SportsZone scores big amid dull landscape of Web marketplace

Article Abstract:

Starwave Corp and ESPN's World Wide Web home page, ESPNET SportsZone, offers the most impressive features of any home page on the Internet, including detailed statistical information, near-real-time reporting and excellent sports writing. The World Wide Wide is currently used by electronic publishers to create limited images that do not provide any useful information beyond what can be found in a brochure. This will change as companies begin to compete with each other for the right to display corporate icons on online services and Web pages. Only the most creative and informative Web pages will survive. The SportsZone Web page provides outstanding features that eclipse nearly every other offering on the Internet. It is located at http://espnet.sportzone.com, and it is currently free, although Starwave may eventually charge for certain services. SportZone offers excellent graphics, up-to-date scores and comprehensive statistical information.

Product/Service Evaluation, Sports, Company service review, ESPN Inc., Starwave Corp.

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Newcomers to Web should check out MSN's new service

Article Abstract:

Microsoft Network (MSN), the software giant's Internet access service, has a golden opportunity to gain new membership, as America Online (AOL) struggles to provide adequate service. AOL's introduction of an unlimited usage plan resulted in a surge in demand that the company was unable to meet. AOL is offering a refund package under pressure from 36 state attorney generals, but many of its eight million members are looking elsewhere for Internet service. MSN has maintained quality of service despite the doubling of its membership between July 1996 and Jan 1997, and provides excellent proprietary content. MSN's browser, based on Internet Explorer, offers a television-like selection of channels, each with "shows" subject to performance reviews. The major drawback to MSN service is the cumbersome email system, based on Microsoft Exchange, that is difficult to install and operate. MSN plans to migrate to a program optimized for the Internet.

Software, Product description/specification, Product information, Microsoft Corp., Internet, Internet service providers, Online services, Design and construction, Internet service provider, MSFT, Microsoft Network (Online information service)

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Now even home PCs can get Web news, data automatically

Article Abstract:

A variety of services that continuously search the Web for content specified by users are now available, but they are generally only available to corporate users with fast, continuous connections to the Internet. PointCast, which downloads specified news content to the user's screen saver, was the first of these services. Microsoft is developing the Active Desktop system, which will be included in the next version of Windows. Active Desktop will display Web content on a virtual TV screen on the PC's desktop. Ex Machina Inc's AirMedia Live service employs a $149 NewsCatcher device that employs the wireless network used by pagers. News bulletins are displayed on the user's PC screen. The service also notifies the user of new E-mail messages. NewsCatcher does not require any telephone lines and the user does not need to have conventional access to the Web in order to receive specified news content.

Product introduction, Telecommunications services industry, Telecommunications industry, Ex Machina Inc., Online Service Introduction, AirMedia Live (Online information service)

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