RIAA Drops Case In Chicago
Posted by kdawson on Saturday October 14, @01:44AM
from the keystone-lawyers dept.
Music The Courts
NewYorkCountryLawyer writes, "The RIAA has dropped the Elektra v. Wilke case in Chicago. This is the case in which Mr. Wilke had moved for summary judgment, stating that: '1. He is not "Paule Wilke" which is the name he was sued under. 2. He has never possessed on his computer any of the songs listed in exhibit A [the list of songs the RIAA's investigator downloaded]. He only had a few of the songs from exhibit B [the screenshot] on his computer, and those were from legally purchased CDs owned by Mr. Wilke. 3. He has never used any "online media distribution system" to download, distribute, or make available for distribution, any of plaintiffs' copyrighted recordings.' The RIAA's initial response to the summary judgment motion, prior to dropping the case, had been to cross-move for discovery, indicating that it did not have enough evidence with which to defeat Mr. Wilke's summary judgment motion. P2pnet had termed the Wilke case yet another RIAA blunder."

RIAA Drops Wilke Case in Chicago

We have just learned that the RIAA has dropped the Wilke case in Chicago.

Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice*

This is the case in which Mr. Wilke moved for summary judgment, stating that:

1. He is not "Paule Wilke" which is the name he was sued under.
2. He has never possessed on his computer any of the songs listed in exhibit A [the list of songs the RIAA's investigator downloaded] He only had a few of the songs from exhibit B [the screenshot] on his computer, and those were from legally purchased CD's owned by Mr. Wilke.
3. He has never used any "online media distribution system" to download, distribute, or make available for distribution, any of plaintiffs' copyrighted recordings.

The RIAA's initial response to the summary judgment motion, prior to the dismissal, had been to cross-move for discovery, indicating that it did not have enough evidence with which to defeat Mr. Wilke's summary judgment motion.

Mr. Wilke was represented by Saper Law Offices of Chicago, Illinois.

In response to our question as to whether any money had changed hands in connection with the settlement, Mr. Wilke's attorneys responded: "Plaintiffs, the RIAA, and SBC worked cooperatively and amicably to resolve this dispute."

p2pnet.net had called the Wilke case yet another RIAA blunder.

http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspo...in-chicago.html



New RIAA p2p blunder,


p2pnet.net News:- Paul H. Wilke, a 52-year-old Illinois man the Big Four Organized Music cartel is trying to nail for alleged copyright infringement, says he's never used p2p file sharing programs, let alone illicitly distributed songs or made them available for distribution online.

Nor, he says, are any of the songs cited by the Big Four's RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) as being on his computer 'illegally,' in any way 'illegal'. Rather, he says, they were ripped from CDs he'd bought and paid for.

But these aren't the only mistakes made by the RIAA. The so-called 'trade' organization's lawyers, Holme Roberts & Owen, also managed to get Wilke's name wrong.

“With the plaintiffs bringing hundreds upon hundreds of cases through the courts each month, they're bound to mistakenly bring cases against innocent individuals with their drift net litigation tactics,” says his lawyer, Daliah Saper. “It's through this litigation machine that the RIAA has wrongly brought a suit against Paul Wilke.”

On February 24, 2006, he received a letter saying he'd been sued for copyright infringement by numerous record companies.

Baffled and confused by the charge, Wilke hired a professional systems expert to check his computer.

“The professional confirmed that no such programs existed on his hard drive,” Saper told p2pnet. “Paul contacted the Settlement Information Line to clear up any misunderstandings. He explained to the settlement hotline representative that he only used iTunes to download songs and that he's never used any type of file sharing program. The remaining songs on his computer have all been transferred from purchased CD's which are still in his possession.”

But instead of dropping the case, the 'settlement' officer, who isn't an attorney, told Wilke she had no authority to negotiate and could only offer to settle for $3,750.

“Paul's subsequent attempts at contacting the actual attorneys for the RIAA were re-routed to the Settlement Hotline,” Saper states. "Before he knew it, the RIAA named him in a suit filed in the Northern District of Illinois.”

But, undeterred by such strong arm tactics, he decided to take the expensive and time consuming route of defending his innocence.

Saper asked Judge James Holderman to dismiss Elektra v Wilke in Chicago federal court, this morning (August 22) and, "Paul Wilke also stepped up."

Holderman's reaction to the motion was, "extremely favorable," says Saper. "He bluntly asked the RIAA's counsel what, if anything, they'd have to say in a responsive pleading.

“The RIAA's counsel said further investigation was necessary.”

Holderman has set a date for Wilke's deposition, “but urged the parties to come to a resolution before September 19, the date the RIAA's responsive pleadings are due,” says Saper.

Definitely stay tuned.




(Tuesday 22nd August 2006)
http://p2pnet.net/story/9657

10 things you should do before installing Windows Vista on a computer
An excellent article from the folks over at Tech Republic.

Here are 10 factors to address as you prepare your existing computers to run Windows Vista. Many of the hardware requirements are surprisingly easy to meet, despite the demands of the operating system. The biggest hurdle to run Windows Vista will be the graphics card requirement, although this requirement is less stringent if you don't plan to use the new Aero Glass graphics. In general, a majority of existing PCs will be fully capable of running Windows Vista with standard 2-D graphics. It may not be as pleasing to the eye, but it's likely to be pleasing to your pocket book.

- techrepublic.com



10 things you should do before installing Windows Vista on a computer

by Steven Pittsley CNE | More from Steven Pittsley CNE | 10/13/06

Tags: Microsoft Windows | Windows Vista


* Save to my Workspace
* E-mail Article
* Print Article

Takeaway: Windows Vista's enhanced functionality and snazzy Aero Glass visual effects will demand steeper hardware requirements for the machines you support. Check this list to make sure you cover all the bases before deciding what Vista versions those machines will be able to run.

This article is also available as a PDF download.

Early indications are that Windows Vista will be the most comprehensive operating system ever produced by Microsoft, and the eye candy offered by the 3-D Aero Glass graphics are very slick. But enhanced functionality and graphical improvements come at a price--and that price is usually high-end hardware. If you plan to take advantage of all that Windows Vista offers, that's definitely true. The minimum requirements to run Microsoft's latest flagship will be much steeper than any previous operating system.

Microsoft has created two distinct hardware classifications for PC manufacturers to use for their new systems. A PC can be either "Vista Capable" or "Premium Ready." The standard Vista Capable machines have more scaled down hardware requirements than the Premium Ready machines. Other than being cheaper and a bit slower than their beefy Premium Ready siblings, the biggest difference between the two systems is that Vista Capable machines can't use the exciting new Aero Glass graphics.

Here are 10 factors to address as you prepare your existing computers to run Windows Vista. Many of the hardware requirements are surprisingly easy to meet, despite the demands of the operating system. The biggest hurdle to run Windows Vista will be the graphics card requirement, although this requirement is less stringent if you don't plan to use the new Aero Glass graphics. In general, a majority of existing PCs will be fully capable of running Windows Vista with standard 2-D graphics. It may not be as pleasing to the eye, but it's likely to be pleasing to your pocket book.

#1: Analyze your machine for upgrade readiness

Before doing anything else, you should download and run the Windows Upgrade Advisor utility. This software will examine your computer and provide you with a summary of what versions of Windows Vista the computer is capable of running. Note that the Upgrade Advisor only indicates whether or not the PC will run Windows Vista. It does not indicate which requirements the PC doesn't meet.

#2: Check the CPU

The CPU requirements for Windows Vista are not earth shattering by any means. To be considered Vista Capable, the computer must have a CPU of at least 800 MHz. Those that are Premium Ready require a processor of at least 1 GHz. A large majority of computers that have been sold in recent years will meet this requirement with ease.

#3: Make sure you have enough memory

Memory is another fairly easy-to-meet hardware requirement for Windows Vista. To be considered Vista Capable, the PC must have at least 512 MB of RAM. Premium Ready machines must have a minimum of 1 GB of system RAM. Most modern PCs will either meet this requirement or be capable of a relatively inexpensive upgrade.

#4: Evaluate your graphics adapter

Those of you looking forward to the new 3-D Aero Glass graphics will need to make sure that your graphics adapter is DirectX 9 capable. WDDM (a Windows display driver model for writing drivers) compatibility is also recommended. To be considered Premium Ready, the graphics adapter must have a minimum of 128 MB of video RAM. Vista Capable cards require only 64 MB of video RAM. Unless you plan on using the Aero Glass graphics, there is no reason to upgrade your existing video adapter if it's Vista Capable.

#5: Verify that you have sufficient hard drive space

With hard drive capacity constantly increasing, available space is usually not a major concern. However, you should still be aware of the minimum space requirements for Windows Vista and take a moment to verify that your system has enough free space. To install Windows Vista, the hard drive must be at least 40 GB in size and have a minimum of 15 GB of free space.

#6: Make sure you've got a DVD drive

Windows Vista ships on a DVD, so to install the new operating system, the computer must have a DVD drive. This is another requirement that should be fairly easy to meet, since DVD drives have become commonplace or require only a fairly inexpensive upgrade.

#7: Sort out the versions

Determining which version of Windows Vista to install can be a bit more complex than it was with previous versions of Windows. Windows Vista will have five editions:

* Windows Vista Home Basic. This version of Vista provides basic operating system functionality. If you don't need advanced features, such as Aero Glass, this is the choice for you. Average home users will choose this version, although stepping up to Windows Vista Home Premium will offer more functionality.
* Windows Vista Home Premium. This version is sort of a cross between Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional. It offers much more functionality than the Vista Home Basic edition and is probably the version that most average to advanced home users will install.
* Windows Vista Business. This version is comparable to Windows XP Professional. It offers standard business functionality and will be a staple on the corporate desktop.
* Windows Vista Enterprise. The Vista Enterprise version offers advanced functionality such as BitLocker Drive Encryption for laptops, application compatibility tools, and multi-language support.
* Windows Vista Ultimate. The Vista Ultimate version combines the best of the home and business editions into one feature-rich operating system. This version also includes the Windows Media Center
.
#8: Check application compatibility

To make your Windows Vista installation go as smoothly as possible, you should ensure that your existing applications will run under Vista before installing it. You can download and run the Application Compatibility Toolkit to help you identify applications that may not run under Windows Vista.

#9: Don't overlook data backups

Backing up your data is one of the most critical steps in upgrading your operating system. Unfortunately, this step is often overlooked in the excitement of installing the latest operating system. In addition to backing up your data, it's best to verify that you have all of the installation media from your existing software and the appropriate licensing information before you start the installation.

#10: Remember the notebooks

Notebook computers must meet all of the same hardware specifications as desktop PCs. The one problem with notebooks, however, is that If the graphics card isn't compatible, there is little that you can do to upgrade the system.
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/510...ag=feed&subj=tr

FREE,...LanShutDown 3.0.2
Posted by: Digital Dave on October 14, 2006 12:53 PM
Hmmm... kinda cool and something new to play with.

LanShutDown is made for computer shutdown and/or reboot under Windows 2000/XP/2003 control both locally or in the net. In addition you can write a message to be shown before shutdown. It is obligatory to have Administrator rights to shutdown a remote computer.

- majorgeeks.com

Author: Lantricks Team
Date: 2006-10-14
Size: 1 Mb
License: Freeware
Requires: Win XP/2K/2003

LanShutDown is made for computer shutdown and/or reboot under Windows 2000/XP/2003 control both locally or in the net. In addition you can write a message to be shown before shutdown. It is obligatory to have Administrator rights to shutdown a remote computer.

GO HERE TO DOWNLOAD
http://www.majorgeeks.com/LanShutDown_d5296.html

Microsoft Now Decides to Accept Outside Security for Vista
Posted by: Digital Dave on October 14, 2006 11:56 AM
Wow... I truly thought this would never happen. Microsoft sounded pretty firm last week when they said "no freaking way that's happening."

Microsoft Corp. did an about-face yesterday, agreeing to make it easier for customers of its forthcoming Vista operating system to use outside security vendors, such as those who make popular antivirus and anti-spyware programs.

Until now, Microsoft had planned to block those companies from installing their products in the deepest levels of the new operating system, which is scheduled for release early next year.

- washingtonpost.com


Microsoft Now Decides to Accept Outside Security for Vista

By Brian Krebs
Special to the Washington Post
Saturday, October 14, 2006; Page D01

Microsoft Corp. did an about-face yesterday, agreeing to make it easier for customers of its forthcoming Vista operating system to use outside security vendors, such as those who make popular antivirus and anti-spyware programs.

Until now, Microsoft had planned to block those companies from installing their products in the deepest levels of the new operating system, which is scheduled for release early next year.

The company said it was doing so to address the concerns of security and performance in Windows XP and apply them to Windows Vista.

Microsoft's shift means that users would continue to have a choice in the programs they use to protect their computers and not be tied to something that Microsoft offers.

Microsoft is getting into the established, multibillion-dollar Windows security market with its own antivirus and anti-spyware services. The European Commission, which has fined Microsoft nearly $1 billion for antitrust violations, told the company that it was concerned that Vista's system for alerting users about security weaknesses might confuse customers who were using a similar alert system with other security programs.

Symantec Corp., maker of the Norton security programs, specifically took issue with what Vista users will see when they start their computers: a screen that advertises Microsoft's own antivirus and security services.

Symantec spokesman Cris Paden said the company was encouraged by Microsoft's announcement, but noted that it had not received any technical details about the plan.

"Right now we're in wait-and-see mode, but we're hopeful because it looks like customers are now going to have the right to use whatever security solutions they want with Vista," Paden said.

Microsoft said it is still gathering information from the software security vendors and will respond case by case.

The company said that blocking the core area of the operating system was also meant to enhance the performance of the entire computer, noting that unsupported access by outside software programs could affect the overall stability of the machine.

Stephen Northcutt, president of the SANS Technology Institute of Bethesda, a computer-security training group, said the changes that Microsoft agreed to make with Vista would help ensure that consumers continue to have a choice in security software.

"It looks like Microsoft was really testing the waters here, sort of pushing the limits of antitrust and decided they probably couldn't cross that line just yet," Northcutt said. "That's a good thing, because it's just too easy for mistakes to happen when you are only left with a single security provider."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...referrer=reddit

FREE,...Windows XP - Dial-a-fix 0.60.0.16
Posted by: Digital Dave on October 14, 2006 11:20 AM
Helps with some pretty decent errors in XP. Very well documented and free to boot.

Dial-a-fix is a collection of 'known fixes' that have been compiled over the past year that really knock out some serious Windows problems, all with one or two clicks. "When in doubt, check 'em all".

- majorgeeks.com


Dial-a-fix 0.60.0.16
Author: DjLizard
Date: 2006-10-13
Size: 354 Kb
License: Freeware
Requires: Win All
Downloaded: 29302 Times



Dial-a-fix is a collection of 'known fixes' that have been compiled over the past year that really knock out some serious Windows problems, all with one or two clicks. "When in doubt, check 'em all".

Dial-a-fix tackles issues with SSL/Cryptography, Windows Update, Microsoft Installer, and many miscellaneous shell problems. Example: If you get a blank screen when trying to visit Windows Update, simply checkmark the main Windows Update checkmark (in box #3) and click GO. Most issues can be resolved in a similar manner, if not by combinations of fixes. There is also a 'check all' button which is useful as a last ditch effort, or when you don't understand where a particular problem is coming from.

Most of the fixes Dial-a-fix uses are found in various Microsoft Knowledgebase articles, and articles written by Microsoft MVPs. When you see a list of DLLs that need to be registered using REGSVR32.EXE, chances are they are already listed in Dial-a-fix. Mouseover a checkbox or button to obtain more information about what will be executed, or what DLLs will be registered.

In a nutshell, Dial-a-fix: stops services, installs selected software (if packages are available -- see below), registers DLLs, restarts services, and removes several rogue policies. Dial-a-fix will not cause any issues if your system is already working properly.Dial-a-fix is a fix collection.

GO HERE TO DOWNLOAD
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Dial-a-fix_d4899.html

FREE,...Paint.NET (Alpha) 3.0 Alpha 1


Posted by: Digital Dave on October 14, 2006 12:09 AM
For the brave at heart.

Paint.NET is a photo and image editing tool designed for computers running Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000. It serves the digital imaging community as a free alternative to the standard paint application included with Windows. It brings powerful features to the desktop, a myriad of special effects, plug-in extensibility, and layer manipulation. It enhances the image editing experience for tablet owners with Windows XP Tablet Ink support. Digital photographers and artists can enhance their images with features and effects such as levels adjustment, cross-layer cloning, anti-aliased tools, motion blur, and red eye removal.

- Beta News.com



Released: October 13, 2006
Publisher: Paint.NET Team
Homepage: Paint.NET (Alpha)
Downloads: 3,397
License: Open Source
OS Support: Windows 2003/Vista/XP
Requirements: .NET 2.0 Framework
Uninstaller?: Yes
Skin Support?: No



Paint.NET (Alpha) 3.0 Alpha 1 alpha
Publisher's Description:

Paint.NET is a photo and image editing tool designed for computers running Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000. It serves the digital imaging community as a free alternative to the standard paint application included with Windows. It brings powerful features to the desktop, a myriad of special effects, plug-in extensibility, and layer manipulation. It enhances the image editing experience for tablet owners with Windows XP Tablet Ink support. Digital photographers and artists can enhance their images with features and effects such as levels adjustment, cross-layer cloning, anti-aliased tools, motion blur, and red eye removal.

Paint.NET is freeware, but the team is accepting donations here.

Paint.NET has the following other editions available: Paint.NET and Paint.NET (with .NET Framework 2.0).
Latest Changes: View All Changes

* Brand new Multiple Document Interface (MDI) with tabs that show thumbnails for all the opened images
* Colors window now supports a color palette, along with the ability to manage multiple named custom palettes
* Colors window now uses value sliders that more clearly show how the color is being manipulated
* Floating windows now better support docking and snapping, and remember their positions across sessions
* Brand new icon and logo, including full 256x256 icon so that it looks great on Vista
* Toolbar is context dependent: only the toolbar items relevant to the current tool are shown
* Tolerance control moved to the toolbar
* Ability to choose default values for toolbar items, as well as the tool that is selected at startup
* Ability to draw with "smooth" or "sharp" text. Smooth text is good most of the time, and sharp text is good for when 'smooth' doesn't look good (sometimes for small text), or for doing GUI mockups
* UI for update checking, downloading, and installing is better
* "Edit -> Paste in to New Image" replaces "File->Acquire from Clipboard", and is accessible with Ctrl + Alt + V
* Updates and Language commands moved to Help menu
* History window now uses much less memory and significantly fewer User/GDI handles
* Session temporary data is now compressed if the file system is NTFS. This results in less disk I/O and thus higher performance
* Font list dropdown loads much quicker


GO HERE TO DOWNLOAD

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/PaintNET_Alpha/1096481993/3

IFPI revives DFC DRM

p2pnet.net News:- Just about everyone in the world has heard about the ongoing Sony BMG debacle where the company tried to secretly plant potentially lethal spyware into the computers of people who'd bought its music CDs.

Not only did Sony BMG try to scam its own customers, the software it used to do so also made it possible for the systems to be hijacked by attackers, as well as opening them to a computer virus.

Now here, once again, is Digital File Check, another entertainment cartel-touted DRM (digital restrictions management) application designed to bring consumers to heel. And this time, the other cartel members are involved.

Warping the minds of our children

Schools used to exist exclusively to educate our children, teaching them how to read and write and add and subtract, and telling them about the importance of truth and honesty and freedom of expression.

But that's no longer the case.

Public and private school systems everywhere are being slowly but emphatically penetrated by the morally bankrupt entertainment and software cartels who are using them to bend the minds of our children to the corporate will, indoctrinating them through phony, blackly cynical 'education' programs.

And what's even more alarming is: well-intentioned staffs and government administrations are actively, and often enthusiastically, helping music, movie and software company employees to walk freely into school classrooms to deliver these self-serving 'lessons'.

Because in the 21st digital century, schools are becoming marketing divisions where sales and propaganda programs dressed up to mimic genuine lessons are just as likely to be 'taught' as the three Rs.

Know IT All For Parents

'IFPI' is short for International Federation of Phonographic Industry. It's owned and operated by Warner Music, EMI, Vivendi Universal and Sony BMG, the Big Four Organized Music family, and it's now leading the way in promoting the Digital File Check, with Hollywood's MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) in the wings.

The Big Four have numerous similar PR and propaganda units scattered around the world.

"IFPI today hailed the launch in the UK of the new 'Know IT All For Parents" campaign by Childnet International, the leading children's internet safety organisation," says the IFPI in a pseudo press release.

" 'Know IT All For Parents' is aimed at helping adults better support their children's positive and safe use of the internet," it states.

However, far from teaching positive and safe surfing, the 'initiative' is part of a huge, carefully orchestrated world-wide program instituted by the cartels as they try to regain control of what used to be their faithfully compliant consumer bases.

"The campaign will see the distribution of an interactive CD ROM to 100,000 families who, over the next two years, will receive a computer as part of the Government's Computers for Pupils initiative," says the IFPI. "This national programme aims to put computers into the homes of pupils who don't have one, in order to give them the same opportunities as their peers."

In reality, there's not a shred of truth in the statement, and there's absolutely nothing altruistic about the scheme.

DRM means Consumer Control

One of the main purposes of the Know IT All For Parents 'initiative' is to get cartel-controlled systems, loaded with phone-home spyware called the Digital File Check, into the homes of consumers in the UK.

And where first it's the UK, soon it'll be the world.

www.pro-music.org is an industry owned and operated site launched to pimp the Big Four message online and, "The CD ROM provides information and links to the free software 'Digital File Check'," says the IFPI.

It claims the Digital File Check was, "developed by the music sector educational alliance pro-music (www.pro-music.org) to help people ensure that they enjoy music safely and legally on the home computer. and stop illegally file-sharing music and films.

"The internet safety advice which has already been translated into Bengali and Urdu, is presented by themes which relate to family life, such as downloading music, chatting or searching for information. As more and more children are accessing the internet through their mobile phones, there is also a separate section covering safe mobile use."

But it seems Linux and Mac users are safe from from, "the most impressive piece of useless software I've ever seen," as Brian DeMarzo described it on his demarzo.net.

Pledge of Allegiance

The cartels are also attempting another stomach-turning spin on their already well-established course of trying to con parents into watching and then censoring the activities of their own children.

"A key aim of the CD ROM is to encourage parents to have a dialogue with their children about the internet," says the IFPI, which is why, "the CD ROM includes an activity centre with quizzes and games that parents and children can do together".

However, it goes even further, expecting moms and dads to print out a cartel-supplied pledge it calls a "special internet use 'Family Agreement' certificate" which, "the family has agreed in relation to safety and responsible use in the home".

Stay tuned.

http://p2pnet.net/story/10116?PHPSESSID=...681c37af5d3d497

RIAA blows Wilke case

p2pnet.net News:- The Big Four Organized Music cartel's attempt to railroad Paul Wilke, a 52-year-old Illinois man it claims was illicitly distributing copyrighted music online, has now fallen completely flat in its face, reports Recording Industry vs The People.

The cartel, comprising EMI (Britain), Vivendi Universal (France) and Sony BMG (Japan and Germany), with Warner Music as the only US record label, has been using its so-called Recording Industry Association of America to pillory Wilke.
Had they succeeded, he would have joined the almost 20,000 innocent men, women and even young children who are currently being victimized under the bizarre music industry sue 'em all marketing scheme.

"With the plaintiffs bringing hundreds upon hundreds of cases through the courts each month, they're bound to mistakenly bring cases against innocent individuals with their drift net litigation tactics,� his lawyer, Daliah Saper, told p2pnet in August.

Holme Roberts & Owen, the 'trade' organization's lawyers, also spelled Wilke's name incorrectly. But Wilke's young law team, Saper Law Offices based in Chicago, got everything right and now the RIAA is being forced to eat humble pie. Once again.

When the RIAA laid the allegations, Willkes told the organization's lawyers he had no idea what they were talking about.

None of the songs named were on his computer 'illegally,' in any way 'illegal', he said, repeatedly insisting they'd been ripped from CDs he'd bought and paid for.

Wilke even hired a systems expert to help him.

Meanwhile, the Big Four enforcer could easily have avoided ending up with egg on its face had it performed its due dilgence properly, says Saper.

"Everything in the motion for summary judgment was presented to them before we filed it, and I was very clear to the RIAA attorneys that this case was an exception," she says. "If they'd needed further information, Paul Wilke would have gladly cooperated.

"But they didn't ask."
http://p2pnet.net/story/10117?PHPSESSID=...92bfa6412a59a71

Wal-Mart to RIAA: We're not gonna take it!

10/14/2004 6:52:18 PM, by Hannibal

I don't know about you, but I got my ~$12 check from the RIAA last year as part of the massive price fixing settlement between the music industry and the states. As a quick recap, the music industry was running a "minimum advertised pricing" scheme (MAPS), under which they'd withold valuable in-store promotional materials (i.e. giant cardboard cut-outs of Outkast, posters of Britney, and the like) from large retail chains that advertised CDs at low prices as a way of drawing people into the store. Wal-Mart is one of the chains that uses CDs as a loss leader, so when the feds found that MAPS was another just word for "illegal price fixing" Wal-Mart went right back to its loss-leading ways.

Now, the retailer is tired of losing money on CDs, and has told the music industry to lower prices, or else. Wal-Mart is looking to sell CDs for under $10 (still a rip-off in a world of $15 DVDs), and still make a profit. Here's a quote from the Rolling Stone coverage of this that gives you an idea of how much clout Wal-Mart has in the music industry:

Tensions are not as high now as they were last winter, but making sure Wal-Mart is happy remains one of the music industry's major priorities. That's because if Wal-Mart cut back on music, industry sales would suffer severely -- though Wal-Mart's shareholders would barely bat an eye. While Wal-Mart represents nearly twenty percent of major-label music sales, music represents only about two percent of Wal-Mart's total sales. "If they got out of selling music, it would mean nothing to them," says another label executive. "This keeps me awake at night."

I never thought I'd say this, but good for Wal-Mart. Maybe they can get CD prices lowered across the board. If this happens and CD sales go up, then it'll be yet more proof that the folks who're responsible for the current state of the music industry are myopic fools who should be tarred and feathered, or forced to watch MTV for a few hours, or some other such horrible punishment.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20041014-4313.html

20 Things the Average Person Doesn’t Know About Windows XP

By Unknown Writer
Via Digg
1. It boasts how long it can stay up. Go to the Command Prompt in the Accessories menu from the All Programs start button option, and then type ’systeminfo’. The computer will produce a lot of useful info, including the uptime. If you want to keep these, type ’systeminfo > info.txt’. This creates a file called info.txt you can look at later with Notepad. (Professional Edition only).

2. You can delete files immediately, without having them move to the Recycle Bin first. Go to the Start menu, select Run… and type ‘gpedit.msc’; then select User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Explorer and find the Do not move deleted files to the Recycle Bin setting. Set it. Poking around in gpedit will reveal a great many interface and system options, but take care — some may stop your computer behaving as you wish. (Professional Edition only).

3. You can lock your XP workstation with two clicks of the mouse. Create a new shortcut on your desktop using a right mouse click, and enter ‘rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation’ in the location field. Give the shortcut a name you like. That’s it — just double click on it and your computer will be locked. And if that’s not easy enough, Windows key + L will do the same.

4. XP hides some system software you might want to remove, such as Windows Messenger, but you can make it show everything. Using Notepad or Edit, edit the text file /windows/inf/sysoc.inf, search for the word ‘hide’ and remove it. You can then go to the Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel, select Add/Remove Windows Components and there will be the software and you can now uninstall it.

5. For those skilled in the art of DOS batch files, XP has a number of interesting new commands. These include ‘eventcreate’ and ‘eventtriggers’ for creating and watching system events, ‘typeperf’ for monitoring performance of various subsystems, and ’schtasks’ for handling scheduled tasks. As usual, typing the command name followed by /? will give a list of options.

6. XP has IP version 6 support — the next generation of IP. Unfortunately this is more than your ISP has, so you can only experiment with this on your LAN. Type ‘ipv6 install’ into Run… (it’s OK, it won’t ruin your existing network setup) and then ‘ipv6 /?’ at the command line to find out more. If you don’t know what IPv6 is, don’t worry.

7. You can at last get rid of tasks on the computer from the command line by using ‘taskkill /pid’ and the task number, or just ‘tskill’ and the process number. Find that out by typing ‘tasklist’, which will also tell you a lot about what’s going on in your system.

8. XP will treat Zip files like folders, which is nice if you’ve got a fast machine. On slower machines, you can make XP leave zip files alone by typing ‘regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll’ at the command line. If you change your mind later, you can change things back by typing ‘regsvr32 zipfldr.dll’.

9. XP has ClearType — Microsoft’s anti-aliasing font display technology — but doesn’t have it enabled by default. It’s well worth trying, especially if you were there for DOS and all those years of staring at a screen have given you the eyes of an astigmatic bat. To enable ClearType, right click on the desktop, select Properties, Appearance, Effects, select ClearType from the second drop-down menu and enable the selection. Expect best results on laptop displays. If you want to use ClearType on the Welcome login screen as well, set the registry entry HKEY_USERS/.DEFAULT/Control Panel/Desktop/FontSmoothingType to 2.

10. You can use Remote Assistance to help a friend who’s using network address translation (NAT) on a home network, but not automatically. Get your PAL to email you a Remote Assistance invitation and edit the file. Under the RCTICKET attribute will be a NAT IP address, like 192.168.1.10. Replace this with your friend’s real IP address — they can find this out by going to www.whatismyip.com — and get them to make sure that they’ve got port 3389 open on their firewall and forwarded to the errant computer.

11. You can run a program as a different user without logging out and back in again. Right click the icon, select Run As… and enter the user name and password you want to use. This only applies for that run. The trick is particularly useful if you need to have administrative permissions to install a program, which many require. Note that you can have some fun by running programs multiple times on the same system as different users, but this can have unforeseen effects.

12. Windows XP can be very insistent about you checking for auto updates, registering a Passport, using Windows Messenger and so on. After a while, the nagging goes away, but if you feel you might go insane before that point, run Regedit, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Explorer/Advanced and create a DWORD value called EnableBalloonTips with a value of 0.

13. You can start up without needing to enter a user name or password. Select Run… from the start menu and type ‘control userpasswords2′, which will open the user accounts application. On the Users tab, clear the box for Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This Computer, and click on OK. An Automatically Log On dialog box will appear; enter the user name and password for the account you want to use.

14. Internet Explorer 6 will automatically delete temporary files, but only if you tell it to. Start the browser, select Tools / Internet Options… and Advanced, go down to the Security area and check the box to Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed.

15. XP comes with a free Network Activity Light, just in case you can’t see the LEDs twinkle on your network card. Right click on My Network Places on the desktop, then select Properties. Right click on the description for your LAN or dial-up connection, select Properties, then check the Show icon in notification area when connected box. You’ll now see a tiny network icon on the right of your task bar that glimmers nicely during network traffic.

16. The Start Menu can be leisurely when it decides to appear, but you can speed things along by changing the registry entry HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Desktop/MenuShowDelay from the default 400 to something a little snappier. Like 0.

17. You can rename loads of files at once in Windows Explorer. Highlight a set of files in a window, then right click on one and rename it. All the other files will be renamed to that name, with individual numbers in brackets to distinguish them. Also, in a folder you can arrange icons in alphabetised groups by View, Arrange Icon By… Show In Groups.

18. Windows Media Player will display the cover art for albums as it plays the tracks — if it found the picture on the Internet when you copied the tracks from the CD. If it didn’t, or if you have lots of pre-WMP music files, you can put your own copy of the cover art in the same directory as the tracks. Just call it folder.jpg and Windows Media Player will pick it up and display it.

19. Windows key + Break brings up the System Properties dialogue box; Windows key + D brings up the desktop; Windows key + Tab moves through the taskbar buttons.

20. Windows XP secretly KNOWS that the average user has no idea what they are doing. Therefore, it doesn’t let you do really stupid things like deleting the windows directory (at least not without spending several hours convincing it that you REALLY want to do this). Oh yeah, and internet explorer kinda sucks, get Firefox.
http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3607

HOW TO: Install Backup from the CD-ROM in Windows XP Home Edition

SUMMARY
The Backup utility is not included in the default installation of Windows XP Home Edition. The Backup icon is not present on the Start menu in Windows XP Home Edition, nor is Backup listed in Add Remove Programs for Windows XP Home edition.

This article describes how to install Backup, which is included on the CD-ROM in the Valueadd folder. To use Backup, you have to install it manually.

Note: Automated System Recovery is not a supported feature in Windows XP Home Edition using Backup, but Backup is provided on the CD-ROM as additional value to help back up critical system data. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
302700 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302700/EN-US/) An Error Message Is Displayed When You Attempt to Use the Automated System Recovery Wizard

Manually Install the Backup Utility
To manually install Backup:
1. Double-click the Ntbackup.msi file in the following location on the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM to start a wizard that installs Backup:
CD-ROM Drive:\VALUEADD\MSFT\NTBACKUP
2. When the wizard is complete, click Finish.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=302894

FREE
DVD Identifier 5.0.1
Author: Kris Schoofs
Date: 2006-10-15
Size: 1 Mb
License: Freeware
Requires: Win All

DVD Identifier retrieves and interprets the pre-recorded information that is present on all DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW and DVD-RAM media. This information contains a variety of parameters such as disc manufacturing information and supported write speeds. Even though this information is usually printed on the packaging, the brand name may differ from the actual manufacturer or sometimes there might not even be any packaging information at all.

To Summarize : 'DVD Identifier' offers a reliable method of accurately identifying the disc's REAL manufacturer.

GO HERE TO DOWNLOAD
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4413.html

Top 10 Power Desktop PCs

These powerful desktop PCs are the right choice for demanding users. Ratings and rankings can change due to pricing and technology changes, so check back frequently for the latest info.
Edited by Kalpana Ettenson
Friday, October 13, 2006, 03:00 PM PDT
Test Center About the Test Center
How We Test • What Our Ratings Mean • How the Charts Work
Compare
Use the Check Boxes to see a Side-by-Side Comparison
Rank Name PCW Rating
1
BEST BUY

HP Pavilion d4650y
HP Pavilion d4650y
CPU: 2.4-GHz Core 2 Duo E6600
Graphics Adapter: ATI Radeon X1600 XT
Monitor Model: HP 1955
Total HD Size (GB): 500
Case Type: Midsize tower
Price When Reviewed: $2000
Vendor's Website
Bottom Line: The d4650y is a fast system that can handle just...
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Test Report

83.5Very Good
2
CyberPower Gamer Infinity SLI Ultra
CyberPower Gamer Infinity SLI Ultra
CPU: 2.93-GHz Core 2 Extreme X6800
Graphics Adapter: XFX 7950 GX2 Dual-GPU
Monitor Model: ViewSonic VX922
Total HD Size (GB): 398
Case Type: Tower
Price When Reviewed: $3299
Manufacturer's Pricing
Bottom Line: The Gamer Infinity SLI is a powerful system that delivers high-end dual-GPU graphics at a lower price than others.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

83.2Very Good
3
Systemax Sabre
Systemax Sabre
CPU: 2.93-GHz Core 2 Extreme X6800
Graphics Adapter: ATI Radeon X1900 XTX
Monitor Model: Hanns G
Total HD Size (GB): 300
Case Type: Tower
Price When Reviewed: $3700
Vendor's Website
Bottom Line: Gamers and power users looking for speed should take a good look at the reasonably priced Sabre.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Test Report

82.9Very Good
4
Dell XPS 410
Dell XPS 410
CPU: 2.4-GHz Core 2 Duo E6600
Graphics Adapter: nVidia GeForce 7900GS
Monitor Model: Dell 2007WFP
Total HD Size (GB): 640
Case Type: Midsize tower
Price When Reviewed: $2350
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: This well-built system packs a strong performance punch. Its expandability is limited to add-in cards or a 3.5-inch drive.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

82.5Very Good
5
Dell XPS 700
Dell XPS 700
CPU: 2.67-GHz Core 2 Duo E6700
Graphics Adapter: nVidia GeForce 7950 GX2 Dual-GPU
Monitor Model: Dell 2407WFP
Total HD Size (GB): 640
Case Type: Tower
Price When Reviewed: $3985
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Well-heeled gamers who want the option to expand their system will find room to grow in this stylish, powerful PC.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

81.2Very Good
Desktop Performance at Dell
$799 Notebook with 15.4" Display or $599 Desktop from Dell(TM) Home
dell.com

Desktop PCs
Save instantly on desktops and notebooks with power and style. Memory upgrade included. Buy now.
www.alienware.com

Desktop PCs at Dell Business
Get custom-built technology for your business at Dell.
www.dell.smallbusiness.com

6
Micro Express MicroFlex 60B
Micro Express MicroFlex 60B
CPU: 2.6-GHz Athlon 64 X2 FX-60
Graphics Adapter: ATI Radeon X1900XT
Monitor Model: LG L1950S
Total HD Size (GB): 500
Case Type: Midsize tower
Price When Reviewed: $2199
Manufacturer's Site
Bottom Line: This is a good system for power-hungry tasks like editing video, but its interior has sloppy cabling that may hinder expansio
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

81.0Very Good
7
Polywell Poly 939N4-SLI2 FX60
Polywell Poly 939N4-SLI2 FX60
CPU: 2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-60
Graphics Adapter: EVGA e-GeForce 7800 GTX (two cards)
Monitor Model: Hyundai L90D+
Total HD Size (GB): 398
Case Type: Midsize tower
Price When Reviewed: $3399
Manufacturer's Pricing
Bottom Line: Gamers and power users who crave top performance and need easy upgrades will like this system?s design and price.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

80.7Very Good
8
ABS Ultimate M6 Sniper
ABS Ultimate M6 Sniper
CPU: 2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-60
Graphics Adapter: EVGA e-GeForce 7800 GTX (two cards)
Monitor Model: Samsung SyncMaster 915N
Total HD Size (GB): 648
Case Type: Midsize tower
Price When Reviewed: $4099
Manufacturer's Pricing
Bottom Line: This is a system for gamers and graphics gurus who want the fastest PC on the block and are willing to pay for it.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

78.4Good
9
Aeoncraft Aeon-8010
Aeoncraft Aeon-8010
CPU: 2.6-GHz Athlon 64 X2 FX-60
Graphics Adapter: ATI Radeon X1900 XTX
Monitor Model: ViewSonic VX924
Total HD Size (GB): 300
Case Type: Midsize tower
Price When Reviewed: $3595
Manufacturer's Pricing
Bottom Line: This high-performance, high-priced gaming system lacks the super-slick looks and upgrade options of some of its competitors.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

77.8Good
10
ABS Ultimate X9
ABS Ultimate X9
CPU: 2.93-GHz Core 2 Extreme X6800
Graphics Adapter: ATI Radeon X1900 XTX
Monitor Model: NEC 90GX2-Silver
Total HD Size (GB): 300
Case Type: Tower
Price When Reviewed: $4199
Manufacturer's Pricing
Bottom Line: This super-fast system is the top performer we've seen, but its watercooling system is inelegantly designed and installed.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

GO TO TO VIEW THE TOTAL ARTICLE AND TEST REPORTS
http://pcworld.com/article/id,123846/article.html


cheers and a irish lollipop to ye all

Top 10 Point-and-Shoot Cameras


Easy to use, point-and-shoot cameras are a great choice for the casual photographer. Ratings and rankings can change due to pricing and technology changes, so check back frequently for the latest info.
Edited by Eric Butterfield
Friday, October 13, 2006, 03:00 PM PDT
Test Center About the Test Center
How We Test • What Our Ratings Mean • How the Charts Work
Compare
Use the Check Boxes to see a Side-by-Side Comparison
Rank Name PCW Rating
1
BEST BUY

HP Photosmart R727
HP Photosmart R727
Max. Megapixels: 6.1
Optical Zoom: 3X
Zoom Range Min. (mm): 39
Zoom Range Max. (mm): 118
Weight (ounces): 6.4
Media Slots: SD Card
Price When Reviewed: $225
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Has a bright 2.5-inch LCD and nice features, such as panorama stitching and image advice. But it lacks manual settings.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

81.7Very Good
2
Canon PowerShot A540
Canon PowerShot A540
Max. Megapixels: 6
Optical Zoom: 4X
Zoom Range Min. (mm): 35
Zoom Range Max. (mm): 140
Weight (ounces): 6.6
Media Slots: SD Card
Price When Reviewed: $260
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Low-priced model offers many manual controls, a...
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

81.4Very Good
3
Casio Exilim EX-Z600
Casio Exilim EX-Z600
Max. Megapixels: 6
Optical Zoom: 3X
Zoom Range Min. (mm): 38
Zoom Range Max. (mm): 114
Weight (ounces): 5
Media Slots: SD Card
Price When Reviewed: $265
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Offers lots of controls and many scene modes. The 2.7-inch LCD is bright, but image quality could be improved.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

80.1Very Good
4
Fujifilm Finepix F30
Fujifilm Finepix F30
Max. Megapixels: 6.3
Optical Zoom: 3X
Zoom Range Min. (mm): 36
Zoom Range Max. (mm): 128
Weight (ounces): 5.5
Media Slots: xD-Picture Card
Price When Reviewed: $350
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: A little pricey, but a sharp, bright LCD and very high ISO setting (3200) are pluses. Offers some manual controls.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

78.6Good
5
Canon PowerShot SD630
Canon PowerShot SD630
Max. Megapixels: 6.1
Optical Zoom: 3X
Zoom Range Min. (mm): 35
Zoom Range Max. (mm): 105
Weight (ounces): 5.2
Media Slots: SD Card
Price When Reviewed: $350
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Compact body sports a big 3-inch LCD. Offers a high ISO of 800 and a widescreen mode, but lacks an output for HDTV.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

78.5Good
Disposable Cameras
Disposable cameras with digital features are for sale and available with quantity discounts.
www.ecamerafilms.com

Nikon Cameras
Capture sharp clear photos with cameras from Nikon Digital. To find out how a great picture is at the heart of every Nikon visit the official Web site.
www.nikon.com

Digital Cameras at HP
Find advice, guides, tips & tools. Compare cameras, printers & more.
www.hp.com

6
Fujifilm FinePix E900
Fujifilm FinePix E900
Max. Megapixels: 9
Optical Zoom: 4X
Zoom Range Min. (mm): 32
Zoom Range Max. (mm): 128
Weight (ounces): 9.2
Media Slots: xD-Picture Card
Price When Reviewed: $399
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Delivers high image quality and many controls....
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

77.9Good
7
HP Photosmart R927
HP Photosmart R927
Max. Megapixels: 8.2
Optical Zoom: 3X
Zoom Range Min. (mm): 35
Zoom Range Max. (mm): 105
Weight (ounces): 7
Media Slots: SD Card
Price When Reviewed: $350
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Has a big 3-inch LCD and performs in-camera panorama...
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

77.6Good
8
Nikon Coolpix S6
Nikon Coolpix S6
Max. Megapixels: 6
Optical Zoom: 3X
Zoom Range Min. (mm): 35
Zoom Range Max. (mm): 105
Weight (ounces): 4.9
Media Slots: SD Card
Price When Reviewed: $350
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Thin model offers Wi-Fi, sharp 3-inch LCD, and an easy-to-use selector dial and thumb pad. But it lacks some common controls.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

77.1Good
9
Kodak EasyShare C743
Kodak EasyShare C743
Max. Megapixels: 7.1
Optical Zoom: 3X
Zoom Range Min. (mm): 37
Zoom Range Max. (mm): 111
Weight (ounces): 7.6
Media Slots: SD Card
Price When Reviewed: $200
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: This basic model is intuitive to operate and offers high image quality, but it lacks manual controls and advanced features.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Test Report

76.5Good
10
HP Photosmart R967
HP Photosmart R967
Max. Megapixels: 10
Optical Zoom: 3X
Zoom Range Min. (mm): 35
Zoom Range Max. (mm): 104
Weight (ounces): 7.7
Media Slots: SD Card
Price When Reviewed: $400
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Nearly identical to the R927, the R967 adds an antishake mode and slightly better battery life. A camera dock is included.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

GO HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

http://pcworld.com/article/id,123719/article.html

Top 5 42-inch Plasma TVs


These are the top 42-inch Plasma TVs today, but ratings and rankings can change quickly due to pricing and technology changes, so check back frequently for the latest info.
Laura Blackwell
Friday, October 13, 2006, 04:00 PM PDT
Test Center About the Test Center
How We Test • What Our Ratings Mean • How the Charts Work
Compare
Use the Check Boxes to see a Side-by-Side Comparison
Rank Name PCW Rating
1
Vizio P42HDTV
Vizio P42HDTV
Diagonal (inches): 42
Native Resolution (pixels): 1024-by-768
CableCard Ready: No
HD Formats: 720p, 1080i
Price When Reviewed: $1400
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: A bright screen helps this budget model achieve competitive image quality at a cost that trounces rivals' prices.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

80.0Very Good
2
LG Electronics 42PC1DA
LG Electronics 42PC1DA
Diagonal (inches): 42
Native Resolution (pixels): 1024-by-768
CableCard Ready: Yes
HD Formats: 720p, 1080i
Price When Reviewed: $2250
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: This beauty delivers great sound and image quality, and ports are easy to identify and reach--but it all adds up on the bill.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

79.6Good
3
Philips 42PF9631D
Philips 42PF9631D
Diagonal (inches): 42
Native Resolution (pixels): 1024-by-768
CableCard Ready: No
HD Formats: 720p, 1080i
Price When Reviewed: $1900
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Elegant set offers above-average image quality and design; built-in ambient backlighting adds an unusual touch.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

76.9Good
Television Deals
Compare online prices to local deals and save.
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Televisions at BestBuy.com
Buy high quality televisions at BestBuy.com.
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Hitachi Plasma HD Television
Experience Hitachi's HDTV technology in an ultra compact design.
www.hitachi.us

4
Samsung HP-S4253
Samsung HP-S4253
Diagonal (inches): 42
Native Resolution (pixels): 1024-by-768
CableCard Ready: No
HD Formats: 720p, 1080i
Price When Reviewed: $1999
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: The slickly designed HP-S4253 offers nice image quality and excellent surround sound, but it?s pricey.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Test Report

76.7Good
5
AOC A42HD84
AOC A42HD84
Diagonal (inches): 42
Native Resolution (pixels): 1024-by-768
CableCard Ready: No
HD Formats: 720p, 1080i
Price When Reviewed: $1500
Check latest prices
Bottom Line: Attractive, low-priced model disappoints on TV quality but would make a great conference room monitor.
(Last Rated: October 06, 2006)
Full Review • Test Report

Go here for the Full Review • Test Report

http://pcworld.com/article/id,126398/article.html

Music players for Christmas
THANKS TO P2PNET.NET NEWS FOR THIS INFO ON PLAYERS

p2pnet.net News:- Jeez. Is it that time again already?

Rich Menta has been running the iPod Killers for Christmas/Summer series since 2004, during which he's reported on 149 portable players with NOT one iPod killer from the bunch, he says.

But for 2006, "we may actually have a couple of genuine challengers to Apple," he says.

How come?

Because, "This holiday season will see Microsoft pump tens-of-millions of dollars to hawk their new Zune portable and SanDisk's 8GB e280 flash unit is compelling high-end users. Both can realistically grab double-digit market share from the iPod, particularly because the iPod only got a modest facelift this season. Whether they do or not waits to be seen."

The struggle of all brands is to find that secret sauce of features, look and that highly elusive "cool factor". Disney is showing success with kiddies thanks to strong product branding (a touch wheel with mouse ears). If you can argue that part of the "iPod Aura" is really a fashion thing, then we should factor in the fact that fashion changes and some consumers will shift to new players simply because they are not an iPod. But Apple is not playing Versace, which would require the iPod to morph dramatically every year. Instead Apple takes the role of Anne Klein or Polo, a classic look that evolves within the context of popular consumer taste.

But seriously, is there really a player out there to challenge the iPod? In truth, one manufacturer has already found a secret sauce that makes it the second best selling portable digital player today. This player sells one unit for every 2.3 iPod's and is the the best portable media player on the market in our opinion. That player is the Sony PSP, excluded from the top digital player lists because it is primarily a game player. So what? The PSP's widescreen offers superior video to the iPod and Sony has sold more UMD movies than Apple has digital movie downloads. True, UMD movies were on the way out after a promising start, but price drops in Japan have led to a huge ten-fold jump in sales, resurecting the format in Asia. Lower prices would probably do the same in the US, potentially giving Sony a portable movie distribution model to challenge iTunes.

Sony's PSP example gives all other makers hope. In reality they have more than hope to work with. Many of these portables, including those from Archos, Creative, SanDisk, iRiver, Toshiba, Cowon and Samsung make damn good players. Maybe they don't have a huge peripheral market surrounding them, but most have features unavailable in the iPod. If an FM tuner or Bluetooth is compelling to you they may be the better buy.

The digital portable player market is young and expanding rapidly. Only 10% of households have a digital music portable presently. In a few years it will be close to 100%. A few years after that half of all households will have multiple players. The iPod will maintain its market lead, but it will do so with a much lower share - and sell many many more units anyway. More important, market expansion also means there is considerable opportunity for profit for even the marginal participants in this space, which is why we keep seeing more new players than ever, including some of the oddest novelty portables yet.

Sony NW-S205F and NW-S203F Sports Player

If you like the idea of the Apple/Nike device that allows you to track your workouts on your iPod, but are not ready to invest over $100 in special Nikes to go with Apple's $30 device, Sony is introducing another option. The new Sony sport players comes in 2GB (NW-S205F) and 1GB (NW-S203F) capacities and will have a built-in pedometer to measure calories, distance, and the number of steps taken. The player also comes with a stopwatch to time your runs (or walks) and like the Nike + iPod you will be able to upload the information on a website and chart your progress.

The Parker pen shape of the Sony NW-S205F is reminicent of that company's first digital music player, the Sony Music Clip. The player comes with an FM tuner, a single line OLED display, and an armband. Price of the 2GB unit is $150 while the 1GB will run you $120. The unit is due in stores in the October, in time for fall birthdays and Christmas trees.

SanDisk Sansa e280 8GB

The Sansa e280 is the first 8GB flash unit and even though Apple matched it recently with the 8GB nano, you will see more from SanDisk in the coming months. As a manufacturer of flash memory SanDisk has a significant advantage over any other MP3 maker (with the exception of Samsung who also make flash chips). Not only does the company get the latest greatest for itself, but it cuts out the middleman meaning its costs are lower. Of course, Apple is able to leverage the iPod's sales volume to land pretty cheap memory pricing. Apple is also able to negotiate these savings on the rest of the parts that make up the iPod, an area SanDisk may has less leverage. This allows Apple to meet SanDisk's agressive pricing if the need to, though the street price on the e280 is already about $30 less than the nano. NPD Group claims that SanDisk already has 10% of the market, but NPD's research is suspect. Still, SanDisk is one of the leaders in the market.

Microsoft Zune

Maybe the most important thing about Microsoft's upcoming Zune player is that MS has already committed to spend a zillion dollars in advertising on it. That means the device could fail relative to the money spent on it and still capture second place in the market. Zune is really a collection of features that have already appeared in other DAPs - and failed to launch those players into any sizeable market share. Of course, the whole point of the big ad bucks is to give Zune that "cool" factor that is a heavy element of the iPod's success. Among the features Zune has Wifi, an FM tuner, and support for a number of codecs including H.264, MP3, WMA, WMV, MPEG4, .JPG and AAC.

The features that standout for Zune are Zune-to-Zune that will allow users to use WiFi to share audio and photo images (no video) with other owners. Another more dubious feature is a new DRM system that will be exclusive to Zune and an updated MSM Music, mimicking Apple's proprietary system that locks users to the iPod/iTunes pairing. Will it all sell? We will see Nov 17th when Zune hits store shelves.

Sony NW-S706

This new Sony player is dubbed the NW-S706, and it comes with 4GB of memory. It offers a color screen to go with the player's FM Tuner, line-in recording, noise cancellation technology and 50 hour battery lifespan. The unit comes in three colors Black, Pink, and Purple and has generated some buzz on the Net that a Bluetooth version of this player may also be in the works. The price in the UK is quoted as £180 ($336), but look for it to run under $200 here in the states.

Samsung YP-K5 MP3 Player has Built-in Speaker

Samsung released four new players this summer and now as we venture into fall the Korean electronic make announced yet another new unit. The Samsung YP-K5 is most notable for its integrated speaker, a feature we have found most convenient in the past. The quality may not be as good as the various portable speaker systems offered for the iPod, but lying on that picinic or beach blanket they usually work well enough, and without having also lug a speaker/dock system that cost an additional $100-$200 to boot. The YP-K5 is otherwise a straight-forward flash player that comes in 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB flavors.

With touch screen controls (another plus) the Samsung YP-K5 handles the usual MP3/WMA pairing as well as OGG for you non-conformists. Of course, since you are not buying the iPod instead, that alone makes your acquisition of this player a stand for individuality. Samsung is yet to release a price or ship date for the YP-K5

OSIM iGoGo MP3 and...Massage?

We heve seen MP3 portables that can fit in your Nikes, work underwater, and are even incased in gold plating. But to give you a massage? Say hello to the OSIM iGoGo. This little unit comes to us courtesy of CNET who describe it as "tha