PDD Briefs

Port Washington, N.Y. — More people are downloading music legally, but more are also downloaded music illegally, an NPD Group survey of Internet-connected households found.

Ten percent of Internet-enabled households (6.9 million) downloaded at least one music file from a peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing service in April, up from 9 percent (6.2 million) in April 2005, the NPD Group found. That month, 5 percent of Internet households paid for at least one music download, up from 4 percent in April 2005.

The percentage of American adults buying a CD in April fell slightly to less than 10 percent.

People interested in urban music were more likely to burn and download music, NPD found. Hip-hop and R&B music accounted for 19 percent of physical CD sales in April but 38 percent of burned songs, 49 percent of illegal P2P sharing, and 30 percent of paid downloads.

Indianapolis — Thomson is shipping a trio of slimmed-down HDD-based MP3 players included the company's first two with built-in FM transmitter to play tunes through a home or car radio.

The three 4GB and 6GB devices, already available at $139-$169, support Windows Media Player 11 and Media Transfer Protocol (MPT) compatibility with Windows XP. They're 2.7 ounces each and feature business-card height and width.

The two $169 6GB models incorporate FM transmitter and are thought by RCA to be the first pure MP3 players with that capability, following the launch of an LG MP3-cellphone and hybrid MP3/satellite-radio headphone stereos.

All three feature 1.5-inch negative-LCD display, MP3 and protected WMA playback, Audible audio book compatibility, subscription-service compatibility, and 100 free downloads from eMusic.com.

Denver — Archos has begun shipping its smaller HDD MP3 player, the 4GB Archos 104 at 3.6 inches by 1.7 inches by 0.5 inches. The 2.8-ounce device features photo viewer, OLED 1.5-inch color screen, up to 14-hours of battery life, Windows Media Player 10, and playback of MP3, WAV, WMA, protected WMA music, and podcasts.

It's available in metallic gray, black or pink at a suggested $159.