Low-cost Windows for Brazil
Microsoft will release a low-cost, scaled-back version of its Windows operating system in an attempt to compete with open source competitors and combat piracy, reports Associated Press.
It will announce plans for Windows XP Starter Edition in Brazil today. However, the Brazilian government has not yet decided whether to include the version of Windows in a project aimed at getting low-cost computers to novice users.
Microsoft already has pilot programmes to offer Starter Edition in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia and India.
Songs to debut as ringtones first
Cingular Wireless will debut new music singles from top artists as cellphone ringtones on its network before those songs make their radio debut, reports Reuters.
The ringtone market has exploded as a revenue stream for both wireless carriers and record labels, which see phones ringing with 30-second clips of their artists` songs as an easy and potentially lucrative way to promote music.
The global ringtone market is estimated at around $3 billion.
Cingular ringtones range from $1.99 to $2.49.
Music group to sue students
The Recording Industry Association of America will file federal lawsuits today against 405 students at 18 colleges with access to the Internet2 network for downloading pirated music and movies.
Internet2 researchers once demonstrated they can download a DVD-quality copy of The Matrix in 30 seconds over the network, a feat they said would take roughly 25 hours over the Internet, Associated Press reports.
The Motion Picture Association of America said it will also file an unspecified number of lawsuits against Internet2 users.
The recording industry said some students were illegally sharing as many as 13 600 music files and that the average number of songs offered illegally by the students was 2 300 each.
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