Smartphones Now Ringing for Women [NY Times]
The iPhone set the bar a lot higher for smartphone design, which has led to an increase in the number of women carrying the devices. While the iPhone isn’t the only phone mention in the article, it receives the best reviews from those who want a sleek external design, compatible platform, and simply fun phone.
Nielsen: Teens Biggest Users of Online Video [Media Week]
According to a new Nielsen study, teens rank as the biggest users of online video. On average, 12 to 17 year-olds consume 74 videos and 132 minutes of online videos per month and prefer short videos (aka “snacks”). Meanwhile, older youth appear to watch fewer but slightly longer videos with 44 videos and 99 minutes averaged per month.
Omnifone Claims Its Music Service Leads in UK [Mobile Content Today]
Omnifone—an unlimited music subscription available exclusively from UK’s Vodafone—claims to beat out PC-based subscriptions like Napster and Nokia Music Store in number of subs in the UK. However the fact that they lack any hard data to back this up makes it a bit suspect.
Teen Drivers use Cell Phones despite the Law: Go Figure [Mobile Crunch]
Driving while using a cell phone is illegal in 16 states, but that apparently isn’t stopping teens from talking and texting from behind the wheel. The pressure to be socially accessible at every moment and a general feeling of invincibility add to the lack of compliance.
Mobile phones may be linked to teen stress [Fierce Wireless]
Swedish mobile researchers connected stress, restlessness, and sleep problems in young people (15 to 20 year-olds) to making more than 15 phone calls and sending more than 15 text messages per day. Researchers are calling it an addiction:
“Addiction to cell phones is becoming common. Youngsters feel a group pressure to remain interconnected and reachable round the clock.”
If this is an addiction, when do we go to rehab?
Send Mobile Messages in Your Own Handwriting [Telecoms Korea]
Possibly available only in Korea—the article doesn’t say—this app allows you to create your own handwritten texting font. Download the form, fill it out, and then take a mobile picture of your handwritten 33 characters. Downloading the form and uploading your characters is free of a data charge. Now we can write texts in our own handwriting. Personalization at its best!
