NEWS IN BRIEF
Daily Digest 19 March
19-03-2009
by Bryan Collins
Microsoft unleashes Internet Explorer 8 | Broadband take-up jumps in Q4: ComReg
Microsoft has released Internet Explorer 8. The internet browser can be downloaded in 25 languages at www.microsoft.com/ie8 from 5pm on Thursday. The browser features several new security, privacy and performance enhancements, which the Redmond-giant claims make IE8 faster and more secure than its predecessors. Internet Explorer also includes three key new features: accelerators provides quick access to common web services on enabled sites like Facebook and Independent.ie, Web Slices makes updates from a user's favourite pages available instantly, while Visual Search Suggestions provides real time search information from a person favourites, history and selected search engines.
There was a significant increase in the number of Irish broadband subscriptions in 2008, according to a new report published by ComReg. The communications regulator revealed in its report for the fourth quarter of 2008 that broadband subscriptions reached 1.2 million during the period and that 63 percent of Irish households now have a broadband connection. The 1.2 million figure represents an increase of 6.7 percent on the previous quarter and a 35.4 percent increase over the full year. However, overall electronic communications market revenues decreased during the fourth quarter by 0.7 percent to less than EUR1.1 billion. The ComReg report also found 2.8 billion texts were sent during the period compared to 2.5 billion in the previous quarter, and while both fixed line and broadcasting revenues declined, mobile revenues increased during the three-month period. Communications Minister Eamon Ryan welcomed the broadband figures: "Broadband is a vital component of our communications policy to attract investment and create jobs. Once we have the whole country covered we can turn our full attention to facilitating higher speeds and lower costs, enabling greater connection and economic activity," the Minister said in a statement.
NovaUCD has launched a competition for students, researchers and entrepreneurs to develop business plans and commercial enterprises. Winning entries in the team-based SUSSED! Competition will share a EUR10,000 prize fund, receive six-months free incubation space in NovaUCD and obtain professional support for their new ventures. The overall winner will also represent UCD in the Europe-wide UNICA Entrepreneurship Competition for Students and Young Researchers which takes place later in 2009. NovaUCD, the body responsible for the commercialisation of intellectual property arising from UCD research, has imposed a deadline of 15 May for submissions. Those interested can read the criteria and download an application form here.
A massive 92 percent of businesses do not meet the most basic privacy legislation requirements for CCTV use. That's according to a survey by Irish company Top Security, which found the majority of public businesses on Grafton Street in Dublin are in breach of the Data Protection Act by failing to adhere to CCTV notification guidelines, and could be liable to a EUR100,000 fine. The act requires businesses to identify the data controller, the purposes for recording footage and who the footage will be made available to. According to Top Security these obligations can be met if a business displays a prominent and clear sign with this information at all entrances. "We should be especially aware of our legal right to know when and why we are under video surveillance and who to contact if we have any issues," said Emmet O'Rafferty, chairman of Top Security, in a statement.
Google has launched the UK version of its Street View application. The service allows users to zoom in and navigate at street level on locations in 25 UK cities including Aberdeen, Liverpool and London. Users can manipulate a 360-degree view of a selected area, which, according to Google, only displays images already visible from public thoroughfares. The company says it has blurred out faces and licence plates because of privacy concerns. "It is simply fascinating, even for a Londoner like me, to whiz over Westminster Bridge past the Houses of Parliament, soak up the majesty of Regent's Park, take in the stupendous views from Primrose Hill or simply wander around the streets near where I live," London mayor Boris Johnson told the BBC. Google Street View is currently not available in Ireland.
The global mobile broadband market drove major increases in mobile operator data subscribers and revenues in 2008. So says a report from Informa Telecoms and Media, which also concluded that mobile broadband will play an increasingly central role in the success of the mobile industry. The analysts found there were 186 million mobile broadband subscribers worldwide at the end of 2008, up 84 percent from 101 million in 2007. The report predicts that by 2013 mobile broadband subscribers will represent almost one-third of total mobile subscribers worldwide. "Flat-rate mobile broadband services with widespread coverage and new devices such as USB modems and the iPhone 3G are a runaway success, and have made mobile broadband one of the most significant strategic and commercial opportunities in the converging mobile and broadband markets," said Mike Roberts, principal analyst at Informa Telecoms and MediaRoberts
Cisco Systems has acquired digital camcorder-maker Pure Digital Technologies for USD590 million. With the purchase the computer networking equipment giant aims to increase its presence in the consumer electronics market, and is to pay up to USD15 million to Pure Digital staff who decide to remain with the company after the purchase. Pure Digital currently manufactures camcorders that simplify the uploading of video to internet sites like Facebook, and which fit in the palm of a user's hand.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 