News In Brief

Product Pipeline

PC-Ready IPods: Apple's popular IPod digital music players are more PC-friendly than ever. To accompany the launch of its ITunes Music Store (not yet available to PC users but expected to be later this year; see "Apple's ITunes Music Store Is a Winner"). Apple unveiled three thinner and lighter IPods. The new units, offered in capacities of 10GB for $299, 15GB for $399, and 30GB for $499, feature USB 2.0 support for PC users without FireWire connectivity. (The USB 2.0 cable sells separately for $19.)

Tidbytes

Music Debates: A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against file-swapping services Grokster and StreamCast Networks, ruling that they can't be held liable for illegal file trading done over their networks. Though individuals do use such services to illegally share copyrighted content, these networks also have substantial legal uses, the judge concluded. The decision, which the RIAA is expected to appeal, represents an almost complete turnaround from previous rulings against peer-to-peer services and even individual file swappers.

TurboTax Changes: Intuit will not require TurboTax users to activate their prepaid software next season. The antipiracy measure did not bring in the additional sales that the company had sought. The policy did, however, draw customer complaints and a lawsuit that is still in progress, seeking unspecified restitution for users who had to deal with the unexpected effects of the copy controls.

Coaxial Net: Are you looking to set up a home network but finding the current plethora of wired and wireless options lacking? Here's yet another alternative: Pure Speed from Coaxsys. Using your coaxial cable TV wiring, the standard supports data transfers up to 100 megabits per second and won't interfere with cable television or broadband. The hardware (one hub and two adapters) to connect two computers will cost about $350.

Did You Know?

Communicating by telephone? That's so last century. Eighty percent of business executives and IT leaders surveyed by META Group South Africa consider e-mail to be a more valuable communications tool than the telephone. And for 74 percent of survey respondents, losing e-mail access for five days would be more difficult than losing phone access.

Product Pipeline

Timely Storage: Looking for a new place to store your data? Try your wrist. The LAKS Memory Watch offers up to 256MB of storage space on a working (and even water-resistant) wristwatch. It securely stores your files and connects to your PC through its integrated USB cable, which can remain hidden when not in use. You can security-code files placed on the watch so that only you may access them. A 32MB version is priced at around $48, while the 256MB model will cost you approximately $174.

Top 5 Downloads

1. Clean System Directory 1.7, 70KB. This software helps to remove stray DLLs from your system.
   
   
2. SpyBot Search and Destroy 1.1 rel 4, 3.5MB. Protect your privacy by removing spybots and replacing them with empty dummies.
   
   
3. Sygate Personal Firewall v5.0 Build 1175, 5MB. Protect your sensitive files from threats that come from either inside or outside your network.
   
   
4. Irfanview v3.8, 832KB. Edit and convert graphics files with this first-rate image viewer.
   
   
5. Sure Delete v5.1, 742KB. Permanently wipe all traces of a file from your hard drive.