Parents of digital music fans, please note: Summer's official arrival brought another batch of 482 file-sharer lawsuits from the RIAA. The litigation campaign against "music pirates" started a year ago this week, but the question remains about whether these apparent ritual purgings of the most prolific pirates are having the effect the recording industry seeks. "The number of users on Kazaa, still … [Read more...] about Solstice’s share of P2P lawsuits
Smartest mobile users: Kids
It's not a huge surprise. UK kids 10-14 are quickly becoming the most sophisticated cell-phone users, according to the latest study by British research firm Teleconomy. "Even toddlers are able to tell the difference between incoming phone calls and text messages," the BBC reports. Seventy-one percent of kids are aware of video phones, compared to 54% of adults, and some 66% know about Java … [Read more...] about Smartest mobile users: Kids
Family-friendly phones
Parents and kids generally like different things in cell phones. For teens they're as much fashion statement as communications tool. Of course, parents aren't immune - I love my ringtone (handpicked by my son). This week CNET compares four phones that are strong in the design area as well as in the features they offer, and they're easy on the wallet to boot. And for those family roadtrips, also … [Read more...] about Family-friendly phones
Hollywood’s looking for bootleggers
Do you know any kids who are taking videocams to the movies they go to? If so, they need to be aware of the legal and ethical implications. The former just got a lot more tangible this week. The US movie industry is now offering movie theater employees rewards of up to $500 for every person they catch recording films in their theaters and report to the police, Reuters reports. The Motion Picture … [Read more...] about Hollywood’s looking for bootleggers
Kids confused about Net risks
Parents aren't the only ones not helped by scary stories about online risks to kids. Children, too, need a balanced, level-headed approach to Net safety training, the University of London's Institute of Education found. Its researchers asked UK students 8-18 about what "dangers they face online," and the students replied, "bomb-making, blackmail, HIV, asylum seekers, aliens, and blindness," … [Read more...] about Kids confused about Net risks