Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Pakistan Bans, Then Breaks YouTube]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/25/pakistan-bans-then-breaks-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/25/pakistan-bans-then-breaks-youtube/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/25/pakistan-bans-then-breaks-youtube/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pakistan Bans and Breaks YouTubePakistan has become the latest in a long list of countries that have banned the video sharing site YouTube. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority told the country's Internet Service Provicers (ISPs) that the site will be blocked until further notice due to content deemed offensive to Islam, though they would not name the specific content that was deemed offensive.

Countries such as Turkey, Thailand, and Morocco have all blocked the site at one point or another for hosting videos deemed offensive to the nations' leaders and government.

This would be worth noting even if the story ended here, but there's more....The government blocks the site by redirecting all traffic from within Pakistan intended for YouTube to a different Web site. However, likely due to a careless error by a Pakistani engineer, YouTube was blocked around the globe for two hours yesterday.

Google immediately contacted the Pakistani government, and access to the site was quickly restored. The government is investigating the cause behind the outage.

From BBC and Wired

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SwitchedPakistan Bans, Then Breaks YouTube originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>censorshipgooglegovernmentyoutubeMon, 25 Feb 2008 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Lawyer Blames Video Games for NIU Shootings]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/19/lawyer-blames-video-games-for-niu-shootings/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/19/lawyer-blames-video-games-for-niu-shootings/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/19/lawyer-blames-video-games-for-niu-shootings/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Few things makes us more angry than taking advantage of tragedies to push personal and political agendas, especially when when that agenda lacks things like supporting evidence... or logic.

Jack Thompson, a self-described Christian conservative and Republican (which is an insult to Christian conservative Republicans everywhere), has made a career of crusading against so-called obscenity and violence in media such as rap music and video games.

His latest rant came on Fox News about the Northern Illinois University shooting and its connection to the first person shooter 'Counter Strike.' The Fox News interview is shameless on so many levels. Thompson refers to video games as simulators for practicing massacres, implies that he predicted the NIU shooting in a book he wrote (plug, plug), and he referred to a Harvard study suggesting that people are likely to copycat behavior in video games. He failed to mention that the killer spent time in a psychiatric institution or that he recently decided to stop taking his prescribed anti-depressants.

Let's take Thompson's logic and apply it elsewhere. According to him every school shooter has played video games, therefore video games are the cause of school shootings. The Oklahoma City bombing and the September 11th attacks were perpetrated by morally and socially conservative religious fundamentalists, so perhaps Thompson is a potential terrorist -- let's ship him to Gitmo. We still water-board don't we?

From DailyTech

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SwitchedLawyer Blames Video Games for NIU Shootings originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newscensorshipcounter strikeCounterStrikefox newsFoxNewsjack thompsonJackThompsonniunorthern illinois universityNorthernIllinoisUniversitypoliticspunditschoolshootingtopTue, 19 Feb 2008 14:23:00 EST<![CDATA[World's First Rubik's-Cube-Solving Robot]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/15/rubiks-cube-solving-robot/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/15/rubiks-cube-solving-robot/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/15/rubiks-cube-solving-robot/#commentsFiled under: ,


Rubiks Cube Solving Robot - Watch more free videos

What's more impressive than director Michel Gondry solving a Rubik's Cube with his feet? A robot solving a Rubik's Cube with with mechanical hands.

While the former stunt was all done in reverse and then played backwards (he started with a completed Cube), we have absolutely no idea how the robot did its business.

And for this we salute you, anonymous nerd who built it.

From Break.com

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SwitchedWorld's First Rubik's-Cube-Solving Robot originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>RoboticsRobotsWeirdFri, 15 Feb 2008 16:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Officer Suspended After Encounter with 'Punk Kid' Posted on YouTube]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/15/officer-suspended-after-encounter-with-punk-kid-posted-on-yout/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/15/officer-suspended-after-encounter-with-punk-kid-posted-on-yout/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/15/officer-suspended-after-encounter-with-punk-kid-posted-on-yout/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


YouTube is quickly becoming the bane of over-reactive adults everywhere. Web-savvy kids are catching their elders freaking out on video and posting it on video sharing sites like YouTube. The general result: teachers, cops, and other adults are made to look like jerks.

The latest casualty is an officer from Baltimore, Maryland, Salvatore Rivieri. Officer Rivieri had a rather hostile encounter with couple of teens over the summer that started because the teens were skateboarding in a restricted area. The video shows officer Rivieri storming up to the teens, taking one in a head lock and pushing him to the ground twice.

After exclaiming "dude!" when pushed the floor the officer really exploded, "I'm not 'man'. I'm not 'dude'. I am officer Rivieri. Now the sooner you learn that, the longer you'll live in this world."

While the teen obviously does need to learn how to address his elders, he is also 14 years old and doesn't seem to be purposely disrespecting the officer. Rivieri on the other hand is a grown man who some people believe crossed a line. Not only was his verbally abusive outburst uncalled for, but there is simply no excuse for man handling a child like that, especially since (as the officer so eloquently points out) he's not the child's father.

Officer Rivieri has been suspended to administrative work with pay pending an Internal Affairs investigation.

From ValleyWag

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SwitchedOfficer Suspended After Encounter with 'Punk Kid' Posted on YouTube originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copspoliceyoutubeFri, 15 Feb 2008 15:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Gangs Using Social Networks to Recruit Members]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/08/gangs-using-social-networks-to-recruit-members/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/08/gangs-using-social-networks-to-recruit-members/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/08/gangs-using-social-networks-to-recruit-members/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gangs using social networks to recruit

According the recent reports, social networking sites like MySpace and even YouTube are being used as recruitment tools by gangs.

"We're seeing our gangs and the resurgence of some of the gang members coming back from prison looking more and more to those middle schoolers and the younger kids to recruit them," said San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer. Manheimer said kids get into discussions in the comments sections of these sites, which is where much of the recruitment has been taking place.

Youth counselor Alejandro Vilchez says teaching kids how to stay out of gangs in real life will help them avoid the online propaganda as well.

"It's really no different than the way Hitler recruited Hitler youth with the pageantry and the uniforms and the messages of unity and sacrifice and honor," said Vilchez. "It's the same messages that you seen on these gang websites."

Some tips from Mr. Vilchez: keep computers in common rooms, and closely monitor websites and cell phones.

And for chrissakes, learn the difference between a blood and a crip.

From CBS5

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SwitchedGangs Using Social Networks to Recruit Members originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Net Phenom Obama Girl Didn't Vote for Obama]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/07/obama-girl-didnt-vote-for-obama/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/07/obama-girl-didnt-vote-for-obama/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/07/obama-girl-didnt-vote-for-obama/#commentsFiled under: , ,


That up there is Obama Girl, the Internet phenomenon who declared that she had a "Crush on Obama." But what's this? Obama Girl did not cast her vote for Obama during Super Tuesday. She didn't switch sides, she simply shirked her civic duty and didn't vote at all. Her reason? She "was in Arizona for the Super Bowl -- every time I get in the airplane I get sick."

Allow us to say that is the lamest excuse ever. Shame on you, Obama Girl.

From Valleywag

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Switched'Net Phenom Obama Girl Didn't Vote for Obama originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electionobamaobama girlObamaGirlpoliticssuper tuesdaySuperTuesdayThu, 07 Feb 2008 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[SeeqPod Music Search Engine Sued By Warner Music Group]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/28/warner-bros-records-sues-music-search-engine/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/28/warner-bros-records-sues-music-search-engine/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/28/warner-bros-records-sues-music-search-engine/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Warner Bros. Records Sues Music Search Engine
We're wondering when media companies are gonna get tired of suing everyone is sight. Warner Music Group (a division of our parent company Time Warner), has zeroed in on SeeqPod, a search engine that links to music and videos found across the Internet. The reasoning behind the legal action is that some of the links link to music and videos that are in violation of copyright law.

Warner Music Group may have a tough road to hoe, however. Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, search engines (like SeeqPod) are allowed to have links to material that happens to be illegal as long as it isn't hand chosen and is the result of a search.

That said, Warner Music Group does have a team of highly-paid powerful lawyers and SeeqPod has a small collection of twentysomethings in a dorm room somewhere. SeeqPod might be a bit outmatched.

From DailyTech

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SwitchedSeeqPod Music Search Engine Sued By Warner Music Group originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lawsuitsmusicsearchseeqpodsuewarner brothersWarnerBrothersMon, 28 Jan 2008 14:44:00 EST<![CDATA[On the Web, Everyone Can Hear You Scream (Podcast)]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/on-the-web-everyone-can-hear-you-scream-podcast/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/on-the-web-everyone-can-hear-you-scream-podcast/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/on-the-web-everyone-can-hear-you-scream-podcast/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The Switched Show Podcast
Be careful what you leave in a voicemail: It might end up on the Switched Show (podcast, direct link), via YouTube and just about every major TV and radio outlet in the nation. We discuss implications of privacy in a digital world -- from warrantless searches of Blackberry e-mail in-boxes to the unfortunate case of an angry phone message turned YouTube phenomena. PLUS: The Macbook Air crash lands with critics.

SwitchedOn the Web, Everyone Can Hear You Scream (Podcast) originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Snow-Day Caller Tells Media to Get Back to Reporting Real News]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/snow-day-caller-tells-media-to-get-back-to-reporting-real-news/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/snow-day-caller-tells-media-to-get-back-to-reporting-real-news/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/snow-day-caller-tells-media-to-get-back-to-reporting-real-news/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Snow-Day Caller Tells Media to Get Back to Reporting Real News
You may remember a little story we posted the other day about a Fairfax County High School student named Devraj Kori, who called a school administrator's home to question the decision not to close the area's schools for snow. Dean Tistadt's wife, Candy, returned Kori's call and left the boy a minute long rant chastising him for calling their home number with some harsh words, including the phrase "snotty-nosed little brats."

Well it turns out Kori isn't exactly enjoying the media attention either. Following the coverage from the Washington Post and CNN Kori has been inundated with phone calls from media outlets who he says have better things to cover. "I think there are issues like Darfur, I mean there are presidential primaries going on. There's so many other things that could have this media attention."

We're apt to agree with Kori on this one. We may be reporting it, but as an outlet that purely covers technology it's perfectly reasonable that we would pay attention. Outlets like CNN have probably dedicated more time to Kori's snow day phone call in the last three days than it has to Darfur in the last three months. And speaking of Darfur when was the last time you heard anything about it? Don't even remember do you, so we'll do CNN's job and give you a quick update - It's not getting better. Government forces in Sudan recently opened fire on a convoy of peace keepers from the United Nations and the African Union, though denied the attack was intentional. And to make matters worse, the government appointed Musa Hilal, who is accused of being a leader in the Janjaweed militia and being directly involved in the atrocities in the Darfur region, to a senior position.

Now that we've got the ball rolling maybe CNN can pick up where we left off and take Kori's advice -- start reporting on issues of true consequence and leave the quirky stories of internet phenomena to the tech blogs.

From CNN

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SwitchedSnow-Day Caller Tells Media to Get Back to Reporting Real News originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cnndarfurfacebookfairfaxkorimediamyspacephoneschoolsnow daySnowDaywashington postWashingtonPostyoutubeFri, 25 Jan 2008 16:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Student's Snow-Day Question Causes Internet Brouhaha]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/23/students-snow-day-plea-leads-to-raucous-online-debate/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/23/students-snow-day-plea-leads-to-raucous-online-debate/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/23/students-snow-day-plea-leads-to-raucous-online-debate/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Dean Tistadt, Chief Operating Officer for the Fairfax County, Virginia school system, and his wife, Candy, learned a tough lesson in the power of the Internet after an angry voicemail left on a student's cell phone became an Internet phenomenon.

The ordeal started when Devraj "Dave" S. Kori, a senior at Lake Braddock Secondary School, called Dean at his listed home phone number to find out why he had not closed the schools after three inches of snow fell in the area. Kori left his name and number on the Tistadts' answering machine. Later that day, Candy returned the call and left a furious minute-long tirade on the boy's cell phone.

"How dare you call us at home! If you have a problem with going to school, you do not call somebody's house and complain about it," she yelled. At some point, Candy refers to students in general as "snotty-nosed little brats," and towards the end of her outburst shouts, "Get over it, kid, and go to school!"

Kori was taken aback by the anger and combative tone taken by Mrs. Tisradt and decided to share it with the Internet public by posting the audio of the message -- along with Dean Tistadt's home and work numbers -- on Facebook and YouTube.

The posting has touched off all sorts of debates over whether Kori's actions constituted harassment, if Candy Tistadt overstepped her bounds, and what is considered a polite and reasonable request for information. Within a day, the clip had received hundreds of hits online. It then made its way onto the local nightly news, and, as of today, had gotten over 20,000 listeners on YouTube.

Kori, a member of his school's debate team, said he was not intending to harass. He says that he had attempted to reach Dean Tistadt at his work number and thought he had a basic right to petition a public official for more information about an issue that affected him and his fellow students. He says the disagreement probably stems from a generation gap "People in my generation view privacy differently. We are the cell phone generation. We are used to being reached at all times," said Kori. Paul Regnier, Fairfax County Schools' spokesman, retorted that the conflict was more likely the result of a "civility gap."

Needless to say, the incident has resulted in countless prank phone calls to the Tistadts and much embarrassment for Candy.

Our take -- Kori probably shouldn't have called the Tistadts' home line, but Candy's minute -long rant was certainly unwarranted. Perhaps next time she'll think twice before leaving a hostile message and try to explain to the student that calling Dean Tistadt at home is unacceptable in a calm, level-headed manner.

From Washington Post

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SwitchedStudent's Snow-Day Question Causes Internet Brouhaha originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newscell phoneCellPhonefacebookfairfaxphoneprotestschoolsnowsnow daySnowDaytopyoutubeWed, 23 Jan 2008 18:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientology Goes After Blog for Posting Video of Tom Cruise]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/17/scientology-attacks-gawker-for-posting-video-of-tom-cruise/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/17/scientology-attacks-gawker-for-posting-video-of-tom-cruise/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/17/scientology-attacks-gawker-for-posting-video-of-tom-cruise/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


For those of you unfamiliar with the Church of Scientology let us give you a very, very abbreviated background. Scientology was started in 1952 by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. The secretive religion has proven to be very popular amongst the Hollywood elite, but has faced allegations that it harasses critics, abuses members trust, and is not a religious organization but a commercial enterprise and a cult.

Tom Cruise is one of the organization's most visible and vocal proponents. Not long ago at a ceremony held by the Church of Scientology International (CSI) Tom Cruise was awarded the Freedom Medal of Valor. His wild-eyed video acceptance speech talking about how Scientology holds the answers to everything made its way on to pop culture and gossip blog Gawker. CSI immediately jumped to legal action, as many of its critics would have expected, sending a cease and desist order to Gawker accusing them of violating copyright law by posting the video from the award ceremony.

Gawker has so far refused to remove the video, arguing that it was posted in the context of "news reporting and critical commentary" and therefore falls under the fair use doctrine. CSI has yet to respond, but we're pretty sure this isn't over yet. The Church of Scientology is, if anything, determined, as one BBC reporter found out.

The entire terrifying video, from fervent introduction and speech by the church's supreme leader David Miscavige, to border line psychotic description of the church by Tom Cruise is available here. And don't worry if they get taken down, we've got copies too.

Update:
Those videos in the last link were removed as expected. But don't worry as you can see we've already reposted. We're keeping an eye out for black SUVs parked outside of our apartments now.

From Boing Boing

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SwitchedScientology Goes After Blog for Posting Video of Tom Cruise originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bbccelebritiesdianeticsl ron hubbardLRonHubbardscientologytom cruiseTomCruiseThu, 17 Jan 2008 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Panasonic and T-Mobile Announce Wi-Fi Digital Camera]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/14/panasonic-and-t-mobile-announce-wi-fi-digital-camera/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/14/panasonic-and-t-mobile-announce-wi-fi-digital-camera/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/14/panasonic-and-t-mobile-announce-wi-fi-digital-camera/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Panasonic Lumix WiFiHot on the heels of the announcement that the Eye-Fi Wi-Fi enabled SD memory card won the Yahoo! Last Gadget Standing Award at CES comes the joint announcement that T-Mobile and Panasonic will release a Wi-Fi enabled digital camera that can directly upload to Google's Picasa Web Albums.

The new wireless Panasonic LUMIX will allow you to wirelessly transmit digital photos from the camera to your personal computer as well as directly to a file sharing website by utilizing any open Wi-Fi hotspot or T-Mobile hotspot (at 8,500 locations, or free for the first 12 months) to upload your photos directly to your web album. This is a similar setup to what Kodak has had with its EasyShare cameras for a few years.

By utilizing Google open APIs(Application Programming Interfaces) the LUMIX will be able to upload to specific Picasa Web galleries depending on user settings and can then send the gallery URL to friends immediately via cellular text messaging or e-mail. With a little bit of time and perhaps some hacker help we'll see the same sort of ease-of-use for uploading to Flickr, Facebook, and other photo and social networking sites in the coming months.

From CNN

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SwitchedPanasonic and T-Mobile Announce Wi-Fi Digital Camera originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expire-images:2009-1-10expire-images:2009-1-13Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:58:00 EST<![CDATA[The New Sony Mylo Personal Communicator]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/08/the-new-sony-mylo-personal-communicator/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/08/the-new-sony-mylo-personal-communicator/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/08/the-new-sony-mylo-personal-communicator/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The new Sony mylo personal portable communicator recently debuted with a host of new features, added functionality, and redesigned form factor. Specifically designed for the texting teenager (AIM, GoogleTalk, and Yahoo Messenger), the new mylo is also set up for social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Friendster as well as direct uploads to content sites like YouTube and other Adobe Flash based websites. The QWERTY keyboard is revealed when you slide the 3.5 inch touchscreen up and you are connected via open Wi-Fi 802.11/b and /g networks (and for those who purchase soon Wayport hotspots in 9,000 McDonalds will be free until 2010).

The mylo communicator also features a 1.3 megapixel (MP) camera along with on-board photo editing capabilities so that your profile picture looks just right for Facebook. And like the new PlayStation Portable, the mylo also comes with Skype installed for free calls to your friends.

When you're not around a Wi-Fi hotspot you can listen to music on the mylo's 1 GB internal memory or the Memory Stick Duo (up to 8 GB) as well as play the pre-loaded and downloadable Flash based games.

The Sony mylo will be out this month and available for $300 from SonyStyle.com and stores nationwide.

Gallery: Sony Mylo

Sony Mylo in Black and White

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SwitchedThe New Sony Mylo Personal Communicator originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>expire-images:2009-1-7Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Casio's Latest in Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/07/casio-updates-exilim-digicam-line/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/07/casio-updates-exilim-digicam-line/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/07/casio-updates-exilim-digicam-line/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Casio Updates Exilim Digicam Line
Casio announced an update to its line of top notch and fashionably slim Exilim point-and-shoot digicams at a press conference yesterday. The new EX-S10, EX-Z80, EX-Z100, EX-Z200 add some fancy new features and a bevy of new color choices.

The EX-S10 is "the world's smallest and slimmest" 10-megapixel camera, and adds iTunes (read iPod/iPhone/iPod Touch) compatibility to Casio's existing YouTube capture mode for easy transfer of your videos and photos. The S10 also adds a one-button video feature, so you don't have to dig through menus or turn any knobs to capture video as you do with most other cameras, just hit the separate capture button and start shooting full motion video. Lastly, but certainly not least(ly), the new camera also gets some fancy auto shutter technology that makes it much easier to capture that perfect image because it lets the camera wait until subjects are stationary or centered in frame before snapping that photo.

The other three cameras announced today build on those features. The Z80 adds face detection to the auto shutter line up. While the Z100 and Z200 and wide angle lenses, and higher optical zooms (4x). The Z200 distinguishes itself from the Z100 by adding image stabilization.

All the new cameras are available in a variety of model specific colors on top of the standard silver and black. Check out the Z80's lime green shade, and the Z100's brown tint. It's always good to have options.

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SwitchedCasio's Latest in Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camerascasiodigicamdigital camerasDigitalCamerasexilimipoditunesyoutubeMon, 07 Jan 2008 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Boynq Abibi]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/23/gift-guide-boynq-abibi/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/23/gift-guide-boynq-abibi/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/23/gift-guide-boynq-abibi/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Boynq Alibi (Style maven, $100 and under)

Want to get your college-bound, studying-abroad, jet-setting son or daughter to actually video-chat with you? Try getting them a webcam -- particularly one that looks as fresh as Boynq's Alibi. Though its primary function is video, the unit doubles as a speaker as well: While it's only able to crank out five watts, it sounds better than your laptop's internal speakers. The camera is able to angle itself 25 degrees left and right, and and it even rotates 300 degrees, allowing you to record video of most of a room without having to move the body of the webcam itself. Aside from its look, the design is full of nice touches: Rather than a volume knob, the Alibi has a tall ring around its body, which you slide to adjust volume. Oh, and coolest of all? The camera head pops up when in use, and hibernates into its plastic body when idle. Comes in four purdy colors.

Price: $59.99

From Boynq

SwitchedGift Guide: Boynq Abibi originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 23 Dec 2007 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HolidashHoliday Gift GuideHolidayGiftGuideSun, 23 Dec 2007 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Is YouTube Beating the Networks in the Ratings?]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/23/is-youtube-beating-the-networks-in-the-ratings/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/23/is-youtube-beating-the-networks-in-the-ratings/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/23/is-youtube-beating-the-networks-in-the-ratings/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

The Switched Show Podcast

It's the worst nightmare for the networks: YouTube beating broadcast television in the ratings. Recent polls suggest it's that's already happening, but our most recent Switched Show (listen here; direct link to mp3) suggests we're not so sure -- and that we've got some strong opinions on the subject of how you'll watch television in the not so distant future. PLUS: We read our personal tech wishlists for the holidays. Don't forget to subscribe to the Switched Show for FREE.

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SwitchedIs YouTube Beating the Networks in the Ratings? originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 23 Dec 2007 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newspodcasttopSun, 23 Dec 2007 13:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Teens Still Prefer Landline Phones, Says Study]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/20/teens-still-prefer-landline-phones-says-study/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/20/teens-still-prefer-landline-phones-says-study/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/20/teens-still-prefer-landline-phones-says-study/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Teens On Phone
The Pew Internet and American Life Project has been mighty busy as of late. Hot on the heels of its study that revealed that people like to Google themselves, but like to Google others even more is a fresh batch of stats about how teenagers communicate.

The survey of 12 to 17 year old boys and girls turned up some shocking information -- teens still prefer a good old-fashioned landline phone to other means of communication. 39 percent of teens said they talked to friends everyday via a landline phone. That's actually slightly more than the 35 percent who said they talked to friends on their cell phones everyday, but is almost twice the number who relied on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace and good chunk more than those who used text messaging daily.

Not surprising is the lowly 14 percent who said they used e-mail daily. Past studies have already shown that young people are not fans of the oldest form of electronic communication.

One thing is for sure - they won't be using public pay phones for long, as AT&T plans to phase those out.

From USA Today

Gallery: Public Phones and Phone Booths of the World



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SwitchedTeens Still Prefer Landline Phones, Says Study originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cell phoneCellPhonee-mailemailfacebooklandlinemyspacepewphonepollsmssocial networkingSocialNetworkingstudysurveytext messagingtextingTextMessagingThu, 20 Dec 2007 17:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Is YouTube Ready to Overtake Traditional TV?]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/20/is-youtube-ready-to-overtake-traditional-tv/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/20/is-youtube-ready-to-overtake-traditional-tv/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/20/is-youtube-ready-to-overtake-traditional-tv/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Is YouTube Ready to Overtake Traditional TV?

Just when you thought YouTube was starting to be old news, along comes a survey that the video sharing site is far more popular than ever, and is kicking the pants of its competitors. According to a new survey, 65 percent of those polled watched a video on YouTube this year, up from 42 percent last year. That's a huge jump in popularity, mirrored by a huge jump in page views (shown above). Those page views are also helped by numbers indicating that 42 percent of those who did visit YouTube said they came back to the site "frequently," an increase of 11 percent over 2006.

YouTube's continued success is all the more surprising considering the increased competition in the online video realm from media entities as varied as MySpace and MTV. Those sites have also seen growth, but nothing compared to what YouTube continues to deliver.

Can the site that started it all keep ahead of the younger upstarts, and will it eventually conquer the television networks? We shall see.

From Reuters

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SwitchedIs YouTube Ready to Overtake Traditional TV? originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MySpace TVMyspaceTvStudiesSurveysTrendsYouTubeThu, 20 Dec 2007 09:40:00 EST<![CDATA[The 'Blog' Turns 10]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/the-revolutionary-blog-turns-10/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/the-revolutionary-blog-turns-10/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/the-revolutionary-blog-turns-10/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Revolutionary Blog Turns 10
Happy belated birthday, blogosphere! In case you didn't know, December 17 was the 10th anniversary of the term 'Weblog,' which was shortened to 'blog' at some point. The term started with a man, Jorn Barger, who used the phrase to describe his Web page where he posted links of interesting things he found around the Internet.

Back in 1997, blogging was hardly the phenomenon it is today. Some of the most conservative estimates put the number of true 'weblogs' at that time in the lower double digits. These days no one can really say how many blogs are out there. Technorati, a blog tracking service, estimates that 120,000 new blogs pop up every day. In April the site was tracking just over 72 million blogs.

The blog has morphed from its early days as a way of sharing cool finds (like Digg minus the voting), to the primary form of information dispersal on the Web. Blogging has become the format of choice in the fast-paced world of tech (like Switched.com) and politics, and has empowered a generation of new journalists. Now the New York Times has blogs, the Daily Kos is one of the most important forces in the Democratic party, and even CNN has the YouTube-esque iReport citizen journalism program. Like it or not, in less than 10 years time, blogs have completely altered the face of media.

From the BBC

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SwitchedThe 'Blog' Turns 10 originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarybirthdayblogbloggingblogscitizen journalismCitizenJournalismcnndaily kosDailyKosinternetjohn bargerJohnBargerjournalismtechnoratiweblogyoutubeWed, 19 Dec 2007 16:27:00 EST<![CDATA[High School Teacher's Global Warming Video a YouTube Hit]]>http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/high-school-teachers-global-warming-video-a-youtube-hit/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/high-school-teachers-global-warming-video-a-youtube-hit/http://www.switched.com/2007/12/19/high-school-teachers-global-warming-video-a-youtube-hit/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The last time you were on YouTube, what were the most popular vids on there? You'd probably expect something with a funny baby, something political, something featuring cats, and probably a video focusing on the average male's favorite human anatomy part.

What you likely wouldn't expect, though, is a video featuring a teacher talking about global warming, which is precisely what has turned out to be one of the most popular videos on YouTube so far this month.

The video features high school science teacher Greg Craven chatting for nine minutes and 33 seconds about global warming. He doesn't spend much time talking about doom and gloom (submerged cities, global famine, etc.), nor does he go on and on about the scientific causes. Instead, he cuts to the chase, making a sound logical argument about why global warming should not be ignored. It comes down to this: Given our options of either doing something about the (potential) problem or not doing something, we're still better off doing something, because inaction is very, very risky. It may seem obvious, but the guy is compelling.

Take a few minutes and watch the video above. It's a lot more exciting than a 90-minute PowerPoint presentation.

From USA Today

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SwitchedHigh School Teacher's Global Warming Video a YouTube Hit originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Global WarmingGlobalWarmingYouTubeWed, 19 Dec 2007 10:07:00 EST