Teens are largely uninformed when it comes to news, and those who do keep up often get their daily dose through "The Daily Show" and "The Onion." Classic news sources -- their parents' papers of choice -- are overlooked in favor of blogs, networking sites and Google.

MSNBC is ready to change that with their shiny new NewsWare service. One interactive tool merges the news spectrum with the color spectrum, presenting you with color-coded headlines of interest. It really is quite the news experience, reminding me of a trippy computer screen saver that unexpectedly incorporates interesting news bites. Coincidentally, you can indeed set it up as your screen saver and receive headlines while your computer is idle.

If you aren't away from your computer long enough to need a screen saver, Newsware also allows you to create your own customizable news widget to embed on your blog, Facebook profile, or desktop.

Perhaps the most interesting feature is the arcade of news headline games, dubbed "news gaming" by the folks at MSNBC. Although I can't imagine getting my headlines while trying to race against time to destroy all of the orbs, it might be an appealing to stay informed to a Wii-obsessed teenage boy.

This comes on the heels of the launch of iCue, NBC New's social education website. In hopes that "video will replace the textbook," iCue is a mix of news clips, study guides, and educational games.

Both sites offer a sleek, engaging design and quick, informative flashes of news. From a convenience perspective, they certainly beat the lowly ol' newspaper. However, it will be interesting to see how they fare with teenagers, the target market of both Newsware and iCue.

Posted by casey