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The year 2013 will see more companies embrace mobile applications, a wider uptake in mobile learning among the general public, and shifts in what kinds of content and how that content will be delivered to mobile devices

Quantified self becomes “mainstream,” according to Chad. Nike FuelBand, Jawbone Up and Fitbit Ultra are all out and widely available. They haven’t, however, made into the mainstream consciousness. These cool life trackers are still very much an early-adopter tech-geek toy or novelty. One of these devices will emerge in 2013 as a real winner here. It may be a combination of pricing, integration with devices or software, or perhaps just a really slick marketing campaign, but one of these devices or a new one will become a “must have” accessory for fitness-minded individuals. Some opportunities for partnerships with health care payers or maybe weight loss programs could also help propel this type of personal gamification into the everyday space.

Mobile is no longer a communications utility, but a media distribution hub.

The biggest beneficiaries have been mobile apps. Time spent on apps dwarfs time spent on the mobile Web, and smartphone owners now spend 127 minutes per day in mobile apps.

little about Readdle Documents, which launched a new version today that is FREE (no cost) and if you haven't installed it yet, why haven't you?!? Today we are launching a new application – Documents. It is a robust document reader, media player and file manager for iPad.Why should you install Documents on your iPad?The application is super useful. A child could use it, but is can do so much, that we have a 20-page guide to cover everything. With all this power, Documents is completely free (with no ads or in-app purchases).The ultimate goal was to create an app that everyone will use. It had to be elegant, easy to use and powerful. (read more)

 Documents app, gets out of the way and offers functionality in a beautiful package. 3 Gone: FlexPlayer - This is one of those must-have video viewing apps but I was thrilled to see that Documents provides for full-screen video playback on MP4, m4v video formats, although not AVI or FLV. Playback is great and makes 4 Gone: Stanza

In this grand progression, 2013 will certainly be a significant milestone for mobile devices, smartphones and beyond. It's likely to be the first year in which tablets out-ship notebooks in the US. And in the coming years, this will lead to a confluence of high-end tablets and ultra-mobile notebooks as the world figures out how these devices co-exist, blend, hybridize, and/or merge.

Despite all the bring-your-own device buzz over the last few years, meanwhile, teachers were chillier to handhelds (smartphones and iPod touches—the devices students tend to bring to school) than other tools. While the percentage of teachers with access to such devices went up to 36 percent, from 26 percent a year ago, the tools were rated below other devices (sixth out of a list of eight, even below projectors) on "potential to enhance education."

In general, the survey says, teachers view technology as a "teaching tool used by teachers" rather than an "administrative tool" or a "self-learning tool used by students."

3.  REACHING STUDENTS. In Ramsey Musallam’s A.P. Chemistry class at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco, cell phones are a natural extension of the way he communicates with his students. As soon as kids walk in, Musallam sends out a text blast through Remind101, asking them a challenge question that’s related to the day’s lesson. “First person to tell me the units on K for a second order reaction gets chocolate,” he types and sends off. His students know he does this regularly, so they’re constantly anticipating the question during the day, in and out of class.

Any technology implementation proceeds in stages. If video use is included in lesson plans, then decide if it is more appropriate to use video that is self-produced or developed by others. The decision might be influenced by your content expertise and production skills. In either case, multimedia principles for learning should be considered, including accessibility of the video content by all.

he Google Drive app now allows for the creation of Documents, Spreadsheets, and Folders. Plus, the ability to upload photos and videos from the camera roll. WIth many PDF annotation apps such as Notability and Paperport Notes now allowing direct upload to Google Drive, the process of curating student work becomes even easier.

The most important reason for the low uptake of mobile learning, until now, has been the lack of understanding of mobile devices and mobile learning.

Today’s mobile devices move beyond merely providing access but to actively helping and supporting us at work and at home. It has also empowered and enabled us to do things that we may never have had the confidence to do in the past. If we stay within the comfort of the “learning box”, we will never fully recognise or realise the true value and potential of adopting “mobile” solutions.