Feb. 15--Since its introduction in 2003, Apple's iTunes Store has regularly grown in content and functionality.

It started with music and later added podcasts, games, audiobooks, TV shows, movies and rentals. Its next trick will include on-demand streaming, according to AppleInsider.

The service, dubbed iTunes Replay by the Web site, would allow users to stream purchased content directly from Apple servers, rather than storing it locally. If digital delivery is indeed the medium of the future, finding a home for potentially thousands of files could be a problem.

Should iTunes Replay come to pass, it would probably eliminate the need to synchronize devices (iPhone, Apple TV) with a computer running iTunes. Since each device has Internet functionality, content could come straight from Apple.

Similar services are available from Amazon and Netflix, though content from both providers must be watched on a Web browser. Neither features high-definition content.

VIZIO TO EXIT PLASMA TV MARKET: Television-maker Vizio is getting out of the plasma-screen market, according to co-founder Laynie Newsome.

The five-year-old company is known for its low-priced flat-panel television displays. At last month's Consumer Electronics Show, Vizio's new models were LCD screens only.

According to a story on the New York Times' Gadgetwise blog, the company thinks plasma-screen sales are slowing because they don't show as well under the bright lighting in big electronics stores. LCD screens, on the other hand, seem bright and sharp under any light.

Pioneer, a leader in plasma technology, is rumored to be mulling an end to television production as well. Last year the company partnered with Panasonic in an effort to streamline production.

SYLVANIA ADDS A DEGREE OF LIGHT: Basement apartment dwellers, rejoice -- Sylvania may have an answer for your dark closet of a shower.

The company has unveiled a shower head called ECOlight, which features a water-powered LED and water temperature ring. If the water is less than 78 degrees Fahrenheit, the ring glows blue. Above 105.8 degrees, it glows red.

Best of all, the ECOlight isn't prohibitively expensive -- $39.99.

MICROSOFT PLANS RETAIL STORES: Software giant Microsoft is planning to open a network of retail stores, according to a company press release.

Just as Apple retail stores try to lure Windows users into switching, Microsoft stores are likely to try to highlight the system's status as a nearly universal computing platform.

Microsoft hired former WalMart executive David Porter to marshal the company's expansion into retail stores.

VERIZON STORES OFFERING CLASSES: Four Omaha Verizon Wireless retail stores are offering free personal digital assistant and smartphone how-to clinics Feb. 21.

The one-hour classes will cover such functions and features as text messaging, e-mail, address book synchronization, Bluetooth devices and Web browsing. Classes begin at 8 a.m. and are open to all.

Reservations are suggested and can be made online at pdaworkshop.wds.vzw.com.

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