Netscape, Microsoft pushing new 'push' technology
May
25, 1997
By JIM BROOKS
The battle for top software application for surfing the World
Wide Web continues between current champion Netscape Communications
and the challenger, Microsoft Corp.
Both have the preliminary -- or "beta" -- versions of
their "next-generation" software available; now the two
are pushing "push" technology.
"Push" is the term for automatically updated Web-based
content that is sent to a Web surfer's computer.
The PointCast Network was a pioneer in "push," offering
a variety of content channels for subscribers to select from. Once
subscribed, the software automatically retrieves new content on
a regular schedule.
Rather than go surfing to "pull" the content to your
Web browser, "push" technology means that once you set
it up, it will come to you automatically.
Netscape released an updated beta version of its Communicator Web
software this week that features Netcaster, its built-in "push"
technology feature. It's available now at http://home.netscape.com.
Not to be upstaged, Microsoft announced -- on the same day -- a
long list of alliances with content providers for its yet-to-be-released
"push"-equipped Web software. The list includes Dow Jones,
Dun & Bradstreet, Forbes, Fortune, Daily Variety, Publishers
Weekly, Bookwire and others.
For a taste of "push" technology, you can download the
latest version of the PointCast Network at www.pointcast.com. PointCast
pioneered "push," and in many eyes, is still the one to
beat.
A REEL GOOD TIME. While commerce on the Internet is still
in its early stages of development, some businesses have had considerable
success selling online -- booksellers and CD retailers among them.
Now a San Francisco firm hopes to add video to the list.
Reel Inc.'s Web site, www.reel.com, offers an enormous and comprehensive
listing of video releases for sale -- and rent. Reel has 35,000
titles to rent, and 80,000 for sale.
The thought of renting a movie from a Web site had me doing a doubletake,
I'll admit. However Reel makes it both easy and cost-effective to
try renting videos this way.
Film buffs will love Reel; if there's a movie out on video, it's
probably there among Reel's thousands of video titles. In fact,
you'd probably have to go to a larger market to find the more obscure
titles that Reel has available.
For example, The Humphrey Bogart classic "Casablanca"
isn't hard to find, but Reel had it in its original black and white
format, as well as a 50th anniversary edition and a colorized version
to rent.
Reel also had the same versions for sale, as well as some additional
choices -- a 50th anniversary gift-boxed set, a version dubbed in
French and five versions available on Laser Disc format.
An online film database allows you to search any number of ways
to locate the film you remember seeing years ago, but can't quite
recall the complete title.
Prices for rentals begin at $2.80 for a week's rental, plus the
cost of two-way shipping. Renting several movies makes the shipping
more cost-effective and the rental fee drops once you rent four
movies. The week rental period begins when they ship the video;
it ends with the date you mail the rental back.
Your local video rental store won't have to worry about Reel cutting
into its business, but if you're a film buff looking to rent or
buy that not-so-common movie, Reel's Web site may be the answer.
REHAB ONLINE. A recent request for local entrepreneurs on
the Web garnered several replies, including one from Elizabethtown
physical therapist Larry Benz.
Benz, with his wife Patty, who's also a therapist, and other health
professionals make up the Kentucky Orthopedic Rehab Team, or KORT.
The company operates rehab sites all over central Kentucky -- from
Louisville to Glasgow, from Leitchfield to Bardstown -- as well
as a rehabilitation center in North Carolina.
KORT's Web site is clean, easy to navigate and it's an excellent
example of using the Internet as an interactive medium.
Besides detailing KORT's many locations and team members, the site
has an excellent search engine, a guestbook, frequently asked questions
about physical therapy and even an opportunity to "ask a therapist"
a question by e-mail.
Point your browser to www.kort.com for more information.
NASDAQ ONLINE. If you're in upper management or on the board
of a company listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, you'll be interested
to hear that Nasdaq Online has been officially launched.
The new site is a Web-based market information service available
exclusively to top executives and board members of Nasdaq-listed
companies.
The online service will offer stock comparisons, real-time trading
activity data and other investment information.
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