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According to a new report, the number of adults going online to access music-related content has exploded in the few months, increasing 48% between December 1999 and March 2000. These numbers are based on recent findings released by market analysts Cyber">http://www.cyberdialogue.com">Cyber Dialogue, who say that "The dramatic growth in online music users can be attributed to the media's newfound obsession with Napster, Gnutella, and MP3. When combined with a marked increase in online music offerings and the proliferation of file-sharing software, the increase in demand for online music makes perfect sense."

Online music is inching its way toward commercial viability.

Musician, martial artist, and electronics whiz Ben Blish has loved audio since he was a little kid staring into the glowing tubes of his father's Scott hi-fi equipment. Thirty-four years after catching the bug, he still nurtures it daily.

Last week, the Consumer">http://www.cemacity.org">Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA) announced its forecast that Internet sales of traditional consumer technologies to online households should reach at least $14 billion by 2002, representing 13% of total industry volume. CEMA also revealed that consumer">http://www.eBrain.org">consumer research shows interest in buying consumer technologies online should grow by at least 135% in the next two years. The study found that the vast majority of online shoppers opt to consummate the purchase online instead of at a retail store because of price.

Saturday, March 17, 1–6pm: Fidelis AV (14 E. Broadway, Derry, New Hampshire) will host an open house to introduce loudspeakers from Stenheim and Zellaton and turntables Holborne. Gideon Schwartz of Audioarts, US importer for the brands, and Walter Swanbon of Fidelis AV will be on hand to answer questions. Refreshments will be served. For more info, e-mail info@fidelisav.com or call (603) 437-4769.

Crescendo Fine Audio (6760 West 38th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033) will be hosting a digital music seminar 4:00–8:00pm on Saturday, March 14, featuring products by Dynaudio and Plinius Audio. Dynaudio representative Mick Tillman will be on hand to explain the digital technology implemented into the Dynaudio Focus XD (pictured above at the 2015 CES with Dynaudio founder Wilfried Ehrenholz) and Xeo loudspeaker ranges. These will be demonstrated with a variety of sources, showing off the speakers’ wireless and hard-wired functionality and capabilities.

In the world of computer operating systems, you've got commercial products from Microsoft, Apple, Be, Sun, and others in one corner, and open-source products like Linux in the other. The commercial products are released to the public as finished products (at least until the next "bug fix" is ready), usually for a fee, and their core software code is protected much like the recipe for Coca-Cola. If you don't work for the company producing the official version, then it's hands off.