SA`s Netsurit on MS advisory council

SA IT outsourcing provider Netsurit has been nominated as a member of the Microsoft Small and Mid-Market Solutions Partner Advisory Council, a body of 22 international members focused on guiding other partners with Microsoft in this specific market space. The first council meeting took place last month in Seattle.

"To be considered, candidates had to be 'SMS&P` specialists, comprehending and commenting on a myriad of small and mid-market areas, including sales, marketing and technical information," says Orrin Klopper, Netsurit MD.

Netsurit was the only South African company nominated to the council.

The International Herald Tribune reports that digital music download service Napster made an unexpected debut in the UK yesterday - somewhat sooner than had been expected. Napster`s music download and song-streaming service will offer 700 000 songs within the next month, with downloads costing lb1.09 per track, while monthly subscribers will pay 99 pence a track.

Its main rival, On Demand Distribution of Britain, announced earlier yesterday that it would cut its download prices in half for its biggest retail partners in a bid to keep a lock on its market-leading position in Europe.

PC World reports that Sony has unveiled a portable LCD TV that needs no tether to a cable or antenna connection, and is so portable it even has a built-in handle. Sony introduced two models of its LocationFree Portable Broadband TV at the Home Entertainment Expo in New York this week.

The flagship 12.1-inch LF-X1 model, weighing slightly over 2kg, with a screen resolution of 800 by 600, will sell for $1 500. Its 7-inch junior, the LF-X5, has a screen resolution of 800 by 480 and will be priced at $1 000, according to Sony representatives.

Wired Magazine`s first NextFest has wrapped up in San Francisco, giving visitors a look at the most innovative technology planned for the future. Thousands of people visited the exhibition to see over 100 innovations from inventors and research and development labs around the world.

Among the inventions on show were a flying, driving Skycar; an invisible cloak; HP`s new translating camera, which translates street signs; computer-controlled prosthetic limbs; and a Fogscreen, a thin, smooth vapour onto which an image is projected.