In the papers 6 May

06-05-2008

by Sylvia Leatham

RTE to launch internet-only TV channel | Motorola shareholders get angry

The Irish Independent reports that Gardai are still using pen and paper to record details of ASBOs (anti-social behaviour orders) because their computer system is unable to process them. Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan said he was concerned about the inability to record details of ASBOs on the "cumbersome" Garda Pulse system. The Pulse system was introduced in 1999 at a cost of EUR60 million. It contains details of criminal records, which can be assessed by members of the force, and allows them to enter details of most offences, but not ASBOs.

The Irish Examiner reports that RTE is to launch an internet-only television channel for broadcast across the world later this year. The station said its online TV channel would run a separate programming schedule to the existing RTE One and RTE Two channels. It is understood that the broadcaster is also looking to set up a facility similar to the BBC's iPlayer.

According to the Financial Times, angry shareholders berated Motorola's management at the company's annual meeting in Chicago on Monday night, voting to put executive pay awards up for a non-binding annual vote by shareholders. The meeting was marked by frustration as disgruntled investors lined up to criticise Greg Brown, who took over as chief executive of the struggling mobile firm in January. George Polous, one shareholder, said he was "embarrassed and outraged" at what had happened to the company. He said management "have been telling us baloney stories for years about making money in China and recouping money in Turkey." Brown admitted 2007 had been "a punishing year" but insisted "we're addressing our key issues head on".

The Wall Street Journal says that AMD has expanded a list of allegations against Intel, claiming its chip rival paid and pressured computer giants not to buy AMD chips in order to preserve a monopoly. A new filing in AMD's long-running antitrust case against Intel points to actions involving PC makers that include Dell, IBM and HP. AMD lawyer Charles P. Diamond said the new filing shows that "Intel pays people not to deal with AMD." Included in the documents, he said, are passages from e-mail exchanges between top executives at large computer makers and at Intel showing that Intel took illegal measures to exclude AMD from the market.

The paper also reports that Microsoft is introducing new technology that will let users of its Zune portable media devices legally share portions of their song libraries with other Zune users. The company also plans to announce it has started selling downloads of television shows that will play on Zunes, including 'South Park' and 'Heroes', through relationships with Comedy Central, NBC, MTV and other broadcasters. The company says it will have about 800 episodes available for purchase at USD1.99 each at its Zune online store.