NOW IN BERLINER FORMAT, the European edition of the Wall Street Journal is overflowing with interesting tidbits. I think Thursday's copy always contains the best stuff and I found some today.
- The world's largest privately owned chemistry laboratory is owned by Michelin in France. (Thanks, Jo Wrighton)
- Ryanair will increase its fares between 3% and 6% next year. (via Reuters)
- Apple recorded 2004 sales of $278m for its iPod accessories and services as well as the online music store. This was a sharp increase from $36m in 2003 and $4m in 2002, suggesting that the market for buying music online is growing. (Thanks, Ed Welsch.)
- Intelligent digital signage has arrived. My feet take me down the main streets of Clonmel several times a week where I now see messages targeted at captive audiences on street corners and in McDonalds.
- "A big reason publishers are so upset about Google's plans to digitize tens of millions of library books is because they fear the Google guys are stealing their future. Google has figured out how to make buckets of money off the internet. Most publishers haven't," says Alan Murray.
- The Digital Screen Network project in England is run by the UK Film Council. It involves 209 British movie theatres getting digital projection equipment at a total cost of £12m. This move puts Britain far ahead of US movie theatres in digitization. (via Aaron Patrick)
Extracted from The Wall Street Journal European Edition, October 27, 2005.
