NETBOOKS IT'S A FREE FOR ALL; Stripped-down mini laptops with inbuilt on-the-go internet access - and the whole bundle paid for on monthly subscription. Clever...(Features)

HP COMPAQ MINI 700 ***

Orange: [pounds sterling]34 per month, 5GB data, 24-month contract Display 10.2in CPU 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 RAM 1GB Hard disk 60GB OS Windows XP Battery life 3hrs Bigger bandwidth comes at a price, but Orange has other cheaper deals. The Mini is well designed, but doesn't have much space to store your MP3s and videos. But then, that's what your iPod's for.

DELL INSPIRON MINI 10 ****

Vodafone (via thelink.co.uk): [pounds sterling]25 per month, 3GB data, 24-month contract Display 10.1in CPU 1.33GHz Intel Atom Z520 RAM 1GB Hard disk 160GB OS Windows XP Battery life 5hrs The Inspiron doesn't have the longest battery life, and its processor is the slowest here, but it's fully featured, with an HDMI port enabling output to an HDTV, and an SD memory-card reader.

ASUS EEE PC 1000H GO *****

Orange: [pounds sterling]29 per month, 3GB data, 24-month contract Display 10.1in CPU 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 RAM 1GB Hard disk 160GB OS Windows XP Battery life 7hrs Asus's 'Go' Eee PCs have an on-board 3G data connection. With a battery life of up to seven hours, this is a trusty travel companion, and the Applestyle multi-touch trackpad gives you intuitive control.

VIRGIN FREEDOM ****

Virgin: [pounds sterling]28 per month (overall), 1GB data, 24-month contract, comes with 10MB home broadband (and requires Virgin phone line, [pounds sterling]11 per month) Display 10.2in CPU 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 RAM 1GB Hard disk 120GB OS Windows XP Battery life 4hrs Virgin's laptop looks and performs much like the others - the eye-opener is the bundle deal. This is a set-up for fast home and mobile broadband.

ASUS EEE PC 904HD ***

T-Mobile: [pounds sterling]20 per month, 3GB data, unlimited texts, 24-month contract Display 8.9in CPU 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 RAM 1GB Hard disk 80GB OS Windows XP Battery life 5.4hrs T-Mobile's deal gives you unlimited texts from your PC. The 3GB data allowance is also very reasonable, but you'll need to plug in a USB dongle - the 904HD is the only netbook here that doesn't have a data connection built-in.

SAMSUNG NC10 ****

Vodafone: [pounds sterling]25 per month, 1GB data ([pounds sterling]30 for 3GB), 24-month contract Display 10.2in CPU 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 RAM 1GB Hard disk 160GB OS Windows XP Battery life 8hrs A netbook that's quickly established itself as a well-loved classic, the NC10 is stylish and efficient and offers a generous amount of storage space, comparable to that of a full laptop.

HP PAVILION DV2-1010 ***

3 (via thelink.co.uk): [pounds sterling]40 per month, 15GB data, 250 texts per month, 24-month contract Display 12.1in CPU 1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 RAM 1GB Hard disk 160GB OS Windows Vista Battery life 4hrs More of a laptop than a netbook, this is the most powerful model here, with a DVD burner and a very generous data allowance. It's not cheap, though.

InfoNow to deploy Internet-based locating and mapping service for NationsBank.

AURORA, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 26, 1996--InfoNow Corporation (symbol: INOW) announced today the signing of an agreement whereby InfoNow will deploy its FindNow(SM) Internet-based, real-time locating and relational mapping service in support of the NationsBank Internet site (www.nationsbank.com).

The FindNow(SM) service enables consumers to use the Internet to conveniently and quickly find the physical locations of companies and services. Once a consumer is logged on to the Internet, from home, the office, a laptop in a hotel, or anywhere, he or she will be asked for his or her location, such as a street address or nearest cross streets.

FindNow(SM) is designed to then quickly identify the closest service center, branch office, ATM, retail outlet, or any physical location a company wishes to post, and provide a map showing the user how to get to the identified address. InfoNow designed the service so that it may be customized to integrate seamlessly into a company's existing Internet site.

Don Sawyer, Senior Vice President, NationsBank commented, "The Internet represents an important customer service vehicle for NationsBank. InfoNow's FindNow(SM) service will not only provide us with leading-edge locating and mapping capabilities today but also the ability to expand and enhance these capabilities in the future."

"We have worked hard to develop an easy-to-use, Internet-based locating and mapping technology which provides consumers with an accurate, complete and fast response to a specific question. We're excited that NationsBank has selected FindNow(SM) to enhance its customer service," said Michael Johnson, President and CEO of InfoNow.

The FindNow(SM) service helps consumer companies provide their customers with improved customer service at a greatly reduced cost relative to traditional 800 number-based approaches. In addition, FindNow(SM) is designed to help a company better understand the market and consumers it serves. The FindNow(SM) service can provide valuable customer demand and location information which can be used as input to a company's tactical and strategic planning processes as well as for immediate location-based promotion and advertising.

InfoNow Corporation develops software tools and services to enable leading companies to provide customer service via the Internet. InfoNow's World Wide Web address is www.infonow.com.

CONTACT: InfoNow Corp., Aurora

Kevin Andrew, 303/368-4646

kandrew@infonow.com

Internet song of the year partners with Broadjam.com.(DIGI GRAMS)

Internet Song of the Year, a contest site for the music industry, has partnered with independent music producer services site Broadjam.com. The agreement lets Broadjam.com host www.internet-songoftheyear.com's contest on its site. The contestant who wins the Internet Song of the Year title receives over $100,000 worth of prizes plus exposure to recording studios and music labels.

Elderly cinema buffs' movie terror error horror.(News)

Nude scenes of Kim Basinger and Jeff Bridges have shocked a group of elderly cinemagoers, who were expecting to see a different film.

Fishguard's friendship circle had been looking forward to My House in Umbria, a drama about a group of friends coping after a terrorist attack - Dame Maggie Smith at her best.

What greeted them on the silver screen instead was Bridges's character Ted wandering around the house naked, while his wife Marion, played by Basinger (pictured), embarked on a racy relationship with his young colleague.

It was more than many members could stomach, and some walked out.

An internet review said of the film, 'Ted hires fresh-faced college student Eddie as his assistant. But before you can say Mrs Robinson, Marion's teaching the boy to do more than just proofread.'

It transpired the original film had been damaged and had to be replaced.

Theatre Gwaun manager Mel Lucking told the County Echo in Fishguard, 'We decided to get another film which was offered to us by the distributors in London. We though that would be better than no film. What might seem appropriate to someone in London need not necessarily be appropriate to someone in West Wales.

'The more elderly did not like the film, but the ones in their fifties and sixties found it more interesting.

'It seems you cannot please everyone all the time.'

Friendship Circle secretary Susan Neil said, 'There were a lot of naked scenes - the film started off with one.

'Some of our members walked out because they could not make head or tale of it.

'A few decided to stay right until the end.

'Although we have 60 members we didn't have all that many there, thank goodness.'

EA Waives a Condition on Its Offer for Shares of Digital Illusions.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. & STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Electronic Arts Holding AB ("EA") (Nasdaq:ERTS) today declared its decision to waive one of the conditions in its offer to the shareholders of Digital Illusions CE AB (publ) ("DICE").

The offer had previously been conditioned upon EA becoming the owner of more than 50 percent of the total number of shares representing more than 50 percent of the capital and votes in DICE after dilution upon exercise of employee warrants outstanding under the option program launched in 2002. Even though the extended acceptance period has not yet expired and the calculation of the outcome of the offer has not yet been made, EA has decided to waive the above-mentioned condition for the offer.

This means that EA will acquire all the shares tendered in the offer, regardless of whether EA reaches the 50 percent threshold (assuming that the acquisition is not hindered or rendered more difficult by circumstances beyond EA's control).

The acceptance period will end on January 20, 2005, and EA does not intend to extend it any further. Payment to shareholders that have tendered, or will tender their shares before the acceptance period expires, is expected to be distributed beginning on or about January 27, 2005.

The other terms and conditions of the offer remain unchanged.

EA reserves the right to acquire additional shares of DICE in the market.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, EA posted revenues of USD 2.96 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004. The company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers and the Internet. In 2003, EA had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA markets its products under three brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA GAMES(TM) and EA SPORTS BIG(TM).

For more information, visit EA's homepage and online game site at http://www.ea.com.

About Digital Illusions

Founded in 1992, Digital Illusions is an award-winning developer of interactive entertainment based in Stockholm, Sweden, with offices in New York and London, Ontario Canada. The company has more than 200 employees and develops games in basically all existing platforms. Recent titles include Battlefield 1942 (elected Game of The Year) and Battlefield Vietnam for Electronic Arts, RalliSport Challenge 1 & 2 for the Microsoft Xbox. Digital Illusions' Series A share is listed on Nya Marknaden (an unofficial marketplace where smaller companies' shares can be traded in the Stockholm Stock Exchange's trading system, SAXESS) under the symbol DICE A.

For more information, visit Digital Illusions' homepage at http://www.dice.se.

Forward Looking Statements

Some statements set forth in this release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Statements including words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect" or "hope" and statements in the future tense are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and actual events or actual future results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. Some of the factors which could cause such forward-looking statements to differ materially from expectations include the following: the possibility that EA's acquisition of DICE will not be completed or that the completion may be hindered or delayed; and other factors described in EA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2004 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. Neither EA nor DICE intend to update these forward-looking statements.

Missed on Hallmark? Sold on eBay.(Through The Wire)(Hallmark Channel)(Internet auction)

Weird things crop up all the time on the Internet auction site eBay. The Wire has wondered before just who would post such ephemera as transcripts from the annual Television Critics Association meetings with stars.

We're even more curious as to who would buy such things.

But the trend continues, and has now taken a more alarming bend. Some of the cyber-vendors are posting press kits for sale, including the VHS or DVD copies of the programs the kits are meant to promote.

Where's lack Valenti when you need him?

Networks--like Motion Picture Association of America chief Valenti's movie studios--are concerned about the trend, because they anticipate an aftermarket for their original fare when they release the DVDs, on their own schedule, after the cable window.

Recent press screeners offered for sale last week included episodes of Lifetime's Intimate Portrait series featuring Vanna White; Hallmark Channel's Life on Liberty Street, which was offered for sale just one day after it debuted on the basic network; and episodes of State of Play on BBC America.

Allison Green, publicist for BBC America, said that net was aware of the auction. "Obviously, it's something we don't condone," she said. "We send out press materials to a range of media contacts in good faith."

Pam Slay, vice president of publicity for Hallmark Channel, notified of the Liberty auction by a reporter, was dismayed how fast her net's film cropped up on eBay. "Who knew that finishing our originals so close to their air date would be a good thing?" she quipped.

"We don't want a digital copy of anything out there," she added, saying Hallmark plans a commercial release of that same DVD in the future.

Howling For a Dick Wolf Net

At last Wednesday's unveiling of the new NBC Universal setup, chairman and CEO Bob Wright was extolling its original and library content.

"Don't forget The Dick Wolf Crime Channel," Wright joked, looking at the Law & Order lord, who'd just signed a new pact to extend his three extant franchises on NBC and add a fourth this fall.

Well, what about it, Dick? "I don't know about the Dick Wolf Channel, but with Law & Order and other product from the Universal library, we certainly could put out a 24-hour channel without repeats," Wolf said after the press conference.

Any such channel, presumably, would have to air sans original Law & Order installments: Turner Network Television holds cable rights to the drama through 2012.

While encore installments of L&O: Criminal Intent and L&O: Special Victims Unit are bolstering USA Network's ratings, would Wolf consider producing an original series for the cable network or others in NBC Universal's stable?

Wolf's more pragmatic than to jump at that bait.

"We don't look to produce something specific for Sci Fi, USA, Bravo or NBC," he patiently explained. "Certainly, at certain price points the show won't work for some networks, but it is our goal to get and keep shows on the air."

'Two Dozen Cram For Charity Cash

Well, Trio has found the answer: It takes 26 cable executives to stuff a DeLorean.

The arts network displayed the classically failed car in its booth at the National Show and vowed to donate $200 for every conventioneer who agreed to cram in.

Given this was for charity, the definition of "in" was quite liberal. The net even counted those caressing the stainless steel skin.

Among those piling into and onto the car were Dennis Mangers, senior vice president of the California Cable Telecommunications Association, and Steve Villano, president and CEO of Cable Positive, which benefited from the stunt.

The booth event ended up earning $5,200 for Cable Positive, the industry's anti-AIDS initiative.

The car is not just a trade show decoration. As noted in a previous Wire, it has aftermarket value. Trio's going to offer up the snappy wheels as the prize in a national consumer sweepstakes.

Google. (Internet Search Engine Update).(Buys Applied Semantics)(Brief Article)

Google has purchased Applied Semantics (formerly Oingo). While this purchase appears to be more related to Google's role as an advertising agent, particularly for its content-targeted advertising, there may be some future impact on the search side as well. Google News has expanded beyond the U.S. and now is available at the international Google sites for Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and the U.K. The other news sites show different stories on its front page, but search results are the same in each and still are limited to English-language sources. Google News no longer supports advanced syntax like cache: (to pull up a cached news story) or site: (to limit to a specific publication). For title searching, intitle: still works.