/dev/audio lock/release problem(?) with KDE 3.1

["STeve Andre'" <andres@msu.edu>]

This is on an i386 -current system compiled on 2/03, using
the packages as of 2/02 (ThinkPad A31p).

Kmail and XMMS have an annoying interaction.  With both
running, if Kmail gets mail it waits for XMMS to finish playing,
then gives the beep indicating new mail.  Once that has
happened you can't play more mp3's in XMMS.  It says

** ERROR **: /dev/audio: Device busy

So it seems to me that KDE has a problem where once it
grabs the audio device, it doesn't let go.  This is new
behavior.  The version of KDE I compiled myself on 1/30
didn't do this; I could use Kmail and XMMS with no
problems.  Perhaps I can figure out more.  Also trying to
get Kmail to shut up about the beep.  

--STeve Andre'