ITUNES

After three years of holding out, hard rockers Metallica are now allowing individual song downloads from their albums on Apple's iTunes Music Store.

Microsoft's might, and cash flow, will go up against Apple's iPod in the digital music and player markets.

Facebook.com, the online social networking site, announced on Tuesday that it would give away 10 million music samplers to students returning back to school.

Motorola Inc. said on Tuesday it would start selling the Motofone, its thinnest phone yet in high-growth emerging markets in a bid to compete better against bigger rival Nokia.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group on Tuesday became the latest division of a major Hollywood studio to offer television shows, including the hit sitcom Friends, for sale on Apple Computer Inc's iTunes Web site.

Microsoft Corp. officials made official last Friday that the software giant is readying a portable music device, quelling rampant speculation. Though the new device, dubbed Zune, benefits from the technical expertise and financial backing of the software-giant, it needs more than technical success to hurdle competition.

Motorola Inc. on Monday unveiled several new handsets, including the Krzr and the Rizr, which are narrower than its flagship Razr.

According to one industry analyst, the new iPods from Apple Inc. will feature a host of advanced features, but may be stymied by delays.

Microsoft Corp. officials for the first time have confirmed that the software giant is readying a portable music player and integrated service, shedding new light on a topic that has fueled rampant speculation in news reports and blog postings for weeks.

Now might be a good time to put the Apple back into the investor's cart.

Apple Computer Inc. is in talks with most of Hollywood's studios to offer movie downloads via its popular online iTunes Music Store, show business newspaper Daily Variety reported on Monday.

Apple Computer Inc., maker of the ubiquitous iPod media player, was given an ultimatum on Monday to change the song download terms and conditions of its iTunes online download shop, having been found to have broken a local consumer protection law.

Myspace.com, one of the Internet's fastest growing websites, will begin to offer Fox's popular 24 series as a download through its site next week.

Japanese Web and telecom conglomerate Softbank Corp. is working with Apple Computer Inc. to develop mobile telephones with built-in iPod music players, Nikkei reported on Friday.