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| June 12, 2000 | ||
METRO TODAY | DAILY NEWS | ASTROLOGY | ARCHIVES | INDIA TODAY | HOME |
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| CYBERCHATTER The News This Time By Samar Halarnkar
At night, it isn't like I can't do without television -- I sometimes don't watch it for days on end -- but the fact is if Kapil Dev's been sobbing, no newspaper and its purple prose can show me the tears, or his fury. Some days, there's just no getting away from television. And then there are the magazines, which give you context, occasionally decent writing, backgrounding and "depth". Wouldn't it be great if something could give you the immediacy of television, the packaging of newspapers and the depth and colour of magazines? It's already here. It's called the news portal. And it will redefine the news for you. Sites like india-today.com, rediff.com, indiainfo.com and indiatimes.com are already doing that. Here's an example. A click on the hyperlink (a highlighted phrase) "The Sri Lankan Crisis" on www.india-today.com reveals all this: breaking news, analytical columns, chats with experts, video interviews, audio reports, interactive maps on the battle for Jaffna, even links to the Tigers' website where you can hear Prabhakaran. Too much? You pick what you want. If you just want a simple headline, fine. This is just the start. Soon, intelligent software will study the news you use and tailor the content to suit you. Before you sigh and say, "Oh, the Internet" or "But how many people in India have computers?" or even "You can't carry a computer to the loo, can you?" (I've actually heard that argument), consider the countrywide uproar caused by Manoj Prabhakar's secret video tapes and his "confession". Who's behind this? A web site, aptly called tehelka.com (translated: commotion) You might recoil in disgust -- as I do -- and say secret taping of private conversation is unethical and disgusting. But everyone wants to see those tapes. And what is publicly and legally abhorred today might soon become real life. The news is already being redefined. It's been no more than a month that a cyber cynic like me was washed up on dotcom land. Already, my television watching is down to three days a week from five. There are even days when I don't read the newspapers. I'm not cold turkeying. And my wife? I'm hoping to see much more of her smile. PUBLICITY SIGNS "A good sign is good publicity, a bad sign is bad publicity." That's the simple motto of signageworld.com. Like its aim: to be the most important place on the Net for the signage community. The signage community? Yes, it's a site where you can, for now, dip into an extensive pool of resources and information on about 500 manufacturers, buyers and suppliers of signs. It also lists sites -- as in physical locations, not Internet domains -- in Mumbai, Delhi and Calcutta for signs. And more helpful information for the sign people: new products, tips and tricks, with many pages opening to loud, if jarring, music. Talk about grabbing attention. There's no e-business in it as yet, but they promise that will happen. WORKING WOMEN Most sites for Indian women are transplanted women's magazines. Here's one that narrows in on a prime concern of the working woman: balancing domestic responsibilities with professional ambitions. Redforwomen.com promotes the idea of flexi-time for women. It provides job and entrepreneurial options, plus guidance to women in their 20s who've just had babies, others who want time for themselves and those who don't want work to subsume them. Apart from guidance and case studies, the site also gets into the nitty gritty of how to get a loan, how to calculate payments. Wish it had completed that circle by offering loans online though. GIFTS GALORE Caringifts.com allows you to choose, customise and send gifts within the confines of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, delivered within 48 hours through courier. The gifts are classified by target (mom, dad, Valentine, birthdays), brands (Revlon, Benetton, TGI Friday's) and products (pizzas to chocolates and clothes). A customisation option lets you suggest a price range and the search engine will suggest options within that range. INDIAN MOTHERS Another niche site: for Indian women who would rather concentrate on motherhood. So instead of flexitime and job options, indianmoms.com talks about breast feeding, holidays and child-raising. There are guides to workshops, entertainment and shopping in the major cities. And experts, home remedies, recipes, chats, product and service guides and even a baby name forum. But will the average Indian mom log in? I don't know. Does anyone, really? Samar Halarnkar is general manager (content services) of India Today Group Online. He can be reached at samarh@india-today.com |
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Whump!
A roll of four newspapers slams into my dusty balcony. I can't sleep after
that. I read the sports page while making my wife's tea, the front page
when I'm perched on my throne. My wife loves me and so tolerates my
addiction, but sometimes her smile wanes. I probably need to cold turkey.