A New Take on Summer Reading - An Audible Invite

Perhaps you've read about books for iPods and other portable mp3players and often thought you might like to try one? Or maybe you are gearing up for a long car trip with the kids this summer and would like to try listening to a book as a family? Maybe you have a reluctant reader and have thought about trying to get them to listen to a good mystery, sci-fi adventure or fast action thriller in hopes of getting them back into reading? Well here's your golden opportunity. Audible.com, the premier source of recorded books for kids and adults - and everyone in-between -  is offering a free 30-day trial of the AudibleListener® Gold plan free of charge just by going to http://www.audible.com/invite. And for every new trial membership from this offer that begins before June 29,2007, Audible will donate $10 to the Newark Literacy Campaign. You have to try this! Oh yes, and don't forget about the senior citizens in your life. This can be great for them too!

iPods Banned to Foil Cheaters

USA Today is reporting that high schoolers are using iPods, Zunes and other digital music players to cheat on tests. Somewhat evitable I guess, and we've written about this before, but somehow a shame that a tool that can be so helpful to teachers and students alike for  podcasting, listening to recorded books, and other means is being subverted. Let's hope educators can think of some other ways to sort out the use of these devices. It was also noted in the article that while some colleges are also banning iPods, institutions like Duke University, that have pioneered their use in a wide range of disciplines, are taking a different approach. "Incidents of cheating have declined at Duke over the past 10 years, largely because the community expects its students to have academic integrity. Trying to fight the technology without a dialogue on values and expectations is a losing battle," Tim Dodd, executive director of The Center for Academic Integrity at Duke said. "I think there's kind of a backdoor benefit here. As teachers are thinking about how technology has corrupted, they're also thinking about ways it can be used productively."

"But Everyone Has One!" - 100 Million iPods Sold

Apple has announced that they have sold 100 million iPods and as a parent that makes it even harder to resist the pressure of that old kid ruse - "But everyone has one!" What should you know before you buy your child about the downloading of music and other media? Common Sense Media has some ideas - but make sure you also think about educating them about the consequences of illegal downloading of music. You can use our Internet Smarts case study Music Downloading; Paying the Piper as a starting point. And remember - there's more than music available to listen to on these devices - and there is no stigma to listening to a book instead ‘cause nobody knows what's going into your ears. All these people who are lamenting that kids don't read should be getting on that bandwagon.

Off the Beaten Path Podcasts

Do you have an iPod? You're not alone. It came over the wire recently that Apple has now sold 100 million iPods. That's pretty incredible. So what do you and your kids listen to on your iPods besides music? We'd love to hear from you on the subject. And, by the way, if you are looking for something a little different to listen to check out this guide to some of the more popular - and surprisingly esoteric - podcasts.

Soldiers Enlist iPods to Break Down Iraqi Language Barrier

For U.S. troops in Iraq, communicating in Arabic soon may be as simple as playing a tune on an iPod. A software program, called VCOM Mobile, enables troops to select preloaded English phrases on iPods and display the corresponding sentences in a foreign language. Users can play an audio clip of the phrase and pull up an avatar, or computerized character, on screen to speak and gesture the phrase. The program comes equipped with 20 military missions, ranging from vehicle control point and cordon and search to patrol, meet and greet and medical triage.

The iPod Doctor

Got a sick iPod? It might time for a visit to the iPod doctor. This profile of the doc points out that not all digital devices have to be completely replaced if they appear broken. Kids need to understand they need to explore repair possibilities and not take the attitude that it's ok to just toss out a device any time it seems to not be working properly.

Podcasts and Homework

So what is your teen listening to on those ever-present headphones? Is it music or could it just be their homework? USA Today reports that textbook and other related educational materials companies are beginning to include podcasts with their supplementary materials. It started with foreign language instruction and is now expanding to the whole curriculum. For more on podcasts, see the article archives of our Teaching with Technology and Parenting with Technology columns.

Steven Jobs Speaks Out on Digital Rights Management

Steven Jobs, the head of Apple, has set off a wide debate by posting his thoughts on music and DRM on the Apple site. Jobs is calling for fewer download limits on music that can be purchased from the Internet and making music downloaded from iTunes or any online store playable on any device without restrictions. Jobs pronouncement has set off a blogging and columnist frenzy on the topic as the chorus of discontent grows about copy restrictions. Jobs and may others argue that digital rights management (DRM) technology, which record companies require in digital music files to limit where and how songs can be played, has failed to stop piracy and impedes development of the online music industry. Many feel that Apple stands to win from this new move either way it goes.

Digital Safety Podcasts

Would you like to know more about what the experts are saying about media and kids and digital safety but don't have time to read about it?  One solution is the podcasts from Common Sense Media. The topics covered include everything from Using the TV as a Nanny to Smoking in the Movies and Kids' Health.

Irritated Readers Phone Calls Become Podcasts

We are always telling kids to watch what they say and now the San Francisco Chronicle  proves that old adage by putting voicemail recordings it receives from readers with their editorial point of view online as podcasts.  Readers are informed that that their phone messages may be distributed to the public, and their names are not edited, the paper claims it is a way to liven up their coverage.