Microsoft invests in former foe, ailing Apple Computers
Aug.
10, 1997
By JIM BROOKS
"Surprise" is the word most of the Mac faithful use
to describe the recent deal between Apple Computer and its former
antithesis, Microsoft Corp.
At the Macworld Expo in Boston, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and
Apple's de facto CEO Steve Jobs announced Wednesday an agreement
that would infuse $150 million of Microsoft's money into ailing
Apple Computer.
The agreement sent Apple's stock price soaring, gaining 33 percent
almost immediately.
The move works to both company's advantage. Apple needs to boost
the public's confidence in its products and reverse the "Apple
is dying" rumors.
It also protects the existing market for Microsoft products that
run on Macs, which is said to run into hundreds of millions of dollars.
A cross-licensing agreement will mean faster development of Microsoft
products for Macs.
In return, Microsoft's Internet Explorer becomes the only Web browser
that Apple will now ship with new Macs.
The agreement falls into place as part of the plan to rebuild Apple.
Apple co-founder Jobs has moved himself from his role as an adviser
to that of board member.
He also has appointed some computer-industry heavyweights to fill
other spots on the board: Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison, one-time
IBM Chief Financial Officer Jerome York, and Intuit Corp. President
and Chief Executive Bill Campbell are the latest to join.
So for now, Apple's future is assured -- though it still has some
hurdles to clear, including additional appointments to its board
of directors and the naming of an "official" chief executive.
SHUTTLE AUDIO, VIDEO. If you're wondering what's going on
aboard the latest space shuttle mission, you can visit United Space
Alliance's Web site for real-time audio and video feeds from NASA-TV.
The video requires no special plug-ins or equipment. All you need
is Netscape Navigator 2.0 or greater, or Microsoft Internet Explorer
3.0 or greater.
The audio feeds require RealAudio, available free for all computer
operating systems.
The USA site also has a realtime tracking page that gives you up-to-the-minute
location of the shuttle. The fancy version is Java-powered, though
a non-Java automatically updated graphic version is available too.
Point your browser to www.unitedspacealliance.com
NETSCAPE NEWS. Netscape Communications is reportedly going
to offer a stripped-down version of its Navigator software for browsing
the World Wide Web.
The current browser is part of the Netscape Communicator package,
which includes an e-mail client, web page editor and other communication
tools.
Netscape's standalone Navigator has been the dominant software
for Web surfing over the years. In its earlier versions, it was
fairly compact and simple to use.
Netscape Communicator isn't difficult to use, but the software
requires lots of hard disk space. The compressed Communicator download
package itself weighs in at more than 11 megabytes -- and requires
about twice that much room to install on your hard drive.
The standalone Navigator 4.0 would likely incorporate the Netcaster
"push" technology, and require only 5 megabytes of hard-drive
space.
Netscape said the move is the result of feedback from customers,
many of whom want a simpler Web browser package.
A standalone Navigator 4.0 will give Internet Service Providers
an up-to-date software package that can be inexpensively licensed
or purchased for their new customers -- something that Microsoft
already offers with free-for-asking Internet Explorer.
AOL ON TARGET. America Online's goal of 10 million subscribers
by the end of 1997 is within reach, the online company's chairman
said this week.
AOL was forced to scale back its advertising earlier this year
when it was swamped with customers trying to take advantage of its
$19.95 unlimited usage pricing that went into effect last December.
But despite the bad publicity, Chairman Steve Case told Reuters
on Thursday that the company added more than 600,000 subscribers
in the past quarter -- and is on track to reach 10 million total.
His comments came after AOL released its fourth-quarter earnings,
which were higher than previously expected.
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