Shopping on the Web: it's scary out there

Article Abstract:

World Wide Web users can take several steps to avoid potentially dangerous holiday orders. First, users should restrict their ordering to reputable companies' Internet sites that contain a working phone number and real address. Second, unsolicited E-mails should never draw a response. Unsavory entrepreneurs frequently seek quick profits by promoting investment scams, multilevel-marketing schemes and questionable contest-winner notices. Third, credit card applications for short-term free trials can expose card numbers to a growing number of con men who frequently switch Web sites and site names. Fourth, users should ignore merchant requests to log off an Internet service provider to obtain a reward with downloaded software. Scammers can exploit the software to make unauthorized long-distance telephone calls at the user's expense. Fifth, users can worsen their financial situation by providing credit card numbers to Web credit doctors who provide phony services.

Usage, Safety and security measures, Internet, Internet security, Column, E-mail, Email, Internet/Web technology application, Technology application, Electronic commerce, E-commerce software, E-commerce, Cookie files (Computers), Cookie file

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Building girls cyber rooms of their own

Article Abstract:

Purple Moon designs adventure software and other products for girls 8 to 12. Brenda Laurel, who helped start Purple Moon, has applied her findings on the difference between how US boys and girls play, particularly with PCs. Boys tend to prefer scene and action, while girls usually prefer narrative, according to Laurel. The company's first two titles, Rockett and Secret Paths, were among the top 20 best-selling children's software programs for 1997 despite their Sep 1997 release, market research from PC Data reported. Children's-software reviewers generally praise Purple Moon's strategy but some have criticized the games for not being as engaging as others. Purple Moon, founded in Nov 1996, also is selling Rockett dolls and Secret Path magic stones. The company also is promoting its software through an arrangement with cosmetics company Bonne Belle, which ties in its Lip Smacker lip gloss and links its own Web sites to Purple Moon's.

Marketing, Interview, Computer games, Company marketing practices, Computer game, Social issue, Social conditions, Children's educational software, Purple Moon (Mountain View, California)

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What is art? That can mostly depend on the context

Article Abstract:

France Telecom Multimedia has assembled digital images of 150 works of art from the around world onto a CD-ROM it is selling as Le Plus Beau Musee du Monde (The Most Beautiful Museum in the World). Each image is displayed singly against a black background. Icons that appear upon mouseover bring up contextual information that places the work historically and geographically. Another icon converts the cursor to a magnifying glass, permitting closer examination of the image, to the level of detail of showing cracks in surface of older oil paintings. The disk also provides 8 pre-scripted thematic 'tours' of the collection.

Product information, France, Evaluation, Product/Service Evaluation, Product introduction, Software single product review, Entertainment software, Le Plus Beau Musee du Monde (Electronic reference)

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