October 2001

Windows XP Official Drivers
October 27, 2001

As Microsoft revs the marketing machine for the launch of Windows XP, Creative releases drivers for some Live! models. However, the 1st generation cards (CT4620 and CT4670) and 2nd generation Live! cards (the retail models using the CT4760 card) will only have the enhanced drivers at the end of November. Drivers for the Audigy, Live! 5.1 and OEM Live! models CT483x and CT478x are available now.

Creative's Q2 Sales Figures
October 27, 2001

Creative Asia: Press Release
CNET Singapore: Creative sees Q2 sales of up to S$240m

Windows XP 5.1.2601.0 Drivers at Windows Update
October 25, 2001

Jeffrey Lephew sends us this screen capture of the latest drivers available at Windows Update.

Live! 5.12.01.3511 Drivers?
October 24, 2001

Electic Tech has an unofficial driver set that works with Windows XP as well. We have not tested this, so if you have tried them, let us know so that we can confirm the validity of these drivers. Thanks to Andreas R.P., Aokromes, Chris Dekter, Andy Pesch, and Ulf.

Compaq 5.1 WinXP Drivers
October 24, 2001

Jonathan G. Weston mailed us what he came across at Compaq:

SP19164.EXE - 68026954K - August 14, 2001
TITLE: Presario Sound Blaster 5.1 Driver for Windows XP
VERSION: 5.12.1.3507
LANGUAGE: Multiple

PRODUCTS AFFECTED: Presario 5000t, 3300JP, 3301EU, 3304JP, 3608JP, 3612JP, 3616JP, 3622JP, 3634JP, 4100EU, 4100US, 4101AP, 4101EA, 4101LA, 4102EU, 4102LA, 4103EA, 4103SC, 5000LA, 5000T-5BW, 5000T-5BWM21, 5000T-5BWN21, 5000Z-5UV, 5000Z-5UVM21, 5002LB, 5003US, 5004LA, 5004LB, 5005SR, 5006US, 5008SR, 5008US, 5009CL, 5009SR, 5010US, 5012US, 5090US, 5100AN, 5100CA, 5100JP, 5100RS, 5100TC, 5100US, 5101AP, 5101CA, 5101EA, 5101TH, 5102AN, 5102AP, 5102AU, 5102CA, 5102EA, 5102LA, 5102LB, 5102RS, 5102SR, 5102US, 5103AN, 5103AP, 5103AU, 5103CA, 5103EA, 5103SC, 5104AN, 5104AP, 5104AU, 5104CA, 5104EA, 5104LA, 5104LB, 5104RS, 5104SC, 5104SR, 5104TC, 5104TH, 5104US, 5105TH, 5106LA, 5112JP, 5141AP, 7PLK11, 7PLK12, 7000A-7RPM1C, 7000A-7QSM1C, 7000T-7EL, 7000T-7ELM21, 7000T-7ELN21, 7000T-7RP, 7000T-7RPM11, 7000Z-7AP, 7000Z-7APM31, 7000Z-7APN31, 7000Z-7PL, 7000Z-7PLK11, 7000Z-7PLK12, 7000Z-7PLM11, 7000Z-7QS, 7000Z-7QSM11, 7000Z-7QSM1A, 7100LA, 7100US, 7102CA, 7102EA, 7102LA, 7102US, 7103EA, 7104CA

More information available from Compaq. Click here to download directly.

The Digital Music Battle Rages On
October 24, 2001

Someone breaks Microsoft's DRM technology used to protect Windows Audio files. Microsoft is looking to invoke the controversial DMCA. More: WinInfo

RIAA looks for more controversy by taking advantage of the antiterrorism laws to incite lawmakers to protect copyright holders for causing harm to computers in the name of copyright protection. (I think they could very well format your hard drive and you'd not be able to do anything about it. "Sorry, but your drive had unlicensed MP3 files.") More: ZDNet, The Register

MusicNet Technology Preview
October 20, 2001

TechTV takes a look at MusicNet's technology and what you can expect from the digital music download service that is backed by several of the bigwigs in the recording industry. Will people warm up to it?

New AV Interconnect Standard
October 20, 2001

A consortium of companies expanded the DVI interface used for video to make it carry other signals used in audio-visual equipment. More: Stereophile Guide to Home Theater

Creative Singapore's Stocks Soar
October 19, 2001

Stocks of Creative's parent company in Singapore, Creative Technology Limited, jumped up 7% on rumors that it has clinched a contract with Dell. An interesting fact: Dell contributes about 20% of Creative's bottom line, which is made up mostly of the Live! and other Sound Blaster cards. More: CNET Singapore

News Roundup: The MPEG-4 Standard
October 19, 2001

CNET: Tech giants push MPEG-4 standard
CNET: Commentary: MPEG-4 is streaming video

Anti-Piracy CDs
October 11, 2001

The recording industry is making headway to implement anti-piracy CDs features widely. They are now including secure Microsoft Windows Media Audio tracks in addition to the "un-rippable" CD audio tracks. More: ZDNet

Speaker Reviews
October 9, 2001

Our friends at 3DsoundSurge looks at more speaker systems!

• Polk Audio AMR-150 4.1
• Cambridge SoundWorks MegaWorks 210D & 510D Preview

Winamp 2.77
October 8, 2001

The latest version of the most popular MP3 and media player is out! Get it from the official site.

Do You Still Napster?
October 7, 2001

If you do, TechTV has the ultimate Napster clone guide for all your music download needs.

New MiniDisc Technology
October 6, 2001

Finally Sony sees the light and takes MD to the next level with high speed USB to MD transfers dubbed NetMD. Way better than recording to MDs 1x from the Live! Check out this article at ign.

RealNetworks Merges Products
October 3, 2001

RealNetworks will unveil RealOne which combines digital audio management and playback capabilities, similar to Microsoft's Windows Media Player.

ZDNet: RealNetworks turns up the volume
The Register: Real and Napster catch portalitis

News Roundup: Copy Protected CDs
October 1, 2001

The recording industry seems hell bent on preventing us from using audio CDs on our PCs. You may even have to junk your MP3 player in future. Is this getting too much?

TechTV: The Truth About Digital Watermarking
CNET: Universal plans protection for all CDs
ZDNet: Sony tests copy protection on Jackson CD