The shockingly smaller version of the Wall Street Journal that debutted Jan. 2 is perhaps the most poignant reminder that newspapers are in serious decline. The influential Columbia Journalism Review called it "shrinky dink." Bloggers had a field day. How does this fit my "If it ain't broke…" blog? Well, the WSJ feels more broke than it was. The words "tiny" and "miniature" come to mind and no matter how much the publishers tell you the slimmed down newspaper is good for you, the move is to reduce costs. I've been through a half dozen cuts in "trim size" as we say in the biz, and no matter how much BS we threw at the marketplace, smaller trim size was ALWAYS to save money. The WSJ is no different. The WSJ's publishers spun it this way: "Improved Navigational Aids; Better Online and Print Alignment; and New Content Features." It's fancy language with grains of truth at best. The Jan. 2 press release mentions nothing about the estimated $18 million a year the WSJ would save.
I asked a WSJ reporter friend how he liked the new format and, of course, he didn't. The WSJ is an institution (even if its editorial page frequently goes off the deep end) and the journalism is first rate. It's distinctive large broad sheet was it trademark and now that's gone. Many other newspapers are doing the same thing as revenues dry up and greedy investors clamor for the high profit margins of yore. Clearly, Dow Jones with publishes the WSJ wanted to make subscribers think to a bad thing is really good. All I can say is that I'm glad the same marketers don't fill the pages of this venerable but not diminshed newspaper (for whose online version I used to be columnist).
Safety networks have become more complex, and have actually become simpler and easier to deploy for plant operators. This slideshow highlights developments in plant safety with an emphasis on integrated safety networks.
As the MEMS industry spans a myriad of industries and markets, the future of MEMS in consumer electronics will enable a myriad of functionality, applications, and personalization.
The Nest is a sleek-looking digital thermostat which can actually "learn" its owners' schedule and then continue to regulate temperature to suit the user's preferences and patterns.
Thanks to embedded electronics, medical devices are getting smaller and smarter than ever. Pacemakers and implantable defibrillators are now able to call physicians. MRIs, CT scanners, and ultrasound machines are gaining mobility. And the venerable Band-Aid may soon be able to detect illnesses ranging from fevers to heart arrhythmias. On February 21, join Design News senior editor Charles Murray for a wide-ranging discussion, "Embedded Angles for Medical Products," which will explore the latest developments in medical electronics. The discussion will examine advances in medical device technology and offer an inside look at the embedded electronics behind it.
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