's screen. It automatically lowers your iPod's music or video volume to a point where you can take a call and talk to the other person on the line. The BluPod also has the capacity to pick up FM signals, turning your iPod into an FM radio.

The BluPod, from Zenocom, was first presented at IFA 2006 in Berlin, Germany. No information regarding availability and price has been released yet, so stay tuned for those here on QJ.