Napster file transfers shut down for now

As stated on the Napster web site and as covered in this AP article: "File transfers have been temporarily suspended while Napster upgrades the databases that support our new file identification technology."

'"There were problems with the database upon which our new file identification technology relies, and those problems were making the technology less effective. Napster's goal is to start file transfers again as soon as possible, but we can't yet give a precise time. This temporary suspension of file transfers will not affect the new service, which will launch later this summer."

A MacFixIt reader reports that, after attempting to use the new version of Napster, a system crash eventually occurred. Upon restart, all the files in his MP3 folder were deleted. If this was not an isolated case (and we have no further confirmation that this is so), it could be a reason for the shut down.