Winamp launched its 10th anniversary media player on Oct. 10 (get it? the 10th anniversary on 10/10). Version 5.5 is a serious improvement over previous iterations of the software, but as Switched.com asks, what's its relevance in a space dominated by Windows Media Player and iTunes?

One big difference between 5.5 and older Winamps is that this one syncs with your iPod -- providing a viable alternative to iTunes if that's your preference. Winamp 5.5's new interface includes album art, customizable skins, and an easy way to drag-and-drop songs or videos into your library.

One of the best things about the new software is its slick integration with AOL Radio, with dozens of channels as well as 20 more from XM Satellite Radio. You don't have to be an AOL member or XM subscriber to listen, though because I happen to have XM in my car, I can vouch for the quality of the 20 stations you get.

Some of the best make the list -- XM '80s, XM 20 on 20 (top hits), XM Deep Tracks (classic rock), XM Flight 26 (current alternative rock) -- and I find that they actually load and play more quickly in Winamp than they do in the radio player built into the AOL 9.0 software. And the stations, like Winamp itself, are all free.

Check it out at http://www.winamp.com/

I've been a DirecTV subscriber since around 1997, which, you may recall, was a few years before the ubiquitous satellite dishes started popping up on people's roofs. An an early adopter I'm a big believer in DirecTV's value, even though the signal goes out in heavy thunderstorms, even though I can't get the local forecast on the Weather Channel, even though the HD offering is well behind the curve. Well, until now.

After months of promises, the boys at DirecTV have finally gotten with the program, so to speak. Twenty-one new HD channels just launched, with more on the way, all part of a program to have 100 HD channels by the end of the year.

I've been resisting the move to HD because to this point I couldn't justify $2,000 for a TV that picks up 9 HD channels. Today, all that would keep me from making the move is the need for a new dish (necessitating a service call to get it on my roof, and thus an afternoon spent "working from home") and giving up my superior TiVo box in favor of DirecTV's proprietary DVR, a less intuitive interface.

Time to make the move? Could be ... could be.

I love listening to AOL Radio while at the office. Whenever I'm doing something monotonous -- coding HTML, PhotoShop -- it's the perfect distraction. I can't listen while reading or writing, because it's tough to concentrate, but otherwise it's a great way to whistle while I work.

Of course, I'm using headphones so I don't disturb It's Hot Missy, It's Hot Summer and It's Hot Jeff, who all sit within 12 feet of me. But in the common areas of our office, such as the kitchenette and bathroom, they're piping in XM '80s -- my favorite channel, of course. Nothing better than going for a cup o' tea and walking out humming Guns n' Roses, right? (You know where you are? You're in the jungle baby.)

But it made a few of us wonder: What if some of those songs aren't exactly workplace appropriate? For example, what if George Michael's "I Want Your Sex" is on? Or Billy Squier's "The Stroke"? (Look up the lyrics to that one.) Madonna's "Like a Virgin"? The list goes on.

We're not Puritans here, but it makes you wonder. I for one would rather hum along to tunes I love over some piped-in muzak or elevator music. But if I walk out of the bathroom singing along to "Blister in the Sun," and then down the hall to a meeting while pondering its lyrical content ... well, let's not go any further. Perhaps it's better not to know the lyrics.

I've stated before that the iPhone probably isn't for me, at least not yet. Too pricey, for one; too redundant with devices I already own, for two; and most importantly, it's not compatible with my Verizon wireless service.

Well, the boys at Engadget.com have found someone who was able to break AT&T's exclusive lock on the iPhone, so it will work on other networks, or internationally -- in their example, they show one functioning perfectly on T-Mobile. They've even got a cool little home movie to show that it's not a hoax.

What does this mean? Hard to say... it seems inevitable that Apple will probably release a fix to patch the hack. In the meantime, if you want to hack your own iPhone, you should understand the legal ramifications of doing so. As for me, I think I'll just steer clear of the whole thing ...

2007 Honda Accord LX V6
MSRP: $25,200
EPA MPG: 20 city / 29 highway

2007 Honda Accord hybrid sedan (3.0L, V6)
MSRP: $31,090
EPA MPG: 28 city / 35 highway

Aside from the power supply, the cars have similar styling, features and performance. But for me it's all about the math. You pay a $5,890 premium for the hybrid, which is partially offset by incentives; a new Accord hybrid gets you a $1,300 federal tax credit, and certain states, localities and even employers will offer additional enticements to go green, such as cash back or the ability to use HOV lanes even when driving alone. And, of course, you'll spend less on gas. But how much less?

Let's say you drive the two cars above for five years at 15,000 miles each in a mix of city and highway -- according to the EPA (whose estimates are debatable, but that's another post) around 25mpg in the gasoline Accord, and around 32mpg in the hybrid. Let's say gas costs $3 a gallon. At the end, you'll have driven 75,000 miles; in the gasoline engine you'll use 3,000 gallons of gas for a total of $9,000; in the hybrid you'll use 2,344 gallons for $7,031, a difference of $1,969.

Adding it up, you save $1,300 from Uncle Sam, another two grand in gas, and maybe a few hundred from your state, county or employer. But you spent nearly $6,000 more to buy the hybrid in the first place. If you're financing or leasing the car, you're paying interest on the extra amount over the life of the deal. By my count, the gasoline version still wins by around $2,000.

Demand for hybrids seems largely stimulated by the media and the basic human desire to impress our neighbors. But I suspect that more of us would line up for hybrids if the dollars made it a fair trade.

Find out more about hybrids at AOL Autos.