One of my project this semester was to have my students create a mobile app. They all did a fabulous job. These were my graduate students so I expected nothing less. Anyway, here is one of them which is available on the google play store. Its an instructional design information app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.MIT._03
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Spotify adds free streaming to phones and other mobile devices
This is exciting news. I think they are doing this as competition heats up. I think this will bring a lot of people back to spotify on their mobile devices.
Bitcoin is finally crashing
For those that have been paying attention to the internet currency bitcoin and other non-decentralized applications, you might find this interesting:
Well, it had to happen some time: Bitcoin is crashing.
The price of the crypto-currency tumbled nearly 21 percent on Friday to $877.46 on trading site Mt. Gox and has fallen more than 29 percent since closing at a record high of $1,237.96 on Wednesday, according to Bitcoin data tracker BitcoinCharts.com. (Story continues after chart, courtesy of bitcoin.clarkmoody.com.) There is a great alternative to Coinbase, so you can also check out this source.
A cryptocurrency wallet like the samourai wallet is used to store cryptocurrency. Kind of. The term “wallet” might be a bit deceptive, as it doesn’t house cryptocurrency tokens in the same way that a normal wallet – or even regular bank account – does for your money. You can’t “get Bitcoin and put them in your wallet” but you can get Bitcoin and hold them securely using your Hot and cold wallets.
China’s central bank shot a gigantic hole in that trade on Thursday by telling Chinese banks they couldn’t use the untraceable digital currency, calling it “not a currency in the real meaning of the word.” However, wondering Why Solana? Take a look at this site for more info on cryptocurrencies and more.
That doesn’t mean Chinese investors can’t keep speculating in Bitcoin, but it is a blow to the credibility of the four-year-old currency, they have to check the bitcoin trading bot review to keep up to date. Created by an unknown hacker or hackers known as Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin has the potential to be a long-lasting digital alternative to national currencies like the U.S. dollar and the Chinese yuan.
But this has also become favored for illicit uses such as money laundering and drug-dealing, raising concerns about whether policy makers will ever embrace it fully. For those looking for secure ways to move your coins to a more stable investment, visit the online VT markets.
Regardless of Bitcoin’s long-term potential, there is little doubt its price has jumped too far too quickly: It traded for less than $100 just six months ago. And a sign that it’s not going to hit rock bottom any time soon is that people still use this currency for Anonymous shipping and other transactions online.
An official for Bitcoin exchange BTC China, where a growing percentage of Bitcoin trading takes place these days, told the WSJ that most Chinese investors are just hoping prices will keep rising long enough for them to sell and turn a profit, if you want to learn about profitable cryptocurrencies, check this article about usd coins explained: what is usd coin . The People’s Bank of China, in its statement on Thursday, reminded traders that might not be the soundest approach to investment, according to the New York Times:
“The price can be easily controlled by speculators, creating severe turbulence and huge risks,” the PBOC reportedly said. “Ordinary investors who blindly follow the crowd can easily suffer major losses.”
Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/06/bitcoin-crashes_n_4400392.html
U.S. Test Scores Remain Stagnant While Other Countries See Rapid Rise
Most of this article is not surprising. There are many problems with education. Here are some things I believe would help:
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/03/us-test-scores_n_4374075.html
1. National curriculum. Sure this is a bold statement and I do not mean it to be. There would have to be variations of it and valid means to test it but this is a start.
2. Better testing. Quite simply, testing for improvement, not just a cut off level. Also handicaps which take variables like income, parents, IQ, learning disabilities, etc into consideration when looking at the scores.
3. Better teacher recruitment. At this point in time, our best and brightest do not want to be teachers. Heck who would for 30k a year?
4. Pay teachers comparable salaries that they would get in the corporate world. This is really the only way to get the best and brightest. Wanting to help kids only goes so far when the bank wants your mortgage paid. Many of my graduate students are teachers who are getting a degree in my field so that they can go corporate and make a better salary.
5. Get rid of under performing teachers. Now a good evaluation tool needs to first be put in place that does not solely rely on test scores but if a teacher is not doing well they should not be in the classroom. Tenure should be a non issue as it should be reevaluated with performance anyway.
Games Definitely Don’t Harm Kids, Says Huge Study – study of 11,000 kids over a decade
This is not new and something that has been shown in research over and over again:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/11/18/games-definitely-dont-harm-kids-says-huge-study
Call of Duty gets $1 Billion in sales within 24hrs
Nothing new here. Just a video game making more money than harry potter and twilight (maybe even combined) in one day. As the article here stats the biggest grossing movie took over a month to reach $1 billion in sales. That movie was avatar.
Android KitKat 4.4 Easter Egg
In settings->about phone-> tap ‘android version’ several times and a kit kat animation pops up
What College Will Be Like in 2023
An article about the future of education that I can somewhat agree with. This is one point made that I think is dead on:
“In the future, tuition will drop dramatically. No, just kidding.
The expansion of online delivery has led some to believe that universities will be able to scale up their classes and reduce their costs per student. While this will happen in a few cases—Georgia Tech is now offering an online computer science master’s for $6,600—it won’t transform the university cost structure. That’s because so many of the added costs are the result of the expansion of university administrations and other nonacademic functions, from career counseling to student activities.
Technology will help increase the class size, says Anthony P. Carnevale, the director of Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, “but that’s pocket change in the whole scheme of things.”
Facebook admits young teens are losing interest in the site
Now this is an interesting headline on cnnmoney this morning. For those who are not paying attention, more teens are shying away from facebook. Why? Its just not as cool when your parents are on it too (and probably reading your posts haha). Teens like to be using the ‘next big thing’ before everyone else. They do not like to follow the typical trends that everyone else does. If you dont believe me look at their music collection:) So what are they using? Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumlr to name a few. Go ahead, see if your kids are on these sites. You might be surprised to see what you find.