Recently MacCentral readers have noted that the Apple home page on Excite’s Web site now redirects to a new one hosted by Netscape/AOL. Apple has now provided a statement outlining its decision.
The page in question is a portal containing information specific to Apple, alongside other news and information of the day. Users are encouraged to use iTools services and access links to the Apple Store and other Mac-related services.
MacCentral queried an Apple spokesperson about the change and got this response.
“To provide customers the best initial experience on the web, Apple has partnered with Netscape/AOL to combine the best of the web’s content – from CNN and Time to Sports Illustrated and People – with the best of Apple’s site including headlines and movie trailers. We’re not doing it on our own; rather we’ve formed a great partnership, just like we’ve done with our ISP, our browser, and Sherlock.”
While Apple’s statement provides a clear purpose for establishing the page in its new home, it provides no information about Apple’s motivation for moving from Excite.com to begin with.
In recent months, the Excite Web site underwent major changes as the company disassociated itself with its doomed parent, which filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. Now under new management, the site has been rebuilt from the ground up using new hardware, software and code.