Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Man Tries to Ditch Cheating Wife on eBay]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/15/man-tries-to-ditch-cheating-wife-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/15/man-tries-to-ditch-cheating-wife-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/15/man-tries-to-ditch-cheating-wife-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: ,

Man Tries to Ditch Cheating Wife on eBay
The Internet has provided many ways for shaming those who have wronged you, and we thought we'd seen them all. That is, until Paul Osborn decided to auction off his "adulterous, lying, cheating, bitch, whore" of a wife on eBay (his words).

Paul found out that his wife and mother of his children, Sharon, was having an affair with a co-worker. His response was to throw her out of the house and post an "auction" for her on eBay. We use quotes around "auction" because in the listing Paul specifically states, "please do not bid on her because she is worth sod all." Paul also used the eBay listing to out her lover Richard Drew, who is also married. Paul provided phone numbers and addresses for both Richard and Sharon. Naturally, eBay took the listing down pretty quickly. [Source: The Sun]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionsbreaking newsBreakingNewscheatingebayrelationshipssexweirdThu, 15 May 2008 16:37:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Buyer Leaves Neutral Feedback, Gets Sued for $10,000 by Seller]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/24/ebay-buyer-leaves-neutral-feedback-gets-sued-for-10-000-by-sel/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/24/ebay-buyer-leaves-neutral-feedback-gets-sued-for-10-000-by-sel/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/24/ebay-buyer-leaves-neutral-feedback-gets-sued-for-10-000-by-sel/#commentsFiled under: ,

eBay Buyer Leaves Neutral Feedback, Gets Sued for $10,000 by SellerA few months back eBay made the controversial decision to remove the ability for sellers to leave negative feedback about buyers. The site said it got too many complaints and decided that the system wasn't worth the trouble. So, with that ability gone, when a seller of some collectible coins felt jilted by a less than positive review from a buyer, he did the purely logical thing, which was to sued said buyer for $10,000.

Steve Shellhorn was the buyer in this transaction and didn't like the packaging job done by the seller. When he received the package, he found that many of the coins were unprotected in an envelope. So, when the seller requested feedback, Shellhorn left him a less than complementary, but still not negative, report. The seller responded with the lawsuit, which was ultimately tossed out of court, but only after Shellhorn had to pay $500 for an attorney. That's the kind of auction fee that nobody needs. [Source: King5, via Fark]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewseBaylawsuitweirdThu, 24 Apr 2008 14:49:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Sues Craigslist]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/23/ebay-sues-craigslist/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/23/ebay-sues-craigslist/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/23/ebay-sues-craigslist/#commentsFiled under: ,

eBay Sues Craigslist, Steps on Own FootIt's a widely held belief that eBay and Craigslist, the two premier online places to get rid of your old stuff and buy someone else's, are bitter rivals. While it's true that they're definitely competitors, what's not widely known is that eBay actually owns roughly a third of Craiglist, having bought 28% of the company back in 2004. Odd, then, that eBay would be suing Craigslist (and thus itself) for perpetrating some sort of unknown affront against the company.

The lawsuit is sealed, meaning the exact complaint made by eBay is a secret, but it has something to do with actions made by Craigslist directors Craig Newmark and Jim Buckmaster, whom eBay feels were damaging to the company. The suit is an attempt to get those two to get the company back on whatever track eBay thinks is best. Exactly what track that is, unfortunately, also be a secret.

Maybe eBay is just bitter that its Craigslist competitor, Kijiji.com, hasn't exactly caught on. [Source: AOL Money & Finance/AP]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CraigslistlawsuitsWed, 23 Apr 2008 12:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Stolen, Sensitive Military Items for Sale On EBay and Craigslist]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/14/stolen-sensitive-military-items-for-sale-on-ebay-and-craigslist/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/14/stolen-sensitive-military-items-for-sale-on-ebay-and-craigslist/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/14/stolen-sensitive-military-items-for-sale-on-ebay-and-craigslist/#commentsFiled under:



Want access to the newest in military technology without having to deal with such annoyances as "boot camp" and "Iraq"? Just look online.

According to a report by the Government Accountability Office (who knew such a thing existed!?), sensitive and stolen U.S. military items are being sold on eBay and Craigslist. The federal investigators posed as buyers, and successfully purchased a dozen prohibited military items on the sites.

These items ranged from night vision goggles to two F-14 fighter jet components, to a wardrobe's worth of army combat uniforms. Oddly enough, also available were body armor vests used by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan -- the same gear that the army initially struggled to actually get to the troops themselves.

The report notes that the items purchased could easily have been shipped overseas and "used directly against our troops and allies."

Or, for the record, festered in some eBay addicted military fetishist's asbestos-filled basement for the next half-century.

From CNN


Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewscrimeMon, 14 Apr 2008 16:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Naked Canadians Consider Class Action Lawsuit Against Paypal]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/07/naked-canadians-consider-class-action-lawsuit-against-paypal/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/07/naked-canadians-consider-class-action-lawsuit-against-paypal/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/07/naked-canadians-consider-class-action-lawsuit-against-paypal/#commentsFiled under:




Today a group of naked Canadians are considering a class action lawsuit against PayPal. The Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN) -- an organization for Canadian nudists-- claims that PayPal suddenly cut off its services to them, refusing to process their magazine subscription payments after four years of business.

The FCN are not the first business to get denied services for supposedly breaking the acceptable use policy. Since 2003, PayPal has excluded so called "sexually oriented Web sites" from using their services for the purchase of digital goods like membership or subscription fees. However, any Web site is allowed to use PayPal for the sale of sexually oriented physical goods, like DVDs or magazines that are then delivered by hand to the customer. PayPal claims this is due to the immense administrative cost of doing business with an industry riddled with criminal schemes and frequent "charge backs" (when a customer disputes a charge to their paypal account.) In addition to this discrepancy between physical and digital goods, PayPal further reserves the right to deny Web sites that are distributing sexually oriented material involving minors or for Web sites that "facilitate meetings for sexually oriented activities." These two lines from the Mature Audiences section of their Acceptable Use Policy are what PayPal claims the FCN has violated.

While the nudists object to being considered sexually oriented in the first place, the government affairs director for the federation, Judy Williams, says "PayPal's decision about Going Natural and its claims about the FCN are unfounded embellishments born of ignorance."

According to the history, naturists base their practice on a nineteenth-century reform movement that believed the cure for the ailments of industrial society "was exposure to the natural healing elements or fresh air, sunlight, and water--preferably with loose or absent clothing." In addition, they don't believe that the naked body is inherently erotic, which anyone who has been to a nude beach can attest to. While the images in Going Natural magazine might include pictures of naked minors, a court would probably deem them no more pornographic than those baby pictures of you with a shampoo mohawk.

The last line of the PayPal's Mature audiences policy says that "PayPal will not include sexual preferences or viewpoints as a factor in determining what goods or services are prohibited under the Mature Audiences Policy." We think the FCN might not agree.

Related Links:




Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expire-images2008-5-7lawsuitsnaturismnuditypaypalMon, 07 Apr 2008 07:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Man Selling Entire Life on eBay]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/20/man-selling-entire-life-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/20/man-selling-entire-life-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/20/man-selling-entire-life-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: ,

Man Selling Entire Life on eBay
We've seen some interesting and unique eBay auctions in our day, but this one is certainly the most bizarre. Ian Usher, a resident of Perth, Australia is auctioning off his entire life. Following a messy divorce, the 44 year-old decided it was time for a fresh start. The prospect of selling off his possessions one-by-one seemed too daunting, so Usher packed up all of his possessions into one mega auction.

The highest bidder will receive Usher's completely furnished home, his car, motorcycle, jet ski, introductions to his friends, and even his salesman position at a local rug shop. Jenny Jones, Usher's employer, said she was willing to give the highest bidder a trial run at the shop as a favor to Usher who, she said, she regards as family.

At alifeforsale.com, Usher details his plans for the auction and sets the start date for June 22. A week later on June 29 a winner will have emerged and Perth will have its new Ian Usher. Meanwhile, Ian Usher will be free to go become who ever he wants.

From ABC News

Related links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionbreaking+newsebayian usherIanUsherlifetopThu, 20 Mar 2008 18:11:00 EST<![CDATA[PayPal to Customers - Don't Use Safari]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/04/paypal-to-customers-dont-use-safari/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/04/paypal-to-customers-dont-use-safari/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/04/paypal-to-customers-dont-use-safari/#commentsFiled under: , ,

PayPal to Customers - Don't Use Safari
As more people switch to Mac and pick up iPhones, the Apple-built web browser Safari is becoming more and more popular. Though it still only makes up 4.5 percent of the web browser market, that is still a significant number of people who should take heed of PayPal's warning: Use another browser.

The online payment company is strongly suggesting that users visit the site with a different browser, be it IE7, IE8, Firefox, or Opera, since Safari (and its Firefox-based Mac cousin Camino) lack anti-phishing features. PayPal is a popular target for phishers who want to steal your login information, and then of course your money and possibly identity.

Modern versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Opera all warn you when you visit a suspicious web site, and IE7 and 8 as well as the upcoming Firefox 3 all support Extended Validation for extra protection from fraudulent sites.

The best way to protect yourself from phishers is to pay attention to small details yourself. Double check that E-mail address. Does the URL look suspicious? are there any cosmetic differences between the page you meant to visit and the one you're on now? While only you can make sure you never fall victim to these scams, a little help can't hurt.

From Slashdot

Related links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applefirefoxinternet explorerInternetExplorermacphishingsafarisecuritywebTue, 04 Mar 2008 18:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Oprah Does Skype Video Calls]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/04/oprah-does-skype-video-calls/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/04/oprah-does-skype-video-calls/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/04/oprah-does-skype-video-calls/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Oprah Does Skype Video Calls
The eBay-owned VOIP service Skype is sponsoring a weekly segment on Oprah.com called 'A New Earth,' in which the talk show legend and Eckhart Tolle will answer questions about Tolle's new book, 'A New Earth: Get Ready To Be Awakened.'

The 10 weekly segments will be aired live online and will focus on a different chapter from the book each week. Those with Skype accounts, reasonably powerful PCs (read Dual Core), and a high resolution webcam from Logitech will be able to ask questions and interact with the world's favorite talk show host via Skype's new high quality video calling service.

No doubt the folks at Skype are hoping this will bring renewed interest to the now floundering former king of the VOIP world.

From Laptop Magazine

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a new earthANewEarthebayoprahskypevideo callVideoCallVOIPTue, 04 Mar 2008 17:22:00 EST<![CDATA["Date" With Scarlett Johansson for Auction at eBay]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/03/win-a-date-with-scarlett-johansson/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/03/win-a-date-with-scarlett-johansson/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/03/win-a-date-with-scarlett-johansson/#commentsFiled under: ,

Win a
If you're anything like the rest of the air breathing world you'd probably kick your grandmother in the teeth to get next to the sexy and former indie film 'It' girl Scarlett Johansson.

Well you may have your chance, and there is no need to kick an elderly relative!

Ms. Johansson is auctioning off two red carpet tickets to the premier of 'He's Just Not That Into You' and a "meet-and-greet" on eBay. Other web sites have been referring to the auction as a chance to "win a date with Scarelett Johansson," but we sincerely doubt you'll be getting lucky after this encounter. That said, just shaking the hand of this 23 year-old bombshell will be enough make most men weak at the knees.

The winner will get two tickets to the premier, the meet and greet with the aforementioned star of 'Lost in Translation,' and a chauffeured car to the premier. As an added bonus, 100 percent of the proceeds go to Oxfam, an organization dedicated to fighting poverty, hunger, and injustice around the world.

From Sunday Mirror

Related links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionebayhe's just not that into youHe'sJustNotThatIntoYouoxfampremierscarlett johanssonScarlettJohanssonMon, 03 Mar 2008 16:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Boycotting Sellers Dent eBay's Business]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/25/boycotting-sellers-dent-ebays-business/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/25/boycotting-sellers-dent-ebays-business/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/25/boycotting-sellers-dent-ebays-business/#commentsFiled under: ,

Boycotting Sellers Dent eBay's Business
Auction site eBay has been suffering at the hands of an online protest over a change in how it charges sellers for listing and selling goods. The change has resulted in a substantial increase in costs for sellers.

The changes lowered the initial fees for sellers to list items on eBay, but increased the commission charged on completed sales. Additionally, the feedback system was altered to eliminate the negative feedback on buyers option, making it tougher to weed out sneaky or dishonest buyers.

eBay has faced boycotts before, but none approaching the scale of the current one. Thanks to protest related activities on sites such as MySpace and Facebook, eBay sellers have been able to better organize and encourage each other to stick with the boycott.

Since the boycott started on February 18,, listings on eBay have dropped 13 percent to about 13 million items. Nancy Baughman, an eBay retailer taking part in the strike, says if she and the other activists can get the number of listings down to 12 million, then they will have made a very significant dent in the online auction house's business.



From USA Today

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boycottebayfacebookmyspaceproteststrikeMon, 25 Feb 2008 18:11:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay to Remove Negative Feedback from Sellers]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/06/ebay-doing-away-with-negative-feedback-from-sellers/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/06/ebay-doing-away-with-negative-feedback-from-sellers/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/06/ebay-doing-away-with-negative-feedback-from-sellers/#commentsFiled under: ,

eBay Doing Away with Negative Feedback from SellersOn eBay, a seller's reputation is just as visible as his or her name. With just a click, any potential bidder can check out how well transactions have gone with a particular auctioneer in the past and determine whether or not he or she wants to bid. The same goes for buyers right now, enabling that same auction host to turn around and check out the bidders fighting to set the right price. And, of course, once the auction is over both sides of the transaction have the opportunity to either enhance or modify that reputation depending on how things went.

But this rating system is about to change, with eBay announcing it will remove the ability for sellers to leave negative feedback about buyers.

The site claims that negative feedback in the direction of seller to buyer is not a help to the overall buying process and that, if anything, it just slows things down as complaints are raised by the buyers slapped with a bad review. However, by doing away with that negative feedback, sellers are feeling a bit jilted as the change tilts the entire site in favor of buyers who can now be as negative as they like with their reviews without being subject to retribution.

eBay indicates that any non-paying buyer can and will simply be banned if they are reported, and that few sellers leave negative feedback anyhow. But, if you look at the ratings applied to those sellers, it's clear that few buyers are leaving negative feedback, either. What's unclear is just what the true motives are here, but it's hard to look at a system that allows positive feedback but prevents negative as anything but misleading.

From BBC News

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Auctioningbreaking+newseBayFeedbacktopWed, 06 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Woman Faces $10 Million Fine for eBaying Without License in PA]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/31/woman-faces-10-million-fine-for-ebaying-without-license-in-pa/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/31/woman-faces-10-million-fine-for-ebaying-without-license-in-pa/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/31/woman-faces-10-million-fine-for-ebaying-without-license-in-pa/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Woman Faces $10 Million Fine for eBaying Without License in PARemember when we told you that the government of Pennsylvania was telling any eBayers in the state who sold goods for others to get a license? Yeah, well, apparently they weren't kidding. A woman there opened a consignment shop on the online auction house so that she could stay home and treat her daughter with cancer. Now she faces a $10-million fine for doing so without an auctioneer's license.

The woman, 33-year-old Mary Jo Pletz, sold 10,000 items on the site. Each item sold without a license is subject to a $1,000 fine, thus the total of $10 million. Pletz was notified of the law late in 2006 and immediately closed up shop and went to work as a dental hygienist, but that's apparently not enough for the PA government, which is still pursuing the charge.

From FARK.com and Philly.com

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newsEbayLicensePennsylvaniatopThu, 31 Jan 2008 14:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Buyers Save Billions On eBay, Study Finds]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/28/buyers-save-billions-on-ebay-study-finds/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/28/buyers-save-billions-on-ebay-study-finds/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/28/buyers-save-billions-on-ebay-study-finds/#commentsFiled under:

Buyers Save Billions on eBay
Buyers save billions of dollars a year on eBay. You knew that, and you probably didn't need a pair of researchers from the University of Maryland to tell you that, either. But just in case there was any lingering doubt, a pair of statisticians who looked at financial data from 2003 and 2004 came up with the numbers $7 billion and $8.4 billion in consumer savings each of those two years, respectively. If the increase in saving continued increasing in a linear fashion, estimates put the 2007 eBay consumer savings at around $19 billion.

The consumer savings is actually a measure of what researchers call "consumer surplus," the difference between the most a buyer was willing to pay for a product or service and the actual ending price. On eBay winners, pay only the next increment over the second highest bidder, which keeps prices lower than in many other forms of auction.

From ZDNet

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newsebaymoneyonline auctionsOnlineAuctionssavingsshoppingtopMon, 28 Jan 2008 13:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Get Cash and Credit for Your Old Gear]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/18/get-cash-and-credit-for-your-old-gear/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/18/get-cash-and-credit-for-your-old-gear/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/18/get-cash-and-credit-for-your-old-gear/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Get Cash and Credit for Your Old Gear
If you're anything like us, you've probably got a house or apartment filled with obsolete gadgets and computer gear. Pretty much your only options until now have been eBay or garbage. Dealing with customers on eBay can be difficult, and shipping large equipment is expensive and inconvenient, while throwing out some of your gadgets is not only wasteful, but may be illegal depending on what you're tossing.

According to CNN (which just published a nice roundup on what to do with your old gear), TechForward Inc. is trying to get American consumers used to the idea of temporary ownership. For a small fee -- $9 on an iPod at the time of purchase -- you'll be able to send your gear back to TechForward for cash. Granted, at $40 for a year-old iPod ($20 for 2 years, etc.), you could do better on eBay, but TechForward will provide you with packing materials and pay for shipping and handling. Plus, you don't have to worry about checking feedback or having strangers from CraigsList showing up at your place.

New Co. is also trying to get eco-friendly and breathe new life into old gear. The company runs the warranty programs for BestBuy and Wal-Mart, and will be launching ecoNew in those stores in the second quarter of this year. Unlike TechForward, New Co. charges no fee, and no shipping. Instead, you'll deliver your old equipment to a participating outlet and receive store credit for it, though estimated prices weren't available. Some of your dust-gathering gear may not be eligible for ecoNew however. Non-LCD monitors, printers, and cell phones are not eligible for either credit or New's free recycling program.

From CNN

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gadgetsgreenrecycletrade inTradeInFri, 18 Jan 2008 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Woman Barred From Selling Parts of Her Home on Craigslist]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/15/woman-barred-from-selling-parts-of-her-home-on-craigslist/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/15/woman-barred-from-selling-parts-of-her-home-on-craigslist/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/15/woman-barred-from-selling-parts-of-her-home-on-craigslist/#commentsFiled under: ,

The facility with which you can advertise what you have for sale, whether by eBay or Craigslist, also means you're under scrutiny from the public at large and local authorities. Case in point: a woman in Ontario, Calif., who tried to sell the fixtures and other installed items from her historic home was found out via her Craigslist ads and is now barred from her home by city officials concerned for the integrity of the home.

The woman claims nothing of historic value was up for sale, but the city disagreed, and got a Superior Court judge to block her access to the home.

We're withholding judgement, though. It seems as though the homeowner has fallen on hard times, as this story ties into the unfortunate larger one of mortgage payments skyrocketing after adjustable rates kicked up in the new year. Her claim? The fixtures and other items were only things she installed herself, since buying the home in 2003.

It's a national craze, scouring the basement, garage and yard for eBay-able items. There's even the almost mythic story of the guy who was able to trade up a red paper clip (eventually) to a house.

Next time you're thinking of hocking your goods, do a little thinking first. Ask yourself the basic questions, including "is it legal?" Unless, of course, you want us to write about you. In that case, set up a blog and let us link to you. We're always looking for a juicy story.

From San Bernardino County Sun.


Related Links:


Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craigslistebaylegalsellWeirdTue, 15 Jan 2008 08:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Man Caught eBay'ing Stolen Goods from Work]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/28/man-caught-ebaying-stolen-goods-from-work/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/28/man-caught-ebaying-stolen-goods-from-work/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/28/man-caught-ebaying-stolen-goods-from-work/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Stolen Cell Phones
You all do it, admit it: A pen here, some Post-Its there, nothing major, but people are not in the habit of paying for office supplies. Usually, though, there is a line drawn at expensive electronics or the products your employer sells to make a profit.

Unfortunately for Grant Ross, he knew no such limits. The cell phones, laptops, and navigation devices he stole from RS Components Ltd didn't just stay in his home for personal use, he was selling them on eBay for a profit.

The company noticed an unusually high loss of stock and received information that some of the company's products were ending up on the auction site. It searched for nearby auctioneers with products that the company carried. Lo-and-behold, "Hoodie 1230" was selling cell phones that R.S. Components was missing. Managers bid on one and opened the package in the presence of police. The serial number matched a part missing from the stock room.

Eventually the investigation led to Grant Ross, who had access to the stock and has now been sentenced to 6 months in prison after pleading guilty to three charges of converting criminal property and three of possessing criminal property. The sentence has been suspended for 2 years and Ross has been ordered to do 200 hours of work without pay.

From icCoventry

Related links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ebaylawstealingtheftFri, 28 Dec 2007 17:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Britney Spears' Jacket Selling for Over $1,400 on eBay]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/27/britney-spears-jacket-selling-for-over-1-400-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/27/britney-spears-jacket-selling-for-over-1-400-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/27/britney-spears-jacket-selling-for-over-1-400-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Britney Spears' Jacket
When we were growing up, Wet Seal made inexpensive clothing for the bad girls. At least that's what our sisters told us.

So what happens when bad-girl Britney Spears puts on one of their jackets, and someone else gets his hands on it? It sells for over $1,400 on eBay. The jacket, described as the one she wore while "shopping at Ralph's one evening in LA," still has Britney's "pleasant smell in it and it smells very nice!" As of this posting, it's going for $1,425.00.

The eBay seller promises the jacket's authenticity, as it came from her personal assistant. We're thinking Britney should have a sit-down with these "assistants".

For those of you who can live without the special "scent," you can pick up this jacket from the clearance racks at Wet Seal for about $20. Good luck.

From TMZ

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionsbritneybritney spearsBritneySpearsThu, 27 Dec 2007 14:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Kindle Electronic Book Reader Bidding Breaks $1,000 on Ebay]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/18/kindle-electronic-book-reader-bidding-breaks-1-000-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/18/kindle-electronic-book-reader-bidding-breaks-1-000-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/18/kindle-electronic-book-reader-bidding-breaks-1-000-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Amazon's Kindle


Forget past passions of online bidding for hard-to-get holiday gifts. This year the hot items you can't find are (of course) the Nintendo Wii and (surprise!) Amazon's new Kindle wireless electronic reader, which is garnering final bids of $1,000 and up on Ebay.

Kindle is sparking a new fury of interest ever since Amazon sold out of all units and isn't able to deliver any more until after Christmas.

The idea of e-book book readers isn't new. (Does anyone remember the Rocket eBook? One of our early favorites, indeed.) Our question: are the people bidding on Kindle going to give it as a gift or do they just want one for themselves? It is better to give than to receive....

From BetaNews


Related Links:




Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Amazon KindleAmazonKindleHolidashKindleKindle Amazon Ebay Wii ebookKindleAmazonEbayWiiEbookTue, 18 Dec 2007 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Man Selling His Soul on eBay]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/17/man-selling-his-soul-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/17/man-selling-his-soul-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/17/man-selling-his-soul-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under:



If it wasn't clear already, the e-pocalypse is officially upon us. A man is attempting to sell his soul on eBay. For a million dollars, and 41 cents (for shipping, of course). From the man's eBay auction post:

A million unexpected dollars would be a miracle. The auction is for 1 million and 41 cents. The 1 million is not for me; it is for others. Aside from what I owe the government from receiving this 1 million dollars, I will not seek to gain anything tangible from this auction. I will be giving the full amount to those that I care about and those who truly need it. The 1 million and 41 cents is for the letter which I shall be writing you upon payment. I don't have a sad story to tell, and I just want to help others. This may sound crazy, but it just might work......Included is a picture of me and it is an accurate representation of what I will look like if this auction is a success.

Based on his haircut and disposition, we're actually thinking this guy is serious...

...seriously out of his mind! No bids yet.

From Fark


Related links:


Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>weirdMon, 17 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Typewriter Mistaken for Bomb, Shuts Down Street]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/04/typewriter-mistaken-for-bomb-shuts-down-street/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/04/typewriter-mistaken-for-bomb-shuts-down-street/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/04/typewriter-mistaken-for-bomb-shuts-down-street/#commentsFiled under: ,

Suspicious Typewriter Detonated in FloridaThis may sound like a joke, but trust us, it's true. In Sarasota, Florida, streets were closed after a typewriter was reported as a suspicious package. And while many of us may not remember what one of these pre-PC word processors looks like, the senior citizens in Florida should have no excuse.

In the spirit of complete disclosure, the typewriter was inside its briefcase-like carrying-case and stashed in a locked cage under a stairwell in a county parking facility. The package was doubly suspicious since the only people with access to the cage would have been county officials.

Following standard procedure for a post 9/11, terrorism-obsessed world, the local bomb squad was called in. It proceeded to detonate the typewriter, then discovered it was just a typewriter.

Check out the gallery below so you, too, don't mistake an ancient writing tool for a weapon of mass destruction.

Gallery: Classic Typewriters



From SNAFU-ed

Related links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bombbreaking+newscomedyscaresuspicioustoptypewriterTue, 04 Dec 2007 11:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Texas Town Sells for $3.8 Million on eBay]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/11/26/texas-town-sells-for-3-8-million-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/26/texas-town-sells-for-3-8-million-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/26/texas-town-sells-for-3-8-million-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: ,

Texas Town Sells for $3.8 Million on eBayWe've written about plenty of strange things hitting the auction block on eBay before -- Gary Coleman's Game Cube, a half-million-dollar bottle of beer, and even a competitor to eBay it self -- but today we have an entire city for sale.

A buyer from Italy snatched up the 13 acres of unpopulated land in Albert, Texas for $3.8 million. However, just like the supposed purchasers of Bridgeville, North Carolina, there is a chance the bidder isn't legit. Bridgeville was the first town to ever sell itself on eBay, but the deal fell through twice, once in 2002, and once in 2006.

What does the as-yet unidentified Italian buyer get for his large sum of cash? A bar that is open on weekends, a pavilion, a dance hall, a tractor shed, a three-bedroom house, and peach and pecan orchards. Sounds really nice, but calling a plot of land with only one residential property and two commercial buildings a "town" feels like cheating.

From CNN (Video)

Related links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>albertauctionebaytexastownMon, 26 Nov 2007 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Pennsylvania Law Forces eBay Auctioneers to Get a License]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/11/20/pennsylvania-law-forces-ebay-auctioneers-to-get-a-license/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/20/pennsylvania-law-forces-ebay-auctioneers-to-get-a-license/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/20/pennsylvania-law-forces-ebay-auctioneers-to-get-a-license/#commentsFiled under: ,

PA Government Tells eBay Sellers to Get a License
You know those people -- maybe even you -- who sell other people's stuff on eBay? Well, apparently you or they will need to get an auctioneer's license from now on, at least in Pennsyslvania. The law has actually been on the books for a while, but is garnering attention because it is only now being enforced. Two people who run online auctions for others are under investigation by the state government and face up to $1,000 in fines.

But some eBay auctioneers are speaking out. Pennsylvania-based Auction Inn, a small online eBay auction company, is speaking out against the law, though it is not one of the two cited by law enforcement. Auction Inn believes the law is unfair since eBay auctioneers don't perform the same function or duty as traditional auctioneers. Presumably, this means they don't have gavels or talk in sped-up-auction-selling-speak, since all they do is write nice descriptions, take pretty photos, and make sure the stuff gets to the buyer on time.

Getting an auctioneer's license can take six to eight months which would shut Auction Inn down for the better part of a year, essentially forcing the business to shutter.

State lawmakers are proposing bills to deal with the issue, one of which makes eBay sellers exempt from the auctioneer's law, but still requires them to register with the government.

You can already feel the garages, basements, and attics of Pennsylvania start to fill up with all the crap the won't get sold until this hubbub is sorted out.

What do you think? Is this law too much or do you think eBay auctioneers should have a license?

From WGAL News

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionebaylicensepennsylvaniaTue, 20 Nov 2007 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Gary Coleman's GameCube Auctioned Off on eBay]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/11/15/gary-colemans-gamecube-auctioned-off-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/15/gary-colemans-gamecube-auctioned-off-on-ebay/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/15/gary-colemans-gamecube-auctioned-off-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gary Coleman's Game Cube Auctioned Off on eBay

We're hoping that Gary Coleman isn't in serious financial trouble, but this can't be a good sign for the former 'Different Strokes' star. Gary Coleman auctioned off his Nintendo GameCube and all six of the games he purchased for it -- we guess he's not a big gamer.

The GameCube and all six games are signed by the diminutive actor and reality TV star. We somehow managed to miss this when the auction began, and sadly it's too late now to get in on the action. The auction ended on Saturday, November 10, and the pile of signed, celebrity-owned gaming gear went for an absurd $510.

Check out the gallery to see Coleman signing the goods, just in case you doubted its authenticity.

Gallery: Gary Coleman's Gamecube eBay Auction



Related links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>different strokesDifferentStrokesebaygame cubeGameCubegary colemanGaryColemannintendosurreal lifeSurrealLifevideo gamesVideoGamesThu, 15 Nov 2007 12:09:00 EST<![CDATA[30 Years of Video Games Up For Sale]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/11/09/30-years-of-video-games-up-for-sale/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/09/30-years-of-video-games-up-for-sale/http://www.switched.com/2007/11/09/30-years-of-video-games-up-for-sale/#commentsFiled under: , ,

30 Years of Video Games Up For Sale
Are you obsessed with video games? Do you cry every time you think about how your mom gave away your Atari 2600? Do you have 10 grand or so to spare?

If you answered yes to any of those (especially the last one), we've got some good news for you. For an undisclosed reason, a man is selling his collection of video games, game systems, and accessories via eBay. The lot of almost 1,800 items, estimated to be worth about $15,000 and weighing in at half a ton, took the seller known as "sengoku" 30 years to amass.

We couldn't possibly list every item in the auction, but here is a list of the systems (there are multiples of some):

Atari 2600, Atari 7800, Atari Jaguar, Atari Lynx, Coleco ColecoVision, Coleco Gemini, Coleco Telstar, Commodore 64/128, GCE Vectrex, Mattel Aquarius, Mattel Intellivision, Mattel Odyssey 2, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360, Miscellaneous APF TV Fun, Miscellaneous Handheld Games, Miscellaneous PC Games, Miscellaneous SC Eight Thousand, Miscellaneous Sega Pods, Miscellaneous TV Games, NEC Turbo Duo, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo NES, Nintendo Nintendo 64, Nintendo Super NES, Nintendo Virtual Boy, Nintendo Wii, Sega Dreamcast, Sega Game Gear, Sega Genesis, Sega Master System, Sega Saturn, SNK Neo Geo, SNK Neo Geo Pocket, Sony Playstation, Sony Playstation 2, Texas Instruments TI 99/4A, VM Labs Nuon.

With a collection of this size you could open a museum.

Gallery: 30 Years of Video Games for Auction



From TMZ

Related links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionbreaking+newscollectionebaytopvideo gamesVideoGamesFri, 09 Nov 2007 16:03:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Accounts Hijacked and Used to Scam Buyers]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/10/22/large-scale-ebay-fraud-in-britain/http://www.switched.com/2007/10/22/large-scale-ebay-fraud-in-britain/http://www.switched.com/2007/10/22/large-scale-ebay-fraud-in-britain/#commentsFiled under: ,

Large-Scale eBay Fraud in BritainThe 'Times Online' is reporting on what seems to be a rash of eBay-account hijackings with a boatload of fraud to match. There are apparently 20 million British eBay registrants, roughly a third of the population, and crooks are taking advantage of many of them by stealing their accounts and posting bogus items for sale. Once a sale is complete, the crooks take off with the proceeds.

By stealing another user's account, a fraudster can get around the ratings system that many eBayers use to determine whether a given auction is real or a fake. Auctions may appear to be hosted by a user who has completed many successful transactions, while in reality that user has probably been locked out of their account and has no idea about the auction. The article mentions one account stealer who had snagged over 30 accounts from others and was using them to sell cars, typically the most expensive items brokered on eBay.

The article isn't too specific on how exactly these eBay users' accounts are stolen, but presumably it's accomplished by password-snagging e-mail scams, also known as "phishing." Or if people use really obvious passwords (that include their name, for example, or, the word password), then it's easy for scammers to just guess their way into people's accounts.

Since eBay itself doesn't offer much in the way of protection for buyers or sellers, the "winners" of the auctions may actually find themselves financially duped even worse than the supposed sellers, who only have to get their accounts back and clear their names.

So far, the problem seems to be a bigger deal in the U.K., but there is no reason this same scam can't make its way Stateside, so what can you do? Well, as a seller, you can choose a strong password to keep others from just being able to easily turn your account on you. And, as always, watch out for phishing scams, where official looking e-mails trick you into typing in your username and password on an unauthorized site. If everyone followed these simple guidelines, eBay and other account infiltration scams would be minimized. .

If you're buying anything expensive on eBay, make sure to get in touch with the seller, and, if anything smells shady -- like, they don't really know all that much about the 18-century armoire you're about to buy -- then don't click that "Bid Now!" button.


From Times Online

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e-mail scamsE-mailScamseBayeBay scamsEbayScamsPhishingscamsMon, 22 Oct 2007 10:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Skype Cell Phone in the Works]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/10/19/skype-cell-phone-in-the-works/http://www.switched.com/2007/10/19/skype-cell-phone-in-the-works/http://www.switched.com/2007/10/19/skype-cell-phone-in-the-works/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Skype Cell Phone in the Works
Skype is getting ready to make a serious push into the mobile space. The Internet-calling service, which lets users make free and extremely inexpensive calls over the Internet, is partnering with 3 Mobile (a company with, sadly, no U.S. presence) to develop a customized Skype-branded cell phone. The phone will let users switch between cell phone and Internet phone calls depending on whether or not a person is in a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Skype has struggled to monetize its popular service after being purchased by eBay. As a result, the service is trying all sorts of new things, including a recent deal to offer a Skype-like service to MySpace members.

The partnership is particularly interesting since most other mobile carriers spend their days fighting the VOIP revolution. Using VOIP (Voice-Over Internet Protocol) services like Skype on AT&T is strictly prohibited, while Verizon and Sprint are hoping to batter Vonage into the ground with patent infringement lawsuits.

The only cellular carrier that has embraced VOIP services is T-Mobile, which offers its own brand of VOIP-cell service called HotSpot @ Home (users use VOIP when they're at home or in a T-Mobile hotspot, but use cell phone networks everywhere else).

We love Skype -- it has made the telecommute so much more affordable -- so let's hope this latest plan brings it the success it deserves.



From Business Week

Related links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3 mobile3Mobilecell phoneCellPhoneInternet TelephonyInternetTelephonymobileskypevoipWi-FiFri, 19 Oct 2007 16:08:00 EST<![CDATA[MySpace and Skype Join Forces]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/10/17/skype-gets-friendly-on-myspace/http://www.switched.com/2007/10/17/skype-gets-friendly-on-myspace/http://www.switched.com/2007/10/17/skype-gets-friendly-on-myspace/#commentsFiled under: ,

Skype Gets Friendly on MyspaceIt was just a couple weeks ago that eBay was lamenting paying far too much for online phone calling service Skype, making the acquisition for a whopping $2.6 billion back in 2005. But, news today of a partnership with MySpace may brighten the online auction house's fortunes a bit. Late next month MySpace users will be able to make Skype calls to their friends directly from their profiles, or indeed to any other Skype user.

While Skype also offers for-fee calls to physical phones, whether they be landlines or cellys, the biggest draw for its users has always been the free calls to other Skype users. However, making these calls has always required the installation and configuration of Skype software, something many potential users can't be bothered with. Thanks to the partnership with MySpace, Skype calling will be able to be done directly from the MySpace IM client, so those who have that installed won't need to download anything else. It's a huge deal for Internet phone calling, also known as VOIP.

So, is this the next step in the beginning of the end for the phone industry, or will eBay just have to keep complaining about spending too much for an unprofitable startup? Only time will tell.

From BBC News, Webware and AOL Money and Finance

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eBayInternet TelephonyInternetTelephonyMySpaceSkypeVOIPWed, 17 Oct 2007 09:35:00 EST<![CDATA[How to Avoid Getting Scammed on eBay and Craigslist]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/10/11/avoid-getting-scammed-on-ebay-and-craigslist/http://www.switched.com/2007/10/11/avoid-getting-scammed-on-ebay-and-craigslist/http://www.switched.com/2007/10/11/avoid-getting-scammed-on-ebay-and-craigslist/#commentsFiled under: ,


Being a cautious consumer is important in this age of identity theft and computer fraud, and Wired has put together some nice advice for those who want to protect your assets when dealing with people on Craigslist and eBay.

To avoid getting scammed, Wired suggests trying to meet with people from Craigslist in person that you plan on purchasing from, or at least trying to verify their address. The eBay advice is a little more obvious, but it still bears repeating. Look at a seller's feedback, 100 positive messages means they're probably reliable, a host of negative or neutral reviews meas "watch your back". Also the age old adage is still true on eBay: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Head on over to Wired to get some more tips on keeping yourself from getting screwed.

From Wired

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craigslistebayidentity theftIdentityTheftrip offRipOffscamThu, 11 Oct 2007 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Online Game Character Sells For $10K]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/09/18/online-game-character-sells-for-10k/http://www.switched.com/2007/09/18/online-game-character-sells-for-10k/http://www.switched.com/2007/09/18/online-game-character-sells-for-10k/#commentsFiled under: ,

Online Game Character Sells For $10K

It turns out that filming yourself going buck-wild on a homemade 'Star Wars' lightsaber is no longer the nerdiest thing you could ever do (see: 'Star Wars' kid). Nope. That honor now goes to the 'World of Warcraft' player who just spent close to $10,000 (7,000 Euros) to purchase the online account of a fellow player.

In 'World of Warcraft,' as in many popular online games, characters are built up with new skills, weapons, magic and other abilities as you play, and play well. Though strictly forbidden by the game's terms of use, characters are often sold and transferred offline for cash -- usually only for a couple of hundred dollars at the most.

So, how good was this character that sold for 10 large? Without getting too geeky, let's just say that this Night Elf Rogue named Zeuzo was one of only two players in the world who'd managed to get a hold of the two legendary swords dropped by Illidan Stormrage. He also had four out of the five parts needed to make up a Tier 6 armor set.

Didn't catch any of that? Basically it means this guy was considered one of the most -- if not the most -- built-up characters in the entire game. And, that's out of 9 million players.

eBay was once a giant marketplace for 'World of Warcraft' accounts as well as for characters and virtual items from other online games. But, eBay recently banned the sale of any in-game characters or items (with very few exceptions), stating that such auctions violated the games' rules. That's too bad for eBay, since in Korea the market for virtual in-game goods is estimated to be worth $1 billion a year.

From Joystiq

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictionauctioncharactergamingonlinesaleworld of warcraftWorldOfWarcraftTue, 18 Sep 2007 13:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Prince Sues Three Sites Over Piracy of His Music]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/09/14/prince-sues-three-sites-due-to-piracy-of-his-music/http://www.switched.com/2007/09/14/prince-sues-three-sites-due-to-piracy-of-his-music/http://www.switched.com/2007/09/14/prince-sues-three-sites-due-to-piracy-of-his-music/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Prince Sues eBay, YouTube, and Pirate Bay
Prince (The Artist Formerly Known as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince), is taking on three sites that he says are primarily responsible for the online piracy of his music. Prince and a company called Web Sheriff are working closely together to get the offending material pulled from both YouTube and eBay. The third site named in the suit is Torrent peer-to-peer file sharing network / repository Pirate Bay.

Web Sheriff announced that it had successfully removed 2,000 YouTube videos and had 300 auctions pulled from eBay. The statement went on to say "Prince strongly believes artists as the creators and owners of their music need to reclaim their art."

We think that perhaps Prince should reclaim his dignity and stop suing outlets where his fans get together to share music, memorabilia, and experiences. Look Prince, baby, you don't want to do this. Have you looked at Metallica recently? That band's crusade against piracy did nothing for its members' careers.

From BetaNews

Related links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bit torrentBitTorrentbreaking+newsebaygooglepiracypirate bayPirateBayprincesuetoptorrentsyoutubeFri, 14 Sep 2007 11:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Handy List of Cell Phone-Friendly Web Sites]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/09/11/handy-list-of-cell-phone-friendly-web-sites/http://www.switched.com/2007/09/11/handy-list-of-cell-phone-friendly-web-sites/http://www.switched.com/2007/09/11/handy-list-of-cell-phone-friendly-web-sites/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Helpful List of Mobile Web Sites

Finding Web sites that look good on the substandard Web browsers and screens of most PDAs and PDA phones (read: Treos, Windows Mobile devices, and BlackBerrys) is a challenge. Thankfully, mobile-obsessed blogger Brian Cantoni has produced a quick and easy list of Web sites specially designed for the small screen. He even breaks them down into simple categories. And, of course, the list itself is smart phone friendly as well.

The list has become quite a hit for Cantoni, even garnering a mention in the New York Times as a good starting point for exploring the mobile Web. Just add www.cantoni.org/palm to your bookmarks on your cell phone. These pages will be nice and quick to load over that slow EDGE connection.

And don't forget to check up on us while you're out and about as well m.switched.com -- Switched.com's cell-phone-optimized address is, sadly, left off the list.

From Shiny Shiny

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cell phoneCellPhonemobilepdasmart phoneSmartPhoneTue, 11 Sep 2007 13:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Misspelling Costs eBay Seller $500,000]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/09/04/misspelling-costs-ebay-seller-500-000/http://www.switched.com/2007/09/04/misspelling-costs-ebay-seller-500-000/http://www.switched.com/2007/09/04/misspelling-costs-ebay-seller-500-000/#commentsFiled under:

Let this be a lesson to you: spell check, spell check, spell check. We can't say it enough. We're not spelling snobs. We don't even care if other people think you're a doofus. We just want to save you the pain and humiliation of losing $500,000 due to a bonehead-spelling mistake -- something one poor sap recently experienced on the mean streets of eBay through the sale of a priceless bottle of beer.

The seller was auctioning off an extraordinarily rare bottle of Allsopp's Arctic Ale. This beverage, brewed in 1852 for an arctic expedition led by Sir Edward Belcher, was crafted with special qualities necessary for the journey, including a freezing point below 12 degrees Fahrenheit and other properties said to stave off scurvy.

The initial seller's mistake was leaving out a vital 'P' in the name 'Allsopp's.' A savvy bidder either stumbled upon the listing for 'Allsop's' accidentally, or used a tool such as Auction Intelligence, which searches auctions for potential deals due to common misspellings. As you might expect, the misspelling made the auction difficult to find, which in turn made competition for the bottle very minimal. The winner of the bottle was only the second bidder on the auction and won it for just $304. That may sound like a lot of money to spend on a 105-year-old bottle of beer that's sure to be skunked. But consider this: The winner then turned right around and re-listed the item using the proper spelling this time. And this time, it sold for a whopping $503,300.

So proofread carefully, friends, and keep an eye out on Switched in the next few days for a follow up story along the lines of "Man Throws Self Off of Bridge After eBay Spelling Error."

From Gizmag

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Allsopp'sAllsopp's Artic AleAllsopp'sArticAleebaymistakepricelessspell checkSpellCheckspellingTue, 04 Sep 2007 17:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Internet Turning Into a Boob Tube of Sorts, Survey Says]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/08/14/internet-turning-into-a-boob-tube-of-sorts-survey-says/http://www.switched.com/2007/08/14/internet-turning-into-a-boob-tube-of-sorts-survey-says/http://www.switched.com/2007/08/14/internet-turning-into-a-boob-tube-of-sorts-survey-says/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Way back in the day (a whole four years ago) the Internet was primarily a tool of communication -- e-mail, message boards, instant messaging. Then somewhere along the way things began to change. Content became king.

A study conducted by Nielsen/NetRatings over the past four years has shown that almost half our Internet lives are now spent devouring content (like this blog). Since 2003, the percent of our online time that we spend watching videos, reading articles, or listening to music and podcasts has climbed from 34 percent to 47 percent. Meanwhile communications activities such as e-mail are on a steady decline, dropping to only 33 percent of our time (down from 46 in 2003).

The other activities that made up the majority of peoples time online were searching (five percent) and commerce (15 percent).

Is the Internet going the way of TV --- that is, are we increasingly just sitting back and watching our computer monitors rather than using them to keep in touch with others? This survey seems to point in that direction. What do you think?


From Reuters

Related Links:
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communicationcontentinternetnielsenonlinestudysurveywebTue, 14 Aug 2007 17:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Emergency Alert System 2.0]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/08/10/emergency-alert-system-2-0/http://www.switched.com/2007/08/10/emergency-alert-system-2-0/http://www.switched.com/2007/08/10/emergency-alert-system-2-0/#commentsFiled under: , ,