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Anvil
Issue Fourteen
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*Anvil is a weekly newsletter and Web site providing insight into
online industry news, issues and trends in easy to swallow caplets.
This issue is dedicated to Michael Weltmann (1972-1996). We will
miss you.
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TOP
INDUSTRY NEWS
*Gates Talks
*Apple’s Internet Strategy
DESIGN
*New MacOS
*Teeny TV
*Imaging Over the Internet
HOSTING
*ISP Service Under Par
*High Bandwidth with MCI
MARKETING
*PCs Beat Out TV
*Ad Study Results from HotWired
*WB Online Launches CityWeb
TOP
WEB PICKS
*Callahan Online
*Internet Daily Stock Report
*The Internet MailBox Company
*Yahoo Top 200
*Kelley Blue Book
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TOP INDUSTRY NEWS
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*Gates Talks
The cover story in next week’s issue of Time Magazine will focus
on none other than William Henry Gates III, billionaire co-founder
of Microsoft. The eleven page article includes interviews with his
father, employees and friends. Interestingly, the person who can
shed the most light on the richest man in America is not talking,
his wife. Time editor Walter Isaacson uncovers the essence of the
41 year-old businessman, husband and father, who is currently earning
upwards of $30 million a day on the open market. Overall, Isaacson
paints a positive picture of Redmond’s biggest celebrity. In one
conversation with Isaacson, he states, "Just in terms of allocation
of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There’s a lot
more I could be doing on a Sunday morning." Regarding his daughter
Jennifer: "I used to think I wouldn’t be all that interested
in the baby until she was two or so and could talk, but I’m totally
into it now. She’s just started to say ’ba-ba’ and have a personality."
Gates says he will only leave his daughter about $10 million of
his vast fortune -- the rest he’s planning to give away. Additional
juicy tidbits include: he drives a Lexus without a seat belt, frequents
Burger King and hopes to lead Microsoft for another 10 years before
stepping down. While the interview is captivating and interesting,
I feel Gates has painted himself as the World’s first living heart
donor.
http://pathfinder.com/@@6GLdmwQAnGoKsFO8/time/gates/cover0.html
http://www.lainet.com/~drudge
*Apple’s
Internet Strategy
Apple Computer, Inc. announced this week at Macworld Expo it’s moving
ahead on its Internet strategy with the introduction of new products
designed for integration with the company’s Mac OS. Apple has incorporated
Internet industry standards into their current platforms, including
Macintosh, Newton and Pippin. Additional functionality will include
an enhanced networking infrastructure, component technologies and
Java compatibility. Apple also announced an alliance with Marimba
that will allow information to be pushed onto the desktops of future
Mac users. Marimba Castanet Tuner will be incorporated into Mac
OS Runtime for Java, Apple’s implementation of Sun Microsystems’
Java Virtual Machine for Macintosh PCs. This announcements follows
on the heals of Marimba’s partnership with Netscape and Microsoft.
The Marimba Tuner for Mac OS should be available next month. The
Internet strategy also includes the newly created Apple Club, which
will offer Mac users easy access to software upgrades and discounted
products for about $20 annually. Apple Club offers customers a full-service
software station, which allows easy downloads of Apple’s latest
performance-enhancing software updates, utilities, patches, extensions
and exclusive discounts on products and services. Some users complain
of current download speeds on the Apple Web site and voice concerns
that users will be paying a fee for services that are currently
free. Apple responded by upgrading to a DS3 line to increase capacity
and speed. Analysts see the online store as a reaction to dwindling
market share and shrinking shelf space in most retail outlets, including
Egghead Software. While the new Internet strategy is seen by some
as ’too little, too late,’ I see it as ’better late than never.’
http://www.merc.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=1021411-1a2
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,6775,00.html
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,6632,00.html
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DESIGN
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*New MacOS
This week at Macworld Expo, Apple Chairman Gil Amelio discussed
the future of the Mac OS, the NextStep-Macintosh hybrid operating
system dubbed Rhapsody. Apple purchased Next Software for $400 million
last month in the hopes of leveraging Steve Jobs and Next’s NextStep
OS. The big question from developers is determining what core technology
will be utilized in the new Mac OS. NextStep is based on a variant
of Unix known as Mach, which would give Apple modern features such
as memory protection and preemptive multitasking. Regardless, the
new OS will look similar to the windows format common today, and
will likely run late model PowerPCs initially. The existing System
7 users will have 5 to 10 years to transition to the new OS. NextStep
currently runs on Windows 95 and NT, which will help Apple penetrate
deeper into the corporate market. So far, Mac developers (Adobe,
Symantec, Netscape and Macromedia) are very supportive of Apples
efforts, but are concerned about resolving the dual-platform development
issue. In related news, Microsoft recently announced its commitment
to the Macintosh by announcing new versions of its Office and FrontPage
software, along with an entire business unit devoted to building
Mac software. To further support Apple’s efforts, Bill Gates openly
stated his belief that Apple will survive, and as we all know, whatever
Gates says becomes reality.
http://www.devworld.apple.com
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,6759,00.html
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,6683,00.html
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,6708,00.html
*Teeny
TV
Displaytech recently announced a miniature high-resolution display
for use in head-mounted units. The full-color multi-hyphen-modified
displays, based on ferroelectric LCD technology, fit on a computer
chip the size of a thumbnail. While incredibly small in size, magnifying
the image yields a virtual screen reportedly as good as any desktop
monitor. Displaytech, based in Boulder, Colorado, has been in business
for nine years.
http://www.displaytech.com/
*Imaging
Over the Internet
InterNex Information Services recently announced a new service that
will allow the transmission high-resolution images and photographs
over the Net through its PowerCommerce Web-site hosting service.
The service is designed specifically for cataloguers using the Internet.
The service is reported to provide the same quality of images and
flexibility of paper. InterNex will also target digital-stock photo
houses as an early market. Background enabling technology includes
FlashPix, a photo format and imaging technology developed jointly
by Eastman Kodak, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, and Live Picture.
Former Apple Computer CEO John Sculley is president and CEO of Live
Picture and a major investor. FlashPix enables cataloguers and other
merchants to sell, license and deliver high-resolution images securely
and quickly.
http://www.internex.com
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,6781,00.html
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HOSTING
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*ISP Service Under Par
According to a survey in the February issue of a PC World, not all
Internet service providers (ISPs) are created equal. PC World’s
editors list the pros and cons of twelve leading ISPs and asked
3,800 online customers to grade their satisfaction. Two-thirds of
the service providers reviewed received a C+ grade or lower. American
Online and Compuserve both received a customer satisfaction grade
of D. Netcom received the lowest score of D-. Somewhat surprisingly,
IBM Internet Connection received the top score of A+.
http://www.merc.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=1044956-a88
*High
Bandwidth with MCI
MCI has improved their transmission rates for voice and data to
40 gigabits, or 40 billion bits of information per second. The technology
also improves the performance of the network, with a bit error rate
that is 1000 times better than before. The new performance speeds
are reportedly four times faster than the nearest competitors. The
40 gigabit traffic will be carried initially on a 275-mile route
between Chicago and St. Louis over MCI’s existing single mode fiber
facilities, using technology developed with Hitachi Telecom and
Pirelli. MCI’s 40-gigabit route will contain two full-duplex channels
of 10 gigabit
terminal transmission equipment, bi-directional line amplifiers
at four intermediate sites and OC-192 regenerator equipment in the
middle. MCI will begin deployment in January of 1997, nearly two
years ahead of schedule and eventually plans to use the high-speed,
high-capacity technology throughout its network.
http://www.merc.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=1023363-26a
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MARKETING
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*PCs Beat Out TV
According to a recent survey by Roper Starch Worldwide for Lexmark
International, at least half of Americans with computers would forgo
watching television and wash dishes by hand rather than part with
their computers and printers. The survey included 1,000 American
households with personal computers. The survey found that 51 percent
of American PC-owners would rather forgo their televisions than
give
up their computers, 66 percent would give up their stereos and 55
percent would prefer to give up their dishwashers. I’m not surprised
a bit, but I’m just one person with no stereo or dishwasher.
http://www.merc.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=1045010-313
*Ad
Study Results from HotWired
HotWired Network recently released the results of their banner ad
survey. The study was conducted on HotWired’s Network and was designed
to study the effectiveness of banner advertising as a mode of communication.
Overall, the survey confirms that banner ads on HotWired make a
significant impact on their viewers. Banner ads create an impact
that demonstrably builds the advertised brand, even upon first impression.
Factoring in the ability to build brands in a classical sense to
the Web’s established advantages in selective targeting and direct
marketing, results in an effective medium with long-term potential.
http://www.hotwired.com/brandstudy/
*WB
Online Launches CityWeb
Warner Brothers Online recently announced a service called CityWeb
that would provide local television stations with content for sites
on the Internet starting this summer. The strategic partnerships
will allow local news stations to reach their local audience in
an entirely new and interactive realm. Following in PointCast’s
shoes, Warner Bros. will provide the framework and delivery, local
stations will provide the content and both will share in the advertising
revenues. CityWeb will draw heavily from Time Warner’s resources
in news, weather, sports and entertainment, primarily from the Pathfinder
Web site (also found on PointCast). Content partners include CNN
Interactive and People Online. Original content will also be created,
along with robust classifieds. Technology partners include Netscape
and Lycos. The site will compete with similar ventures from CNN,
Associated Press and Fox.
http://www.cityweb.com/
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,6670,00.html
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TOP WEB PICKS
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*Callahan Online
Famous cartoonist Callahan now has an online home. Get a daily dose
of the good stuff, access the archives or download free animated
icons.
http://eyescream.com/callahan/
*Internet
Daily Stock Report
Investment analyst Steve Harmon provides the latest and greatest
on Internet stocks. Included is an Internet stock index that provides
a quick snapshot of the state of the Net as viewed by Wall Street.
http://netday.iworld.com/stocks/
*The
Internet MailBox Company
The Internet MailBox is a new service that offers lifetime universal
routeable e-mail called "The Routeable Inbox". The MailBox
can route e-mail wherever the user wants, be it another e-mail address,
their Web site, POP3 server, fax machine, pager or the postal system.
The company also provides an optional 10 percent referral program
that pays users if they bring in new users.
http://www.imailbox.com/
*Yahoo
Top 200
For those of you curious about what the general population is searching
for online, Eyescream has the solution. This site provides a list
of Yahoo!’s top 200 most frequently searched for keywords. Some
Internet users may be alarmed by the results. Sixty percent of the
top 20 words are sexual in nature, including number one with a bullet:
sex with 1,553,420 hits a month.
http://eyescream.com/yahootop200.html
*Kelley
Blue Book
At the Kelley Blue Book site, you can easily check up on the retail
or trade-in value for almost any car or truck model from the past
21 years. The site is easy to use but can be slow at times.
http://www.kbb.com/
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