MICROSOFT: TALK TO THE HAND

While the industry frets about songs on computers, tech innovators are readying next-gen handheld devices that will play MP3 files, organize your life and talk to you about your commitment problem..

Microsoft—which has faltered thus far in the PDA market dominated by Palm—has launched the newest version of its Pocket PC software, which integrates the ability to play audio files and video clips (among other neato features) into the two-year-old app.

Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Casio and Symbol Systems are slated to provide the hardware, at least some of which will allegedly incorporate long-touted wireless apps like Bluetooth.

Whether the Windows CE O/S will finally take root thanks to the added ability to crank up those A Flock of Seagulls tunes while you delete spam e-mails remains to be seen.