Facebook adds Universities page

Facebook is going back to its roots with the launch of a promotional page on the site offering back-to-school discounts from select retailers, including Eddie Bauer, Newegg, and Utrecht Art. The new Universities on Facebook page also provides pointers on how students and campus organizations can use Facebook’s features to publicize events, distribute content and build community.

A “deals” tab on the Universities page provides links to offers on the sites of the participating retailers. Current deals include 25% off a $50 purchase of clothing, backpacks and outdoor gear at Eddie Bauer, a 20% discount on select items at Modcloth, and $15 off for customers who spend $100 or more on computer accessories.

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The iPod Touch gets a camera

Apple is finally adding the one feature that was missing from its flagship iPod Touch device – a camera. Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the move as part of an overhaul of its best-selling iPod range.

The new iPod Touch will have the same camera as the recently launched iPhone 4 and Touch owners will be able to use Apple’s FaceTime software to make video calls to other Touch and iPhone 4 users. The Touch is also adding the iPhone 4’s Retina Display, the rear-facing camera, and HD video recording capability.

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The Madden Curse

With the new football season set to kick-off next week, technology web site TechTrends does a great job of documenting the “Madden Curse” – the apparent bad luck that befalls anyone who appears on the cover of the latest edition of the best-selling Madden video game.

Every year, the game’s publisher Electronic Arts features a top player on the cover. The player is usually coming off a career year with high expectations for a repeat performance. Unfortunately, as TechTrends points out, not one of the 14 players featured on the cover since 1999 has come close to replicating their previous season’s form and many have suffered serious – in some cases, career-ending – injuries.

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Schools use GPS to track kids

A suburban Chicago school district made headlines this week when it unveiled its new system for tracking kids as they get on and off school buses. A number of schools around the country already use GPS technology to track the buses themselves, but the Palos Heights school district goes much further, outfitting each child’s backpack with a tracking unit so they can keep an eye on individual students.

It’s the latest use of location-based tracking software and it’s designed to keep students safe and make life easier for anxious parents. Superintendent Kathleen Casey researched the technology last year after a 1^st grader missed his stop and set off a frantic search to track down where he was.

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How to download e-books to your PC

These days, you can’t go anywhere without hearing about the latest e-reader. Whether it’s the Kindle, Barnes & Noble’s Nook or Apple’s iPad, e-readers are everywhere and millions of people are happily abandoning print titles for the cheaper and more convenient e-book format.

But what if you don’t want to bother with yet another device? You’re already overwhelmed with computers, iPods and smartphones and the last thing you need is hunt for another charger just as the latest John Grisham novel is about to get interesting.

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