NEWS Update: WebTV Says HP Printer Bug Now Fixed
The printer driver bug that had disabled thousands of WebTV users' Hewlett Packard printers has now been fixed, according to WebTV. The problem turned out to be due to test files that ended up on the wrong servers at WebTV. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Staff]
Tidbits: There's No Business Like E-Business
Faster than a speeding millionaire, more powerful than the US Post Office, it's Tidbits, our roundup of Internet culture and odd stuff. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Nancy McPoland]
Microsoft Unveils Windows for TV; UPC Defects to Liberate
Microsoft unveiled its interactive television prototype at an industry conference in Amsterdam this week. Will the software, available for both PC and cable settop boxes be everything the company hopes it will be? [Published 09/10/00, Written by Nancy McPoland]
Amazon Changes Privacy Policy to Relieve Customer Fears
A new policy on privacy for Amazon customers is unveiled, but critics claim it's a step backward. Will Amazon's 23 million customers rise up and demand the return of the "opt-out" option? [Published 09/10/00, Written by Nancy McPoland]
CA Net Sales Tax Passes, But Faces Opposition
A controversial Internet sales tax proposal has been passed by the California legislation, but still must receive the governor's signature. Analysts claim the legislation represents a step toward national taxation of e-commerce. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Nancy McPoland]
The Buzz: Headhunting Redux
Nat decides that maybe he needs his own business, and discovers that headhunting is a great way to spy. [Published 09/10/00, Written by G. Nat URL VII]
FEATURES Net4TV Presents: FITNET 65
Discover for yourself how physical activity can be the number one energizer in your life. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Tim Lane]
Text Boxes and Posting Links
Create a text area box to c/c/p codes out of and post multiple URL's/links on a single email. The latest tips from the ADHHH team! [Published 09/10/00, Written by tomeegirl - editor]
Turn Text Into Speech
Here's something fun - add the "Text to Speech" function to your homepage or your email. Amaze your friends! Be the first on your block to get this really neat trick! [Published 09/10/00, Written by GlimerMann]
Armchair Astronomy: Where Is It?
The best way to learn the sky is by the use of a star map. There are several on the web that are highly useful for this purpose. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Bert D. Pourchot]
World Wide Web of Deceit: Fighting Back Against Credit Card Fraud
Web surfers leery of online shopping have a new tool in their arsenal, thanks to American Express. A new program will allow the use of one-time, disposable account numbers to prevent thieves from stealing your financial information. [Published 09/10/00, Written by WebTV Addict]
Hoax Report: Lyes and Losers
Just because summer's over doesn't spell relief from the heat of over-forwarded spam, scams and hoaxes zinging though the Internet. Join us as we cool off a few choice ones. [Updated 9/19/2000] [Published 09/10/00, Written by Nancy McPoland]
Review: TiVo Wins Thumbs Up
Tired of missing all of your favorite shows? Tired of flipping channels? Maybe you should get a personal TV recorder. TiVo wins high marks and only two "Grrrrrs" from Dexter. Find out what you should know before you buy. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Dexter Davenport]
Surfari: Oh, Go Fly A Kite!
Kites have been enjoyed for thousands of years, by young and old alike. Check out some of the links in this article - and rediscover why you, too, should go fly a kite! [Published 09/10/00, Written by Rogi Riverstone]
Surfari: WWWolinsky
I always end up making friends with librarians, teachers and writers. Our interests are eclectic; our tastes are obscure; our conversations are convoluted and lengthy. The Wolinskys are invited to my home for a cuppa, any time. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Rogi Riverstone]
Surfari: Eyes On The Prize
It takes more than challenging oneself personally to compete in the Olympic Games. Love of sport, culture, family and heritage combine to bring Mount Olympus, home of the gods, to the farmlands, hamlets and urban streets where athletes train. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Rogi Riverstone]
Up Over Down Under
The 2000 Olympics begin on Friday, September 15th in Australia (which is 15 hours ahead of New York City). Here is a small sampling of some of things that make Australia so unique. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Rogi Riverstone]
COMMUNITY Diana - Smokey Mountain Girl
Diana came across WebTV while looking at computers. She didn't know much about it but decided to give it a try. If she didn't like it, she could take it back and get a computer.... [Published 09/10/00, Written by Bee]
Paulie's Creations
Paulie is in his mid fifties and has a learning disability. But he doesn't let that stop him from being part of the world wide web. Challenges are part of life. Sometimes, we are best remembered by how we faced them. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Nelson Tankus]
In Memory of Shannon Westerfield
For nearly all of his life, Shannon and his Mother lived with, and fought, the illness that finally took his life. This is a story of unwavering courage and faith in the teeth of the storm. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Momma Nightowl]
J's Universe
Sass, spunk and intelligence are good words for this WebTV gal. She is creative, kind and loves cats. In fact, she has some great things for cat lovers. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Arlene aka Florida Blue]
Marney's Place: A Gifs R Us Place!
Marney mentioned that her computer minded son has new respect for his mother. He was surprised his mother could learn as much as she did about the Internet. Her web page is living proof that we are never too old to learn and share. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Linda Anderson]
Sherry (Angel-Eyes-34) and her Kids Page
Sherry is an accomplished, involved, stay-at-home Mom with a husband and 3 boys. One look at her site and you'll realize this lady has a lot of talent, heart and style. [Published 09/10/00, Written by MzVid]
Better Homes: September Spotlight
This issue's Better Homes take you on tour -- of a site in honor of POW/MIA Recognition Day (Sept. 15, 2000); a small peaceful "garden" blooming with inspiration; a Cajun home with recipes, jokes and a whole lot more; and a page from and about Hawaii from a guy who traded snow for sand. [Published 09/10/00, Written by RainSong]
Chien Cooks: South of the Border
Mexican cooking is known for uniquely spicy and flavorful meals. A Mexican meal is not a meal without tortillas. These are small, flat pancakes made from corn flour or wheat. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Patricia Kirton]
OPINION AND EDITORIAL Welcome to Issue 65
Thank you for being a part of Net4TV Voice each week. Thanks to you, WebTV was able to fix the printer bug. And thanks for letting the ITV world know just how they should be marketing their ideas to you, the Interactive TV consumer. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Dexter Davenport]
Dexter's Hall of Shame: idealab! and dotTV
Dexter is all for making profit, but not when you don't offer any discernable benefit for what you sell. He also can't abide stupidity. Thus idealab! is inducted into Dexter's Hall of Shame for the dim-bulbed dotTV, and for being full of Bahamas. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Dexter Davenport]
My Community of Cats
Dudette has cats again, and she's discovering that, despite being cat-wise, she still has things that she can learn from them. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Dudette]
Soul Survivor
The conventional wisdom is that the recent explosion in "reality" programming reflects a sudden weariness towards sitcoms among TV viewers. Rather, it is barely removed from the formulaic mentality that is the foundation of all television programming. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Uncle Bob]
Hillbilly Power!
Rogi Riverstone had the typical "WeCare" experience, until she found a hillbilly on the other end that gave her a whole new feeling... and a WebTV that worked! [Published 09/10/00, Written by Rogi Riverstone]
VOX POP -- Reader Opinions QOW64: What I Want From the Internet
We asked what you wanted from the Internet, and here's what a few of you told us. [Published 08/01/99, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
Ideal Webtv
Rogi Riverstone envisions an ideal state in which WebTV (or another set-top box, for that matter) would be truly well-marketed. Here's the way it would be [Published 09/10/00, Written by Rogi Riverstone]
WebTV--The PARTY MACHINE
Denny Davis has found a wonderful feature of his WebTV that makes it the ultimate party machine. He's amazed that WebTV doesn't even tell people about this most fun way to use it! [Published 09/10/00, Written by Denny Davis]
Telling the Stories of the Users
Jane MacHale gives us a LOT of ideas on how the message that WebTV (or others) can use users' stories for marketing... and tells us what makes it vital to her. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Jane MacHale]
How I Would Market Internet TV (WEBTV)
Jo Elaine Hill (Softlady) makes some great suggestions on the marketing message for Internet TV and WebTV. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Jo Elaine Hill]
Targeting the User with the Message
BB ICON identifies one of the basics of good marketing -- figure out who you are targeting, and the message that will speak to that consumer. [Published 09/10/00, Written by BB ICON]
Viral Marketing
JP Eoff suggests offering an incentive program for real iTV users to explain and sell the units. We've long heard that "word-of-mouth is the best advertising..." [Published 09/10/00, Written by JP Eoff]
A "Hook-Up Special"
Here's a neat idea from Allvy to make WebTV easier to sell, especially to seniors! [Published 09/10/00, Written by Allvy]
TV Commercial: The Box We Want
Martin Jones offers us a TV commercial for the Internet TV box and service package that he wants to see. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Martin Jones]
When the Printer Bug Struck
Steve Minghini was online when the Printer Bug struck, and draws some conclusions about WebTV's need for a System Status page. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Steve Minghini]
My Two Cents
With all the uproar about bugs and upgrades, Linda Cox offers some perspective on why she still loves her WebTV. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Linda Cox]
Check Your Phone Number, or Pay the Bill!
Steff passes on the important advice to check the phone number that WebTV is dialing on a regular basis... or pay the price! [Published 09/10/00, Written by Steff]
Upgrade Blues
John G. shares with us an email he sent to WebTV after the latest server-side upgrade. [Published 09/10/00, Written by John G.]
Nintendo -- You'd Think They'd Learn
Kitty TC read our article about Nintendo's next-generation system, and has some observations about its continuing mistakes. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Kitty TC]
My Path to the Retrograde
Charon tells us his story of how and why he ultimately took the retrograde. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Charon]
When You Call Them, Beware
Gary B vents his frustration with WebTV Customer Service and communications. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Gary B]
The Features Users Want
And, of course, some of our readers stressed the features that they'd like to buy... and think others will, too! [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
Commercials and Ad Copy Approaches
A number of our readers suggested commercials and advertising copy that an Internet TV company might use to get the message across. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
Merchandising and Marketing
These readers suggest marketing and merchandising approaches to make the Internet TV easier to demonstrate, more appealing to target users, and avoid some of the pitfalls they've seen to date. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
The Right Message to the Right Target Market
These readers stress the importance of reaching the right target market with the right message, and offer their own testimonials. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
The New Upgrade -- Love It!
Count on it... any change to the WebTV service is bound to generate a lot of email. These users like... or even love... the new WebTV colors. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
The New Upgrade -- Hate It!
And just as many WebTV users hate the new colors. La plus a change, la plus la mme chose (the more things change, the more they stay the same). [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
The New Upgrade -- Problems!
There are no changes without their accompanying problems, and we've received these reports [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
The New Upgrade -- Other Comments
These readers had some other observations about the server-side upgrade, the colors, and the timing of its release. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
WebTV Triple Play!
WebTV's current promotion is still generating email... and questions [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
Sites That Don't Work on WebTV
We're hearing quite a lot about sites that used to work and don't any more. Some are changes at the sites themselves, but some may be WebTV. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
Fixing the Printer Color Problem
We had hundreds of emails about the printer bug -- most of them telling us they had it, and then telling us when it was fixed. But a lingering problem remains on color printing, and here are suggestions about how to work around it. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
2.5 Upgrade/Retrograde Comments
We're still receiving a lot of mail about the 2.5 upgrade, questions about the retrograde, and notices of a few new bugs. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice]
Voice Mail!
A sampling our some of our other email since our last issue. [Published 09/10/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
Hack Attacks
Our mid-issue update on the hacks got a number of responses, some of which continue to disturb us. [Published 09/11/00, Written by Net4TV Voice Readers]
