Study finds Ebook readers have increased their reading habits

"In a recent study to understand how portable, multi-function devices or MFDs (e.g., iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Android devices, etc) are changing consumer book reading habits, consumers who utilized these devices expressed a tremendous affinity for them, struggling to come up with any significant shortcomings to reading ebooks on them. These consumers also revealed their specific preference for MFDs, usage occasions and their ebook purchasing habits."


The study found that the top three reasons MFD users prefer reading on their device as opposed to a hard copy book are the convenience it offers (80%), the ease of purchasing ebooks (61%) and the backlit screen (41%). Moreover, the three most common occasions for reading on MFDs are: while traveling (72%), while waiting for an appointment (72%) and while relaxing (70%).

Increased Reading
Respondents indicated they are “time-filling reading” primarily on a MFD. Because respondents nearly always have these devices with them, they use them to read ebooks during otherwise “dead” pockets of time, such as when waiting at the doctor’s office or while their kids play on the playground.

Read more : http://goo.gl/BNzui

PhotographyStreet.com: An Online Community and Blog about Black and White Photography and Digital Photography

"PhotographyStreet.com, an online community and blog about black and white photography and digital photography, has released several new blog posts, including “Printing Black and White Digitally,” “Candid Photos of Kids,” and “Benefits of Using a Flash.”
The post “Printing Black and White Digitally” from PhotographyStreet.com illustrates the author’s love for black and white photography. The post explains how the author prefers the durability of black and white prints. “Printing Black and White Digitally” points out that color photographs can be converted to black and white photos in Adobe Photoshop. The author notes her struggle in learning how to use these digital tools"

more : PhotographyStreet.com: An Online Community and Blog about Black and White Photography and Digital Photography:

How to Work With The Law of Attraction

"Each of us started 2011 with a list of resolutions and the best of intentions. Most commonly, our resolutions resolved around things like losing weight, finding someone to love or improving our current love relationship, advancing professionally, paying off bills and increasing savings, purchasing a home. However, even at this early point, many of us will sheepishly admit to forgetting precisely what it was we set out to do, having basically settled back into the comfort of our familiar habits.
What’s the answer? Are we condemned to this endless yearly ritual of good intentions, broken resolutions and regret? Not in the least, says Dr. Srinivasan Pillay, and he can tell your audience why he says that with such confidence."

rad more Harvard Psychiatrist and Author Srini Pillay, MD, on How to Work With The Law of Attraction:

Augmented Reality Comes to the Classroom: a Game-Changer for Children Learning to Read

"Educators traveling to the Florida Educational Technology Conference 2011 in Orlando the first week of February will be exposed to some mind-boggling new technology— education’s first curriculum featuring 'augmented reality” (AR). Pioneered by Logical Choice Technologies, Letters alive (TM) brings a kingdom of 26 “seemingly-alive” digital 3D animals into classrooms with the ultimate goal of teaching children to read at the kindergarten level.
The ground-breaking technology generated a strong reaction when it was first previewed last fall on NBC’s prime-time series, School Pride. It was clear that “Letters alive” creatures are not ordinary teaching animations or videos. Through the apparent magic of this futuristic AR technology, these animals are quite intelligent and clever. They not only move and make sounds, but the animals can answer questions formed by students, make comments and respond to student actions.
“The true 2-way interaction between the animals and students is mesmerizing to children,” said Cynthia Kaye, founder and CEO of Logical Choice Technologies. “Add in the sounds and life-like motions of the animals and it’s just a whole lot of fun for the kids. Our phonics-based curriculum is effective because it reaches children on so many sensory and emotional levels.'"

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GuardRFID Begins Shipments of New One-year Umbilical Tag for TotGuard

"Vancouver-based Guard RFID Solutions Inc. announced that it has begun shipments of its one-year reusable Umbilical Tag for use with its market-leading TotGuard Infant Security system. Many hospitals already use the TotGuard disposable and three-month umbilical tags, and adding the one-year version solidifies GuardRFID’s market position as the having the best offering of umbilical tags in the industry.
The new TotGuard one-year umbilical tag weighs under six and half grams and the single-use disposable and three-month versions weigh under five grams. The light weight and ergonomic design make the TotGuard umbilical tags the most comfortable on the market today adding negligible weight to the umbilical clamp."

Read more here GuardRFID Begins Shipments of New One-year Umbilical Tag for TotGuard:

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Vocus Releases Annual Study: State of the Media in 2011

Vocus Releases Annual Study: State of the Media in 2011:

" Approximately 151 newspapers folded in 2010; about half the number in 2009
724 online newspapers that launched this past year; all but 36 were Patch.com sites
Magazine launches lean toward local and regional focus; the “hyperlocal” concept grows in popularity
More than 60 television stations added the 4:30 a.m. newscast.
Terrestrial radio use is down 15% over the last five years
Nearly 2,000 radio stations now broadcast in HD,
There are more than 1,000 new local FM HD2/HD3 radio stations"

Unbreakable Bonds – Classic Shaving.com Unveils Valentine Hearts of Steel

"Romantics can create an unbreakable bond this Valentine’s Day with distinctive Hearts of Steel gifts crafted of steel and earth elements. ClassicShaving.com markets the finest quality, traditional wet shaving and grooming products available anywhere in the world. Why straight razors and safety razors for Valentine’s Day? Discerning men and women the world over are searching for alternatives to mass produced, drugstore quality shaving products. They are searching for that heart of steel, that gift of lasting value.
“Anybody can grab some flowers and candy at the market; we appeal to the true romantic, those who shave like they mean it,” commented William Lubrano, Owner/Director, Classic Brand, Inc. “We have a treasure trove of products for men and women, from modest to extravagant, and an experienced staff of experts who love to help. For a truly personal gift, we can engrave initials, names, dates or a brief sentiment on many items, including shaving mugs and gift sets.”"

More at Unbreakable Bonds – Classic Shaving.com Unveils Valentine Hearts of Steel:

Looking for That Perfect Gift for Valentine’s Day?

How about looking into the Zagat Smartbox Table for Two, treat your “valentine” to a wonderful meal at any participating Zagat-Rated restaurant in one of the following cities: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Washington, D.C. Or, choose a romantic getaway with the Charming Getaways or Gourmet Retreats Gift Box. Smartbox is the leader in this new trend of gift giving by providing gift cards for an array of diverse experiences and themes.

Other SmartBox gift experiences are:

• Gourmet Retreats – a one night stay in lavish accommodations throughout the U.S., sumptuous five-course dinners, in-room massages, and plush king size suites. ($369)
• Adrenaline – hundreds of exhilarating activities to choose from, including: climbing a slippery frozen waterfall, racing around a track on a motorcycle and more. ($299)
• Charming Getaways – one-night stays in historic homes, rustic ranches or quaint Victorian Inns. ($129)
• Serenity – health and wellness treatments from Vichy showers and ice cream pedicures to champagne manicures and lemongrass body scrubs. ($119)
• Zagat Smartbox Table for Two – dinner for the recipient and a guest at their choice of any participating Zagat-Rated restaurant in one of the following cities: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco or Washington D.C. ($99)
• Adventure – an opportunity to rush down an ice tunnel in a bobsled or cruise the sky in an ultralight. ($69)
• Fun for All – an activity for two, whether it be an elegant fencing lesson, wine tasting, or a spooky ghost tour. ($49)

More at: Looking for That Perfect Gift for Valentine’s Day?:

Disclosure : I pick press releases by what attracts my attention and the headline of this release did. I  was given a free product Zagat Smartbox Table for Two to try out. I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

Survey Reveals Britain’s Age of Happiness

"Many British people are at their happiest when in their fifties and beyond, it was revealed yesterday (20th January 2011).
A surprising forty four per cent of those aged fifty and above claim they are now more content with their lives than ever before.
The key to their happiness lies in having good health; having time to enjoy life; and being in a relatively good financial position – something which could be aided with products like over 50 life insurance.
More than 40 per cent claim they are comfortable with the size and shape of their bodies, and happy with what they have achieved so far in life.
Other factors contributing to the ‘age of happiness’ include being in a strong relationship, having paid off the mortgage, and the children being happy and content with their lives"

More at : Engage Mutual Survey Reveals Britain’s Age of Happiness:

Are You a One-Click Wonder or a Cheap Date? Skyscanner Identifies the Ten Most Common Online Travel Shoppers

Skyscanner.com analyzes consumer searches to identify the top-ten “types” of online travel shoppers

January is traditionally the busiest time of the year for people to make vacation plans and now, with 48% of people more likely to book travel online than offline, flight comparison site Skyscanner is expecting a busy month.

But with so many ways to search for the ideal flight, Skyscanner analyzes consumer searches to identify the top ten online bookers.

1. The One-Click Wonder
A highly efficient three percent of users fall into this category; they know exactly what they want when they visit the Skyscanner site and spend just five minutes or less finding and booking their flight.

2. Mystic Meg
Mystic Meg is so confident she “knows” what will happen to flight prices that she trusts her instincts entirely when deciding on when to book. However, as prices fluctuate, Mystic Meg risks being punished if her clairvoyance lets her down.

3. The Booker Hooker
Although this type of booker is easily “bought” by any airline offering a good price, these are the sites’ most savvy users when it comes to getting a bargain. Skyscanner research shows this is the most common booker, with 48% of users stating price is the most important factor when booking a flight.

4. The Fantasist
A dreamer who is always looking but never booking, the Fantasist will regularly surf the Skyscanner site looking at everything -from flights to New York to flights to Tibet- as they fantasise about dream vacations.

5. The Cheap Date
This flexible booker will focus on the cheapest date to fly to their desired location. Six percent of visitors search using Skyscanner’s month view tool which makes finding the cheapest date simple.

6. The Old Faithful
A small minority of users will always book the same airline, oblivious of price. However, when it comes to getting a bargain, the Old Faithful may find they are penalised for their loyalty.

7. The OCD User (Obsessively Checks Dates)
The OCD user just can’t stop visiting the site to check flight prices and is especially prevalent amongst users looking for flights to Europe and other long-haul destinations where prices change more dramatically and greater savings can be made.

8. The Forgetful Flier
The most costly mistakes tend to be made by the Forgetful Flier, who is forced to book a last minute flight because they have forgotten to log on to the site earlier to book.

9. The Experimentourist
This experimental traveler is open-minded when it comes to choosing a vacation destination; with decisions more likely to be based on price. A massive 15 percent of visitors to the site will try Skyscanner’s “search everywhere” tool to find the best prices around the globe.

10. Carpe Deal-em
Seizes the deal! The most spontaneous of users, the Carpe Deal-em sees a bargain price and goes for it. Last week alone, more than 8,000 users visited Skyscanner’s flight deals page to check out the best bargains available.

About
Skyscanner is a travel search site providing online comparisons on flight prices for over 670,000 routes and on over 600 airlines, including flights to Hawaii, as well car rental and hotel price comparison.

Are You a One-Click Wonder or a Cheap Date? Skyscanner Identifies the Ten Most Common Online Travel Shoppers

Super Bowl Stadiums History and Facts

"Here are some other stats about stadiums that hosted the Super Bowl:
The city that has hosted the most Super Bowls is New Orleans with nine.
Miami Florida has hosted the second most Super Bowls with eight.
The stadium that hosted the most Super Bowls ( six ) is also in New Orleans, the SuperDome.
Two stadiums have hosted five Super Bowls, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena Cal. and the Orange Bowl in Miami Florida.
The largest attendance for a Super Bowl was in The Rose Bowl on Jan 20, 1980. 103,985 fans came to see the Pittsburg Steelers beat the LA Rams 31 to 19.
The top four attendances were also in the Rose Bowl with each having over 100,000 fans.
11 Games have been played in a Dome and 29 have been played outdoors.
The stadium voted by the NFL Players Association for having the best playing field is Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Florida."

more at Super Bowl Stadiums History and Facts:

January 17th Marks Start of South Pole Centennial Year Amundsen, Scott Expeditions Commemorated by Modern Adventurers

"Rick Sweitzer of Polar Explorers always notes January 17th with something of a shudder. It is, after all, the anniversary of Robert Falcon Scott reaching the South Pole, a journey from which he never returned.
'You're always aware of the dates, at least if you find polar history as compelling as I do,' he says. 'This year it means even more. The 99th Anniversary of Scott reaching the South Pole is the beginning of the South Pole Centennial Year, marking the first century since the conquest of the southern Pole.' It was on January 17th, 1912 that Robert Falcon Scott reached the South Pole, believing himself to be the first man to do so. In the heart of the ice, he found a note from Roald Amundsen, informing him that Amundsen's expedition had reached the South Pole a month earlier on December 14th, 1911."

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January 24 is Global Belly Laugh Day

" Join the Belly Laugh Bounce Around the World.

Celebrate the great gift of laughter on Global Belly Laugh Day, January 24. Laughs and smiles transform moments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the 7 continents.
On January 24 at 1:24 p.m. (local time) people around the world smile, throw their arms in the air and laugh out loud.
They Join the Belly Laugh Bounce Around the World.
January 24, 2011 is the fifth anniversary of Global Belly Laugh Day.
'Oh what a difference Global Belly Laugh Day, January 24 makes,' notes Elaine Helle, founder of Global Belly Laugh Day.
Since January 24, 2006 belly laughs have been bounced around the world from corporations, medical centers, senior centers, grocery stores, homes, schools, libraries, museums, organizations, families, restaurants, air planes, radio stations and coffee shops."

More at January 24 is Global Belly Laugh Day:

New ReadSmart® Technology Changes the Rules of Typesetting Forever

Revolutionary new service energizes copy and boosts response rates; improves comprehension, persuasiveness and message retention in advertising, direct mail and digital books, now offered at ReadSmart.com

After more than 30 years of dedicated research, ReadSmart has launched a new service that energizes copy -- without changing a single word.

The type revolution was the invention of uniform, moveable type. The ReadSmart revolution is the invention of intelligently non-uniform type. With the digitalization of type, the internet, and wireless networks, moveable type is even more mobile than ever; however, the uniformity that was crucial during the past six centuries is no longer necessary in the digital age.

ReadSmart bends the rules of ordinary typographicpractice. It analyzes the content in a document, and makes tiny custom calibrations to every character, adjusting the spacing between words, the size of words, and line endings based on its unique linguistic, psychological, and informational properties. While extremely subtle, these minute adjustments facilitate eye-movements and comprehension.

Read more here New ReadSmart® Technology Changes the Rules of Typesetting Forever:

Real Men Boycott Valentine’s Day

Marc H. Rudov, author, relationship coach, speaker, and radio/TV personality, announces today his fifth annual boycott of Valentine’s Day, which he calls “Nomance Day.”

Mr. Rudov, globally known for promoting equality between men and women, opined: “There’s nothing romantic about coercing men to oblige female entitlement. Valentine’s Day artificially and unilaterally caters to women. It’s the media’s annual male-bashing fest; that’s why I call it“Nomance Day” and expect all real men to boycott it. In the upcoming Super Bowl, there won’t be one commercial urging women to buy gifts for men. In fact, Faith Hill will appear in an emasculating Teleflora spot to condescendingly help a hapless sound technician shop for his girlfriend.

Any man who buckles to society’s pressure to buy her overpriced flowers or jewelry or meals on February 14th is a eunuch desperate for sex, and he needs to grow a pair.”

More at : Real Men Boycott Valentine’s Day For more information about Marc Rudov, go tohttp://TheNononsenseMan.com.

Statistics Show We Should Resolve to Sleep Better in 2011

"Some easy steps that can be taken to address common sleeping problems:
Take stock of sleeping gear: One in three Americans have a mattress that is more than five years old, and an uncomfortable or worn out mattress was an obstacle to better sleep. Almost half (48 percent) said they were still searching for a better product or solution when it comes to finding the perfect pillow. Old pillows lose their ability to provide proper support for a good night’s sleep.
Take control of sleeping environment: 38 percent said getting too hot is an obstacle in getting better sleep. This one’s easy: turn down the thermostat or turn on a ceiling fan.
Develop a sleep routine: Don't just turn off the television, walk to bed, and expect to fall asleep right away each time. Schedule time for a relaxing wind-down activity such as reading a book or listening to quiet music before you try to go to sleep."

Read more at Statistics Show We Should Resolve to Sleep Better in 2011:

This post brought to you by Shashi Bellamkonda:Featured in the Washington Business Journal: http://bit.ly/wbjshashiWashington Tech Titans list : http://bit.ly/ttshashiBlogs: http://www.carryoncurry.com | http://www.shashi.name | Facebook: http://fb.shashi.name | Linkedin: http://linkedin.shashi.nameExaminer Column : http://bit.ly/dcexaminerWhat I am reading: http://shashib.amplify.com