This article contains answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) concerning iReview, iCards, and iTools.

Contents:
General Questions
iReview
iCards
iTools

-email
-iDisk
-Homepage
-Kidsafe

Question What is new to Apple's Internet site, www.apple.com?

Answer Apple has introduced a suite of Internet-based services on www.apple.com that integrate with Mac OS 9, making the Web a safer, simpler, more productive, and fun place to be. There are six core services in the initial offering:

• iReview: An exclusive online guide to the most noteworthy content on the Internet, with an emphasis on sites of interest to the Mac community. Anyone with an Internet connection can enjoy reading these reviews, but iTools members can also post their own reviews.
• iCards: Premium-quality electronic greeting cards that display in the recipient's email box. Anyone with an Internet connection can send or receive iCards, but iTools members can also create and send customized iCards using their own images.
• iTools: Internet services just for iTools members include Email, iDisk, HomePage, and KidSafe.
  • Email: An exclusive email address--membername@mac.com--with custom email features such as message forwarding and the ability to respond automatically when the user is away.
  • iDisk: 20 megabytes of free storage space on Apple's Internet servers. Members can use iDisk to store pictures, movies, and Web site files.
  • HomePage: In conjunction with iDisk, HomePage lets members easily construct and publish a professional-looking Web site, with no expertise in Web design or coding required.
  • KidSafe: Powerful software for parental control over Internet content, to keep kids Web surfing in the safest-possible waters.

Question Who has access to Apple's Internet services?

Answer iReview and iCards are available to anyone with a computer and an Internet connection, including PC users. Membership is not required to use these services. iTools, which includes Email, iDisk, HomePage, and KidSafe, can be accessed exclusively by Mac users who are running Mac OS 9. Membership is required to use the iTools services.

Question Why do I have to have Mac OS 9 to be a member?

Answer To provide tight integration between the Mac OS and Apple's new Internet services, we are using many unique features of Mac OS 9. However, customers who do not have Mac OS 9 can still send iCards and read reviews in iReview.

Question How much does membership cost?

Answer Membership is free.

Question How can customers sign up for membership?

Answer Customers can sign up on the Apple Web site at http://www.apple.com via the iTools tab.

Question What do customers need to sign up?

Answer All you need is a Macintosh running Mac OS 9, an Internet connection, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or later or Netscape 4.5 through 4.76 (Netscape 6 does not work with iTools), and an email program. (Mac OS 9 comes with these browsers and with the Outlook Express email program.)

Question Is there a minimum age requirement to sign up?

Answer Yes. Members must be at least 18 years old.

Question I don't live in the United States; can I still become a member?

Answer Yes. The services are optimized for users in North America, but anyone can sign up.

Question Are there policies governing the use of the Apple Internet services?

Answer Yes. iCards and iReview have their own acceptable-use policies. In addition, iTools has a separate membership agreement and acceptable-use policy, located in iTools Signup and the iTools Account section.

Question Do the services work with America Online (AOL)?

Answer Yes. They work with all major Internet service providers including AOL.

Question Do the services use cookies?

Answer Yes. Like most other Web sites, Apple's site uses cookies. Cookies help us create a more convenient, personal, and secure Internet experience for our members.

Question Does Apple collect personal information?

Answer Yes. However, Apple collects only basic contact information from you in order to set up an account. We do this so that we can accurately identify members if there is a problem. In accordance with Apple's privacy policy, no member's personal information is released to third parties without the member's express permission.

Question Does Apple provide technical support for these services?

Answer Apple has designed these services to be as easy to use as the Macintosh. However, should users have any difficulties, Apple provides an extensive online help library and a detailed set of frequently asked questions covering every aspect of the services.

iReview

Question What is iReview, and how are sites chosen and reviewed?

Answer iReview is an interactive guide aimed at helping the Mac community get maximum value and satisfaction from the time they spend on the Web. It consists of Web site reviews and ratings from the Apple iReview editorial staff, as well as members of the Mac community who want to add their own views to the mix. iTools members can suggest new sites to review as well.

Sites are rated from one star (Dud) to five stars (Outstanding). Generally, sites covered deserve at least three stars (Good) based on the quality, timeliness, and reliability of their content, as well as their presentation and how satisfying it is to navigate and use them. But the iReview team will not be shy about including sites with poor ratings in cases when, for instance, a site's notoriety greatly exceeds its quality, or when a site covering important content behaves badly on a Mac.

Question Who can submit reviews?

Answer Any iTools member can submit his or her own opinion of a reviewed site, by clicking "Submit a Review."

Question Does Apple automatically show members' personal information if they submit a review?

Answer No. Apple's privacy policy strictly prohibits sharing any member information unless the member has expressly granted permission. In iReview, members can choose to attach their first name and/or city to a review they submit.

Question Will iReview change over time?

Answer Yes. iReview will continue to grow and change over time, but it will always be about quality, not quantity. The number of sites in iReview will never become so lengthy that it will make locating information difficult.

Question Can reviewed sites pay for placement in iReview?

Answer Apple does not accept payment for placement or preferential reviews of sites. All sites in iReview are there because either Apple or iTools members feel they are worth reviewing. Apple maintains editorial neutrality.

Question I'm looking for a specific site in iReview. Why isn't it reviewed?

Answer The iReview editorial staff will constantly add and re-evaluate sites. iReview allows iTools members to suggest sites to review.

iCards

Question What are iCards?

Answer iCards are exceptionally high-quality greeting cards on the Internet for sending to friends and family.

Question Do I have to be a member to send a greeting card?

Answer No. Anyone with a Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape 4.0 browser (or later) can personalize and send standard iCards.

Question Do I have to be a member to create and send a customized greeting card?

Answer Yes. Members can use any of the images in their iDisk to build their own customized greeting cards.

Question Can users place any message they want on a card, or do they have to use Apple's message?

Answer Although some iCards do include headlines, such as "Happy Birthday," every iCard allows users to add their own message.

Question Can PC users receive iCards?

Answer Yes. Anyone with an email account that supports attachments can receive an iCard.

Question Do recipients of an iCard have to go to a Web site to view the card?

Answer No. iCards show up directly in the recipient's email box.

Question Do iCards include ads?

Answer No. There are no advertisements in iCards.

Question Are there any restrictions on what I can do with an iCard image?

Answer Please refer to Apple's acceptable-use policy located on iCards personalization page.

Question Are there any limits on the number of iCards users can send?

Answer No. Users can send as many iCards as they like.

Question Can members create customized cards if Apple's standard cards do not meet their needs?

Answer Apple provides an exclusive collection of images that are ideal for almost any occasion. Of course, if Apple's collection does not meet members' needs, they can always build their own cards by using the iCards and iDisk custom features.

iTools

Email

Question What will my email address be?

Answer Your address will be very simple and easy to remember: membername@mac.com, where "membername" is the name you choose when you sign up for iTools.

Question How big are mac.com mailboxes?

Answer Members can have up to 5 megabytes of mail in their mailbox. When users check their mail account, by default incoming mail automatically downloads to the Mac, freeing up mailbox space.

Question Can members get more email space?

Answer No. Additional email storage space is not available at this time.

Question Will my email have ads?

Answer No. The Email service does not require members or recipients of mail from our members, to view ads.

Question Does Apple sell its mac.com email lists?

Answer In accordance with Apple's privacy policy, mac.com email addresses are never provided to third parties without the owner's express permission.

Question Can members get their mac.com email at another address?

Answer Yes. The mac.com email accounts are simple to integrate with existing email accounts. Members can have all of their mac.com email automatically forwarded to any other specified address, such as member@earthlink.net.

Question Can I change my email address?

Answer No. Your mac.com email address is yours as long as your account is active.

Question Can members have an automatic reply message?

Answer Yes. Members can set up an automatic email reply when they will not be available via their mac.com email address for some period of time.

Question Can members exchange email with PC users?

Answer Yes. Members can correspond via their mac.com email address with anyone who has a working, standards-based email address.

Question Do members need an email program to access their mac.com mail?

Answer Yes. Mac OS 9 ships with Microsoft Outlook Express 4.5, which is compatible with the iTools Email service.

Question Are mac.com email accounts accessible with programs other than Outlook Express?

Answer Yes. You can use almost any standards-based POP email program available today, including Netscape Communicator and Eudora.

Question Can members use existing email addresses along with their mac.com address?

Answer Yes. All members have to do is set up an additional email account in the same email program.

Question Can I send and receive attachments with my mac.com address?

Answer Yes. iTools Email fully supports attachments and all other commercial-grade email features. In fact, members can send and receive rich email messages that contain colored text, pictures, sounds, and even QuickTime video.

iDisk

Question What is iDisk?

Answer iDisk provides iTools members with 20 megabytes of free storage space on Apple's Internet servers to keep pictures, movies, and Web site files. iDisk comes with five permanent folders, within which you can organize information any way you like. These folders are used to share information with others, store personal documents, and work with other iTools services. The permanent folders are:

• Documents: The contents of this folder can be accessed only by the iDisk owner.
• Movies: Place iMovie or QuickTime files in this folder to share them over the Web.
• Pictures: Place JPEG pictures here to use in creating your own custom iCards and to share over the Web.
• Sites: HomePage automatically saves any Web sites you create in this folder. In addition, you can "post" Web sites you have created on your Macintosh just by copying them into this folder.
• Public: Place any files and folders that you want to share with other iTools members in this folder. Any iTools member who knows your member name can see everything you place in this folder.

Question Who can save information to the iDisk?

Answer Each member has sole control over his or her iDisk. While any member can connect to any other member's Public folder (one of the five folders on a member's iDisk), other members cannot add, modify, or delete your files.

Question How do members know what is private and what is public on their iDisk?

Answer In every user's iDisk there is a special folder, titled the Public folder, from which any member can copy files. Files that members want to keep private can be placed in the iDisk Documents folder, to which only the owner has access.

Question Is information that I save on iDisk backed up?

Answer While Apple makes every reasonable attempt to ensure that members' data will not be lost, we cannot guarantee the information placed on a member's iDisk.

Question Does iDisk work with other applications on members' Mac systems?

Answer Yes. Members can save data to iDisk from applications just as they would save it to their hard drive.

Question Can PC users connect to my iDisk?

Answer No. iDisk is an exclusive service for members.

Question Can members get more space for their iDisk?

Answer No. Additional iDisk space is not available at this time.

Question Can members connect to iDisk using other technologies, like FTP?

Answer No. iDisk is designed to be directly integrated with Mac OS 9. Therefore it is not possible to connect to it using other technologies.

Question Does iDisk work with AOL?

Answer Yes. As long as members have an Internet connection, an Internet service provider, and Mac OS 9, they can use iDisk.

Question What can members store on their iDisk?

Answer Since iDisk works the way the rest of the Mac does, members can save anything they want, as long as they don't exceed its storage capacity of 20 megabytes.

Question Can members use iDisk to post their own Web sites?

Answer Yes. Any Web pages copied into the Sites folder on the iDisk are automatically posted to the Web at the member's URL address.

HomePage

Question What is HomePage?

Answer HomePage is a Web-based home page builder and editor that lets novice users create professional-looking Web pages.

Question Does HomePage let members publish their photos on the Internet?

Answer Yes. HomePage automatically offers to put all members' photos located on their iDisk in a personal album. To share their album with others on the Web, all members have to do is click the Publish button.

Question Does HomePage work with iMovie?

Answer Yes. With HomePage and iMovie, you're just a few clicks away from your own personal movie theater on the Web.

Question Does HomePage help organize pages into a Web site?

Answer Yes. As members create new Web pages with HomePage, all their existing pages are automatically updated to include a link to each new page. Visitors to the member's Web site can easily find all the pages the member has created.

Question How many pages can members create and post with HomePage?

Answer Members can create as many pages as they want. Because all of the media for members' pages must come from their iDisk, content must fit within the 20 megabytes of iDisk space.

Question Are there any size restrictions on pages built with HomePage?

Answer There are no size restrictions on the pages themselves.

Question What will the URL for members' Web pages be?

Answer Members' Web pages can be accessed at homepage.mac.com/membername, where "membername" is the name you choose when you sign up for iTools.

Question Who can see members' Web pages?

Answer Anyone with an Internet connection and compatible browser can view members' Web pages.

Question Will Apple attach advertising to members' personal Web pages?

Answer No. Apple will not attach advertising to members' personal Web pages. However, each page will contain a "Made with Apple iTools" stamp.

Question Does HomePage work with other Web tools?

Answer HomePage is intended for novice Internet users and therefore works independently of other Internet publishing tools. Since pages built with HomePage use standard HTML, when members are ready to move on to more advanced tools, they can use the HomePage pages in the Sites folder of their iDisk as a starting point.

Question Do members have to use HomePage to create a Web site?

Answer No. Members can use any application they like. To post sites created with other tools, members just copy the site into the Sites folder on their iDisk. It is then instantly published on the Web at their HomePage URL.

Question What if members want to use HomePage to create a particular type of Web page but can't find a template for it?

Answer Apple frequently adds to the library of HomePage categories and templates. If there are specific categories or templates that members would like to see, they can let Apple know by using the feedback form in iTools Help. Of course, members are always free to use iDisk and other tools to post content on the Web.

KidSafe

Question What is KidSafe?

Answer KidSafe is software that allows access only to Web sites that are acceptable for children and have educational value as determined by professional teachers. Unlike filtering software, KidSafe allows entry only to sites and services that have been approved by certified teachers; all others are blocked.

Question Who approves the sites, and what are the criteria for inclusion?

Answer All KidSafe Web sites have been approved by certified teachers and librarians based on two criteria: acceptable content and educational relevance.

Question What does KidSafe prevent?

Answer KidSafe prevents access to inappropriate material and services on the Internet.

Question Can KidSafe be customized?

Answer Yes. Parents have the ability to add Web sites and services.

Question Is KidSafe a form of censorship?

Answer No. KidSafe is simply a tool that parents can use to help guard their children from whatever they deem inappropriate on the Internet. Apple provides a prescreened list of sites, and parents can add sites and services to their child's KidSafe list based on their own standards.

Question Do members have to use KidSafe?

Answer No. Both installing and using KidSafe are completely optional.

Question Does KidSafe restrict Sherlock searches, too?

Answer Yes. Whenever KidSafe is activated, Sherlock can search only the sites on the individual's KidSafe list. In addition, as part of KidSafe, Apple provides a KidSafe channel for Sherlock that searches only the KidSafe-approved sites.

Question Is KidSafe easy to use?

Answer Yes. To use KidSafe, members simply download and install the software on their Macintosh. KidSafe will then be activated for all Mac OS 9 users on that computer (except the owner).

Question How do members get KidSafe?

Answer Once you have registered as a member, everything you need to install and administer KidSafe on your Macintosh is provided under the KidSafe tab in iTools.

Question Can PC users utilize KidSafe?

Answer No. KidSafe is an exclusive service for Apple customers who are iTools members.

Question What are the criteria for sites that are included or excluded in KidSafe?

Answer KidSafe allows access only to the highest-quality and most educationally sound Web sites on the Internet, as well as the best of the kids' activity sites. Sites are chosen based on criteria and guidelines approved by Apple. Certified teachers and librarians review and propose sites for inclusion, with final approval from the Apple editorial staff.

To be approved for inclusion in KidSafe, sites must be relevant and educationally valuable. Content is comprehensive, current, relevant, informative, and entertaining. Content must be credible. The author of the site, date of last update, and resources or sources used for the site's creation should be available and easy to find. The design of the site must be intuitive, stimulating, logical, and user-friendly to ensure that it is easy for a kid to use. Finally, the site's content and structure must encourage critical and independent thinking in ways that enhance the site's use by the education community.

Criteria for exclusion of a Web site include the following: All sites that contain pictures of the human form in a state of full or partial nudity are excluded. Exceptions are sites that include nudes as an example of fine art, sites for health education, and sites that have intrinsic educational value. All sites that contain profanity and obscene words and phrases are excluded. Exceptions can be made for sites that reference or include works of literature that have educational benefit, do not appeal to prurient interests, and are considered literary classics in some sense. Sites that contain crude or vulgar content or are grossly deficient in civility and propriety are excluded. Sites that contain or advocate violence, extremely aggressive or combative behavior, or unlawful acts are excluded. Sites that advocate the use of illegal drugs or provide directions for their use are excluded. Sites that advocate or proselytize specific churches, religions, and religious organizations are excluded. Exceptions are made for sites that provide relevant educational information about churches, religions, or religious movements in history. Sites that advocate questionable or illegal activities such as chain letters, copyright infringement, computer hacking, and software privacy infringement are excluded. This exclusion includes gambling-related activities such as lotteries, casinos, betting, numbers games, and online sports and financial betting.

Question What if members find an approved site that they feel is inappropriate?

Answer Members who have questions or comments about any aspect of KidSafe can reach us using the comments and suggestions form located in iTools Help.

For More Information

For more information about iReview, iCards, and iTools, visit http://www.apple.com on the World Wide Web.

©2000 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iDisk, iMovie, iReview, QuickTime, and Sherlock are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. Product specifications and configurations are subject to change without notice.