Napster cues up music chat for download

Napster has begun adding free music-related chat hosted by DJ Steve Lamacq to its music downloads store. On the first programme - Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The MP3 Player - Lamacq will be joined by regular contributors, the journalists Miranda Sawyer and Keith Cameron plus guests Daniel Bedingfield and Estelle. The panel will debate issues on the UK music scene, including the commercialisation of music stars as brands and licensing franchises, the White Stripes versus Coldplay album releases, the summer festival season and how urban music has become the new pop 'Alongside giving music fans the widest choice in how they listen to digital music - from a la carte downloads to portable subscription - it's essential that Napster maintains and extends its reputation for unparalleled content and programming,' said Napster international programming director Jeff Smith. ...more

Hail a cab by phone

The company that makes London's black cabs has unveiled a new service that allows you to hail the nearest taxi through your mobile phone. Zingo, as the service is known, matches your location to the nearest cab, and then directs your call direct to the driver. The system uses the phone operator's network to work out your location and then uses GPS to find the nearest cab. ...more

Record industry maintains pressure on file sharers

The RIAA has announced 754 new lawsuits against individuals it believes have been illegally sharing music files. The Recording Industry Association of America, which represents all the major labels, has now filed more than 7,700 suits against users of peer-to-peer networks since June 2003. RIAA president Cindy Sherman said, 'With legal online retailers still forced to compete against illegal free networks, the playing field remains decidedly unbalanced. ...more

2001 - The top ten computing stories

It's time to look back and consider the top ten computing stories of the year. And the best controversial and off-beat ones, too. Windows XP rolls out XP gets its official launch today, with CEO Steve Ballmer the star attraction at the press event, later moving on to the Dixons store in Oxford Street to put the XP in Dixons: DiXPns. ...more

Skype invites third parties to call on its API

Skype is letting other companies get to grips with its Net telephony technology by publishing an API. The application programming interface (API) will allow third parties to develop products that hook into the Skype service. For example, an instant messaging or email program could access the service to add in Skype contacts and allow Skype user searches from within that program. ...more