Microsoft has just released a Windows CE-based MS Audio 4.0 player, made by Casio, (at http://www.wired.com/news/news/business/story/19121.html). They're throwing their hat into the MP3/mobile audio ring and competing against the Diamond RIO. Although the introduction of a new audio format isn't always a good idea, the new format is half the size of MP3 files and offers more security for recording artists. Microsoft also recently invested $5 million into Audible, which further bolsters the Windows CE/audio connection. And as new Windows CE devices like the Casio E-100 offer powerful audio and video functions (including stereo headphone jacks), CE is poised to take the audio world by storm.

Personally, I've often wished for a way to get all these devices talking to each other, some way to eliminate the complexity and slowness of using them. And as a music-lover, moving towards 100% digital content is an exciting step.

With the new MS Audio 4.0 and UPnP initiative from Microsoft, this may all yet become a reality!

For more than 20 years, David Gewirtz, the author of Where Have All The Emails Gone? and The Flexible Enterprise, has analyzed current, historical, and emerging issues relating to technology, competitiveness, and policy. David is the Editor-in-Chief of the ZATZ magazines, is the Cyberterrorism Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, and is a member of the instructional faculty at the University of California, Berkeley extension. He can be reached at david@zatz.com.