On the heels of news that Creative will offer smaller capacity versions of its Zen Micro MP3 player, Apple is preparing to debut 1GB and 2GB Flash memory based iPods, along with a larger 5GB iPod mini at Macworld next week. Think Secret reports the slimmed down iPods will run $149 and $199 USD.

Rumors of a Flash based iPod surfaced in December, surrounding news that Sony was releasing MP3-compatible Walkman models offering 512MB and 1GB capacities. According to Think Secret, Apple's new Flash iPod features a screen that is similar in width to the iPod mini's, but two lines shorter. The low-cost device is expected to utilize buttons for controlling tunes, rather than Apple's ClickWheel.

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Opera Software has followed up its 8.0 Windows preview with a beta version of its next Web browser for Linux platforms. Opera 8 for Linux offers similar features touted in its Microsoft brethren, including new usability tools and improved RSS, but leaves out the company's built-in speech technology.

As part of an effort to simplify the user interface of its Web browser, Opera has added a new Start Bar that provides quick access to main features. And to save users from losing work, a trash can remembers closed windows and blocked pop-ups.

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Although it opted not to offer version 6 of its Adobe Reader PDF viewer for Linux, Adobe has once again joined the open source movement with version 7. The company is offering a pre-release program for Adobe Reader 7.0 for Linux, allowing users to sign up and join the beta test. The new Adobe Reader, however, does not support legacy Windows versions including 9x and Me.

Adobe also announced on Thursday the availability of its Acrobat 7.0 line of products, which was introduced in November. New capabilities permit workgroups to use Acrobat 7 and Adobe's PDF format to manage business activities including form building, assembling documents from multiple sources and secure collaboration on projects outside of firewalls.

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MySQL is readying version 5.0 of its open source database, and expects to issue the first beta release by the end of January, the company says. Alpha versions of the upgrade, which offers advanced features such as stored procedures, triggers and views, have been available since last year. MySQL 5.0 was originally slated for a production quality release by the end of 2004, but is now expected later this year.

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RealNetworks has expanded its partnership with leading cable provider Comcast to offer its Internet radio service, called Rhapsody RadioPlus, free of charge to Comcast's 6.5 million broadband subscribers. RadioPlus is an integrated part of Real's Rhapsody jukebox subscription music service.

Rhapsody RadioPlus, which normally runs $5 USD per month, includes 90 radio stations, 30,000 artist-based stations and allows users to build their own custom radio stations. However, if Comcast subscribers wish to search for and listen to a specific song, they must upgrade to the full Rhapsody product that costs $10 USD per month. Real currently boasts 625,000 customers of its music service.

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Not one to miss out on pop culture trends, Playboy has decided to join the portable media bandwagon. The men's magazine has unveiled a new Playboy.com editorial feature called "iBod," which consists of photos optimized for Apple's iPod Photo audio player.

"The overwhelming response we have received for this feature supports our theory that iPod Photo users are a technologically advanced group with a significant interest in enjoying beautiful Playboy images," said John D. Thomas, editor of Playboy.com.

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Refusing to let its rivals at CES 2005 steal the limelight before Macworld next week, Apple has announced it is finally shipping its Xsan file system software as well as a faster Xserve G5.

Xsan was first announced last April and is primarily targeted at video editing and broadcasting, but also can used simply for storage. The 64-bit file system runs atop Mac OS X, supporting simultaneous access and multiple high-bandwidth video streams. By including file-level locking into the file system, Apple says separate clients can read and write data at the same time.

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Entering a new phase in its efforts to modernize its aging brand, Motorola's accessories division will soon unveil a line of winter clothing with built in controls for cell phones and portable music players. Motorola has joined up with snowboard company Burton to develop Bluetooth-enabled jackets, helmets and hats.

The jacket features a device on the sleeve that uses Bluetooth to make and receive calls, as well as change songs on a music player. Removable speakers are built into the hood for easy listening while riding the slopes. Pricing has not yet been announced, but the clothing is expected to hit store shelves in the second half of 2005.

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INTERVIEW Speaking out for the first time on life after AOL/Nullsoft, legendary Winamp creator Justin Frankel sat down with BetaNews to discuss his new endeavors. Starting a new company called Cockos, Frankel is leaving behind the mass market for his musical roots, but hints at revolutionary -- and presumably controversial -- things to come.

BetaNews: Now that you've moved on from Nullsoft you've been working on a number of projects, including the Jesusonic. Tell us a bit about them.

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As balls drop, grapes are eaten and other assorted New Year's festivities begin around the world, BetaNews would like to welcome everyone to 2005, which promises to be an exciting year in technology.

2004 has not ended on an upbeat note for all. We ask that you keep in mind those who have lost their lives, families and loved ones as a result of the tsunami in Asia and east Africa. Donations for victims of the devastation are being accepted through many different channels, and Google has established a Tsunami Relief page that points to a number of these efforts.

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Apple rumor site Think Secret is reporting that the company will unveil a new low-cost iMac at Macworld Expo in January. The new Mac will retail for less than $500 without display and is targeted at iPod users who run Windows, as a way to bring new converts to Apple's offerings.

The new iMac will feature a G4 processor around 1.25GHz, according to Think Secret, with 256MB of RAM and 40GB or 60GB hard drive. Apple is expected to bundle its iLife suite sans iDVD, as the company's SuperDrive DVD recorder is not included in the base model. Current plans at Apple are to ship the new machine late in the first quarter of 2005.

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PERSPECTIVE Here's how Lycos Europe can make amends for its failed anti-spam screensaver idea.

Forget creating software that gives Internet users the ability to launch distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attacks on spammer Web sites. That's just wrong, from both a legal and public-relations standpoint. Instead, the big online service (or its U.S. counterpart) should begin lobbying Congress to beef up CAN-SPAM, the wimpy federal anti-spam law.

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As 2004 winds down, we at BetaNews would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for all of the support we have received from our software authors, downloaders and devoted readers. 2004 has brought incredible changes to BetaNews inside and out, none of which could have been accomplished without you.

While we celebrated our sixth birthday last June with the launch of the new BetaNews, much remains in store for 2005. Work on a refresh of the site is underway, including added features and special member opportunities. We will also continue to improve speed and usability, bringing you the best BetaNews experience possible.

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According to numbers tabulated by Jupiter Research, just as many big businesses are running Windows NT4 Server as they did 10 months ago, indicating adoption of Windows Server 2003 has not caught on as Microsoft had hoped. But Redmond's loss could be Linux's gain say analysts.

There are a number of reasons for businesses not to upgrade nine year-old NT4 servers, notes Jupiter Research senior analyst Joe Wilcox. Many NT4 systems run on older hardware that would not survive a transition to Windows Server 2003. In addition, Windows NT4 continues to perform file and print server functions quite well, despite its age.

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Firing the latest salvo in the online DVD rental war, Blockbuster has announced to customers it will lower monthly pricing by $2.50 to $14.99 USD. The cheaper rate takes effect immediately and will last until at least the end of next year, Blockbuster said. But rival Netflix remained unfazed by the news and has no plans to drop its prices.

Netflix lowered its pricing in November to $17.99 USD when faced with growing competition from Blockbuster and retail giant Wal-Mart. However, Netflix says the latest move by Blockbuster indicates the death of the video store is coming; Blockbuster currently offers in-store subscriptions at $24.99 USD.

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