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TOP INDUSTRY NEWS
*Refunds For AOL Users
*Microsoft Courts Apple

DESIGN
*MMX: More Than A Game

HOSTING
*Internet Gets Smart Card

MARKETING
*Audit Standards Released

TOP WEB PICKS
*Diner To Diner
*TerraQuest
*Travel Weekly Online
*Monk’s Guide To Portland
*Road Trip America

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TOP INDUSTRY NEWS
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*Refunds For AOL Users
Contrary to an earlier statement by Chairman Steve Case, AOL is quietly offering refunds on a "case by case" basis to customers who call in to complain. The move follows a string of troubles, stemming from the implementation of the $19.95 unlimited Internet access pricing structure. AOL users are regularly encountering "brownouts" where email and web access are unavailable for hours at a time. Customer frustration led to a $20 million class action lawsuits in 20 states. Rather than dish out $2.50 to every user, AOL is going the quiet route, offering refunds and free additional service. CompuServe leveraged the recent hoopla with a simple but effective advertisement broadcast during the SuperBowl, featuring a blank screen with a busy signal. Frustrated AOL users can call the customer service line at 800-827-6364 to receive a refund or additional months of no-Internet access for free.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/ct705.htm http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,7366,00.html

*Microsoft Courts Apple
Earlier this month, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates is rumored to have visited Apple Computer headquarters to discuss closer cooperation between the two companies, possibly including an arrangement involving the Windows NT operating system. The hour-long session was attended by Gilbert Amelio, Steven Jobs and Ellen Hancock. While Apple and Microsoft are not commenting on the matter, industry sources say Apple is considering a line of PCs that run on Intel chips and Windows NT. This avenue would seem contrary to current Apple efforts, which include the recent reunion with Steven Jobs and his operating software company, NeXT.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/nb/nb3.htm
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,7348,00.html

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DESIGN
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*MMX: More Than A Game
Intel’s latest chip, designed to increase multimedia application performance, is now moving beyond the gaming realm and into the business sector. The Pentium-based MMX chip averages speed gains of 25 percent through special coding and a larger cache. Software developers capitalizing on the new technology include Intel, Microsoft, Motorola, Adobe, Macromedia and Netscape. Current applications beyond gaming include graphical, modem and video-conferencing software.
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,7328,00.html

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HOSTING
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*Internet Gets Smart Card
Four online commerce companies successfully demonstrated a secure credit card transaction over the Internet with a smart card. Partners in the project include RSA Data Security, American Express, Open Market and GemPlus. The smart card is the first U.S. transaction to use technologies from so many parties under the Secure Electronic Transactions (SET) protocol. The demonstration took place Tuesday during RSA’s annual developers’ conference in San Francisco. The demo incorporated SET-based software for the buyer, a Web storefront and the American Express gateway that connects to the credit card company’s secure private network. Use of a smart card offers a higher level of security and transaction authentication by combining software and hardware capabilities. RSA’s SET toolkit for developers, currently in beta testing, is due to ship by the end of March. Independent implementations of SET by separate vendors demonstrates the level of interoperability currently available under the new security protocol.
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,7340,00.html

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MARKETING
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*Audit Standards Released
The Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC), the world’s largest circulation-auditing organization, recently announced the official measure of Web site traffic is now the "page impression." A page impression is defined as a "Web site page that is actually delivered to the user by the host server." In English, an impression can be translated as a combination of successful "hits" needed for the user to view a complete Web page. The underlying concern is how to accurately measure page delivery considering issues like site cashing and multiple reloads. Although this "de facto standard" is far from perfect, it’s the best solution until a more accurate measure is found and accepted industry wide.
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,7339,00.html

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TOP WEB PICKS
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*As I’m currently out of town on business, the following sites have a travel focus.

*Diner To Diner
At this travel site, editors crisscross the country in search of the ultimate plate of road food, posting their impressions along the way. In homage to old-fashioned manners, they don’t slam establishments with runny eggs or weak coffee: if they can’t say anything nice, they don’t say anything at all.
http://www1.usa1.com./~roadside/DinertoDiner.html

*TerraQuest
TerraQuest deems itself as "the foremost producer of travel content on the Web." Their virtual expeditions are both thoughtful and entertaining. Join TerraQuest on three adventures including: Yosemite National Park, The Galápagos Island and Antarctica.
http://www.terraquest.com/

*Travel Weekly Online
One of the more comprehensive travel directories online, Travel Weekly has reviewed and linked more than 1,200 travel sites, providing insightful commentary to help you find your way. Travel Weekly Online has a sister print publication that serves the travel agency community in over 35,000 locations.
http://www.traveler.net/two/

*Monk’s Guide To Portland
Monk first hit print in 1972, when two guys decided to quit their jobs and hit the road. Once the Web increased in popularity, they began publishing their writings on the Web right out of their motor home. The writing is very entertaining, but unfortunately hasn’t been updated in three years.
http://www.neo.com/Monk/Portland/guide.html

*Road Trip America
Join the adventures of Mark, Megan and Marvin the Road Dog. When they lost their home and business
in a California wildfire in 1993, they hit the road in the Phoenix One, a one-of-a-kind four-wheel-drive motor home. Join them as they explore North America in search of the fascinating and entertaining.
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/