Billboard has announced its intention to release its 50-year-old database of music reviews to the public for free on the Internet. Partnering with Liquid Audio to build encrypted CD-quality music downloads, Billboard will offer music samples and reviews of tens of thousands of albums. The database is being created working backward through history, with the most recent music added first.(29.Jan.98)
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The truth is out there: Wondering if your beloved is really working late or if they're actually misbehaving behind your back? Technology may soon be on your side if you try to worm it out of them: An Israeli company is preparing lie-detector software that can be used by anyone with a telephone, PC, soundcard, or CD-ROM.
"Truster" plugs your PC into your phone and uses algorithms to analyze the voice of the person on the other end, and measures if and how they're stressed. Its creators claim 85 percent accuracy for detecting lies.
According to Newsday, over 2,200 copies have sold in Israel already for about US$150, and the software will soon be released worldwide. (29.Jan.98)
