Esquire magazine is leading the new digital revolution. Another digital revolution, not the 1985 one using Mac’s, or the 1994 one using the web, but an altogether better, uh, revolution. This latest revolution using E-In - the stuff that Powers the Kindle and similar to Sony’s Ebook reader (if not the same) means print magazines can finally jump 100 years ahead of where they were and display digital text on their pages. Although this version is a bit ropey - even the publisher is calling it 1.0 technology (I’d call it 0.5), it could lead the way to a true revolution - meaning the entire magazine is no longer printed on ink/paper but produced using a flexible screen. When that day comes, I’ll be the happiest guy in the media world.

The company that produced the cover, E Ink, has a track record of innovation — its technology is used in Amazon.com’s e-book device, the Kindle. E Ink, a private company based in Cambridge, Mass., counts Hearst, Esquire’s parent, as a major shareholder. “In 2000 or so, we went to Cambridge to see if they could demonstrate the technology,” Mr. Granger said. “They were doing store displays, so it was premature for a magazine.” Two years ago, at a Hearst management retreat, Mr. Granger again raised the idea. This time it would be possible, he was told, if Hearst invested seed money to create a battery small enough to fit in a magazine.

“This is really the 1.0 version,” said Kevin O’Malley, Esquire’s publisher. “Imagine when the consumer walks by a newsstand and sees that it is alive.”

Digital technology holds the promise of making the dissemination of information much easier and cheaper — no paper, no trucks — but this experiment by Esquire was the opposite. “The whole chain had to be reinvented,” said Peter Griffin, the deputy editor. “The interesting thing is it has almost nothing to do with the normal way of putting out a magazine.”

Esquire has exclusive use of E Ink’s technology for use in print through 2009, and Mr. Granger said he hopes to come up with new ideas for it. “This is probably just a limited view of its use,” he said. The electronic cover will be used in only 100,000 copies that go to newsstands — its overall circulation is about 720,000. - So, save a copy for me please!

Source: NY Times

I just got my hands on a pair of Adidas CSC sneaks (thx Chad)… They completely rock. These rare shoes (try and find a pair on Ebay!) are a collaboration between CSC and Adidas to create their own version of the Top Sala. This black shoe features red and gold accents, which are traditional Chineses colors as well as the team’s colors. Only 350 pairs of these special shoes will be available worldwide. They were released on June 14th and you are pretty much SOL if you need a pair. Sorry guys. In the meantime, I’m still looking for a pair of Ivan Lendl’s or Forest Hills….

Having been a Netflix subscriber for a couple or 3 years, I was pretty pleased when they started the “watch now” streaming service. It’s pretty good when you’re on the road, but not so good watching at home on a laptop… That changed with the launch of the Roku Netflix player. Before I go any further, stop what you are doing, ie, reading this blog, and click here to go buy one.

The Roku media player for Netflix is the coolest, easiest to install, cheapest streaming media package I’ve ever used. And as the former publisher of Connected Home Magazine, let me tell you, I’ve seen ‘em all - and they all sucked - until now. Here’s how easy it was to get going:

1. Open box
2. Discard Instructions
3. Plug into TV via optional HDMI cable
4. Turn On
5. Register with Wireless Network
6. Type in registration/access code
7. Grab popcorn and start watching
8. Head to Netflix and add more movies to my “watch instantly” queue.

Repeat Steps 7 & 8 over and over.

It’s that easy. The video quality, whilst not HD was great on my 42″ LCD and the sound was super duper. This is THE box to turn your home from a VHS playing 1980s relic, to the latest and greatest media serving home - you’ll be the toast of your family - all for $99!!!

Steve Jobs introduced the all new singing and dancing iPhone 3G today for the staggeringly low price of $199. Damn, thats $400 cheaper than I, along with millions of other early adopters paid almost 12 months ago. I’ve got nothing against the price, but I may hold back on Apple products going forward… Here’s the tech-specs of the new iPhone 3G: 3G Hi-Speed internet access, WiFi and GPS

As the proud owner of a Porsche Cayenne, I took a look around the interweb to see where I could chat and discuss Cayenne things with fellow owners. Amazingly there was no online community for Cayenne owners. Until now. The Cayenne Club is a place where you can discuss mechanical and technical things about your Cayenne. So if you have an S, GTS, Turbo or the brand new Cayenne Turbo S, head over to the Cayenne Club and join the growing community.