Exclusively for iPad

PCWorld.com reports that Rupert Murdoch has joined forces with Apple to create an iPad-only newspaper called, The Daily. The app is designed to give readers a unique experience in how they get their news. It takes advantage of the touch screen design and the multimedia design of the iPad and combines it with journalistic material not found in other places.

It is geared toward younger, more tech savvy readers and is said to have short articles that are quick and easy to read. It also has features like photo galleries and videos to make it more interactive.

The launch of the app has sparked many questions. There is debate on just how useful it's going to be. Murdoch's goal is to reinvent the digital newspaper and from what i can tell he has.

This application looks very interesting to me. It is a new and unique way to get information. It's interactive and let's you look at a story in a new way. It gives you more of an experience than just picking up a paper.

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/218445/murdochs_ipadready_the_daily_debuts_5_things_to_know.html#tk.mod_rel

OMG! Texts in 3-D?

That's right, it looks like we are soon going to have 3-D at our fingertips. CNN.com reported that LG has announced a plan to release a 3-D phone at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. LG is calling the smartphone the Optimus 3D. Not only will you be able to see things in 3-D but, a special pair of cameras on the back of the phone will allow users to capture pictures and video in 3-D.

No worry for those of you who like 3-D but, don't like to wear the glasses. An interesting part of this phone is that it uses a method called the "switchblade barrier" which makes the glasses obsolete. With the growing popularity of 3-D it's not really surprising that there is a 3-D phone in the works. The phone will be able to be hooked to a 3-D TV so pictures and videos taken can be displayed on the big screen. This brings a whole new aspect to home videos. The phone caused some excitement at the Mobile World Conference but so far does not allow for spinning text messages or dial pads that jump off the screen.

Just when you think you get caught up with the latest technology, something new comes along. You might have a smartphone but there's usually gong to be someone with a smarter phone. While I am all about trying to keep up with the latest technology, this phone just doesn't jump out at me. I don't think there are any 3-D texts in my future.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/02/15/lg.optimus.3d/index.html?hpt=C2

No More Textbooks?

The Webb School of Knoxville is a private school and teaches kids from grades K-12. Beginning next year things are going to be a little different for some students. There will no longer be textbooks. That's right, students will no longer have to crack open a book. However, there is an app for that. The school has decided to make iPads mandatory for all students and teachers in grades 4-12. The parents will either have to purchase their child an iPad they will have to rent one from the school.

The school looked at other alternatives such as laptops and digital readers before ultimately settling on the iPad. They believe that because of the wide variety of applications that are available it was the best fit for the school. At the beginning of the year the iPads will be loaded with the required applications and it will be the students’ responsibility to keep them synched and up to date throughout the year. Students will also be allowed to download other applications of their choice.

We are in a digital age but is this taking it too far? While an iPad may be a handy tool to enhance the learning experience for students, it can be very distracting as well. While the school will have sites like Facebook and Twitter blocked, it will still be easy for students to access games while they are supposed to be paying attention in class. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Some schools and Universities are encouraging the use of iPads in classrooms but it is hard to imagine a classroom with no books.

Sources:

http://www.webbschool.org/technology

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/01/21/tennessee-school-requires-ipads-of-all-4th-12th-grade-students/