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

Samsung denies music store moves

The head of Samsung's digital media division has denied that the company plans to launch a music downloads store. Choi Gee-sung claimed that comments he made to the Korea Times earlier this week were misunderstood. 'We are not at all interested in a music service ourselves,' he insisted today. ...more

Linux takes a hit from Dell

The advance of Linux onto desktops has been dealt a blow by Dell. The company, which recently overtook Compaq as the world's number one PC builder, has decided to cease offering Linux as a pre-installed option for its desktop machines, citing lack of demand from consumers. Dell will still be offering Linux for its workstation and server ranges - it was the popularity of the Linux take-up for its servers that led Dell to make the option available for desktop PCs. ...more

Be begins free trials of ADSL2+ broadband

Be has begun offering free trials of its ADSL2+ broadband service, which in theory can take speeds up to 24Mbps. The free trial runs until the end of September and if you partake you will subsequently pay ?20 per month 'for life'. Be also throws in an ADSL2+ wireless modem router. ...more

President Bush appoints an anti-piracy tsar

President Bush has appointed an anti-piracy 'tsar' to co-ordinate efforts against global intellectual property theft. Chris Israel, a former Time Warner executive, will be Coordinator for International Intellectual Property Enforcement with responsibility for the entire gamut of piracy, from movie swapping on the Internet to counterfeit car parts, according to US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez. Top of Israel's list of priorities will be China, where an estimated 90 per cent of movies and music in circulation are illegal copies, although Gutierrez acknowledged that achieving the administration's long-term aim of reducing China's piracy level to zero will not be easy. ...more