| Anvil
Issue Eighteen
--------------------------------
*Anvil is a weekly newsletter and Web site providing insight into
online industry news, issues and trends in easy to swallow caplets.
--------------------------------
TOP
INDUSTRY NEWS
*PC Market Takes A Bite Out Of Apple
*IAHC Reveals New Domains
*WebTV Hits The Road
DESIGN
*Stronger Encryption Exports Allowed
*U.S. Bank Makeover
HOSTING
*FCC Imposed Charges
*CyberCash Offers NewsStand Service
MARKETING
*Print Publishers Face Online Challenges
*Internet Trends: TV And Business
TOP
WEB PICKS
*Black Collegian Online
*Conspiracies Home Page
*Children’s Television Workshop
*PlanetAll
*Sun Microsystems Open
--------------------------------
TOP INDUSTRY NEWS
--------------------------------
*PC Market Takes A Bite Out Of Apple
In a necessary bid to cut costs throughout the organization, Apple
is weighing layoffs and liquidating product lines. The cuts are
a direct result of sagging Mac sales projections and the $120 million
loss last quarter. After a wave of workforce reductions and voluntary
departures numbering 1,500 last year, the current 13,000 employee
payroll faces a second round of reductions of a projected 20 percent.
One of the likely casualties will be the Newton personal digital
assistant, which saw limited success in niche markets including
healthcare and inventory management, yet failed to materialize as
the personal technology tool of the nineties.
http://www.merc.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=1369361-693
*IAHC
Reveals New Domains
The International Ad Hoc Committee (IAHC), a leading Internet industry
task force, recently posted the results of their report on "generic"
Top Level Domains (gTLD). The IAHC has defined an additional set
of seven generic gTLDs which can be used to alleviate the current
shortage of domain names. The newly-defined gTLDs are: .firm (for
businesses or firms), .store (for businesses offering goods to purchase),
.web (for entities emphasizing activities related to the WWW), .arts
(for entities emphasizing cultural and entertainment activities),
.rec (for entities emphasizing recreation and entertainment activities),
.info (for entities providing information services) and .nom (for
those wishing individual or personal nomenclature). While to new
strain of names will ad a degree of confusion for consumers, businesses
will have a greater degree of flexibility in domain names. Reserve
yours now.
http://www.iahc.org/draft-iahc-recommend-00.html
*WebTV
Hits The Road
WebTV and OnCommand are teaming up to bring customized Internet
access to hotels nationally. The objective of the partnership is
to create a specialized version of WebTV specific to hotels. The
new product will include unlimited Internet access, chat rooms,
SurfWatch filtering software and a content site for children called
"Kid-Friendly." WebTV’s latest partnership is likely to
generate revenue with the potential of building a loyal user-base.
According to recent statistics, nearly half of all business travelers
and one-third of frequent pleasure travelers already have access
to the Internet. Testing will begin in San Francisco.
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,7620,4000.html
--------------------------------
DESIGN
--------------------------------
*Stronger Encryption Exports Allowed
The U.S. Commerce Department recently announced it would allow three
companies to export powerful encryption software systems outside
the country. The announcement follows a recent compromise of the
most powerful computer encryption system currently allowed by a
U.S. graduate student. Until this year computer encryption programs,
which scramble information and render it unreadable without a password
or software "key," were classified as munitions and stronger
programs could not be exported. Under a controversial Clinton administration
policy that took effect Jan. 1, companies may receive permission
to export stronger programs.
http://www.merc.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=1343291-d64
*U.S.
Bank Makeover
Portland Oregon-based U.S. Bank recently received attention from
ZD Internet Magazine for VIVOMEDIA’s redesign of their corporate
Web site. In the March "Website Makeovers" feature by
Lori Piquet, VIVOMEDIA is commended for their ability to communicate
targeted messages to the right audience and integrate the Web presence
with existing marketing efforts. John Kresge, senior vice president
of Ubank product management is also pleased with the redesign, "It’s
a morale booster for employees to have a good-looking page out there."
http://www.zdimag.com/index.html
http://www1.usbank.com/
--------------------------------
HOSTING
--------------------------------
*FCC Imposed Charges
A recent email floating around the Internet warns of proposed per
minute charges for Internet access by local telephone companies.
The matter is currently under review by the FCC, and users are encouraged
to provide feedback (by February 13) via email at isp@fcc.gov. Local
telephone companies contend Internet usage has or will hinder the
operation of the current telephone network, and usage will diminish
with per minute charges. If you would like to pay through the nose
for Internet access, be sure to let the FCC know.
http://www.fcc.gov
*CyberCash
Offers NewsStand Service
CyberCash recently introduced the Digital NewsStand, a pay-per-view
site for finance, industry, computing, entertainment and World news.
Using CyberCash’s CyberCoin service, the site will sell users news
and information and divide proceeds among the publisher, Internet
navigation service and CyberCash. Initial sponsors and vendors include
Yahoo, Lycos, the Los Angeles Times, and Barron’s Online. While
current efforts at pay-per-view have had limited success, a unified
effort with key players and valuable content may open the door to
widespread acceptance.
http://www.cybercash.com/
--------------------------------
MARKETING
--------------------------------
*Print Publishers Face Online Challenges
The print paradigm, once endangered by electronic publishing, is
now embracing the technology. High tech publishers in particular
have been quick to adapt to the Internet, offering current issues,
searchable archives and online-only content. The drive was led primarily
by demand from readers and advertisers. Non-high tech publications
are much slower to adopt, citing limitations in editorial resources,
content and advertising revenue opportunities. Estimates on publisher
adoption range from 30 to 90 percent of the country’s 5,000 business
publications currently have or are planning to have Web sites. Leaders
in the field of online publishing currently include Ziff-Davis (ZD),
CMP and Cahners. Cahners, the last of the three to adopt an online
presence, is now perhaps the most aggressive, launching the Manufacturing
Marketplace. The site features content from 12 magazines, and is
projected to produce $3 million in revenue. The key to success for
any of these online ventures will be to provide users with information
that can help them do their job better rather than entertaining
fluff.
http://www.netb2b.com/cgi-bin/cgi_article/monthly/97/01/01/article.2
http://www5.zdnet.com/
http://192.215.107.72/
http://www.manufacturing.net/
*Internet
Trends: TV And Business
During the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, industry
leaders speculated on the future of the Internet and business. One
of the many topics discussed by key influencers was the convergence
of TV and PC. A recent survey by Dell Computer revealed their customers
would rather be using the Internet than watching TV at home. While
this survey is based on current PC users with Internet access, it
does illustrate a trend which will magnify as digital broadcasting
and picture tubes play catch-up with PCs. While the issue was top-of-mind,
participants all agreed that the merger between TV and PC is still
many years off, as technology is limited and consumers are slow
to adopt. Another hot topic of discussion revolved around Bill Gates’
discussion of online commerce and banking. Gates stated online transactions
will not become mainstream for many years. This may come as a surprise
to those of us who believe Gates is aiming to control online commerce
in the future with his own bank. Industry experts all agreed technology
limitations in bandwidth and security will need to be completely
buttoned-up before online commerce takes off. Benefits of the Internet
include empowerment of the individual with "self-service"
transactions and lowered barriers of entry for small companies.
http://www.nando.net/newsroom/ntn/info/020497/info24_26216.html
--------------------------------
TOP WEB PICKS
--------------------------------
*Black Collegian Online
Black Collegian Online is an electronic version of the 26 year old,
national career opportunities magazine. In addition to the abundance
of career planning and job search information, there is commentary
by leading African-American writers, lifestyle/entertainment features,
general information on college life, and news of what’s happening
on college campuses today.
http://www.black-collegian.com/
*Conspiracies
Home Page
Finally, an online resource for those with distinct ideas on conspiracies.
The hosts a complete searchable directory from Amway to Zoonoses.
Surf the site and add a black-ops story of your own.
http://www.cruzio.com/~blackops/
*Children’s
Television Workshop
Children’s Television Workshop Online is the official home of Sesame
Street. The site features parenting information and Sesame Street
activities for kids. The site even features a nifty "Tickle
Me Elmo" Java applet.
http://www.ctw.org/
*PlanetAll
This service is a self-populating, continuously updating address
book. It will automatically update your records when friends move,
tell you who will be where and when, remind you of birthdays, events
and anniversaries. PlanetALL will notify users with an e-mail message
in advance. The service is "totally private" and secure.
http://www.planetall.com/
*Sun
Microsystems Open
Sun recently partnered with Nitto Kogyo, owners of Turnberry Golf
Course in Scotland to provide an online tournament experience. The
3-D Java game involves practicing in order to qualify for the real
tournament. The course is continually expanded, three new holes
per week. The winner will be awarded the prize of three real rounds
of play in Turnberry with airfare to Scotland and a coupon for staying
at the Turnberry Hotel for three nights.
http://www.999.com/sunopen/english/
|
