Microsoft is set to unveil the latest version of its media playback software on Thursday, giving its partners powerful new tools for selling digital entertainment services even as it launches its own music download store. With Windows Media Player 10, Microsoft hopes to leapfrog competitors such as Apple Computer and RealNetworks with some novel features, …

As Microsoft focuses on its music store and digital media software, Apple talks bucks and BMWs–and gets in some digs at its new rival. MSN Music is off-key, Apple says The creator of the iPod and iTunes sounds off on its new rival in music downloads. September 2, 2004 Creative adds MP3 players to take on iPod Will twice as …

Apple Computer announced Wednesday that it will offer commissions to third-party sites that drive customers to its iTunes online music store. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company said that the iTunes Affiliate Program will allow Web sites to link directly to specific content stored in iTunes’ digital archives, and will pay dividends to those companies that can help Apple generate downloads. The …

ASPEN, Colo.–Electronics manufacturers and some Internet providers are mounting a counterattack to a copyright bill intended to ban peer-to-peer networks and that could also imperil devices like Apple Computer’s iPod. That measure, called the Induce Act, has been widely panned by the technology industry. Now some groups, including SBC Communications, Verizon Communications and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), are fighting …

Microsoft is expected to enter the online song store market this week, which should put the software giant head-to-head with Apple Computer in the music business at last. The launch of Microsoft’s iTunes rival will be timed along with the beta release of Microsoft’s new Windows Media Player 10, expected on Thursday, sources say. The store will also be in …

Popular file-trading networks such as Kazaa and Morpheus would be outlawed under a new bill that enjoys broad support from top Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate. Their legislation says “whoever intentionally induces any violation” of copyright law would be legally liable for those violations, a prohibition that would effectively ban file-swapping networks and could also imperil some consumer …

A combination of authorized music services and lawsuits is helping to control illegal file swapping on campuses, a joint entertainment industry-university group said Tuesday. In the last year, more than 20 schools have signed up for deeply discounted access to music services such as Napster, MusicNet and RealNetworks’ Rhapsody, the Joint Committee of the Higher Education and Entertainment Communities said …

RealNetworks said Tuesday that it sold more than 1 million songs in the first week of its half-price online music promotion. The company cut its price to 49 cents per song last week, down from the 99 cents charged by most stores including Apple Computer’s iTunes, in part to advertise its new Harmony technology that allows songs to be played …

A group of record labels announced on Tuesday plans to introduce a new disc format later this year that combines CD and DVD technology. The consortium, which includes major labels EMI Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, said the DualDisc product has a full album on a CD side of the disc and the …

Another group of colleges is getting access to cut-rate digital music subscriptions, care of MusicNet and partner Cdigix. Cdigix, which offers packages of video, music and educational services to schools, said it will distribute MusicNet subscriptions to students at Marietta College, Ohio University, the Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Denver, Wake Forest and Yale University beginning this fall. …

Sharman Networks, Australian parent company of the file-sharing software developer Kazaa, is rejoicing at the U.S. court ruling that two similar peer-to-peer programs, Grokster and Morpheus, do not violate copyright law. However, the company concedes that the ruling is unlikely to have any effect on a music copyright-infringement case currently going through the courts in Australia. News.blog Our reporters’ take …

RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser has survived longer than most in the Internet business, largely by pulling rabbits out of his hat when the competition least expects it. Glaser’s latest surprise came a few weeks ago when RealNetworks announced it had figured out a way to re-create Apple Computer’s proprietary technology for digital rights management–without Apple’s permission. This allowed RealNetworks to …

roundup RealNetworks aims to build up the audience for its musical offerings with a half-price sale and the release of its Harmony software. Also: Rob Glaser wants to bring compatibility to Apple. Company offers 49-cent tunes and releases Harmony, the software that has Apple up in arms. August 17, 2004 newsmaker RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser has big plans for his …

RealNetworks on Tuesday kicked off a high-profile digital music marketing campaign, highlighting the new iPod-compatible technology that has swung the company into conflict with Apple Computer. For a limited time, RealNetworks will offer song downloads from its music store for 49 cents, along with half-price albums. A nationwide print, radio and Web marketing campaign will promote the offer, along with …

reader feedback RealNetworks created a dilemma for Apple Computer fans when it “reverse engineered” Apple’s iPod digital music player, putting two of the tech community’s most passionate loves–for Apple and interoperability–at loggerheads. CNET News.com asked: Which side wins out? The responses came down fairly heavily on Apple’s side, though it was hard to tell whether that reflected agreement with the …