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NBA players are showing their social networking savvy by utilizing Twitter and Facebook to communicate with each other and to fans about games and their lives. The players are using these platforms to respond to comments from fans about games and performance and even to each other regarding issues around the NBA community including wishing each other well when injuries occur or players are in a slump.

The NBAs Minnesota Timberwolves have a player that is getting just such attention. Ricky Rubio, one of their point guards has been in a bit of a slump. He currently has an average Player Efficiency Rating but has been losing the ball with a very high 22 percent turnover rate and has been shooting only 35 percent from the floor. Not good if you are a point guard.

So when Rubio injured his ACL on Friday night in a game against the LA Lakers there was a flood of legitimate and heartfelt sadness and sympathy for the rookie from his colleagues on the the court. A truly tough break with NBA playoffs still to be played and the excitement of March Madness in the air. Ricky will be working on his recovery and return but its heartening to know that the NBA community is so caring and that they are willing to communicate with each and with fans through these social networking platforms.

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NBA Players Big On Social Networking

12-03-2012 06:14

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Coola Bacardi ft G Money - Money On The Floor [Directed by MaveBad] - Video

Credit: AP

CMS won't spend $10 million on iPads

by ANN HELMS / The Charlotte Observer

WCNC.com

Posted on March 12, 2012 at 2:41 PM

A few days after saying a teacher iPad project had $10 million in county money behind it, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials told the school board theyll spend less than half that amount.

Last week, CMS notified teachers they can apply for innovation kits that include an iPad for each teacher and up to 10 per classroom. Its part of the districts push to use digital technology for learning in 2012-13, when all schools will have wireless internet access.

When the Observer asked about the cost of the teacher iPad project and the source of the money, spokeswoman Tahira Stalberte said Wednesday it was approximately $10 million, which would include training and technology infrastructure upgrades. But in a weekly report to the school board Friday, interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh said the $10 million will cover five technology projects, with the iPad project expected to get less than half.

The memo said the other areas are upgrading computer labs in middle and high schools, maintaining classroom LED screens, installing wireless internet and creating a projection system for science classrooms. It said Hattabaugh will notify the board when his staff decides how to spent the $10 million in one-time technology money.

The money is part of the 2011-12 budget. Hattabaugh will present his plan for a 2012-13 budget Tuesday.

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CMS won't spend $10 million on iPads

ANAMOSA For much of the day, Deshawn Bullock sits in his cell in the Anamosa State Penitentiary and passes the time. There are books. He can watch TV or write letters. And then theres his music.

I had to have it, Bullock, 40, said about the option of buying a CD player when he was sentenced to up to 30 years in prison on drug and escape charges. I have to keep myself out of trouble.

Bullock is one of many inmates in Iowas prisons who use CD players for entertainment, comfort and to relax.

Juston Gruner of Cedar Rapids (left) and Deshawn Bullock share their thoughts on new computer kiosks that will be unveiled soon across the state prison system, during an interview at the Anamosa State Penitentiary. Iowas prison system is on the verge of unveiling new computer kiosks that will allow inmates to send virtual grievances and questions to prison staff, along with a new MP3 player system that will allow inmates to download music to personal players rather than buying CDs. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Inmates are limited in the number of CDs they can have, but the Iowa Department of Corrections is rolling out a system in the next several months that will change that by enhancing inmates musical options through digital technology.

Music kiosks are being installed in all of Iowas nine prisons that will let inmates download songs onto MP3 players they can buy through the prison commissary. The move will keep inmates, to some degree, up to speed on todays fast-moving technology while also cutting down on the amount of property that has to be searched.

Prison officials believe its important to offer inmates music because, for starters, it can keep them out of trouble. Many of the states younger offenders, for example, became comfortable using electronics as a stress-reliever on the outside, said Sheryl Dahm, assistant deputy director for the Iowa Department of Corrections eastern region.

It is their relaxation, she said. We have to, at some point, reach out to where theyre at in their generation.

Offering MP3 players also addresses a safety issue.

We want to offer things that you cannot use to hide contraband, said Dahm, An MP3 player is smaller in size and you cant take it apart as easy.

Originally posted here:
New music, digital options in store for Iowa inmates

It only makes sense for professional sports teams to work towards a digital workflow. What once required large binders with hundreds of pages of paper to print a playbook can now be accomplished using a simple tablet device, like an Apple iPad. What once required players to sit in front of television screens with remote controls and shuffle through countless tapes can all be loaded on the same tablet device. This signals a change for the future for NFL teams. The Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers utilized iPad devices in the 2011 season and more teams are going that route in the future.

In an interview with Dan Croft, the CEO of Mission Critical Wireless, he spoke to me about how his company is working with the Houston Texans to work towards a digital workflow. The Texans' organization utilized Mission Critical Wireless to help employ a Mobile Device Management platform. Croft stated that, "Mobile Device Management software allows a company to manage and control the devices". The benefits of MDM is that it presents a high level of security for companies looking to secure their devices. Another big advantage is that a MDM strategy doesn't focus on just one platform. There are great devices available that run Apple's mobile operating system, Google's Android, RIM's Blackberry devices, and many more. The implementation of MDM allows a team like the Texans to expand into many different operating systems and use a wide range of devices within their organization.

He stated that there were very few objections when implementing the digital workflow because the organizations had increasing requests from users. There is also very little training needed because to the end user the device operates in a way they are already familiar with. Another big advantage is that the support from the organizations IT staff remains the same. They're able to use Mobile Device Management software to remotely push data to the devices and set very distinct restrictions on them.

Croft stated that the major advantage he sees is "the importance of the real-time aspect" it presents. Every week a team will change their game plan and even alter their playbook. Using tablet devices allows an NFL team to save time and money when rolling out new information to their players. The combination of security and real time capabilities make technology the future in sports organizations. Croft stated that coming from the technology world, it makes sense that sports teams are venturing into using technology further. Technology is the perfect complement for the needs of a professional football organization.

The big fear teams always had when handing out playbooks was security. When a playbook is lost, a teams secrets are exposed. This fear is now gone as teams transition to tablet devices. The Houston Texans are ahead of the curve as they work this upcoming year to transition their organization towards a digital workflow. It only makes sense for more NFL teams to follow this strategy into the future.

Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been a lifelong football fan. He also follows technology closely and is very interested in the merger between the two. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

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Houston Texans Working to Implement Tablet Devices and Digital Technologies