Internet grocers may be fighting an uphill battle, but for Alex Hoffman, Netflix proves that an Internet business can best the near-ubiquitous video store. Derek Miller joins us to compare two Palm word processors, WordSmith and Word To Go. Mac OS X-only releases continue apace, with iDVD 2, Snapz Pro X 1.0.1, and Timbuktu Pro 6.0.1. Other important releases include iTunes 2, Netscape 6.2, and GraphicConverter 4.1, which support both operating systems.
iTunes 2 Now Available -- iTunes 2, introduced with Apple's new iPod, is now available as a free download. Currently the showcase of Apple's digital hub strategy, the music player adds a 10-band equalizer with 22 presets, a crossfader for smooth transitions between songs, and automatic synchronization with the iPod (see "iPod Makes Music More Attractive" in TidBITS-603)
Netscape 6.2 Released -- Netscape Communications has released Netscape 6.2, bringing full Mac OS X compatibility and fixing bugs. The new version exists as an application package for Mac OS X, which means installation is merely a matter of dragging the Netscape file to your hard disk
GraphicConverter 4.1 Released -- Lemke Software has updated its popular shareware image-editing application, adding support for even more image file formats and incorporating bug fixes
Poll Results: I Saw, I Paid, iPod -- Last week brought Apple's announcement of the iPod portable music player and was followed immediately by criticism that the $400 price tag was too high for what the device does
Now that Mac OS X has evolved into a far more usable operating system with the release of 10.1, we're starting to see both new versions of applications and a steady stream of incremental updates to programs already in the pipeline.
Apple Releases iDVD 2 -- Apple is now shipping iDVD 2, a Mac OS X-only update to its software for easily creating and burning DVDs in a SuperDrive-equipped Mac
Word processing on a Palm OS-based handheld device seems a silly idea. A tiny, 160 by 160 pixel screen, limited font support, and no hard drive or keyboard? Processor speed and RAM put to shame by a Mac from 1993?
Yet here I am, composing this article on a Palm IIIxe - and not just to prove a point
Despite billions of dollars, tons of hype, and even a number of very happy customers, Internet grocery shopping has suffered notable business failures like Webvan and Kozmo.com (see the "Groceries in Our Midst" series of articles)