Apple Computer Inc has formed a new organization dedicated to Internet products and strategies and has appointed its chief scientist Larry Tesler to run it as VP of Internet platforms, reporting to David Nagel, senior VP worldwide research. Tesler, who remains chief scientist, will oversee an Internet products and business development unit which forges alliances with other Internet companies; an Internet engineering operation which develops Internet-specific products; and an Internet program office which will coordinate Internet-related technology projects. Apple has also joined the World Wide Web Consortium. It’s already announced its intention to contribute specifications for its type technology (in conjunction with Adobe and Netscape). It is also considering submitting its 3DMF file format for three- dimensional graphics. The company wouldn’t comment on a report in the San Francisco Chronicle suggesting it has bagged one the top PC makers to build a stripped down version of the Macintosh using Intel Corp parts that might retail for half the price of a PowerPC model, perhaps as little as $1,000. The Mac Licensing Design is a cut-down version of the PowerPC Platform which will support Unix and NT in addition to Mac.
