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It goes without saying that Facebook is the network du jour, but even though the reigning champion’s user stats keep soaring, social networking as a whole might be leveling off. Nevertheless, there are still scores of other highly competitive social sites that are waxing and waning; and different [...]]]>

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It goes without saying that Facebook is the network du jour, but even though the reigning champion’s user stats keep soaring, social networking as a whole might be leveling off. Nevertheless, there are still scores of other highly competitive social sites that are waxing and waning; and different networks and apps are more popular in specific geographic areas, with certain genders or age groups, and even among various social classes.

For example, Plaxo is the network with the most users over the age of 65. Facebook is more popular with women, but Digg and Reddit tend to be more popular with men. LinkedIn is the “richest” social network, but Plurk outranks it when it comes to well-educated users who have graduate degrees.

When Apple’s iPhone was exclusively on AT&T it was the butt of endless jokes that went something like, "It’s a great phone unless you want to make a phone call."

Now that it’s on Verizon it looks like those jokes are moot.

A new ChangeWave Research study reveals Verizon iPhone customers [...]]]>

When Apple’s iPhone was exclusively on AT&T it was the butt of endless jokes that went something like, "It’s a great phone unless you want to make a phone call."

Now that it’s on Verizon it looks like those jokes are moot.

A new ChangeWave Research study reveals Verizon iPhone customers are reporting fewer dropped calls than their AT&T counterparts. (ChangeWave surevey people and asked them for their recollection of dropped calls in the last few weeks.)

The rate of dropped calls on the Verizon iPhone is right in line with rate of dropped calls for Verizon customers overall, says ChangeWave.

This is good news for Apple. Now matter how many people blamed AT&T, there was always a sneaking suspicion that the dropped call problem was Apple’s fault. This chart suggests the blame truly lies with AT&T.

Millennials–those born between 1979 and 1991–are more diverse, technology-driven, and tend to trust their instincts more so than previous generations.

Despite media reports of a sour real estate market, [...]]]> More of the millennial generation is approaching the home buying age, but they aren’t like buyers before, according to a recent study by Wells Fargo.

Millennials–those born between 1979 and 1991–are more diverse, technology-driven, and tend to trust their instincts more so than previous generations.

Despite media reports of a sour real estate market, Millennials still are optimistic with their views about home ownership, according to Wells Fargo, which surveyed more than 3,000 Americans to discover their attitudes about home ownership. In the survey, Wells Fargo found that millennials even responded favorably to more rigorous credit requirements, saying they found them beneficial to their goal of remaining in a home once they buy.

The millennial generation consist of about 51.5 million potential first-time home buyers, the Wells Fargo study says–which is 6 million more than the baby boomers who reached home buying age in 1977.

Brad Blackwell, executive vice president at Wells Fargo, says the wave of Millennials will be the new lifeblood for the industry.

"We’re going to have to figure out how to reach them," Blackwell says.

Source: “Wells Fargo Study Finds New Kind of Homebuyer on the Way: Millennials,” HousingWire.com (March 25, 2011)