IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 2 September
02-09-2009
by Sylvia Leatham
Tetris makes the brain expand | Sony to launch 3D LCD TV
The Irish Times reports that US researchers have found that playing 'Tetris' makes your brain grow, but they are not sure if it makes players any smarter. The study by the Mind Research Network in New Mexico proved that playing the computer game for 30 minutes a day, for three months, will make your brain grow in specific areas. The researchers showed that cortical thickness increased in a brain area associated with the planning of complex movements. Grey matter also grew in an area linked to multisensory integration, the blending of mixed sensory inputs. Brain efficiency improved in different areas, however, one involved in critical thinking and another in reasoning and language.
The Irish Independent says that eBay has agreed to sell a 65 percent stake in Skype, as reported by ENN on Tuesday.
The paper also notes that a US judge has explained why he quashed convictions against a Missouri mother for her role in an internet hoax directed at a 13-year-old neighbour who later committed suicide. US District Judge George Wu said that the Lori Drew case, seen as the US's first cyberbullying trial, was never a legal test of such crimes. The judge said prosecutors had brought charges against Drew under the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Statute which did not involve cyberbullying.
The Irish Examiner says that cyber-attacks on AIB customers have increased significantly, as noted on ENN on Monday.
The Wall Street Journal says that Sony plans to launch a liquid-crystal-display television capable of displaying 3D video by the end of 2010, according to a source. The company will announce plans for a new 3D TV at next week's IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin, the source said. Major TV manufacturers, including Sony rivals Samsung, LG and Panasonic, have committed to introducing 3D products.
The paper also reports that games maker Take-Two Interactive Software swung to a loss in its fiscal third quarter. For the quarter ended 31 July, Take-Two posted a loss of USD55.5 million, or USD0.72 a share, compared with a year-earlier profit of USD51.8 million, or USD0.67 a share. Revenue plummeted 68 percent to USD138.6 million. Gross margin fell to 17.1 percent from 40.1 percent on the revenue drop. Take-Two issued a cautious outlook for the current year, saying it now expects an adjusted loss of USD0.81 to USD0.87 a share on revenue of USD975 million to USD1 billion.
According to the Financial Times, Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba is aiming to attract more customers outside China, with a global advertising campaign and the opening of new European headquarters in London. Alibaba, which connects businesses with suppliers and trading partners over an eBay-like platform, has 40 million registered users, around 9.5 million of which are from outside China. A USD30 million advertising campaign is designed to boost expansion, and the new London office, with 14 staff, aims to provide European companies with better customer service.
The paper also notes that Simon Beresford-Wylie is stepping down as chief executive of Nokia Siemens Networks. Beresford-Wylie has been CEO since the formation of NSN in 2007. After 27 years in telecoms, Beresford-Wylie is planning to move to a different industry. He will be replaced by Rajeev Suri, head of the company's services business, at the end of this month.
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Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 