Akihabara News has some nifty screenshots (http://akiba.sorobangeeks.net/news_9124.html) of what appears to be a vending machine for Japanese PDA software and e-books. According to the report, you indicate via touchscreen which product you want, then choose the right memory card format (SD, CF, or MS), and hit "Buy" to receive the software on your memory card (not sure whether you have to supply the card or whether it is included with the purchase).

Because really, what could be more wonderful than to buy your magazines and books from an electronic vending machine in future?

I like this! It's a big step in making ebook reading more mainstream, when you can get your fix from a vending machine. It's visible, and accessable. Now, we just have to see how well it succeeds in Japan, and how long/whether it makes it anywhere else.

Content management on the machine would be interesting as well. I wonder how they update it?

Craig.

Maybe it's updated via internet? Of course they'd probably want a system like that running OpenBSD, for fear of crackers. (Why OpenBSD? OpenBSD brags about only a SINGLE remote exploit in a default install in 8 YEARS.)

Personally I hope they have support for multiple formats. Yes, I'll take my e-books in a nice Plucker format, thank you...

That sounds definitely cool.

What about daily newspapers? Plug in your memory stick and out comes the latest edition of the NYT "Print" edition. Wonderful!

I'm come from to CN

How very Japanese; they do love vending machines. I do hope this is successful but don't know how well it will play in less densely populated countries. This would be an excellent addition to the Palm kiosks/stores in airports.

Sometimes I cannot help myself for feeling that I live on the wrong side of this planet. Have never been to Japan, nor learned much about its culture; but what I know about their affectation for gadgets makes me immediately want to move there.