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Napster Sings Its Swan Song
Music-swapping pioneer Napster is shutting down after a bankruptcy judge last week blocked the sale of the company to Bertelsmann.
The ruling was the final blow for a company that at one point last year had more than 13 million users. But court battles with major record labels forced it to suspend its operations, and the company was forced into bankruptcy in June. The sale to Bertelsmann was Napsters last chance. The bankruptcy court questioned the loyalties of Napster CEO Konrad Hilbers, a longtime Bertelsmann executive, in negotiating the sale.
At its peak in February 2001, Napster had 13.6 million users, according to ComScore Media Metrix. That had dropped to 896,000 in June, while several music-swapping services gained users.
Survey: Staffs Abuse Net Use
In England, at least, internet and e-mail abuse have become the top disciplinary problems for businesses. According to a survey by KLegal—a London law firm—and Personnel Today magazine, United Kingdom businesses logged 358 disciplinary cases over the last 12 months for Net and e-mail abuse, such as accessing the Net for personal use.
The 358 Internet and e-mail abuse cases were more than the 326 other disciplinary cases that involved matters including dishonesty, violence, and health and safety, according to the study.
Tools for Making Customized Chip
Sure, Intel and AMD have handfuls of fast-running chips. But LSI Logic is turning its attention to supplying low-cost, custom-designed chips.
LSI Logic last week introduced RapidChip, which includes modules and design tools that can be used to build customized chips. Using RapidChip, users will be able to build the chips in about six months, about the time needed using Field Programmable Gate Array and about half the time of an application-specific integrated circuit. It also will cost 10 to 20 percent less than using the other methods, the company said.