Online MUSIC swapping service Napster suspended its music file transfer system last week to allow the introduction of new file identification software. The step was to facilitate Napster's new subscription-based system which is due at the end of the summer. The new software will help stamp out the illegal trading of copyrighted material over the Web. It was not clear how long the maintenance work on Napster would take.
Napster promised to introduce the fee-based service after a mammoth US court battle and subsequent ruling against the website. The new software can recognise each piece of music, without using artist name or song title, and give it a unique code. Therefore misspelling the title of the song will not fool it.
Napster was sued by record companies for copyright infringement for allowing computer users to swap songs for free. Those using the site must now download a new version of Napster to continue accessing songs. The sweeping changes at Napster are good news for sites, such as AudioGalaxy, which still offer free music downloads.
More cuts: Irish Internet security company Baltimore Technologies announced it would cut a significant number of jobs to help cut costs. In a statement it said global restructuring would cause a reduction in staffing and that trading conditions remained challenging. In May, the group announced 250 job cuts in a restructuring programme which would bring savings of about 20 million. A company spokeswoman said the exact number of jobs to go would be announced in August. Baltimore employs around 1,200 workers globally. Shares in Baltimore closed at 25p last week - well below peaks of around £13.00 set in March 2000.
Mail domination: Forty two per cent of business Web users in the US check their e-mail while on holidays, a survey has shown. The study by Gartner also shows that 23 per cent access their e-mail from home at the weekend. Fifty three per cent of those questioned said they check their e-mail at least six times a day while in the office, while 34 per cent checked it constantly. Business Web users spend an average of 49 minutes each day dealing with e-mail, the survey revealed.
Netting The Prize: The deputy sports editor of ireland.com Noel O'Reilly was runner up in the Internet Journalist of the Year category of the NetMedia European Online Journalism awards, which were announced in London on Thursday.
O'Reilly was second in the category for his live coverage of the Paralympic Games in Sydney. David Green of Need to Know took the top spot in this category.
The BBC and the Guardian dominated the prizes but Irish technology news service ElectricNews.net was joint winner of the Best Use of Multimedia category. A full list of winners is available at: www.net-media.co.uk/awards/winners.asp.
Phone case: A self-employed landscaper in the US is suing mobile makers Motorola and Sony whose devices he says caused his two brain tumors. Gibb Brower (41) - who has been given one year to live - says he used the phones for business after receiving reassurance from phone sellers they were safe. Scientists differ on the possible link between mobile phones and cancer.
G'day China: An Australian government website is back online after complaints of censorship to Chinese authorities. The site (www.dfat.gov.au) was inaccessible for 18 months, except briefly during the visit to China of Australia's communications minister, until the intervention by Australian officials. China denied the site was censored saying it was off-line because of technical problems. Late last year, China introduced new bans on Web use, targeting information that it believes may damage the country's unification policy, endanger national security or subvert the government.
Apple Drops: Apple has suspended the production of the Power Mac G4 Cube saying there is a small chance it will reintroduce an upgraded model in the future.
Apple introduced the Cube last year, but sales were hit by its price and public perceptions the computer was slower than competitors. There were also complaints that the computer's plastic casing was prone to cracking.
War-Fare: The online air fare booking market heated up in Ireland last week with the expansion of British airline Go. Bookings are now available on Go's website www.go-fly.com, for flights to Edinburgh staring in September. The development offers increased competition for the Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) and the recent offering from Aer Lingus (www.aerlingus.com).