IN THE PAPERS
In the papers 9 January
09-01-2008
by Sylvia Leatham
Dublin's free Wi-Fi plans scrapped | European Commission to drop Apple antitrust case
The Irish Times reports that Intel chief Paul Otellini has unveiled advanced microchips for portable gadgets and home electronics at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. "We're now in the midst of the largest opportunity to redefine consumer electronics and entertainment since the introduction of the television," said Otellini. He focused on consumer devices, describing for the first time a new chip aimed at electronics such as set-top boxes, media players and televisions. Dubbed "Canmore", the new chip is to go on sale in the second half of 2008.
The paper also reports that mobile phone group Digicel has insisted that the chief executive of its Papua New Guinea subsidiary had a valid work permit as the company sought to defuse a row with the local authorities. It was reported last week that the Papua New Guinea labour secretary David Tibu had ordered Kevin O'Sullivan to leave the country because he did not have permission to work there. A Digicel spokeswoman said O'Sullivan had travelled to Fiji over Christmas, but was now back in Papua New Guinea and working as normal.
The paper also reports on the opening of the annual BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. More than 1,100 student researchers will descend on the RDS in Dublin on Wednesday as the exhibition gets under way.
The same paper says that military police have launched an investigation into the appearance of a video on the internet which appears to show members of the Irish Defence Forces carrying rifles while dancing to a song. The video, posted on Liveleak.com, shows three soldiers with rifles dancing to the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive". A spokesman for the Defence Forces confirmed that the appearance of the video was the subject of a military police investigation.
The paper also reports that a plan to develop a free Wi-Fi service in Dublin has been cancelled due to of a number of "major impacts" on proposals, Dublin City Council has said. A spokesman for the city council on Tuesday night said circumstances had changed while a report on the provision of a free wireless internet service was being prepared because of "two major impacts". "An EU ruling on state aid was issued in May 2007, putting severe limits on the involvement of government in the supply of broadband," said the spokesman, adding that "the economic model for citywide Wi-Fi was internationally reviewed" following the withdrawal and scaling down of free Wi-Fi services in "many US cities".
The Irish Examiner notes that Irish software firm Havok has won an Emmy award, as reported by ENN.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the European Commission is expected to conclude by Thursday an antitrust case against Apple and record companies over allegations of unfair pricing and distribution of online music, according to sources. The Commission will say it has ended the case against Apple, EMI, Warner Music, Universal Music and Sony BMG. None of the companies are expected to be fined, as the Commission could not build a case against the companies under its cartel legislation, sources said. The Commission's investigation centred on European consumers being charged differing amounts, and having access to different iTunes songs, depending on their location.
The same paper reports that Sharp executives have said the company aims to increase operating profit by 10 percent in the next fiscal year by increasing sales of liquid-crystal-display TVs in China and providing more LCD screens to outside manufacturers. The company is also looking to boost revenue by about 10 percent in the fiscal year through March 2009, Executive Vice President Hiroshi Saji said. Sharp aims for an operating profit of JPY190 billion (USD1.73 billion) on sales of JPY3.4 trillion this fiscal year ending 31 March.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 