Microsoft confirms plans for potential iPod rival (USA Today)
Microsoft has confirmed it's working on music and entertainment products that are expected to compete with Apple Computer's wildly popular iPod and iTunes music service. Microsoft is planning a series of hardware and software products with the first expected to be available this year. The products will be called Zune.

Linux gains traction in software market (Chicago Tribune)
IBM's backing helps add more followers When IBM introduced a version of Lotus Notes that runs on the desktop computers using the Linux operating system this month, it was a sign of confidence that open-source software is gaining market traction.

Discount Software
We all know that the price of computer software can get pretty steep, and not all people can readily afford to buy them. This is why illegal copies are everywhere. Authorities and software developers are strictly reprimanding organizations and individuals from using pirated copies, but this has not stopped many people from still using replicated software.