Yahoo enters online music fray

Yahoo has announced plans to launch its own online music service by the end of the year.

China Radio International reports that the company has been developing music playing software as well as a new paid downloading service for over a year.

Subscribers to Musicmatch - a musical Web site purchased by Yahoo for $160 million (R1 billion) - will soon be transferred to Yahoo as well, xinhuanet reports. While no specific information is available on the service, the company says it plans to be a major player in the field.

The online music industry is becoming increasingly competitive, with players such as Microsoft and Apple challenging for market position in the fledgling industry.

Microsoft SA is warning users of a code that seeks to exploit vulnerabilities addressed as part of last week`s security update.

The software giant says reports that the code is being made available on the Internet are to be considered serious, and is urging users to install the MS04-028 update, as well as the other critical updates provided on 14 September. Customers who have installed and deployed the security bulletin critical security update are not at risk, says the company.

Users who suspect their computers may have been attacked can call 0860 225567 or visit www.microsoft.com/southafrica/security.

Samsung Electronics has claimed breakthroughs in key technologies that promise greater data storage and faster processing for computers and mobile devices such as MP3 audio players.

AFP reports that Samsung has developed the industry`s first 60nm 8Gb NAND Flash memory chip used for data storage, which will allow storage of up to 16 hours of DVD quality video or 4 000 MP3 audio files or songs on a single memory card.

"For the first time in the industry, we have succeeded in commercialising next-generation 60-nano technology," the company says.

A second breakthrough concerns its development of the first 2Gb DDR2 SDRAM by using existing 80nm micro-processing technology. The high density, double-data-rate or DDR2 chip will enhance server and workstation performance and enable faster deployment of memory-intensive applications such as real-time video conferences, remote medical services, two-way communications and 3D graphics, it says.

Many companies are looking to tap into the gaming potential of increasingly powerful cellphones, with multiplayer the latest draw card.

According to AP, gamers can face real people in space battles or fishing tournaments on their phone. Until recently, multiplayer on cellphone games meant at most posting high scores on a leader board.

Gartner says handset sales have increased 35% in the second quarter, with newer phones offering greater functionality. The demand for games is increasing as users realise what their phones can do, says Mattew Bellows, VP of game review site Wgamer.com.

"The fundamental truth is that these are network computers, and a common thing that everybody likes to do is play games," says Bellows.

Meanwhile, Electronic Arts - the largest video game publisher - is expanding its array of cellphone games for consumers in North and South America and Europe.