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Tuesday, December 29, 1998 Media Cynic | Forum | Advertising | Classifieds | Jobs PC Magazine Editors Predict the Future of Technology and the Internet Continued Internet growth, including expanded e-commerce and Internet development, occupy the first three spots on PC Magazine's top 10 predictions for the 1999 technology market. The editors of PC Magazine report that the growing number of people getting connected and embracing the Web's functions and features will continue to drive the Internet's role as both a business tool and a consumer computing, entertainment, information and educational source. The magazine's top ten 1999 market predictions include the following:
In 1998, it seemed as if almost every business sported a Web presence or was preparing to go there, continues Miller. "We saw all sorts of new places to shop electronically. Web sites that sell books and music aren't new, but they have really improved over the past year. And, we've seen a lot of new places to buy everything from computer equipment and clothing to flowers and groceries." PC Magazine's first issue of 1999 predicts the future of e-commerce and provides a review of the newest software tools enabling real-world business to expand onto the Web. The issue also provides the editors' list of top products for 1998, selected from thousands introduced and tested over the past 12 months. PC Magazine, published by Ziff-Davis, has a circulation rate base of 1.225 million. PC Magazine publishes 22 times a year in print, quarterly on CD and continuously on the Web. SkyTel Adds The Weather Channel, Golf Magazine to Custom Newscast Line SkyTel's advanced messaging customers can now get daily updates on their pagers from The Weather Channel and Golf Magazine, the two newest partners in the SkyTel Custom Newscast service. The Weather Channel will provide weather headlines and current conditions for top U.S. cities three times a day, while Golf Magazine will provide both general golf news and a tip of the day. With the SkyTel Custom Newscast service, customers can use the Internet to select the customized news they want delivered to their pagers. Currently, customers can choose from several content providers in categories such as business and financial news, technology updates, weather and travel, entertainment, sports and health. Customers can subscribe by visiting SkyTel's website at www.skytel.com/customnewscast and following the on-screen instructions. "The Weather Channel and Golf Magazine are trusted sources of information in their respective fields," said John T. Stupka, SkyTel president and CEO. "As a result of these partnerships, we are able to provide our customers with more of the personalized news and information they desire. The broadcast capabilities of our network allow SkyTel to provide the benefits of web-based information to wireless subscribers." When Does the New Millennium Begin? As society barrels toward the third millennium, a new debate is stirring... when does the new millennium actually begin? Responses to a survey posted at the Countdown 2000 website show a clear divide in opinion. Of the more than 13,000 responses, 37% say the new millennium begins on January 1, 2000, while 41% say January 1, 2001. The source of the calendrical puzzle can be traced back to the sixth century when Pope John I commissioned a monk named Dionysius Exiguus ("Dennis the Short") to change the Roman Calendar to a new calendar based upon the birth of Christ. Dennis devised the current B.C./A.D. framework, but since there was no "zero" in the Roman numbering system, Dennis followed B.C. 1 with A.D. 1. Since the first millennium began with the year one, rather than with the year zero, each subsequent millennium also begins with the year one. Accordingly, 1001 A.D. marked the first year of the second millennium and 2001 A.D. will mark the first year of the third millennium. In other words, we will have completed the second millennium only after we complete 2000 years on December 31, 2000. But party-goers, marketers and the media don't seem to care too much for this logic. The thrill of seeing all those "9s" turn to "0s" seems to be all that matters. Indeed, even computer programmers call the Y2K computer problem the "millennium bug," despite the fact that it strikes at 01/01/2000. In short, the millennium hubbub continues to focus on the 1999/2000 rollover. Webintosh.com renamed The MacObserver The MacObserver announced it has joined The MacAddict Network. Known for the past two years as Webintosh, the company also announced the re-birth of the online magazine as The MacObserver. Founded in January 1997, The MacObserver features daily Mac news, analysis, resources, and weekly columns. "This new partnership adds a new perspective to The MacAddict Network and brings increased awareness to The MacObserver," remarks Dave Hamilton, Business Manager for The MacObserver. "After a lot of thought, we decided that the name 'Webintosh' didn't accurately describe the content of our site. We feel 'The MacObserver' more fully encompasses the essence of what we're about," says Bryan Chaffin, The MacObserver's Editor-in-Chief. "Joining the MacAddict Network at the same time makes this change even more appropriate." Published by Imagine Media, the core of the network consists of MacAddict.com and Guy Kawasaki's The EvangeList, while other existing members of the network's unique affiliate program are among the best Mac sites on the Internet and include: MacSurfer,VersionTracker, NoBeige, O'Grady's PowerPage, AppleJedi, The Iconfactory, Inside Mac Games, EveryMac, Mac Resource Page, MacFixit, deal-mac, MacGamer's Ledge, MacCentral, and As the Apple Turns. Affiliate sites are selected based on the highest editorial criteria. Click here to return to the homepage of The Write NewsTM Click here to subscribe to our free weekly email newsletter.  www.writenews.com Copyright © 1997-2007 by Writers Write, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
