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Anvil
Issue Nineteen
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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.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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TOP
INDUSTRY NEWS
*Roizen Chokes On Apple
*Web Focus At Demo 97
DESIGN
*Mining For Gold
*Visit Oregon Online
HOSTING
*Swiss Crack The Code
*Look Who’s Talking
MARKETING
*Online Pubs Make Bucks
*Evaluating Customers
TOP
WEB PICKS
*NetValentine
*Match.com
*Anti-Valentine’s Day Page
*The Love Test
*Cyrano
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TOP INDUSTRY NEWS
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*Roizen Chokes On Apple
The recent trials for Apple Computer may have hit an all-time low
with the recent resignation of Vice President of Developer Relations,
Heidi Roizen. Effective February 19, Roizen will be vacating her
position after less than a year of service. When Roizen joined Apple,
she stated she would only leave for three reasons: if she was fired,
the company went bankrupt or if she was asked to lie to developers.
While she admitted none of these reasons were at the core of her
decision, the move further feeds the fire now raging within Apple’s
senior management. Roizen attributes her departure largely to the
recent top management shakeup and the desire to spend more time
with her kids. The vacancy, a final blow to developers who view
Roizen as a champion for their cause, could result in many developers
abandoning ship for Microsoft. Expect Microsoft to step in and aid
the injured company to alleviate the possible monopolistic market
implications.
http://www.sjmercury.com/business/apple/roiz210.htm
*Web
Focus At Demo 97
For the past few years, Demo 97 at Indian Wells has been the hot
spot for the latest Internet Technology. This year is no exception.
Popular applications included information push technology, intranet
and Internet telephony. Flagship product debuts included Progressive
Network’s RealVideo 1.0 and related server systems, Sun’s $50 software
that will turn old PCs into Network Computers (NCs) and the abundance
of Internet telephony products which handle e-mail, fax and Web
browsing capabilities. Additional products of interest include Kodak’s
Digital Video Camera (DVC 300) which can take still or motion pictures
and Java intranet push software applications from WebCast and SoftQuad.
Perhaps one of the most significant announcements was the Wired
Desktop, a Java based push technology based on Marimba Castanet
software. The newsworthy aspect is that Wired will produce channels
for all types of push applications, including PointCast, Microsoft’s
Active Desktop and Netscape’s Constellation software.
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,7770,4000.html
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DESIGN
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*Mining For Gold
The Mining Company recently launched what will hopefully be the
largest network of people-powered special-interest Web sites on
the Internet. While the undertaking is ambitious to say the least,
founder Scott Kurnit, has the experience to make it happen. Kurnit
was formerly a CEO of MCI/News Corp. and closely connected to startup
ventures of large corporations including Viacom, Prodigy and Time
Warner. His goal is to hire "guides" to develop and monitor
the highly specific special-interest sites. Each of the estimated
4,000 sites will contain vastly different content yet maintain a
similar look and feel. The business model includes advertising revenue
from banner advertising, which will help subsidize guides. The benefit
to advertisers is highly targeted messaging, of value to users is
the ability to find detailed information on highly specific topics
of interest and the benefit to "guides" is the potential
for exposure and revenue. Early estimates for guide revenue range
from $3,000 to $30,000 a month. While this model is perhaps the
future of the Internet, limited technology could prevent the site
from reaching its full potential.
http://www.miningco.com
*Visit
Oregon Online
Those looking to plan a vacation to the ocean, mountain, rivers,
lakes or deserts need look no further. The Oregon Tourism Commission
recently launched a comprehensive online resource site. Whether
looking for something new to do on the weekends within Oregon (pronounced
"ORE-GUN" not "OR-REY-GONE"), or researching
for an upcoming vacation, this Web site has the answers. The site
provides information by region or by interest. Visitors can use
the event calendar to find out what they are missing, or submit
stories about Oregon for possible publication. The site, designed
by VIVOMEDIA, covers all areas of interest, from camping to snowboarding
to wine tasting.
http://www.traveloregon.com
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HOSTING
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*Swiss Crack The Code
RSA Data Security, the leader in data encryption software, recently
held a contest to help prove current 48-bit standards are insecure.
The combination public relations and mathematical challenge ended
when a team of Swiss programmers used 3,500 computers throughout
Europe to break the ciphered algorithms in just 13 days. The test
effectively demonstrated current government regulations on encryption
levels are unsecure. The lowest level of code, 40 bits, was cracked
in less than 4 hours by a graduate student at the University of
Califonia at Berkeley. While domestic encryption is currently unlimited,
international regulations allow vendors to export up to 56-bit encryption
if the vendor agrees to build in a key recovery system that would
help law enforcement officials decrypt messages implicated in criminal
cases.
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,7849,4000.html
*Look
Who’s Talking
Users beware! The latest Internet scam involves modem manipulation
resulting in huge long-distance phone bills. For now, the hack is
limited to sex-related sites. Basically, the scam involves "downloading"
an image viewer for "special" pictures. While users believe
they are viewing free photos of Pamela Anderson, the program stealthily
turns off the PC modem speaker, disconnects from your ISP and redials
a number in Moldova, which then connects to a server in Canada.
While users enjoy the view, they are quietly spending their life
savings on one long-distance call. The worst part is that charges
continue even as users leave the site, as they have no idea they
are hooked up to an unknown server. Keep your eyes peeled for files
with the name david.exe or david7.exe on your hard drive.
http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/021197scam.html
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MARKETING
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*Online Pubs Make Bucks
According to a survey conducted by the Newspaper Association of
America, more than one third of online newspapers made money last
year. The survey also stated another 24 percent of online newspapers
run by traditional media companies expect to be profitable within
four years. A large portion of the revenues were generated via classified
and banner advertising, with additional income from classifieds,
Internet access, hosting and subscription services. Of those papers
surveyed, 75 percent contained classified advertising and 52 percent
provided banner advertising. Industry experts predict classified
advertising will be one of the largest revenue generators, so many
companies are scrambling to make a buck. Yahoo recently developed
free national classifieds by city, including employment, real estate,
personals and equipment. While Yahoo and Pacific Bell’s AtHand service
are generating stiff competition for traditional print, newspapers
with both print and online classified can offer a value-add service
which will likely shore-up their dwindling income opportunities.
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,7797,4000.html
*Evaluating
Customers
E-valuations Research recently launched their online market research
service at Questions.net. Any Web surfer over 18 and living in the
U.S. can visit the site to complete questionnaires. Participants
receive multiple entries to win the $1000 monthly sweepstakes as
well as prize points to trade for CD’s, books,
movie tickets, videos, subscriptions, online games, club memberships,
frequent flyer miles. Participants with a big heart can even donate
winnings to charity. For companies interested in the program, E-valuations
Research offers access to the data through affiliated research firms,
advertising agencies and design firms.
http://www.evaluations.com
http://www.questions.net/
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TOP WEB PICKS
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*NetValentine
In case you didn’t check your calendar today, a friendly reminder
to hurry and send a card to your significant other before you end
up sleeping on the couch. If you don’t want to walk all the way
to the card shop, you can always send a NetValentine to that special
someone (as long as they have Internet access and e-mail). Select
from one of the many heartwarming images and include a brief personal
message.
http://www.netvalentine.com/
*Match.com
For those of us without a significant other who wish to rectify
the situation without getting up from the computer, Match.Com offers
a great way to meet new people. The service is very popular, and
has found as many matches as America’s Most Wanted has found criminals.
http://www.match.com/
*Anti-Valentine’s
Day Page
In case you can’t already tell by my tone, Valentine’s Day is overrated.
If you agree, this is the site for you. Take refuge from the fattening
chocolate and cheesy cards in this wonderful sanctuary.
http://www.netreach.net/~trishy/vday.html
*The
Love Test
Those of you interested in testing your true love knowledge need
look no further. This site offers a questionnaire that measures
love and its dimensions. The scale is made up of 68 items that describe
love that were drawn from some current research on love. It should
take an hour to complete the test and go through the results.
http://www.topchoice.com/~psyche/lovetest/
*Cyrano
If you find out through the Love Test that you are a wee bit under
par for amore, Cyrano will help. If you are shy, lazy or unimaginative,
but you would like to tell someone how you feel, Cyrano can write
your love letters for you. If you already know the perfect words
to say, then you can write the letter yourself. Either way, Cyrano
(NetValentine on crutches) will email the recipient of your letter
to let him or her know that you care. Your significant other will
be amazed at the flowery prose.
http://www.nando.net/toys/cyrano.html
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