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Anvil
Issue Twenty Eight
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*Welcome
to Anvil, a free weekly newsletter and Web site providing insight
into online industry news, issues and trends. Now with purple horseshoes!
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TOP
INDUSTRY NEWS
*The Search Is Over
*Netscape Casts A Net
*NBC’s Interactive Neighborhood
DESIGN
*The McDonald’s Of The Web
*Late Easter Eggs
HOSTING
*Web Server Software Update
*Not Just The Fax
MARKETING
*The Proper Ad Model
*The New Paradigm In Communications
TOP
WEB PICKS
*BookWire
*Car And Driver
*Creativity Explored
*GORP
*InnerBody.com
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TOP INDUSTRY NEWS
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*The Search Is Over
The Anvil Web site now has added functionality enabling easier online
research. A robust search engine has been added to the Archive section,
along with a new pull-down menu for quick access to past issues.
Query results are arranged by relevance and search terms are highlighted
within the text for easy reference. The engine utilizes Verity TopicSearch
technology and is licensed by Netscape Communications.
http://www.anvil-media.com/archive/
*Netscape
Casts A Net
The Push market has one more player this week as Netscape Communications
announced their new Communicator component: Netcaster (formerly
Constellation). The application enables delivery of dynamic content
to the desktop. Both individuals and enterprise users can subscribe
to channels and store and view Web sites offline. Content providers
include ABC News, CBS SportsLine, CNNfn, Home Arts Network and Time
Inc. Technology partners include Diffusion, FireFly, Net Perceptions
and Verity.
http://www.netscape.com/comprod/products/communicator/
netcaster_frameset.html
*NBC’s
Interactive Neighborhood
NBC, owned by General Electric, recently announced a new Internet-based
service, NBC Interactive Neighborhood (NBC-IN). The new service
will provide localized content to NBC’s 215 owned and affiliate
stations. Features include program listings and a wide array of
personal interest information. Content partners include Microsoft
Sidewalk, Infoseek, BigYellow, Realtor.com, RentNet, Happy Puppy,
HOT Coupons, Auto-By-Tel and The Monster Board.
http://www.nbc.com
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DESIGN
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*The McDonald’s Of The Web
USWeb, the McDonald’s of Web design, is buying up a few of it’s
national franchises to help build long-term equity. Currently, the
company has 54 affiliates in 26 states with new affiliates on the
way in five cities. USWeb will purchase firms in San Francisco,
New York City, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Orange County.
Initially, affiliates pay $50K to join, plus 7 percent of gross
revenues. In turn, affiliates have access to new business opportunities,
research and services. So far, the business model has met with modest
success.
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,9654,00.html
*Late
Easter Eggs
While Easter Holiday is over for some, it lives on indefinitely
for programmers. The creators of software application like to give
themselves credit for their handiwork by designing in "Easter
Eggs" or sub-programs into the main application. Unlike viruses,
Easter Eggs are largely harmless and fun. Eggs are usually "leaked"
to the public by programmers or accidentally stumbled upon by the
hapless end-user when a specific string of commands, i.e. Alt, Tab,
Shift are used. For a complete list of eggs, visit CNET’s GAMECENTER.
http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Egghunt/index.html
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HOSTING
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*Web Server Software Update
A recent web server study by Netcraft, an Internet consultancy,
indicates Apache is the most popular brand of Web server used today.
The survey involved over 1 million hostnames providing http service.
Of the sites queried, Apache retained it’s 42 percent share of the
market while Microsoft gained ground at 15 percent. Netscape lost
a share at 12 percent and NCSA lost a share and a half at 7 percent.
For the first time, Microsoft overtook Netscape in market share.
http://www.netcraft.com/survey/
*Not
Just The Fax
Industry leaders Novell, IBM, Sun and Xerox recently announced the
Internet Print Protocol (IPP), an industry standard for printing
on the Internet and intranets. The standard was created by a working
group within the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). IPP aims
to standardize printing across heterogeneous network environments.
Users will be able to find any printer in the Internet, install
the drivers, print documents remotely and receive status reports
upon completion of the job. The need to fax may be greatly reduced
by the new standard.
http://www.mmp.co.uk/mmp/informer/netnews/HTM/414n1t.htm
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MARKETING
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*The Proper Ad Model
Banner advertising, perhaps the oldest form of advertising on the
Web, is still only four years in the making. While a few popular
sites rake in top dollar for ad placement, most marketers and advertisers
are left in the cold while trying to figure out return on investment.
A recent article in PCWEEK by Jeff Frentzen offers a wide array
of online resources for marketers and advertisers. Key issues include:
ad impressions vs. click-throughs, placement and measurement technology.
http://www.pcweek.com/ir/0407/07jia.html
*The
New Paradigm In Communications
This past weekend, myself and Verse DDG’s Creative Director Eric
Hillerns, were invited to speak at the Ninth Annual International
Academy of Business Disciplines (IABD) Conference in Orlando, Florida.
Eric and I discussed methods and tools for the digital age from
our perspective as online communicators. Our attentive audience
consisted of professors in the Business and Communications disciplines,
including advertising and public relations. Even though you may
have missed the event, our presentation (IABD_pres.ppt.zip) is available
online for download. You will need a recent version of Microsoft
PowerPoint and WinZip to open and view properly.
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TOP WEB PICKS
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*BookWire
BookWire provides readers with a depth of richly-linked information
on a wide variety of titles, authors, and publishers. The site includes
thousands of links to book-related resources and detailed information
on thousands of titles, authors, and publishers.
http://www.bookwire.com/
*Car
And Driver
One of the best print magazines for car enthusiasts, Car and Driver’s
Web site successfully extends their reach, providing in-depth articles
and reviews. Special site features include articles from current
and past issues, online only feature articles, a browsable buyer’s
guide of 432 cars and trucks and classified ads.
http://www.caranddriver.com/
*Creativity
Explored
Creativity Explored is a non-profit San Francisco studio and gallery
devoted to works by developmentally challenged artists. The site
is an online gallery highlighting the works of many talented artists,
who also happen to be developmentally disabled. The work is amazingly
insightful and revealing.
http://www.digitalfutures.com/Creativity/
*GORP
Named after the famous hiker’s snack, Great Outdoor Recreation Pages
(GORP), is a Web site packed with valuable information of interest
to outdoor recreationists and active travelers. The thorough resource
includes detailed information for all types of activities and geographic
locations.
http://www.gorp.com/
*InnerBody.com
With a CD-ROM functionality, Human Anatomy Online provides an interactive
look at the body with the help of Java. With a broad array of tutorials,
the site is appealing to students and teachers alike. InnerBody.com
is a service of Informative Graphics, a commercial viewing software
developer.
http://www.innerbody.com/
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CREDITS
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*Kent Lewis, Managing Editor
*Michael Pearo, Graphic Designer
*Monica Simmons, Copy Editor
*Theo Jones, Jeremy Huffman, Programmers
*Send
questions, comments and suggestions to
editor@anvil-media.com.
*Visit
the Web site at http://www.anvil-media.com
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