Some Interesting Things I’ve Found Recently: Writing Less, Desktop Factories, Trailphone.net, and Online Video

In Slate’s The Best Writers at the New York Times, Jack Shafer talks about the NY Times’ 20 words-or-less film capsules. Sometimes brilliant, sometimes just adequate, but always pithy. Writing less is very hard. (But worth the effort.)

An ideaLab company has the price of rapid prototyping machines (think 3D printers) down to $5,000. This is how much laser printers once cost. Remember that whole desktop publishing revolution? Printers on every desk mean everyone’s got a printing press? This is like that, but replace “printing press” with “factory”. See this New York Times article and this post I made: Products for a Market of One for more.

My pal Adam Varga just released a new site: trailphone.net. It lets trekkers call in and leave audio notes along mile markers on their route. Friends following along at home can subscribe to a podcast of their progress. Very cool. Open-source telephony software opens up scores of opportunities for apps like this.

My friends Lee and Matt Semel are starting a new company to produce high-quality, viral internet video designed to grab your attention fast. Check out their demo video: Get Engaged Quickly. (PG-13)

BuzzFeed does a great job of finding interesting stories from around the web-o-sphere and layering on a brief editorial description and relevant photo. It’s easy to scan and has become a daily read.

These socks at Elsewares are gorgeous.