XplanaZine

Today’s news update focuses on signs of the new times , and lists links to news items related to gaming, music sales, the best gadgets of 2005, and . On the edublogging front, we have some great posts RipMix textbooks, classroom audio podcasting, and multiple models for learning objects.Here’s our take on news that matters for Monday, January 2. Today’s theme is signs of the new times and here are a few things from the technology world that are making a difference in our lives.

• Gaming — Okay, it’s true. Game sales were actually down over the holidays but as soon as the supply of Xbox 360 consoles catches up with demand the slump will abate. Add to that the much-anticipated release of Halo 3 and Sony’s PlayStation 3 console and you get what could be a blockbuster year. More important, the newest generation of consoles herald a technology revolution as the new devices will be vying for much more than dominance in the video game markets. These powerful devices will be looking to take over our living rooms and more.
• Music — In spite of the RIAA’s efforts, news is out that music CD sales have taken a slide despite RIAA’s efforts. US album sales in 2005 fell 3.5 per cent year-over-year, according to Nielsen
  Soundscan. On the other hand, downloaded music reached $332.7 million for 2005, which represents a 148% increase from the previous year.
• Handhelds — By the end of 2004 everyone had announced the death of the PDA. Funny thong, though, how some things are harder to kill than others. While the original PDA device market may have evaporated, the concept of the PDA lives on (and vigorously) in the form of cell phones and media devices. Just take a look at Wired’s best and worst gadgets of 2005.Its list features the iPod, Xbox X60, Sony PSP, Palm Treo 650 … handhelds galore!
• Social Networks — As if we needed any more proof regarding the shift in media power, just ask Rupert Murdoch how easy it is to manage the users at MySpace. Murdoch paid $580 million for the social networking site MySpace and recently ran afoul of its opinionated users over claims that the new parent was censoring information. As one irate user put it in a message to MySpace members, “visit Friendster and Hi5 if you’re interested in social networking sites that don’t censor content and allow your YouTube video embeds.”

Now, here’s a recap of our favorite posts from the edublogging community from the past 48 hours.

• From Alan Levine : Post on RipMix textbooks and the tools that are breaking content apart and re-assembling it into new.
• From Albert Ip : Post on multiple models for Learning Objects.
• From Lilia Efimova : Post on end-of-the-year thinking.
• From Stephen Downes: Post on classroom audio podcasting