Nuggets: MP3 stuff galore

Nuggets is a daily update on the latest software and hardware releases provided by our very own gadget man, Mr Justin Pearse. At the end of the month we will provide a roundup of our favourites which you could win in our monthly Nuggets competition.

Heard a rumour about a plan for a new gadget or software? Seen a device on your travels you'd like to know more about? Tell 'Nuggets' and we'll get you the facts.

RioGeo broadens Rio appeal

A major limitation of Diamond's Rio MP3 player is that it can only store MP3 files. However there is a remedy with the release of a new simple DOS command line programme called the RioGeo. This free utility lets you upload and download any type of file, such as .zip and .doc, to the Rio PMP300 MP3 player, turning it in effect into a 32MB removable drive.

RioGeo only works with Window 95/98 at present, although a Windows GUI and a Linux -- due to unsurprisingly high demand -- version are promised shortly.

150 toonz on a single disc... way cool dood!

Everyone knows that MP3 is very cool and will change the way we purchase and listen to music. Or at least everyone in the geek world, or those with a passion for technology as I prefer to describe it, does. One of the biggest problems with MP3 at the moment is that you can only play the files on a PC or portable players such as Diamond's Rio.

However, those clever chappies at Goodnoise and Adaptec are working on software that will allow ordinary CD players to read MP3 files recorded on CDs. Although it is possible to convert MP3 files into a format a stereo can handle, the process is long and tedious. Once this new software is ready -- reckoned to be later this year -- you'll be able to play CDs with up to 150 MP3 files on your home or car stereo. Very good news indeed.

Whether companies such as Sony will support this software on their audio equipment remains to be seen.

Take me to the MP3 Special