New & Noteworthy: Apple forges ahead in retail; Nikon Coolpix news; @Home fallout; more

Apple forges ahead with new stores despite dismal economy From the Seattle Times: "If Apple's bid to launch retail stores seemed bold five months ago when it opened its first stores in Virginia and Southern California, it is bolder today. Apple Computer's first Bay Area retail store opens today in Palo Alto. Apple is pushing ahead with the plans, despite an economy that looks increasingly unpleasant for retailers." More.

Nikon Coolpix price cuts From Digital Photography Review: "Nikon today announced a price reduction and a rebate on two of its most popular digital cameras. The Nikon Coolpix 775 will now have a reduced manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $399.95 and the Nikon Coolpix 995 will be offered with a $100 manufacturer's rebate." More.

Nikon Introduces 5.24 Megapixel Digital Camera Nikon has released the Coolpix 5000, a digital camera featuring a 5.24 megapixel CCD (5.0 effective), 3x Optical Zoom-Nikkor lens and a top shutter speed of 1/4,000 second and shooting speed of up to three frames per second at full resolution. The Coolpix 5000 will be available November 2001 at an MSRP of $1099.95 (US).

Superfast Internet hits speed bump From USA Today: "But that could change in the next few months. @Home's contracts with the cable operators expire in June. And several are thinking about replacing @Home's networks and Internet services with homegrown operations — perhaps created in partnerships with companies such as EarthLink, AOL, Microsoft or Yahoo." More.

The devil is in Windows' details From Salon: "It's the little things, like "registered file types," that allow Microsoft to maintain its monopoly. Will the court tackle them? Microsoft continues to behave as though nothing has happened, merrily releasing a new operating system, Windows XP, whose design replicates all the approaches that got the company in trouble in the past. Microsoft is sticking its tongue out at the courts and the world, essentially saying, 'You'll have to come and drag Bill Gates away in chains if you expect us to care about some measly court.'" More.

Supreme Court Denies Microsoft Appeal From the Washington Post: "The Supreme Court said Tuesday it will not grant Microsoft Corp. another chance to avoid punishment for antitrust violations associated with its nearly ubiquitous Windows computer software." More.

The New Meaning of New Economy From the New York Times: "The catchy term, in its headiest formulation, was a symbolic shorthand for the power of technology to transform the economy, investment strategy, business thinking, even modern culture. Advances in computing and the rollout of the Internet, according to the new economy theory, would change just about everything, and very quickly. After the collapse of the dot-com bubble, a steady retreat in technology stocks this year and an old-fashioned recession surely under way, the new economy theory requires some revision, to put it kindly." More.