Author: Frank Catalano

Frank Catalano (@FrankCatalano) is a veteran edtech and tech strategist. He brings a long history in both traditional and digital media to his coverage and analysis. His GeekWire contributions include pop culture, science fiction, the arts, and the confluence of media & technology, whether delivered by smart speaker, VR goggle, social media, AI algorithm or quaint airwaves.

From Rhapsody to Napster: How this pioneering music service coulda been Spotify — and why it isn’t

Latest from Frank Catalano

Certifying online journalists: A bad idea whose time has come?

by Frank Catalano on April 21, 2018April 21, 2018 at 8:34 am 7 Comments

In the battle against fake news, is it finally time to certify journalists? It’s a divisive question, but one that is becoming more interesting by the day. As a media… Read More

For investors, the future of education technology is now the workplace

by Frank Catalano on April 19, 2018April 20, 2018 at 4:51 amComment

SAN DIEGO — After several years of waiting for the K-12 market to grow faster, and a couple of years getting schooled in higher education, education technology investors seem to… Read More

From Rhapsody to Napster: How this pioneering music service coulda been Spotify — and why it isn’t

by Frank Catalano on April 14, 2018April 14, 2018 at 10:33 am 2 Comments

In streaming music, Spotify gets the celebrity. Spotify gets the global reach. Spotify gets the IPO. Yet the music service originally known as Rhapsody was the streaming pioneer. It had… Read More

$100K Google grant to fund King County Library System’s first regional makerspace

by Frank Catalano on April 12, 2018April 12, 2018 at 11:18 am 7 Comments

The King County Library System is opening its first makerspace this weekend. And it’s doing so with the help of a $100,000 grant from Google. The new ideaX Makerspace stakes… Read More

Apple to develop Isaac Asimov’s classic Foundation novels into a new video drama series

by Frank Catalano on April 11, 2018April 11, 2018 at 1:20 pmComment

The classic Foundation trilogy is the latest science-fiction property to be adapted for a video series, and this time it’s Apple developing the project. After competitive bidding, Apple landed the deal… Read More

Seattle and King County library systems rank at top of global digital lenders as growth continues

by Frank Catalano on April 8, 2018April 6, 2018 at 12:08 pmComment

Library lending is increasingly going digital. And that global expansion of technology-based borrowing is being led by library systems serving Seattle and surrounding King County. This new series by contributing… Read More

‘Hey kids, it’s time for dinner!’ Amazon rolls out Alexa Announcements for Echo

by Frank Catalano on April 5, 2018April 5, 2018 at 6:08 pm 2 Comments

That Amazon Echo device in your home is about to get a lot more vocal — using your words. Amazon today is rolling out a new feature called Alexa Announcements… Read More

Should your kid use virtual reality? New Common Sense Media report gives guidelines for parents

by Frank Catalano on April 4, 2018April 4, 2018 at 5:30 pm 2 Comments

Non-profit Common Sense Media is weighing in on virtual reality use by kids. And much of the advice to parents boils down to keeping immersive sessions brief, having children sit… Read More

Analysis: After Amazon’s TenMarks shuts down, what then for K-12 schools and Amazon?

by Frank Catalano on April 2, 2018April 2, 2018 at 11:03 am 2 Comments

The sudden, relatively quiet notice late last week that Amazon would shutter its TenMarks business and end its TenMarks Math and Writing products at the close of the 2018-19 school… Read More

Can you go paperless on an overseas trip? The Geek’s Guide to International Travel, 2018 Edition

by Frank Catalano on April 1, 2018April 1, 2018 at 4:07 pm 4 Comments

It’s amazing the difference five years makes when traveling with tech. In April 2013, I felt as though I was living on the edge when I took a 10-day trip… Read More

Amazon to close TenMarks online education service after 2018-19 school year

by Todd Bishop & Frank Catalano on March 30, 2018March 31, 2018 at 5:20 amComment

Amazon will close its TenMarks online math and writing learning service after the 2018-2019 school year, the latest surprise twist in the tech giant’s foray into education technology. The company… Read More

Apple unveils $299 iPad for schools and free education apps in bid to regain its K-12 lead

by Frank Catalano on March 27, 2018March 27, 2018 at 10:59 amComment

It’s on, Google. You too, Microsoft. That might be the best way to sum up Apple’s big reveal of how it plans to compete with the current two leaders in… Read More

Can Apple return to the head of the class? Tech giant to reveal new education plans after long slide

by Frank Catalano on March 25, 2018March 25, 2018 at 7:35 am 5 Comments

One-time education technology leader Apple is now a distant third in new computing device shipments to K-12 schools in the U.S. But this week, it may become clear about how… Read More

Podcast

Library of Congress saves the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus and other online ‘web cultures’

by Frank Catalano on March 14, 2018March 13, 2018 at 7:11 pm 2 Comments

If you had to describe the unique “culture” of the web by highlighting a bunch of websites, would you choose Slashdot? Giphy? Or both? That’s the kind of choice the… Read More

Reality check: Microsoft Windows gains in U.S. schools in 2017, but Google remains dominant

by Frank Catalano on March 7, 2018March 7, 2018 at 8:34 am 4 Comments

The latest numbers from market research firm Futuresource are slightly better news for Microsoft in a U.S. K-12 education market dominated by Google and Chromebooks. U.K.-based Futuresource Consulting has released its… Read More

Amazon Studios to adapt Iain M. Banks’ space-opera Culture novel, a ‘huge personal favorite’ of Jeff Bezos

by Frank Catalano on February 21, 2018February 21, 2018 at 11:24 am1 Comment

Iain M. Banks’ sweeping Culture science-fiction book series finally has a video home. Amazon Studios announced this morning it’s acquired the global television rights to the first novel, Consider Phlebas.… Read More

Bill Gates to guest star on ‘The Big Bang Theory’

by Frank Catalano on February 20, 2018February 20, 2018 at 1:09 pmComment

It’s only taken eleven seasons, but Leonard and Sheldon may finally get to meet Bill Gates. Warner Bros. and CBS, the studio and network behind the series The Big Bang… Read More

Seattle and Pittsburgh’s fantastic connection: a new ‘grand master’ of science fiction and fantasy

by Frank Catalano on February 19, 2018February 18, 2018 at 7:49 am1 Comment

Looking for a literary tie between Seattle and Pittsburgh? It may seem as hard to find as a unicorn. But it actually involves a unicorn. When the Science Fiction and… Read More

Podcast

Dystopia or utopia? Author and futurist Ramez Naam revisits his 2015 predictions for the world

by Frank Catalano on February 18, 2018February 18, 2018 at 11:02 amComment

At GeekWire, we don’t mind being held accountable for our predictions. But if we can hold others accountable — well, that’s something special. In this case, the someone is Ramez… Read More

One-of-a-kind Hive Media Lab launches in Seattle, on a mission to invent the future of media

by Frank Catalano on February 17, 2018February 17, 2018 at 9:11 am 2 Comments

If you’re going to have your lunch eaten, perhaps it’s best to have some say about the table setting. This new series by contributing writer Frank Catalano examines the evolution… Read More

Boeing helps lead new $32M investment in Singularity University, explores deeper partnership

by Frank Catalano on February 15, 2018February 15, 2018 at 11:59 amComment

Aerospace giant Boeing is teaming up with Kirkland, Wash.-based WestRiver Group to lead a $32 million Series B investment round in Silicon Valley’s Singularity University. Singularity University announced the investment… Read More

Science-fiction author Frank Herbert’s legacy to be honored with a new ‘Dune’ park in Tacoma

by Frank Catalano on February 14, 2018February 14, 2018 at 11:42 am1 Comment

There likely won’t be any sandworms, but that’s not needed to spice up this news: Tacoma, Wash., native Frank Herbert, best known for the hugely popular Dune science-fiction novels, is… Read More

Varsity Tutors raises another $50M to expand globally, accelerate growth in Seattle

by Frank Catalano on February 14, 2018February 13, 2018 at 6:10 pmComment

Varsity Tutors, an education technology startup that combines live experts with an online and mobile platform for learners, today announced it has closed a $50 million Series C funding round.… Read More

Podcast

Scaling to optimism: Futurist, author and computer scientist Ramez Naam on the power of cheap tech

by Frank Catalano on February 12, 2018February 12, 2018 at 4:45 pmComment

If you were to ask globally known clean energy expert Ramez Naam what makes him optimistic about technology and the future, it may boil down to one word: scale. Naam… Read More

Video

Bill Gates stars in new Code.org ‘How Computers Work’ video series to run on Alaska Airlines flights

by Frank Catalano on February 3, 2018February 3, 2018 at 7:10 amComment

The next time you fly, you may be able to learn more about the laptop or other computing device you pull out to watch in-flight entertainment — from the in-flight… Read More

Video

What makes Pittsburgh different as an edtech hub? Collaboration — and Mister Rogers

by Frank Catalano on January 30, 2018January 30, 2018 at 8:30 am1 Comment

Ask those in Pittsburgh’s thriving education technology community what makes the city different from other edtech hubs such as Silicon Valley, Boston or New York City, and a single word… Read More

Minecraft gets free chemistry update, schools get HoloLens discounts as Microsoft ups edtech game

by Frank Catalano on January 22, 2018January 22, 2018 at 6:39 am1 Comment

Microsoft is upping its STEM game by introducing new chemistry and computer science options for Minecraft: Education Edition. Plus, the tech giant is adding more “mixed reality” products and offers… Read More

Microsoft apps to be embedded into edtech powerhouse PowerSchool’s ‘Unified Classroom’

by Frank Catalano on January 18, 2018January 18, 2018 at 6:32 amComment

Microsoft is making yet another push into the classroom. But this time, it’s using the buddy system, today announcing a high-profile partnership with education technology standard-bearer PowerSchool. PowerSchool has a… Read More

Global education technology investment hits record $9.5B, but K-20 is only 21% of the total

by Frank Catalano on January 10, 2018January 10, 2018 at 10:04 amComment

Seattle-area market research firm Metaari has released its annual tally of global edtech investment, and the numbers are eye-popping. Across all markets for learning technology, worldwide funding reached a record… Read More

Video

Analysis: Education technology startup funding rebounds, but what is ‘edtech’?

by Frank Catalano on December 30, 2017December 30, 2017 at 4:49 pm1 Comment

Education technology is heating up again. Yet edtech’s most fervent promoters may be masking the industry’s breadth by lumping everything digital under the monolithic label “edtech.” Part of edtech’s bubble… Read More

Articles by Frank Catalano

Top Stories from Frank Catalano

From Rhapsody to Napster: How this pioneering music service coulda been Spotify — and why it isn’t

Latest from Frank Catalano

Certifying online journalists: A bad idea whose time has come?

For investors, the future of education technology is now the workplace

From Rhapsody to Napster: How this pioneering music service coulda been Spotify — and why it isn’t

$100K Google grant to fund King County Library System’s first regional makerspace

Apple to develop Isaac Asimov’s classic Foundation novels into a new video drama series

Seattle and King County library systems rank at top of global digital lenders as growth continues

‘Hey kids, it’s time for dinner!’ Amazon rolls out Alexa Announcements for Echo

Should your kid use virtual reality? New Common Sense Media report gives guidelines for parents

Analysis: After Amazon’s TenMarks shuts down, what then for K-12 schools and Amazon?

Can you go paperless on an overseas trip? The Geek’s Guide to International Travel, 2018 Edition

Amazon to close TenMarks online education service after 2018-19 school year

Apple unveils $299 iPad for schools and free education apps in bid to regain its K-12 lead

Can Apple return to the head of the class? Tech giant to reveal new education plans after long slide

Library of Congress saves the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus and other online ‘web cultures’

Reality check: Microsoft Windows gains in U.S. schools in 2017, but Google remains dominant

Amazon Studios to adapt Iain M. Banks’ space-opera Culture novel, a ‘huge personal favorite’ of Jeff Bezos

Bill Gates to guest star on ‘The Big Bang Theory’

Seattle and Pittsburgh’s fantastic connection: a new ‘grand master’ of science fiction and fantasy

Dystopia or utopia? Author and futurist Ramez Naam revisits his 2015 predictions for the world

One-of-a-kind Hive Media Lab launches in Seattle, on a mission to invent the future of media

Boeing helps lead new $32M investment in Singularity University, explores deeper partnership

Science-fiction author Frank Herbert’s legacy to be honored with a new ‘Dune’ park in Tacoma

Varsity Tutors raises another $50M to expand globally, accelerate growth in Seattle

Scaling to optimism: Futurist, author and computer scientist Ramez Naam on the power of cheap tech

Bill Gates stars in new Code.org ‘How Computers Work’ video series to run on Alaska Airlines flights

What makes Pittsburgh different as an edtech hub? Collaboration — and Mister Rogers

Minecraft gets free chemistry update, schools get HoloLens discounts as Microsoft ups edtech game

Microsoft apps to be embedded into edtech powerhouse PowerSchool’s ‘Unified Classroom’

Global education technology investment hits record $9.5B, but K-20 is only 21% of the total

Analysis: Education technology startup funding rebounds, but what is ‘edtech’?

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