US lawmakers target P2P file swappers

US file sharers could face up to ten years in jail, if either two new bills makes it into law, Wired.com reports. The new laws would make it easier to prosecute file swappers by making it illegal to share copyrighted files over a peer-to-peer network. ...more

Google serves up new music search

Google is looking to capitalise on the fast growing music downloads market with the introduction of a 'music search' function to its standard search interface. Having noticed that a lot of people search for information about music (its amazing what you can find out when you have 3,000 PhDs in Computer Science working for you), Google is now offering a single box at the top of a results page that it has decided is about music. Clicking on a link will give you a standard list of links to official pages and fan sites, and news and pictures for the News and Images indexes. ...more

Smashing Pumpkins snub Virgin for MP3

The Smashing Pumpkins is the latest band with a faltering career to put out an album in MP3 format. The US indie band apparently decided to distribute its latest release Machina II: The friends and Enemies of Modern Music digitally, after record company Virgin refused to support a sequel to its original Machina release. The band recorded 25 songs and then asked friends to convert the tracks to MP3 and send them out through Napster, Gnutella and other MP3 distribution channels. ...more

Pocket PC 2002 going cheap

Those of the Pocket PC platform persuasion will have the opportunity - as owners of a Compaq iPAQ - to freely upgrade to the XP influenced Pocket PC 2002. The Flash ROM updates apply to any iPAQ Pocket PC - the H3600 series or the H3100 series - bought between 6 September and 30 November 2001. The upgrade promotion, which will start from 17 September, will require you to submit proof of purchase and a CD will then be sent by post. ...more

UPDATE: New Palm prices released

The prices for the new Palm M500 range have just been announced. The monochrome M500 will be available in May for an estimated street price of ?329 while the colour M505 will hit the streets in June for ?399. The M500 features a monochrome screen, Palm OS 4. ...more