ECT News Network: Where Business Meets Technology

China's Softening Resistance to Reporting Bad News

E-Commerce Times 11/23/08

The Chinese media's increased reporting of protests over land, labor and investment issues reflects an attempt by the government to manage the impact of bad news by acknowledging it, according to two well-placed sources. "The Chinese government has started to loosen its control on the negative information," said one of the sources, an academic close to the propaganda authorities who declined to be identified. "They are trying to control the news by publicizing the news." [More...]

Consumer Turnoffs: Ugly Tech, Garish Gadgets

TechNewsWorld 11/23/08

Fed up with ugly routers and clunky hard drives, a growing number of consumers are looking for well-designed gadgets that complement decor instead of cluttering desktops and clashing with furniture. Many credit Apple's iPhone, with its strikingly simple forms, for raising the bar on expectations for good design in consumer electronics. And while art and design professionals say that gadgets like mobile phones and personal computers are becoming increasingly well-designed, they also say many electronic products still need to work on their appearance. [More...]

When Society's Ills Invade Fantasy Worlds

LinuxInsider 11/23/08

It was meant to be an escape, a break from the day-to-day routine, a fantasy world where 13-year-old Missouri high-school student Megan Meier could retreat from reality. But when Meier began corresponding with 16-year-old Josh Evans on her MySpace page, it rapidly turned into a nightmare. Instead of the sweet, flirtatious communications she had hoped for, he started telling her "everybody hates you" and "the world would be a better place without you in it." Twenty minutes later her mother found her hanging in her cupboard. She died the next day. [More...]

EXPERT ADVICE
Does Your Marketing Measure Up?

CRM Buyer 11/23/08

While marketing has become more measurable, the focus has been on results, not costs. When costs are discussed, standards vary from channel to channel, making comparisons impossible. In a struggling economy, all costs must be included in your analysis for sound decisions. This is the only honest approach to measurement, budgeting and goal-setting. Here are five questions that get to the heart of measuring multi-channel marketing return on investment. [More...]

PRODUCT REVIEW
Apple's Superlative Sequel: The Latest iPod Touch

MacNewsWorld 11/23/08

They say sequels often fail to live up to the original. That's not so with the second generation of Apple's iPod touch. Apple has managed to make the touch look better, work better, and deliver more features -- all for a $229 starting price, significantly cheaper than the previous entry-level $299 version. The changes, while subtle, are so significant that I give the second-generation touch a rare perfect score. The touch, while an iPod, is close to the iPhone in lineage. It has the same touchscreen and plays music and videos the same way. [More...]

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