iPod Subway Maps is based on a nice idea. Basically, you load an image on your iPod Photo which represents the map of different subway systems in the world. It’s fairly simple and pretty basic. I haven’t had a chance to try this, as I only have a regular iPod combined with the fact that there is no subway in Quebec City…

However, this is a small step towards a project that could be revolutionary for Apple and Google: Putting Google Maps on an iPod. Right now, the best that can be done is taking screenshots of the maps on your computer and then uploading them on the iPod. It would be nice to have a “Google Maps” item on the iPod menu and you could access (at least parts) the data that was previously loaded…

Or just buy a Pocket PC instead….

September 27th, 2005 | Technology | 2 comments

The British Library has initiated in 1998 a project called Turning the Pages. It consists in digitalizing the rarest books in its collection to put them available on the web in a way that allows the reader to “feel” the book. You are allowed to turn the pages of the books and zoom in with a surprisingly good quality. An audio commentary is also offered to explain the current page.

As reported by the BBC, the British Library has added recently added the original manuscript of Alice in Wonderland to its digital collection. In this manuscript, Lewis Carroll sketched the young Alice Lindell, age 7, which inspired his main character. Not satisfied with the drawing, Carroll replaced it with a photo of the girl. The drawing was rediscovered in 1977.

The Lewis Carroll masterpiece joins other equally famous books such as Leonardo’s notebook (pictured here), the first Mercator atlas from the 1570s, Jane Austen’s History of England and the Diamond Sutra, the oldest known printed book from China in 868.

Turning the Pages is a flash application and while it’s user friendly, it can consist in a hefty download, especially if you have dialup. However, the project is too interesting to pass up!

September 22nd, 2005 | Editor's Choice, Technology | No comments