Nielsen reports that Google is still the top web brand in 2011, followed by Facebook, which is where Americans spend the most time online. According to Nielsen’s Q3 social media report, Facebook users spent 53.5 billion minutes on the site in May 2011. (I bet I work with some of those Facebook enthusiasts.) It is also the top social networking site through mobile devices: 46,500,000 unique audience members.
In 2011, it’s hard sometimes to remember there was life before Facebook or iPhones. It’s hard to remember that one had to sit down at a computer and log into an email account rather than having the messages delivered to a smartphone in a pocket. It’s hard to remember the once-coveted music compact discs and their portable players, and it’s nearly impossible to remember music was once played by a moving stylus on a plastic disk with grooves. And although new names make headlines every day, a look at the past decade’s nearly frenzied embrace of technology shows the influence, the reach of Steve Jobs.
Although I had used Apples and Macs at school and work for years, Apple gave me my first real taste of truly personal tech in 2001. Shortly after 9/11, the news service where I worked received two supercool-looking gadgets from Apple they wanted us to test drive and write about. It was called an iPod, and its 5GB hard drive held “1,000 songs in your pocket.” (A 1,000 songs?!! Really?!!) I got to take one home and play with it — and I played with it for hours, which turned into days. After my test drive, I was able to pre-order one. I was one of the first people in America to own an iPod. It’s probably my greatest achievement. Read more…
The percentage of U.S. adults with e-readers doubled between November and May, from 6% to 12%, according to a new study from the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Interestingly, tablet usage among adult users isn’t growing as fast.
Lady Gaga performs “Hair” on the Paul O’Grady Show. At the time of this writing, the video had 525,011 views, 4,411 likes, 757 dislikes.
Do you think she really shaved her head? Looks likes she’s sporting a skullcap to me.
UPDATE: From the same show, “Edge of Glory,” which I liked a lot more before I learned it’s probably about her dead grandpa. Smokin’ hot costume, though.
ReachMail, a marketing email service, has produced a fabulous infographic that looks at the first 40 years of electronic mail — quite possibly the greatest invention ever.
My latest distraction from my studies: the short films on YouTube celebrating IBM’s centennial. This is the latest short released, “Wild Ducks: Celebrating 100 years of Visionary Clients.”
From the introduction:
Former IBM chairman Thomas Watson, Jr. knew how important it was to work with people who question the way things are and challenge the status quo. In fact, he even had a name for them. “Wild Ducks” is a film about four IBM clients whose questioning minds and unconventional ideas are transforming our world. See and hear their inspirational stories.
Pew Internet & American Life Project has released a great report that looks at Twitter’s expanding adult user base: 13% of adult Internet users are on Twitter! And they’re not just “younger adults.” Check out the jumps for these groups from November 2010 to May 2011.
Also of note: 95% of Twitter users polled own a mobile phone, and 54% of those users access Twitter on their personal device.
A Q1 survey by the Nielsen Company looks at where — and when — users are using their mobile devices. Of note: 25% of respondents said they take their tablets to the bathroom, while 28% of smartphone users do. Ereaders maintain a bit more dignity, with only 17% taking their device to the can.
@MichelleCMariea Twasn't my 1st time hit. :-D I should know better by now. Guess my spring training isn't going as well as she'd like.~14 hours ago
Unexpected inspiration for runners: the thunderstorm that moves in when you're 2 miles from home -- without a phone. #speedtrainingfordummy~15 hours ago
@mpob Thanks for coming out last night! Forgot to tell you: My purse crisis wouldn't be if I hadn't let the iPad dictate size for 2 years!~22 hours ago
