Summer date for Napster subs

German media giant Bertelsmann plans to introduce its subscription service for Napster-based music downloads this summer. Speaking in Davos, at the World Economic Forum, the Bertelsmann CEO outlined the plans. "I'm convinced we can introduce in June or July of this year a subscription model, with a real working digital rights management system," said Thomas Middelhoff. ...more

Microsoft establishes 'interoperability council'

Microsoft has established a group known as the 'Interoperability Customer Executive Council' with the aim of identifying areas for interoperability improvements across its range of products and the overall software industry. Among the founding members are Soci?t? G?n?rale, LexisNexis, Kohl's Department Stores, Denmark's Ministry of Finance, Spain's Generalitat de Catalunya and Centro Nacional de Inteligencia (CNI), and the states of Wisconsin and Delaware The choice of founding members says something about Microsoft's business strategy. Many of the companies are from Europe where the EU has been involved in an increasingly bitter dispute over interoperability issues with Windows Server. ...more

Logic3 launches new range of iPod speaker sets

Logic3 is launching a flagship audio system for the iPod. The i-Station8 houses eight calibrated Vertical-Line-Array speakers, as well as an active subwoofer and bass radiator. It also includes a remote control that handles the full iPod function range, including Playlists, Albums, Shuffle and Repeat. ...more

New mobile TV format promises multichannels future

In addition to the existing DVB-H and DAB broadcasting standards currently under trial, a British company is introducing a third competing candidate. A new technology developed by IPWireless uses spare 3G spectrum so that mobile phone operators can deliver up to 50 channels of TV for standard mobile phone screens, or 15 better quality QVGA channels. The new format, known as TDtv uses the existing unpaired 3G network. ...more

Abit rolls out Fatal1ty-branded kit

Intel and ATi technology underpin the first two product releases in Abit's Fatal1ty range: the Fatal1ty AA8XE (based on the Intel 925XE chipset) and the X700XT Fatal1ty graphics card (based on the ATI X700XT VPU). Described by Abit as the 'ultimate' gaming platform for Intel machines, and incorporating latest features such as DDR2 and PCI Express, the Fatal1ty brand is named after pro gamer Johnathan 'Fatal1ty' Wendel. With an eye on the modding market, the components are coloured red and black, and red LED backlights are designed to bathe the motherboard in a crimson glow. ...more