Tech Briefs: Epic Xbox, Netscape reboots, more

Microsoft announced a deal with Epic Records that will let Xbox 360 owners get a year of free music videos and other content from Epic, whose roster includes Shakira and Audioslave. Over the course of the year, 12 Artists of the Month will be featured on the gaming console over the Xbox Live entertainment network.… Netscape is trying to make a comeback by transforming into a social-networking hub, à la MySpace. Owner Time Warner hopes Weblogs' Jason Calacanis can turn things around for the one-time premier Internet portal and browser leader, barely a blip on the Web today.… Easily said for a billionaire, but Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has mocked MIT's $100 laptop project. The project's goal is to provide inexpensive computers to people in developing countries. "The last thing you want to do for a shared-use computer," said Gates, "is have it be something without a [hard] disk… and with a tiny little screen."