TechCapsules

George R.R. Martin posted his first “Not a Blog” entry in nearly six months, describing a “stressful” year marked by personal loss, depression, and a strained relationship with House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal. While he offered no update on the long‑delayed novel The Winds of Winter, Martin celebrated the nine Emmy nominations for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and noted that season 2 is nearing the end of production, with star Dexter Sol Ansell having wrapped filming. He hinted at working on a fourth Dunk [...]

Mike Loukides published the August 2026 edition of the O’Reilly Radar Trends to Watch newsletter on August 4, 2026. The article outlines significant developments across multiple technology sectors, specifically highlighting advancements in quantum computing, web technologies, and biology. As part of the O’Reilly learning platform’s broader content strategy, this report aims to help professionals keep their skills sharp and stay ahead of industry shifts. The newsletter serves as a curated guide for experts shaping the tech landscape, [...]

Brandon Donnelly, a long-time blogger, is migrating his personal website back to a self-hosted WordPress environment after previously using Tumblr, WordPress.com, and the blockchain-based platform Paragraph. Donnelly initially left WordPress.com for Paragraph two years ago to store posts permanently on the Arweave blockchain, aligning with his interest in cryptocurrency. However, he found Paragraph increasingly restrictive and misaligned with his writing preferences. The platform’s recent pivot toward an AI-focused media model, which requires purchasing credits, further discouraged him. [...]

The latest episode of The Sideload podcast, produced by 9to5Google, features host Will Sattelberg joined by Kai Tang and Joe Hollier from Light. The discussion centers on the recent announcement of the Light Flip, a new device designed to help users disconnect from traditional smartphone distractions. The conversation explores the growing desire for digital minimalism and the challenge of finding a sustainable balance between staying offline and maintaining necessary connectivity. The episode aims to provide listeners with [...]

European Technology Network (ETN), a London-based live stream founded by Luke Knight and Ronan Chambers, announced a $1.6 million seed round led by Powerhouse Capital, Axel Springer SE, and angel investors from OpenAI and DeepMind. The funding supports an expansion to a five-day-a-week live show schedule starting June 27, moving into a new Kings Cross studio, and launching a newsletter. ETN, which previously aired twice weekly, has garnered over 5 million views on X and YouTube. The [...]

The July 13‑17 Lit Hub Weekly roundup highlights diverse literary and cultural moments. It marks William Makepeace Thackeray’s 1811 birth, examines the rise and fall of Japan’s early 2000s cell‑phone novel craze, and features Josh Cook’s analysis of booksellers filling the void left by disappearing book criticism. The issue also covers AI‑related theft concerns through Monica Potts’ experience, debates over Florida’s Stop WOKE Act, and reflections on Gaza’s devastation in Isabella Hammad’s piece. Additional essays touch on [...]

The sixth installment of the Bobiverse audiobook series, The Infinite Extent, will be released on Audible on September 10, IGN can exclusively reveal. The release marks the 10th anniversary of the Dennis E. Taylor series and features the return of narrator Ray Porter. The book continues Bob Johansson’s journey as he explores the galaxy, investigates alien technology, and confronts existential threats like a supermassive black hole.

The author reflects on a lifelong compulsion to amass reading material, tracing a shift from physical books to vast digital libraries of e‑books and audiobooks. Describing the habit as rooted in an ADHD‑related need for completeness, they admit to hoarding entire series, such as all James Bond titles, across formats. While acknowledging the environmental and financial costs of this accumulation, the writer argues that digital collections are more portable yet still costly. They note that most books [...]