SHOCK NEWS: MICROSOFT PLANS TO COPY COMPETITORS' BUSINESS MODELS

Taking time off from trying to make Windows Longhorn able to withstand robust comparison to the Mac OS 8, Microsoft is rumoured to be readying a music subscription service. Asked where the idea came from, a Microsoft employee quickly closed the browser window he had Yahoo's recently launched sub service displayed in, shrugged and said that he thinks some guy in a bar suggested it.

Meanwhile, Nestle in the US is supposedly giving away unlimited downloads to people who buychocolate bars with a winning message inside. (Their website helpfully points out "Hint: Winning wrappers can only be found in specially marked NESTLÉ CRUNCH®, BUTTERFINGER®, BABY RUTH® and 100 GRAND® bars.") What the promotion doesn't tell you, though, is you're not actually being given anything, as all you'll get is a Napster To Go subsxiption - which means after those 12 months are up, you have to pump Napster with cash or your music will evaporate. In other words, the great competition prize is basically on a par with being allowed to listen to the radio for a year.

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