Neowin.net

Napster will launch a test version of its new service on Thursday which prevents the unauthorized sharing of copyrighted files -- a feature which made the original service popular among users but hated by the recording industry which sued it for copyright infringement.

The test or "beta'' version, which lacks content from the major music labels, will not be open to the public. Instead, it will be offered to 20,000 people randomly selected from a group of more than two million who e-mailed Napster showing interest in participating in the beta test.
Over 100,000 files will be available on Napster for the beta trial. All are currently licensed to the company for free by the mostly small, independent labels who have agreed to work with the service.

Konrad Hilbers, the chief executive of Napster, said in an interview he expected to sign deals with some or all of the major music labels soon and relaunch the full version of Napster sometime toward the end of the first quarter.
"We don't feel total resistance from any of the majors,'' he said. However, he also said the full version would not relaunch unless it did have major label content to offer.

The beta test will be free, but the full version, should the relaunch take place, will cost somewhere between $5 and $10 a month, Hilbers said.
That fee will allow the user 50 downloads per month with no limit on the total number of downloaded files the user can have at any one time.

News source: Yahoo!/Reuters

Auditing the Auditor

Grassley, who requested the TIGTA report on IRS inventory, called the findings "shocking."

"In just the last three years alone, the IRS is missing approximately 2,300 computers," he wrote.

The TIGTA report, which also found that the IRS lost one firearm and had five stolen in the same three-year-period, said "although the IRS has established procedures to control its inventory of computers, firearms and other sensitive items, it has experienced longstanding difficulties in maintaining reliable and accurate inventory information."

Data Dangers?

Grassley criticized the agency for poor inventory controls going back as far as 1983, and says the loss of computers and their data may put sensitive information at risk.

"Because of the lack of information it is unknown to what extent, if any, taxpayer information may be inappropriately released," Grassley wrote.

Issued in late November, the TIGTA report states "the IRS reported that, to its knowledge, no missing computers contained classified data or had an internal secure modem installed."

Mathis told NewsFactor that none of the computers in question have compromised taxpayer information.

Finders Keepers

Mathis told NewsFactor that of the 2,300 missing computers mentioned in the report, 1,597 had been accounted for and reported back to TIGTA.

She said the IRS is implementing TIGTA recommendations and that they should be in place by the end of the month, adding that the agency is confident it will eventually be able to account for nearly all of the computers.

"We think most are just accounting issues," she said of the lost computers. "We think we'll eventually account for almost all of them."

Holding Up Funding

Still, Grassley harshly criticizes the IRS, pointing out that a taxpayer would be held accountable for missing receipts.

"Sadly, all this from the IRS -- an agency that requires taxpayers to show every receipt -- [which] can't find 2,300 computers," the Senator wrote. "The IRS wouldn't accept from a taxpayer the non-answer it has given regarding the missing 2,300 computers."

"It is my view that serious consideration should be given to placing a limitation on the IRS budget until there is real improvement -- not real promises -- in inventory management," Grassley wrote.