News 

Japan has recently taken to music downloads; 2.4 million (out of a population of 127 million) are getting songs from the Web in one form or another, mostly unauthorised. Legal downloads are highly expensive, at about $2.30. Apple plans to keep prices inline with its US and European stores at around $0.99.

Traditionally

ADVERTISEMENT

one of Apple's most lucrative markets, Japan was the first country outside the US to get an Apple retail store (a second is due to open soon) and has now taken to the iPod in droves.

According to Gfk Japan, a market research company quoted by the Associated Press, iPod models account for six of the eight best selling music players. Amazon Japan has iPods at numbers one to four in its electronics chart. The waiting list for iPod minis is said to be several weeks long.

Meanwhile Sony is saying that early sales of its Network Walkman have met targets, despite an unfortunate goof at its launch when Sony president Kunitake Ando held the device upside down. Apple officials were seen to be smirking.