Warner plumps for Windows Media

Microsoft's Windows Media audio format has scored another hit, as it has been scooped up by Warner Music Group to be its primary format for music downloads over the next three years. Bertelsmann's BMG Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment and EMI Music have all opted for Windows Media, and this latest signing almost completes the roll call of the major labels, with only Universal absent. The popularity of Windows Media is partly down to its built-in anti-piracy features, as well as the music industry's acceptance that a new business model for distributing music online has to be found if it is to see off the free music-swapping explosion of the MP3 format. ...more

Apple unveils 2in thick iMac G5

Apple has unveiled the new iMac, mounted entirely in its display. The iMac G5 is, says Apple, the world's thinnest desktop compute, with a 17in or 20in LCD display, slot loading drive and G5 processor squeezed into a 2in thick casing. 'Just like the iPod redefined portable digital music players, the new iMac G5 redefines what users expect from a consumer desktop,' said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. ...more

US charges eight members of 'world wide piracy operations'

The US Department of Justice has announced that eight people have been charged with criminal copyright infringement in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is part of a drive against organised piracy groups who, the DoJ claim, are responsible for most of the illegal distribution of copyrighted movies, software, games and music on the Internet. The eight have been charged with conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement and copyright infringement. ...more

Packard Bell sold by NEC

Packard Bell, best known for its range of low cost PCs sold through the Dixons Stores Group has been sold by its majority shareholder NEC to Californian entrepreneur John Hui. The deal provides an exit strategy for NEC who earlier this year declared its intention to pull out of the home PC market in favour of business machines. At the same time is provides Hui with another stepping stone in building a low cost PC giant. ...more

Mozilla updates Firefox and Thunderbird clients

Mozilla has released new versions of its Firefox Web browser and Thunderbird email client to fix problems introduced the previous updates. Versions 1.0. ...more