Getting Your Website's Performance into Perspective
Anyone who seeks to profit from e-commerce through the operation of a website must be aware of the fact that poor Internet access providers and consequent slow service drives away customers. One way to ensure that the performance of your website is up to par with that of the competitors' is to have your site analyzed by a service such as Keynote Perspective. You may sign up for a free trial period at www.keynote.com/netreturns.html. No installation is necessary. The only prerequisite is that your site receive at least 1,000 visitors daily. Keynote will analyze the performance of your website and keep you informed with daily reports in chart form emailed directly to your Inbox. The reports are confidential; you'll need a password to access your information. After analyzing your website, Keynote can suggest ways to increase your profit. It's a pretty good way to make sure that your site is keeping up with and hopefully exceeding the services of the competition.
Access Files from Your Work PC on Your Cell Phone . . . And More
At the dawn of the 21st century, it is clear that a large part of the population of North America relies heavily not only upon home and work computers, but also upon cell phones and Personal Digital Assistants, or Palm Pilots. A new synchronization service known as FusionOne allows individuals to harmonize information on all of these types of devices. For example, with FusionOne, you can enter a telephone number into your Web-enabled cell phone and have that same number appear also on your Palm Pilot and on your home and work PCs. You can modify files from your work PC on your home PC and access these same files from any computer in the world. You can view them and even fax then from your cell phone as well as check your email on your Palm Pilot or even on your cell phone. How is this possible? All of the information in each of these devices will exist in a "digital vault" that resides in a web server. The only requirement is that the FusionOne software must be installed in each device that you want to be synchronized. The service is free for the first 25 megabytes of space used, and then up to 100 megabytes of space costs only $39.95 per year. An entire gigabyte can be synchronized for $169.95 per year. Only you will know the password to access your information. With FusionOne's new technology, all of your vital information can be easily accessed from virtually anywhere at any time.
Almost Like Sci-Fi: Computers You Can Talk To
Microsoft is setting out to revolutionize both communications and computing with its 3 billion-dollar research program, Microsoft.NET. The goal of this program is to discover ways in which different pieces of software can interact to facilitate Internet accessibility and usage. Microsoft sees email, Instant Messengers, and cell phones all operating on a common program. They also see computers that can recognize and work with handwritten files. A tablet PC already exists upon which you can write with a "pen" and save files in your own handwriting. Programs that allow PCs to recognize one's voice are also on the agenda. Current developments only have the capability to recognize certain pre-programmed words or phrases; the entire English language with all its nuances is a fairly difficult thing for a PC to understand at this point. Microsoft also hopes to make it possible for you to get connected to the Internet at any location with a wireless modem operating on technology similar to that of cell phones. This is already possible, but the connection is extremely slow. Soon, computers will be able to do things that recently seemed like mere dreams of science fiction writers.
Famous Java Charts
Java is great and charts are great, so the ability to create Java-based charts must be one heck an asset. With that in mind, FAME, a provider of fast time-to-market decision support solutions for the financial and energy markets, presents FAME iChartz, a Web-based charting application that utilizes software developed by Visualize, Inc. The new product enables online trading firms, financial portals, exchanges and online publications to produce dynamic charts using FAME's Java data visualization class charting and database products. Visit www.fame.com for more information.
Keeping It Personal
Reaching your customers in a personal, one-on-one basis goes along way in the quest for survival amid increasingly competitive Internet markets. If you're a subscribers to this, you might want to drop by www.broadvision.com. BroadVision provides an array of applications and services that can help you personalize your online service. Their line of Internet software is designed to enable businesses to conduct large-scale Internet transactions and better acquire, develop and service their business relationships.
Age, Gender and Experience and Browsing Behavior on the Web
WebCriteria, the developer of MaxTM, the technology that simulates standard Web users as they see, think and navigate through websites, recently revealed research findings on user interaction with websites. The month-long study was conducted by Design Technologies, and focused on how various demographic groups and how they browse the Internet. Researchers originally believed that age, gender and experience level most affected how users interact with a site. Instead, the key differentiating factor in Web browsing behavior was found to be experience. "Age appears to interact with experience level, in a second order effect, in how successfully users are able to complete a task," explained one researcher.
Keeping up with Intel
AMD recently introduced the new AMD DuronTM, a processor characterized by systems that typically sell for less than $1,000. Three speeds--700MHz, 650MHz, and 600MHz--are available. For specs, prices and additional information, visit www.amd.com.