Taking class on your cell phone?

In Japan, there is a university called Cyber University which is the nations only university where there are only online classes. But now they are offering classes on cell phones!

"For classes for personal computers, the lecture downloads play on the monitor as text and images in the middle, and a smaller video of the lecturer shows in the corner, complete with sound.

The cell phone version, which pops up as streaming video on the handset's tiny screen, plays just the Power Point images.

In a demonstration Wednesday at a Tokyo hotel, an image of the pyramids popped up on the screen and changed to a text image as a professor's voice played from the handset speakers."

The only class offered on cell phones right now is mysterys of the pyramid??? The campus is owned by a company called Softbank Corp. which is Japan's largest cell phone company. The good thing about the class is that it is offered for free but only for people who are customers of Softbank.

I think this might be a good idea because a lot of people are attached to their cell phones. All they have to do is start their phone and watch the power point presentations of the class. It's probably something that I wouldn't do because I never get cell phone service! But for others who are disabled and can't come to class or maybe don't have a computer they can get to all the time it might be something that is useful.

By Lauren Darmody

Dory Devlin: Blogging Mom

I am a Yahoo! person, just because my mail account is at Yahoo!. Tonight, I was surprised to find an interesting addition to the "tech" part of Yahoo!.

Her name is Dory Devlin. Her title is "The Mom". Her bio reads that she was a journalist for 20 years and mom for 13.

She writes "I love writing about our everyday struggle to mesh work and family without sacrificing either. My blog is a daily look at the convergence of work, home life and technology. Together, we'll explore how technology can help us—and drive us crazy as we spend precious hours researching, installing and troubleshooting electronics we suddenly can't live and work without."

She goes on to say that she is a typical consumer who has to spend time sifting through products and finding out which her family needs, wants or can afford.

She writes "As a mom running a household of five (and the sole tech support in my home office), I’m the one who deals with broken printers and unintelligible DVD player instructions. So if I like something and it works, I bet you will too. On Yahoo! Tech, I'll also be writing about what works and what doesn't for my friends, family—and you."

Right now her blog consists of really good holiday gifts and tips for shopping during the mad season. I'm thinking that it is advice from one mom to another but maybe she has other readers?? Mom bloggers...who would have thought?

By Lauren Darmody

Christmas shopping made easy this year

Advertising is so amazing. I was watching TV the other night, and I saw a commercial advertising this website www.gifts.com. Coincendentally, at the time I was thinking about what I was going to get my family and boyfriend for Christmas. I am a horrible shopper when it comes to buying unique and cool gifts for other people that they will actually like. So, the commercial advertised that the website has this game like feature where you select the age and gender of the person you want to buy a present for. (The tab to get to the section of the website is called "Personality"). Say you select the size of the guy down from a "man". You click on what is called "teen boy" and you can select a teenager or a college boy. Then you go through a series of questions where you are categorizing the boy into two different things. A question asks "What does he tend to exercise most?"...and you click either his legs, playing sports or his fingers, playing video games.

You go through a series of questions and then you end up with lists of gifts that might fit his personality type. It was actually quite helpful in the kinds of gifts I was trying to think of for people. It seems kind of like cheating because it wasn't my idea for gifts in the first place but it does relieve stress!

Never thought the internet would be suggesting gifts for my family and boyfriend...

By Lauren Darmody

MYSPACE NO LONGER FREE!!! Just a rumor???

This is going to be short and sweet but there is a rumor going around to us myspace users that says that Tom (the creator of myspace) is going bankrupt. They say he is spending all his money on licenses and despite his best efforts he is going to have to start charging a hefty fee of $22.00 PER MONTH in order to stay afloat.

Myspace will begin charging this fee in the beginning of 2009 and the only way to avoid it is to go to a new website called myspace 2. I don't know where or what the website is, but if this is a true rumor then I will be very upset.

Like most of us I use myspace to keep in contact with my friends who have moved away, or who have gone out of the country and post pictures. I have found many people I never thought I would ever talk to again and people I forgot I even knew. I really hope this doesn't happen...

Krista Hartford

Google Spreading Itself Too Thin?

A recent blog on Worknplay.net suggested that Google has a few too many apples hanging from its tree. With partnerships building between YouTube, Skype, AOL, Apple and so much more, Google has seen its empire grow expotentially over the past year. Is Google set for an utter downfall worthy of the fall of Rome or the finale of Beverly Hill 90210?
Only time will tell. Google has just announced its newest partnerships with Gilbarco to place gas pumps featuring Google Maps at pumps all over the nation, thus solidfying its control of the ground. That, paired with Google's StreetView, the company is poised to take control of the air as JetBlue features Google Maps on its flights.
The ubiquitous search engine has come a long way since its inception. It seems its star will only continue to rise eventually becoming the sun of the internet.

http://worknplay.net/google-wont-last-forever/

by Kendra Fujino

Windows Vista rated worst product by CNET

By Matt Sun


From CNET -

Windows VistaAny operating system that provokes a campaign for its predecessor's reintroduction deserves to be classed as terrible technology. Any operating system that quietly has a downgrade-to- previous-edition option introduced for PC makers deserves to be classed as terrible technology. Any operating system that takes six years of development but is instantly hated by hordes of PC professionals and enthusiasts deserves to be classed as terrible technology.

Windows Vista conforms to all of the above. Its incompatibility with hardware, its obsessive requirement of human interaction to clear security dialogue box warnings and its abusive use of hated DRM, not to mention its general pointlessness as an upgrade, are just some examples of why this expensive operating system earns the final place in our terrible tech list.

MTV and MySpace Launch Presidential Techno-Campaign

Social network and media outlet MySpace and MTV have partnered up to host what they are calling Presidential Candidate Dialogues, broadcast live on MySpace TV and MTV.com. The major function of these broadcasts is to allow a younger, college-aged, demographic to participate in political discourse with actual presidential candidates.

The dialogues are moderated by MTV News correspondents Gideon Yago and Sway Calloway, as well as Washington Post political reporter Chris Cillizza. The moderators are tasked with the job of keeping candidates on their toes by feeding them questions and audience responses.

During the dialogues users are able to respond to polls and submit their own questions to the candidates in real-time via MySpace instant messaging and MTV.com. All of the major candidates, both republican and democrat, have committed to the series, making this a landmark campaign technique and a major media convergence event.
MTV explains in a press release August 28, 2007, “The inaugural MySpace/MTV presidential dialogue [is] the first ever to be broadcast on mobile phones, as well as the first to allow a home audience across the nation to rate the candidate’s answers in real time and submit feedback that [is] used to steer the forum’s direction.”

The real time polling part of the dialogues is powered by a widget created by the Flektor Company, which was acquired by Fox interactive media in May, MTV news staff said. The widget allows users to indicate their approval or disapproval to candidate’s answers to different questions, with real-time results displayed on both the broadcast and the widget.

The first of the dialogues took place on September 27, at the University of New Hampshire featuring democratic candidate John Edwards facing tough questions from students on issues such as education, stem-cell research, and the war in Iraq.
“These presidential dialogues will bring individual candidates directly to voters—one at a time,” co-founder of MySpace Chris DeWolfe said. “We are lowering the barriers to entry, setting a high water-mark for direct engagement between presidential candidates and average Americans.”

The question still remains, however, as to whether or not this new tactic will reach the younger voting public and if this blend of media and technology will raise awareness about key issues. MTV president Christina Norman remains positive. “For years, young people have trusted MTV to inform and engage them on the issues that matter most, from politics to sexual health to the environment. We’re extremely proud to partner with MySpace on our always evolving Choose or Loose campaign,” Norman said.

-Roger

www.myspace.com
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1567687/20070823/id_0.jhtml
http://www.mtv.com/thinkmtv/chooseorlose/
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070919005492&newsLang=en
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video_log/2007/09/edwards_mtvmyspace_presidentia.html
http://www.coe.edu/aboutcoe/welcome.htm
http://www.unh.edu/president/contact.htm
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/57329.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/

Vuze asks Federal Communications Commission to lift P-2-P restrictions

Vuze, a digital media distribution company, has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission to keep broadband internet providers from stopping or slowing their peer-to-peer file transactions.

Vuze CEO Gilles BianRosa says that the policy of some Internet Service Providers to block or slow their bit torrent transfers assumes every transfer is not authorized.

"The ISPs cannot decide unilaterally what to do with third-party Internet services such as us," BianRosa said. "We need to work with them to design a solution that works and is fair."

Bit torrent is a common means of file exchange for digital media. Vuze's central draw is its video-content.

In the petition, Vuze called for the FCC to "provide consumers, network operators and Internet businesses greater clarity regarding what to expect with respect to broadband-network-management practices."

By Andy Franks

Hug Ban Enforced

MASCOUTAH, Ill. - Two hugs equals two days of detention for 13-year-old Megan Coulter. The eighth-grader was punished for violating a school policy banning public displays of affection when she hugged two friends Friday.

"I feel it is crazy," said Megan, who was to serve her second detention Tuesday after classes at Mascoutah Middle School.

"I was just giving them a hug goodbye for the weekend," she said.

Megan's mother, Melissa Coulter, said the embraces weren't even real hugs — just an arm around the shoulder and slight squeeze.

"It's hilarious to the point of ridicule," Coulter said. "I'm still dumbfounded that she's having to do this."

District Superintendent Sam McGowen said that he thinks the penalty is fair and that administrators in the school east of St. Louis were following policy in the student handbook.

It states: "Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved."

Coulter said she and her husband told their daughter to go ahead and serve her detentions because the only other option was a day of suspension for each skipped detention.

"We don't agree with it, but I certainly don't want her to get in more trouble," Coulter said.

The couple plan to attend the next school board meeting to ask board members to consider rewording the policy or be more specific in what is considered a display of affection.

"I'm just hoping the school board will open their eyes and just realize that maybe they shouldn't be punishing us for hugs," Megan said.

Here is a video and the link to the article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071106/ap_on_fe_st/odd_detention_for_hugging_2


Posted by Ashley Brown

Scoop 08

http://scoop08.com/ is the very first national daily student newspaper. This site could change the face of journalism, and the face of the country.

The concept is that the site will hire various students accross the country to cover a beat. The beats are mainly political, and there is one for every political party. If someone belongs to the Costitution Party, they can inform the nation of what is going on in the party on this site. They are accepting writers right now.

This site will hopefully raise awareness and educate young voters accross the country. With just a decent rise in young educate voters, the US could see a very diffferent agenda in the 08 election, and in politics in general soon.

If you are interested in politics, sign up.

the WGA strike and the internet

The Writer's Guild of America is on strike now, and some are speculating whether or not this is another factor that will help accelerate the rise of scripted entertainment on the internet.

For example, the image above (courtesy of the Los Angeles Times) depicts Clark Duke and Michael Cera, both actors in the Web-only series, "Clark and Michael." There are also various entertainment-focused videos on YouTube, MyDamnChannel.com and FunnyOrDie.com. Plus, one of the issues writers are striking for is the value of scripted material showcased on the internet. Several TV producers have pointed out that the internet is where entertainment is heading, and that a lot of "young people" are drawn to that medium. Whether or not the strike will actually push that movement is up for debate. Some factors are working more in the old television set's favor, such as the fact that TV screens are larger and produce higher-quality images, and at this point in time, television writing is usually better than made-for-the-internet scripting.

To hear LA Times staff writer Scott Collins' research and comments on the issue, check out this link.

--Anna Mavromati

Japan sees steady decline in PC sales

Analysts are starting to wonder if Japan's shrinking demand for home computers is a sign of changing global technology demands. Import numbers for PC's has fallen for the fifth consecutive quarter this year.

"The household PC market is losing momentum to other electronics like flat-panel TVs and mobile phones," said Masahiro Katayama, research group head at market survey firm IDC.

Experts cite that many new electronics, especially cell phones, come internet-ready or are better suited to high-memory gaming.

"The future of PCs isn't bright." Katayama said.

Macintosh sales are also falling. Apple Inc. saw a 5 percent drop in sales for 9 consecutive months in 2007.

A 2006 survey by the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs shows more than 50 percent of Japanese send e-mail and browse the Internet from their mobile phones. The same survey also found that 30 percent of people with e-mail on their phones used PC-based e-mail less, including 4 percent who said they had stopped sending e-mails from PCs completely.

Click here to see an article by Hiroko Tabuchi with the Associated Press


By Andy Franks

Facebook More Popular than Porn?

by Kendra Fujino
According to a recent article on Time.com, Facebook, and social networks in general, are more popular than those of a more erotic persuasion in the 18-24 demographic.

The study, conducted and tracked by Hitwise, a global research company, monitored which site categories were visited with the highest frequency.
These categories included pornography, social networks and e-mail sites.
Results indicate that college students and young adults may be searching for porn via Google; however, they are not necessarily accessing the listed sites.
"If you chart the rate of visits to social-networking sites against those to adult sites over the last two years, there appears to be a strong negative correlation (i.e., visits to social networks go up as visits to adult sites go down)," said Bill Tancer, author of the Time.com article and general manager of global research Hitwise.
Tancer indicated that social networks ranked first amongst the Generation Y bracket followed by search engines, web-based e-mail and at a measly fourth- porn sites.

While I doubt Hotwise's findings are any indication that 18-24 year-olds are less inclined to look at pornography online, the frequency is far less than say MySpace and Facebook or gMail even.
For the generation that spends a large portion of their time on the computer, thrice daily visits to the popular sites are not uncommon. It's a form of communication and more importantly, the all-around "Gen Y sites"- MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, e-mail, etc., can be accessed regardless of time and location.
On the other hand, porn can't exactly be accessed in public and when it is accessed, it's frowned upon.

Facebook may be more popular than porn but if someone created a social networking site where individuals watched porn, commented on it, sent each other messages and created their own flashy profile pages, I'm sure it'd be a major contender for the top spot.

Photo courtesy of Time.com