February 2016

Here are six insights about Netflix's mobile consumption gleaned from the early months of its global expansion:

1) Primary devices vary around the world: People are more likely to watch Netflix on phones in India, South Korea and Japan, but televisions are more popular with US, South American and Australian customers.
2) Mobile isn't everything—at least not yet: Last year, around 42 percent of all signups were registered for desktops or laptops, Mirer said. Phones came in a distant second, with 27 percent of all signups, followed by 21 percent for televisions and 10 percent for tablets.
3) What you sign up with isn't what you stick with: Netflix stats show that the device users sign up for the service with often shifts after the first month, and even more after six months. The evolution gives some insight into what viewers think they'll use and what they actually do end up using.
4) Android vs. iPhone: The type of smartphone used to watch Netflix differs greatly depending on which part of the world the user is in.
5) Wi-Fi for the world: Thanks to Wi-Fi, the majority of the developed world tends to avoid draining its cellular data plans during Netflix binges.
6) A world of partnerships: Mirer said Netflix is partnering with a number of major cable and cellular companies around the world to offer content in a way that helps both Netflix and providers gain subscribers.

Do you remember how it felt when you first read what would eventually become your favorite book? For many students, that’s a feeling that’s hard to come by—books aren’t always cheap or easily accessible, especially when school budgets are stretched thin. However, the government is hoping to help schools save money and time by offering thousands of popular and award-winning titles—$250 million worth of books, in fact—to Title I, military base and special education teachers and librarians, and by extension, students. How, exactly? First Lady Michelle Obama and the White House are officially launching the Open eBooks app. As part of the Open eBooks initiative—an initiative highlighted by President Barack Obama last July—the app allows users to access thousands of free books on smartphones or tablets. The app is open to any educator, student or administrator at one of the 66,000+ Title I schools or any of the 194 Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools in the United States. Additionally, White House reps report that any of the hundreds of thousands of special education teachers in the country—no matter what type of school they work for—also have access.