[Boy, Windows XP seems like its going to be just chock full of antitrust violations waiting to be filed. There was a wonderful article in the Journal last week about how they're screwing Kodak over digital cameras, and we all know about what they plan to do to Real Audio. And this is what they developed when they thought they were under close scrutiny. I'm beginning to see what drove Judge Jackson over the edge. Nathan, even if conduct remedies are theoretically superior, do you think there exists an admonition these guys won't just ignore?]
---------------------------------------------
SMART TAGS: ALL YOUR LINKS ARE BELONG TO US ---------------------------------------------
Smart Tags is a feature that Microsoft included in Internet Explorer Version 6, the Web browser that will come with Windows XP, an upgrade to the Windows operating system slated to ship late this year.
Smart Tags would enable Microsoft to modify a web page being viewed with Explorer 6 by adding hyperlinks to any word on the page. Of course Microsoft can put all the links they want on their OWN pages, but Smart Tags would allow them to change OTHER peoples' pages by adding new links that would direct visitors away from that site and into sites owned by the software behemoth.
For example, let's say you have a website about world travel. Would you be happy if your pages suddenly sprouted "helpful" hyperlinks wherever the words "airline" and "hotel" appeared, and those links pointed your visitors to Expedia, a travel service owned by Microsoft? This technology would also enable Microsoft to offer paid links from any site to a competitor's site without the owners' permission.
> RING, RING!
> "Hello, this is Microsoft."
> "Hi - Joe Isuzu here. We'd like to buy a link to our site
> from the word 'SUV' on the Ford website. Can do?
> MS: "Sorry, but some guy from Chevy already bought that link
> for $3 million plus ten cents per click.
> JOE: "Hmmm. How much for a link from all occurrences of the
> word 'Blazer' on Chevy's site to the Barney page on PBS.ORG?
Set aside any concerns about a third party modifying your content without permission. Many are asking if it's ethical for Microsoft to leverage it's dominance of the desktop and Internet software market in this manner. Clearly Gates and Company see dollar signs in Smart Tags, but the marketplace is crying "Dumb Idea!"
-------------------
A PARTIAL VICTORY -------------------
Last week a Microsoft spokesman announced that due to "external feedback" (a euphemism for angry rock-throwing hordes), Smart Tags will not be included in the final version of Windows XP to be released in October. That's good news, but he also indicated that Smart Tags might show up in future versions of Windows.
And Smart Tags remains in Office XP, the new version of Microsoft's office suite released in May. So if someday you're typing away in a Word document or an Excel spreadsheet, and certain words start turning blue, be careful where you click -- Microsoft may be trying to sell you something. Follow the link below to read a CNET story with more information on Microsoft's Smart Tags.
<A href="http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-6399150.html">
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-6399150.html </A>
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SEARCH ENGINES: PAY TO GET LISTED? ------------------------------------
More and more search engines are offering webmasters the option to pay for guaranteed or expedited listings in their databases. This week, AltaVista became the latest to offer a "paid inclusion" service. For a mere $39, you can get rapid entry into AltaVista's database, and weekly visits from the AltaVista spider, to ensure your listings match your site's content.
<A href="http://www.altavista.com/sites/search/express_incl">
http://www.altavista.com/sites/search/express_incl </A>
Does this mean that you MUST pay to get your site listed with the search engines? How does "paid inclusion" differ from "paid placement"? And do these programs affect the quality of the search results? Danny Sullivan's Search Engine Report has all the answers.
<A href="http://searchenginewatch.com/sereport/01/07-inclusion.html">
http://searchenginewatch.com/sereport/01/07-inclusion.html </A>
That's all for now, I'll see you next time! --Bob Rankin
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