Adam writes more about document collaboration this week, with case studies and specific recommendations for your next collaboration task. Joe Clark also joins us again to discuss problems with Web accessibility for the disabled. In the news, we pass on a "upgrade" program for PowerBook 190s and 5300s, note the releases of the Handspring Visor Edge, Photoshop 6.0.1 and AirPort 1.3 (with PPPoE support!), look at Napster’s reaction to the new injunction, and announce a new sponsor.
Web Crossing Sponsoring TidBITS -- We've seen focus on the Internet shift from search engines to portals that aggregate content, but many sites discovered not only that developing high-quality content is difficult, but also that the best way to attract and retain users is to encourage the growth of online communities
Handspring Skirts the Edge with New Handheld -- Handspring has announced what is sure to become the "must-have" accessory to Apple's PowerBook G4 Titanium: the Visor Edge, an anodized aluminum handheld that's just .44 inches thick
Trade in Your PowerBook 190 or 5300 -- If you have a PowerBook 190 (the last 68040 model) or its PowerPC cousin, the PowerBook 5300, Apple has a little-publicized, limited-time offer to "upgrade" your laptop to a 400 MHz PowerBook G3 (FireWire) for just $1,600
Photoshop 6.0.1 Update Released -- Adobe has updated its flagship image editor, rolling bug fixes and tweaks into Photoshop 6. The new version features a handful of usability improvements to the painting tool brush picker and makes clipping paths in EPS and TIFF files readable to programs like QuarkXPress
Napster Injunction Handed Down -- Following up on last month's Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, U.S. District Court Judge Marilyn Patel issued an injunction 06-Mar-01 ordering the Napster song-swapping service to remove all copyrighted materials within 72 hours of notification by the copyright owners
AirPort 1.3 Adds PPPoE Support -- Apple has released AirPort 1.3, a new version of the software for the AirPort Base Station and AirPort Card. (See "Going to the AirPort" in TidBITS-567.) Foremost among the changes is support for PPPoE (PPP over Ethernet), an ugly yet common technology that enables ISPs to make always-on DSL connections act like session-based connections
In two previous articles, I explained concepts related to accommodating Macintosh users with disabilities, some of the hardware and software (adaptive technology) available for that purpose, and how Apple has fallen asleep at the switch in recent years when it comes to accessibility
Last week I looked at some of the variables involved with creating document collaboration systems, and walked through the process that we use with TidBITS