Print on Demand in the UK
Thursday, April 30th, 2009
UK bookseller Blackwell is launching a trial of the Espresso Book Machine, which can print books on demand in less than five minutes. Blackwell currently has 500,000 titles available and hopes for a full million by the end of the summer. This is one of those things that just begs the question, “Why isn’t this already in use everywhere?” But with the rising popularity of eBook readers such as the Amazon Kindle, I wonder about the long-term popularity of on-demand print services.
Link #1: http://www.guardian.co.uk/…
(via Slashdot)
Link #2: http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/…
If you intend to travel outside of the United States, be very careful about using the Internet via a wireless carrier or cell phone. Planning ahead can save thousands of dollars. The linked article is not the first time I’ve read of something like this happening. Also, don’t believe the customer service representative when he/she claims your existing plan will be sufficient.
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IBM is developing a new type of memory, called racetrack, that may be a Flash-killer. The article doesn’t say much about it replacing volatile 
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Here are 11 predictions in Back to the Future II that came true. Pretty good for a sequel!
The Amazon Kindle is an e-book reader that’s becoming 
One of the banks in my area is offering a free iPod Shuffle to people opening new accounts. Here’s the story of a guy who chose his bank based on a free gift, and he more than paid for it. All I can say is TANSTAAFL (with thanks to Robert Heinlein).
This Flash animation of the Easter Bunny doing a rap routine is hilarious. Thanks to June for this topic.
This article is one of the more readable explanations that I’ve seen of how universes are created. It’s short and concise, yet manages to cover topics from quantum multiverses to what may exist outside of our universe. 