Crave

The survey section where the percentages were taken out--the numbers just don't justify what Acronis said in its report.

(Credit: Acronis)

Acronis, a major vendor of backup software, released a report earlier this week stating that about 87 percent of computer users back up their data once every two or three months--way less frequently than recommended. This suggests that most of us live dangerously when it comes to backing up.

The survey was widely reported in the press, but it turns out the numbers didn't seem to go well with Acronis' report.

The percentages released to the media were taken from the question "How often do you back up your hard drive or files?" Results include: 48 percent for "once a week (or more)"; 55 percent for "2-3 times a month"; 81.5 percent for "once a month"; 86.8 percent for "every 2-3 months", 91.4 percent for "2-3 times a year", 94.6 percent for "once a year or less"; and 25.5 percent for "never."

It may be that I'm Asian and extra good with math, but I couldn't help but notice that when added up, the numbers total around 500 percent. Other ways to interpret the chart didn't justify the reported 87 percent, either. So maybe you're not as bad at backing up as some media reports told you you were.

(Credit: Piper Jaffray)

The results are in for the spring installment of Piper Jaffray's biannual Teen Survey, and not surprisingly, things look very good for Apple--particularly when it comes to the iPod.

According to the survey, now in its eighth year, 92 percent of students own some sort media player--up from 87 percent a year ago--and of those who do own a media player, 86 percent own an iPod. Only 4 percent of the 600 students interviewed for the survey owned a Zune. (The average age of the students surveyed was 16.3 years old; 54 percent were male, and 46 percent female).

With the iPod being so dominant, those numbers are about what you'd expect. But what should concern other MP3 makers is the number that came up when teens were asked what MP3 player they were planning on buying in the next 12 months: 100 percent said they were buying an Apple iPod. Not a single vote was cast for MP3 players from Microsoft, Creative, Sony, iRiver, Sandisk, or "other."

Of course, teens don't represent the whole market, but this group does represent the leading edge, and if Apple's "hooking" kids early, this will translate into future domination in older age brackets where Apple currently enjoys a large lead in media players.

While I'm highlighting that 100 percent figure on MP3 purchases, publications like Apple Insider are talking about how Apple's "near the saturation point for iPod, iTunes use by teens." And the big question is whether Apple can convert teen iPod users into iPhone users.

Eight percent of the teens surveyed said they owned an iPhone and 16 percent said they were considering buying an iPhone in the next six months. The latter number actually represents a decline from Piper's last survey, where 22 percent of the teens said they were going to buy an iPhone. Also, in the fall '08 survey, 8 percent said they owned an iPhone, so that number hasn't gone up. But if AT&T and Apple were able to get out a $99 iPhone with a more affordable plan, you'd probably see that ownership number jump quite a bit in the next survey.

Comments?

Via Apple Insider

A very good question in light of this latest survey.

While the benefits of playing video games should be nothing new to astute gamers, surveys and studies are still being conducted seemingly all the time on this subject.

The latest report on the benefits of gaming comes from Sony Online Entertainment (which, I mean come on, how is this impartial?). The results, published in the latest issue of Family Circle magazine, suggests parents are seeing improvements in hand/eye coordination, problem solving, and typing skills since their children have started playing video games.

In addition, games are apparently creating little Enders, by teaching children to think strategically. The report states that the majority of video games require players to follow rules, think tactically, make fast decisions and fulfill numerous objectives to win. This resonates with the 70 percent of the parents surveyed who have seen their children's problem-solving skills improve since they started playing video games.

Other key survey findings from the survey:

• Most (75 percent) of respondents have attributed educational value and improved hand/eye coordination to video game usage.
• 84 percent of respondents reported an increase in their child's typing skills from playing PC/online games.
• 72 percent of respondents say their kids play games online with other people sometimes or all the time.
• 87 percent of parents who participated in the survey are spending time playing video games with their children.
• More than 80 percent of respondents say their children play video games in a common area of the house (i.e. family/living room or computer room).

Yahoo's Web site, Shine, which purportedly reaches 10 million women each month, hosted the survey throughout June 2008.

Like I said, this is nothing new. Many studies have been promoting the benefits of gaming for years. I'm just waiting for the day it's no longer an issue. Speaking of education value, I was practically raised by video games, and look at me. I wrote good, don't me?

The iPod survey is back up and running, please take a minute or two to share your thoughts on the iPod if you haven't already.

News.com survey

Click here to take CNET News.com's iPod survey

Due to an overwhelming response yesterday in just a few hours, we had to close our iPod survey before we could upgrade to a larger account that permits more responses. We got nearly 1,000 responses in 3 hours, which was far more than I anticipated when I signed up for the basic account. Thanks to PollDaddy.com for helping us get back up and running this morning.

The idea is to gather some information on how News.com readers are currently using their iPods, or any MP3 players, in preparation for a story next week about the future of the iPod. We've spent a lot of time over the past six months talking about the iPhone and the Mac, so it's high time we take a look at the device that is perhaps most responsible for Apple's success this decade.

If readers are any indication, Microsoft's Windows Mobile has a better base of support than one might think, but all the winds are blowing toward Apple.

The results of our first annual (maybe) smartphone survey are in, and thanks to everyone who left comments on One More Thing or Crave and t o those who flooded my inbox with responses. Yes, I know we should have a survey tool, but we're working on other stuff right now that's more important. (You'll have to trust me on that one.)

Between the comments and the e-mails, we received 159 responses. I must note that this is not a scientific study; we're not going to be putting market research firms out of business anytime soon. But I thought it was time for a look at what some of our readers are using, and I was surprised at some of the results. Find out more here.

(Credit: Canon)

Want to put your best face forward? Based on a survey by Canon UK, Brits are likely to be dodging and feinting to get that perfect picture.

The survey revealed that 86 percent of Brits believe that they don't look good in pictures and will try their very best to contort their bodies into something more presentable. Some techniques highlighted by the survey include holding in stomachs, turning to the side (to avoid displaying a double chin), hiding in the back of group photos, and smiling without showing teeth.

And to think we felt insecure when CNET Asia TV first rolled out.

(Source: Crave Asia)

If only the Internet had been around to comfort Rear Window's Miss Lonelyhearts back in 1954.

A new poll shows that nearly 1 in 4 Americans say the Internet could be a stand-in for a significant other for a period of time. Among singles, the percentage was even higher: 31 percent. (One wonders how popular such responses as "reading a good book" or "playing with my cats" were to the question of substitutes.)

The poll examined people's attitudes about the Internet. Results of the online survey, conducted by Zogby International and 463 Communications, were released Wednesday.

The survey also found that there are people willing to have a device implanted in their brain--safely, of course--so they'd have ready access to the Internet. About 11 percent of respondents said so. But more men (17 percent) than women (7 percent) did. (Just think, you could impress many a date and your trivia team would win every week. Although when the suitably impressed person becomes a steady thing, the Internet might get jealous.)

Other tidbits from the results:

•  To help keep track of children's whereabouts, nearly 1 in 5 respondents said they would be willing to have a chip implanted in a child 13 or younger.

•  Among the 18- to 24-year-old set, 78 percent said they have a social-networking profile. More Democrats (32 percent) than Republicans (22 percent) said they have a presence on a social-networking site.

•  When it comes to spirituality, 10 percent said the Internet made them closer to God, but 6 percent said it made them more distant.

•  The self-esteem of Hollywood hotties is safe for now. Halle Berry, Scarlett Johansson and Patrick Dempsey are considered sexier than the iPhone, according to the poll. Respondents were asked who or what was sexier. Berry came in at 27 percent, Johansson had 17 percent and Dempsey got 14 percent. The iPhone tied with Derek Jeter at 6 percent. It doesn't appear that respondents were asked whether owning an iPhone--or simply wearing the iPhone hat--increases one's appeal. (This is just a guess: the people who consider the iPhone sexier than any of the people above probably believe that the Internet could be a substitute for a partner.)

The survey, conducted October 4 through 8, tallied the responses of 9,743 adults across the country. It has a margin of error plus or minus 1 percentage point.