This week’s 4cast:
1. Â A Google A Day Keeps the Doctor Away.
Google will begin its final phase of global domination, er, I mean personal medical records storage today as it begins testing its long-awaited health service.
- Google to Store Patients’ Health Records (Associated Press)
- Google Health Begins Its Preseason at Cleveland Clinic (The New York Times Blog)
- Google Ventures Into Health Records Biz (CNN)
- Google Goes to the Doctor’s Office (Business Week)
2. Â Feelin’ a Little “Blu?”
You’re not alone. Wal-Mart, Netflix, Amazon and others have recently announced their alliance with Blu-Ray. It sure looks like the end for HD DVD.
- Netflix Opts for Blu-Ray (The New York Times)
- Wal-Mart Puts Stake Through HD DVD’s Heart (CNET News)
- Amazon Names Blu-Ray “Digital Format of Choice†(High-Def Digest)
- DVD Wars Over (Stephen’s Lighthouse)
3. Â Game On.
Regardless of your own thoughts on gaming in libraries, it’s hard to ignore the headlines. Are games drawing teens to libraries for the right reasons? Do “wrong” reasons exist?
- Guitar Hero @ Your Library (LISNews)
- Readers Should Get Game-Literate (Guardian Unlimited Arts Blog)
- What Do Games Have to Do with Literacy? (The Shifted Librarian)
- Professor Receives Grant to Bring Gaming to Libraries, Other Campuses (The Daily
4. Â More E-Buzz on E-Books.
New campaigns are under way to get more readers interested in electronic books. While it could significantly lower costs to big business and provide convenience to consumers, some speculate that for the most part, the e-book will never leave the e-shelf.
- U.S. eBook Sales Up 23.6% (Stephen’s Lighthouse)
- E-Books Will Never Be Our Friends (Times Online)
- E-Books Ready to Open Chapter One (Australian IT)
- Rip This Book? Not Yet. (Newsweek)
