Reuters reports that Microsoft announced a partnership with OD2 to launch a European online music service.
This new service is reported to be Europe's "first major a la carte online download service."
Starting Thursday, songs are available to UK users of Windows Media Player 9 at a cost of 0.99 euros or 75 pence from a library of 200,000 songs. (Other countries will follow in September.) No monthly subscription fee is required unlike previous European offerings. According to CNet, the new service will be integrated into Windows Media Player's premium services section.
This may represent the product of previous hints from Bill Gates that Microsoft was "exploring ways to develop a music download service similar to Apple Computer's iTunes that would tie into the software giant's multimedia applications".
Apple users are presently unable to use Apple's iTunes Music service outside of the United States. While talks of brining the service to Europe are reportedly underway, one rumor has placed the European launch of Apple's music service into next year.
Monday October 19, 2026 9:37 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple today sent out invites for an experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, and the "Pro and tell" tagline on the invitation likely means that the rumored MacBook models with touch-enabled OLED displays will stick with MacBook Pro branding instead of the once-rumored "MacBook Ultra" name.
The long-rumored "iPhone Ultra" ended up being named iPhone Duo, so speculation that Apple...
Tuesday October 20, 2026 11:12 am PDT by Juli Clover
With just three days to go until the iPhone Duo is released, Apple is getting ready for the launch. Behind the scenes, the App Store now has screenshots of Apple's built-in apps running on the Duo. We've seen some apps in marketing materials, but images of the ones we haven't seen give us an idea of what it will be like using the iPhone Duo day to day.
Many apps are shown in landscape...
Monday October 19, 2026 9:05 am PDT by Juli Clover
Apple's Greg Joswiak today hinted at new product announcements coming next week, sharing a social media post that says "Can't wait to pro and tell next week."
Rumors suggest Apple is planning to debut the new MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen display, an M6 entry-level MacBook Pro, an M6 iMac, an iPad mini with an OLED display.
Can't wait to pro and tell next week....
Apple's first foldable iPhone, with a book-style design featuring a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display with a minimal crease down the middle.