I remember when I was in high school, waking up, getting ready for school and having my morning bowl of cereal (Fruity Pebbles by the way). I remember getting the paper and looking at the sports section, the features, and the comics. It was a good way to pass time while eating breakfast and my way of having something to talk about when I got to school.
Today, as I sat eating my morning bowl of cereal (Frosted Flakes, now wishing it was Fruity Pebbles) I did all those same things as I did when I was in high school, accept, it was not just the newspaper. I pulled out my iPhone, and while eating breakfast I played Word With Friends. I also checked my email. I checked sports through the ESPN ScoreCenter app. I even looked at Facebook real quick. I also have a Mobile RSS Reader so that I can read the blogs I follow while on the go.
That of course was not all I did. I also used the TwitBird app to check the Tweets from my PLN that seamlessly continued while I was asleep. I saved some of my favorites to read later because after all, it was just a couple bowls of cereal! Now granted I don't have a subscription to the local newspaper, but this morning I realized...why? Sure for the sake of support, but if I can get information other ways, and for cheaper, why? I can get the same comics, the same sports scores, the same news stories, and quite a bit more. Heck, I didn't even watch USA vs. Canada Hockey, but I knew a lot of what happened because of Twitter.
I have found that I check Twitter on my iPhone more than using the website or TweetDeck on my Laptop. It is just as fully functional and provides the same options. It also allows me to not feel overwhelmed with Tweets. Twitter and TweetDeck don't let you know how many Tweets happened the last time you checked. The iPhone allows me to know whether I have time to look at Twitter, and many times I don't.
With eReaders, Smartphones, and the eventual iPad, Newspapers and Magazines probably will become obsolete. There is a reason many newspapers and magazines are creating Digital "E"ditions, because their readers are on computers more often now. They offer digital or paper subscriptions as well. (just look at your bills....how many are paperless...think those companies thought that would happen 10 years ago?) This will be more evident as my generation, my student's generation, and my son's generation gets older.
How do you get your news? How do you get your information? I know how I get mine and I know I am prepared for the change over to digital; are you?
