Hi, everybody. Do you detect something missing?
Like that unease in your gut that everything has gone to hell? Wonder why that is.
Oh, and for those of you who are reading this newsletter on WIREDâs website, hereâs some news. First, weâre sending this out early because we have a scoop timed to tonight. And now for some bad news: Aside from an occasional episode shared out of the goodness of my heart, Plaintext will hereafter be available only for subscribers. Donât look shockedâIâve been warning you about this for a year! The good news is that you can subscribe for an initial offer of five lousy bucks and get Plaintext, unlimited WIRED online access, and a luscious print magazine that, properly cared for, will last longer than you do. Take that, Substack!
61 shares
Project Loon was developed in Google s secretive X Lab by the same team behind Google Glasses and the driverless car.
It had aimed to bring connectivity to areas of the world where building cell towers is too expensive or treacherous – such as parts of Africa, south-east Asia and the Amazon.
Developing countries that couldn t cover the high cost of laying fibre cables to get online were hoped to benefit from the project, leading to a dramatic increase in internet access.
Loon had said that once the project is up and running, the balloons could supply internet to an area of about 780 square miles – twice the size of New York City.