COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite the fears of some, a new study suggests that use of the internet in general does not make people more likely to believe political rumors.
However, one form of internet communication – e-mail – does seem to have troubling consequences for the spread and belief of rumors.
“I think a lot of people will be surprised to learn that using the internet doesn’t necessarily promote belief in rumors. Many people seem to think that’s self-evident,” said R. Kelly Garrett, author of the study and assistant professor of communication at Ohio State University. (more…)
*New app helps customers instantly compare in-store prices to the low prices from Amazon.com and other online merchants*
SEATTLE, Nov 22, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Amazon.com today announced a new price comparison app for the iPhone that provides customers the easiest way yet to compare in-store prices with the low prices from Amazon.com and other online merchants. Across all categories of products – from toys to consumer electronics – customers can use the app to scan a barcode, snap a picture, or say or type a product name to receive instant prices for that item from Amazon.com and other online merchants. Customers will then have the ability to, with one-click, purchase the item and have it delivered directly to their doorstep.
“This app makes it incredibly easy to quickly compare prices on millions of items before making a purchase,” said Sam Hall, director of Amazon Mobile. “We’ve worked hard to have low prices at Amazon, and we like it when customers comparison shop so they know they’re getting a good deal. We hope this app will empower customers to shop with confidence this holiday and any other day.” (more…)
There are many pros and cons to the issue of the Internet’s influences on education, and experts have called it everything from the hemlock of higher education to an innovative boon. While it’s probably neither of these extremes, there are some high and low points of the Internet’s role in higher education that can be observed on their own. By enabling students to take advantage of the positive elements of the Internet for educational purposes and restricting the detrimental sides of the Web, academic success can become a more widespread reality.(more…)
*Further Extends Yahoo!’s Connected TV Leadership; Offers Consumers a Cinematic Internet(TM) experience and Increased Distribution for Publishers*
SEOUL, South Korea & SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov 02, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Yahoo! and Samsung today announced an extended partnership to deliver Yahoo! Connected TV in 26 new countries across Europe, bringing Yahoo! Connected TV on Samsung TVs to 39 countries worldwide. Together with Samsung’s own Internet@TV service, Samsung’s 2010 European Internet-connected TVs will also feature a new full-screen Yahoo! user interface. Today’s news builds on the partnership that Yahoo! and Samsung first announced in January 2009. (more…)
*Average Internet User in the Netherlands Spent Nearly 32 Hours Online in September 2010*
London, U.K., 27 October, 2010 – comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released a study of internet usage in the Netherlands based on the comScore Media Metrix audience measurement service. The data revealed that the Netherlands ranked highest among European countries in terms of frequency of internet visitation with 78.2 visits per visitor in September 2010. Dutch internet users also exhibit strong engagement with an average of 31.9 hours per visitor spent online in September 2010. Users spent most of their time on Portals (7.2 hours), followed by Instant Messaging (6.9 hours), Social Networking (3.5 hours) and E-Mail (3.1 hours). (more…)
*Twitter.com Reaches 23 Percent of Brazilians Online, Highest Reach in the World
comScore Releases Study on Social Media Usage in Brazil Finding Traffic to Social Networking and Blog Sites Increased 50 Percent in Past Year*
São Paulo, Brazil, October 7, 2010 – comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released a study on social media usage in Brazil during the month of August 2010. The study found that Orkut continued to lead Brazil’s social networking market, reaching more than 36 million unique visitors (15+ years of age, home and work environments only), while Facebook grew to nearly 9 million visitors, up from just 1.5 million visitors a year ago. Twitter.com also witnessed strong growth, nearly doubling its audience to 8.6 million visitors, with Brazil leading the world in terms of Twitter’s Internet user penetration at 23 percent. (more…)
*Japan Mobile Audience “Most Connected” with 3 of 4 Users Accessing Mobile Media in June
Social Networking Shows Highest Reach among U.S. Mobile Users, While Europeans Text the Most *
RESTON, VA, October 7, 2010 – comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released a study on mobile usage and behaviors in Japan, the United States and Europe from its MobiLens service. The report examined multiple dimensions of mobile usage including content consumption, demographic comparisons and top social networking brands across markets to provide a comparative look at how consumers interact with mobile media across various geographic markets. (more…)
*Readers can now read the first chapter of Kindle books for free through web browsers – no download or installation required.* *Bloggers and website owners can embed Kindle book samples and earn referral fees on sales.*
SEATTLE, Sep 28, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today introduced the beta version of “Kindle for the Web,” making it even easier for customers to discover new books and authors by sampling Kindle books directly through web browsers–no installation or downloading required. Amazon is also inviting bloggers and website owners who are participants in the Amazon Associates Program to be part of Kindle for the Web by embedding samples of Kindle books on their websites. These website owners will earn referral fees from Amazon when customers complete book purchases using the links on their websites. More information about Kindle for the Web and how to embed Kindle book samples is available at www.amazon.com/kindlefortheweb.