Connections; the style of on-line services may come to matter more than their substance
Article Abstract:
On-line service companies may need to differentiate themselves by emphasizing style over substance. Companies may begin to value presentation because fickle customers demand service from all major services. Exclusive content, once a selling point for individual services, has withered due to the rising deployment of the Internet. Meanwhile, services' lack of a steady development plan has resulted in no authoritative on-line model that ensures access to the World Wide Web. America Online has experienced the most success with fluffy content that patterns itself on the window and the icon. CompuServe accentuated text and software over architecture changes. By contrast Prodigy originally tried to create a user-friendly environment that overwhelmed, rather than helped, customers. The Microsoft Network, which may undergo a third major design, has trumpeted style over good content.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1997
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Making the Internet come to you, through 'push' technology
Article Abstract:
Internet usage patterns are expected to change as a result of the 'push' technology that is being adopted by many Internet service providers and software developers. The interactive push technology is based on the concept of users specifying the sources of and types of information they will receive. Such information is then delivered automatically, eliminating the searching process and saving the time and trouble of the user. Pointcast is one Internet service which utilizes this technology to provide customized reports based on news sources. The New Century Network provides its clients with a virtual newspaper which is customized to provide only the types of information that the user has specified. Global Village Communications recently released its $149 Newscatcher, a Web browser that utilizes push technology.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1997
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'Reading the tea leaves' via stock analysis software
Article Abstract:
Amateur investors are using sophisticated analytic software and other products to handle technical market analysis. The growing advancements enable investors to evaluate millions of bits of stock data. Investors can then study the price and trading patterns of stocks, as opposed to the fundamental method of evaluating a company's features. Technical analysis vendors tout their products as an opportunity to gain further access to an increasingly popular Wall Street. Detractors say most individual users of technical analysis software lack the understanding of a complex market, and that the software is more suited to Ph.D.'s who operate sophisticated computers. Among the new software's features are tutorials and academic tools.
Publication Name: The New York Times
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0362-4331
Year: 1997
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