Previously known as MPEG-1, Layer 3, MP3 is a popular file format for compressing, downloading, and playing CD-quality music. The recording industry has long had its collective panties in a wad over what they see as "illegal distribution of copyrighted music" over the Net, particularly with "badboy" download site Napster (since crippled into almost-total uselessness, but other sites are rushing to fill the gap). The rush of MP3 players begun by the Diamond is well underway, with plenty of manufacturers releasing players as cheap as $150. If you'd like to get on the bandwagon, you'll need to download MP3-formatting software onto your 166MHz or faster PC (one good source is MusicMatch Jukebox from www.musicmatch.com/, or any of a number of other demoware, shareware, or freeware MP3 players such as WinAmp, listed here. (If you've bought a PC recently, you may have MusicMatch or another program already installed.) Microsoft Windows Media Player, a standard part of Millennium, will also play MP3 files, but it tends to disable RealPlayer software -- coincidence, I'm sure, snort) then begin searching for MP3 material on the Net. MP3 and other electronic distribution methods are going to revolutionize the industry, surely. But don't feel like you have to be a cyberbandito to get with the program. You can download legal MP3 files from sources like www.goodnoise.com/, and look for sites with downloadable music provided free by artists and/or their labels. Some are free for the downloading, some are for profit. You don't have to break the law to enjoy the music. Learn more about MP3 at www.mp3.com/. Warning: fans of high-fidelity music won't be happy with MP3 in its current state -- to quote one critic, "no depth of field, no real bass, limited high end, and dropouts galore" -- but give it time. Current MP3 players aren't exactly hi-fi, either, but again, give them time. It will also take time for the infernally show download times to shrink, but with improved compression technology and the eventual shift to digital data transfer, download times will drop. Experts predict that by, say, 2003, we'll be downloading entire CDs in about 10 minutes. Don't forget about the alternatives to MP3, including Liquid Audio and a2b. Note: the descendant of MP3, called MP4, is on the horizon, as is a high-quality, open-source format called Ogg Vorbis that is creating a serious stir among knowledgable techies; find out more from www.vorbis.com/. Bad news on the horizon: the German firm Fraunhofer IIS-A, the originators of MP3, are making noise about charging serious bucks for royalties on MP3 tracks. Already some smaller MP3 provider sites have quickly left the market in anticipation of big, ugly lawsuits and payments to Fraunhofer. Keep up with MP3 events at www.mp3now.com/.

Note: a new MP3 format called MP3i is being touted at the various electronic shows. Developed by Motorola spinoff First International Digital and Songdog Network, MP3i (the "i" stands for "interactive") provides lyrics and graphics (i.e. album covers, pictures, liner notes, etc) along with the music itself in the file. A player capable of handling MP3i files, the Irock 680, is coming to the market soon, and if the format catches on, look for the new format to be included in future releases of the share- and freeware audio players out there. Check out www.mp3karaoke.com/ for updates on the new format. And a new version, MP3pro, is available, but as yet, only a few portable players support this format. MP3Pro uses new file compression techniques to make smaller, yet better-sounding, audio files, and the format is supposed to be compatible with older players. You can find out more at the Coding Technologies site, at www.mp3prozone.com/. The site has a free MP3Pro player for your PC.