Ypulse Essentials: Lego Debuts At NY Toy Fair, Facebook’s New TOS, Disney Presents ‘The American Idol Experience,’
Posted by meredith on 02-17-2009
Lego and Rubik’s Cube at the New York Toy Fair (both old school classics debuted their digital updates at the Javits Center. And a more thorough roundup of games and gizmos from the Fair over at BoingBoing) (Reuters) (BoingBoing)
- The outcry against Facebook’s new terms of service (has reached so much of a fever pitch that there’s already backlash against the backlash) (Consumerist) (Public School Intelligentsia)
- Why fantasy violence may be the solution (and not the problem. A new book argues that video games provide a healthy outlet for aggression in developing boys. Plus is the day the music game died upon us? Sales of “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” are slumping) (ars technica) (Silicon Alley Insider)
- The modern librarian’s job description (has morphed from keeper of the books to a more comprehensive information specialist helping readers navigate both print and digital media) (New York Times, reg. required)
- One Smarphone Per Child? (At the Mobile Learning conference in Washington, cell phone company Qualcomm makes the case for phones in the classroom as a “smaller, cheaper” laptop. On the other side of the spectrum, Pennsylvania lawmakers contemplate banning electronic devices from school altogether) (New York Times, reg. required) (MediaPost, reg.required)
- The CW looks to the future (and sets its sights on more Gossip Girl-esque drama and moves away from the wrestling and comedy featured in past programming) (Variety)
- Anti-marijuana ads in the U.K. targets teens (asking them to consider the negative effects on their mental health. They don’t mention loss of endorsement deals. Also, tough times force networks to run riskier ads during prime time. And a new campaign from the recently re-branded Gatorade features a hodgepodge of pop culture that causes Slate to ask, “What’s Up, G?”) (Guardian) (Los Angeles Times, reg. required) (Slate)
- It’s only New Media if you’re old (one journalism professor suggests we come up with an alternative to the generational term. Plus in a meeting of the medias YouTube phenomenon Fred appears on Nickelodeon’s “iCarly.” And a TIME gives 10 reasons why Facebook is for “old fogies.”) (Reportr.net) (Los Angeles Times)
- Disney offers ‘The American Idol Experience’ (complete with three wacky judges and the chance to get on the actual “American Idol”) (USA Today)
- Spreading the wealth (at least half of kids’ online ad dollars are going to non-TV sites. Plus Betawave, the youth media network formerly known as GoFish launches Betawave TV, an ad-supported video platform) (paidContent.org) (MediaPost, reg. required)
P.S. Check out FreshBrain, a nonprofit technology exploration platform for teens.
Categorized under: Ypulse Essentials
February 17th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
A problem with banning cellphones for students is that it stops them from calling the police if someone is threatening to beat them up or just did.