The Buzz

Both professional and amateur shutterbugs are pondering a future without Polaroid, after the U.S.-based company announced that it will stop producing the film used to produce its iconic instant photos. Ironically, the announcement was made last month, the anniversary of Edwin Land’s 1948 invention of the Land Camera, which produced a printed image in 60 seconds. Polaroid will close factories in the U.S., Mexico, and the Netherlands and concentrate instead on digital imaging.

Teachers worldwide need the best training available to help their students navigate a technology-driven world. So says a new report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, which provides teacher guidelines with an eye toward global education reform. The ICT (information communication technology) Competency Standards for Teachers were produced with the help of nonprofit and corporate partners, including Cisco and Microsoft. cst.unesco-ci.org/sites/projects/cst/default.aspx.

Books, indeed, illuminate our lives. But you also need good light—as in honest-to-God lumens, hard-core wattage. The Enlightenment—a lamp in the form of a book—combines these principles, with a nod, as well, to the 18th-century age of reason. The Enlightenment is available from its creator, Studiomeiboom Communication, a Dutch design firm, which will give 10 percent to the Edukans Fund, a charitable organization. $130. lightupyourworld.nl/en/index_en.html.

The landmark online destination Wikipedia has a new twist. Entries from the Web-based encyclopedia can be transformed into MP3 audio files through Pediaphon,a new Web service. The brainchild of Andreas Buschoff of the University of Hagen, Germany, Pediaphon produces files that can then be played online or downloaded to a portable device. pediaphon.fernuni-hagen.de/~bischoff/radiopedia/index_en.html.

Cool social Web browser Flock—recently a winner at the Open Web Awards—now supports MySpace. It’s just one of several networking services and applications available to Flock users, which include YouTube, Photobucket, and Flickr. Built atop Mozilla’s Firefox, Flock allows for a more personalized Web experience and can be downloaded for free at www.flock.com.

The Kindle. We can’t seem to stop talking about it. While Amazon struggles to fulfill orders for its popular e-book reader, one can presumably get their hands on a case while they’re waiting for the actual device. Waterfield Designs offers three Kindle cases, available in travel, sleeve, and slipcase models. The black-only sleeve case is made of high-grade neoprene, while both the multicompartmental travel model and the basic slipcase come in six colors. $27–39. www.sfbags.com/products.

When podcasters talk, do people listen? Apparently, the answer is “Yes.” According to a report from eMarketer, the U.S. podcasting industry is alive and well and poised for even greater growth. The online market research site has found there was a 285 percent increase in the podcasting audience in 2007, growing to 18.5 listeners. Moreover, the audience is expected to reach 65 million in 2012. Those listeners will be “active” users who tune in at least once a week.

While Slacker’s long-awaited portable music player has received mixed reviews, the concept of personalized radio on the go remains an intriguing one. A large device (four-inch screen size), the Slacker lets users upload their own content via USB, but the real trick is Wi-Fi access to the Slacker’s Internet radio service, which features customizable stations matched to your musical taste. The hardware’s a bit buggy now, but watch for future Slacker upgrades to make an impact on the PMP market. Available in 2GB–8GB models and priced at $200–300. www.slacker.com.

Web Chameleon is a new tool designed to help students easily build Web pages. Created by Knowledge Adventure, the program allows kids to create projects incorporating various media, from audio and video clips to still images, shapes, and frames. Web Chameleon also enables fades, a credit roll, and other professional-looking effects, with no knowledge of HTML or Flash required. Project ready for reviewing? The student simply clicks “publish” to generate a URL hosted by Knowledge Adventure. www.knowledgeadventureschool.com.

E-Scholastic, the online division of the children’s media giant Scholastic, has launched a new tool designed to help educators, parents, and students find just the right book. The Web site, Teacher Book Wizard, allows users to search a database of more than 50,000 titles according to various criteria, from reading level and subject to genre. Want to find a good read based on a title that your student already enjoys? The unique BookAlike feature let’s you do just that. www.scholastic.com/bookwizard.

Elmo’s latest in digital image technology has been designed specifically for classroom use. Lightweight and portable, the TT-02s Teacher’s Tool provides a platform for dynamic presentations. Document cameras commonly represent a major investment, so with a street price of around $630, the TT-02s comes within the reach of cash-strapped school districts. With a 5.2X optical zoom, the Elmo device let’s you get even closer with an 8.0X zoom for enlargements up to 41.6X. Other features include a simple control panel, removable stage and PC, projector, and standard monitor connectivity. www.elmousa.com.

A new online hub reminds us of the need for schools to keep pace with technology. The 21st-Century Classroom, created by CDW-G, assembles solutions for today’s learning landscape, with professional development resources, information on networking and security, and related hardware, such as interactive whiteboards, digital cameras, and other tools. www.the21stcenturyclassroom.com.