Pew has a new report out today on Americans usage of location based services. Libraries have branches because location is important and this technology is underused in our sector for analysis and service.
The full story: PEW: Americans usage of location based services | Stephen’s Lighthouse.
Oyster, an app launched [September 5, 2013] by a trio of self-proclaimed bookworms, is already being called the “Netflix for books.” That’s a lofty moniker, but the app may just live up to the hype – it offers access to over 100,000 books for $9.95 a month!
Right now, the only Big 5 publisher it’s partnered with is HarperCollins, but they’ve still got some really big books: “Life of Pi,” “Water for Elephants,” and “The God Delusion” all came up when we were browsing.
According to its website, they are constantly adding new titles, so who knows? Other bigger publishers may be signing on as well.
Right now, Oyster is invitation-only, and it’s only available as an iPhone app (although they’ll be adding on a iPad app later this fall). The app is free to download. You can request an invite here.
BlackBerry Messenger (or BBM), a marquee messaging app for the BlackBerry OS is coming to Apple’s iOS soon.
See the full story: BlackBerry: We submitted BBM for iOS two weeks ago | Smartphones – CNET Reviews.
This is great news for those organizations who have a bring your own device policy. It will open up opportunities for this type of policy in more restrictive enterprises or enterprises exclusively using BB Enterprise Servers.
Two University of Texas at Austin professors this week launched their introductory psychology class from a makeshift studio, with a goal of eventually enrolling 10,000 students at $550 a pop and bringing home millions for the school.
The professors have dubbed the class a SMOC—Synchronous Massive Online Class—and their effort falls somewhere between a MOOC, or Massive Open Online Course, a late-night television show and a real-time research experiment. The professors lecture into a camera and students watch on their computers or mobile devices, in real time.
The class, which made its debut [August 29, 2013], is emblematic of just how quickly the once-static business model of higher education is shifting as technology gives students more options and forces schools and professors to compete for their attention.
See the full story: University of Texas at Austin Online Class Aims to Earn Millions | WSJ.com.
In the future, e-books will act just like social networks. We’ll use them on our phones, share and comment right inside e-reader apps, and publishers will use our data to help them make better marketing decisions. If you think digital reading is exploding now, just wait.
The article examines a new reading app called Readmill, which makes “each and every book its own self-contained social network.” See the full story: E-Books Could Be The Future Of Social Media ⚙ Co.Labs ⚙ code + community.
Image Attribution: Readmill
(CBS News) Ever leave home and get that eerie feeling like something is wrong? Like you’ve forgotten something so important that you rewind through every waking moment before realizing your lifeblood, your reason for living, your smartphone is sitting on the kitchen counter? Well take my advice and leave it. After watching “I Forgot My Phone,” a two-minute film about society’s addiction to these devices, written by and starring actress and comedian Charlene deGuzman, you’ll agree with me. Visit Charlene’s YouTube page or check it out above. Just don’t watch it on your phone.
This brilliant short film shows how depressingly easy it is to let our phones distract us from true enjoyment of many of life’s great experiences like birthdays, the beauty of nature, quality time spent with friends, and even marriage proposals. So next time you walk out the front door, try leaving the phone at home.
via True-to-life short film about smartphones | The Feed Blog | CBS News.
“Wearable tech” is the latest hot buzz phrase, and its been surging in consumer electronics circles. But despite how simple the label sounds on the surface, its a category thats extremely tricky to pin down.
See the full story: So what the heck is wearable tech, anyway? | Wearable tech – CNET Reviews.
About one of every seven people in the world uses Facebook. Now, Mark Zuckerberg, its co-founder and chief executive, wants to make a play for the rest — including the four billion or so who lack Internet access.
On Wednesday, Facebook plans to announce an effort aimed at drastically cutting the cost of delivering basic Internet services on mobile phones, particularly in developing countries, where Facebook and other tech companies need to find new users. Half a dozen of the world’s tech giants, including Samsung, Nokia, Qualcomm and Ericsson, have agreed to work with the company as partners on the initiative, which they call Internet.org.
The companies intend to accomplish their goal in part by simplifying phone applications so they run more efficiently and by improving the components of phones and networks so that they transmit more data while using less battery power.
There is considerably more content to this article. See the full story: Facebook Leads an Effort to Lower Barriers to Internet Access | NYTimes.com.
infophile 