TechBytes: Text4Baby Campaign
Teens and the Internet, the possibility of a touch-screen Kindle and more.
Feb. 4, 2010— -- A new campaign plans to use text messages to reach mothers-to-be across the country. The "text4baby" campaign for expectant mothers is being announced today. Pregnant women can sign up for weekly messages timed to their due date, with tips on subjects like nutrition and immunization. The texts are all vetted by government and non-profit health experts. The goal is to reduce premature births. In order to sign up for the free service text the word "baby" to 511411. Cell phone companies have agreed to waive all fees for receiving the texts.
A new survey seems to confirm something about teens most of us already knew: they have short attention spans. The study finds young people are losing interest in long-form blogging. About half as many 12 to 17 year olds say they're blogging now as compared to 4 years ago. The explosion of social networking sites like Facebook is one reason for the decline, because it let kids give quick status updates. Short posts or tweets are also growing because more young people are accessing the Internet from cell phones.
Amazon appears to be planning to upgrade the Kindle as it faces a new threat from Apple's iPad. The company seems to have its sights set on a touch-screen Kindle.Amazon is said to have acquired a start-up company that specializes in touch-screen technology. That company will merge with Amazon's Kindle division and could allow the company to introduce a full-color touch-screen e-book reader.
There is no need to watch the big game this Sunday. The Super Bowl winner will be the Saints, in a surprise. At least that's the prediction based on Electronic Arts' simulated Super Bowl on Madden NFL 10. According to the video game, New Orleans will pull off the upset by a final score of 35 to 31, in a game with a lot of offensive fireworks.
Of course the smart money is on the Colts, but the Madden simulation was right last year.
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