Weekly Digest
Weekly Digest Issue No. 492
19-11-2009
by Emmet Cole
Smart Schools project criticised | YouTube backs 'citizen journalism'
Intel and AMD agree legal settlement
Chipmakers Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) announced late last week that they had settled all outstanding legal disputes, bringing a long-running antitrust battle between the companies to an end. The settlement -- which will see Intel pay AMD USD1.25 billion as part of the deal -- covers both antitrust litigation and patent licensing issues. Shares in AMD rose nearly 30 percent in the immediate aftermath of the announcement, and this week AMD said it would use the settlement to reduce its debt, which falls due in 2012. The two companies also signed a five-year cross-licence deal and said they would give up any claims of breach from their previous licence agreement. The move comes after years of action by competition authorities worldwide against Intel following complaints by AMD. Industry analysts have broadly welcomed the agreement and said the cross-licence deal in particular could improve competition in the server hardware market. And if Intel and AMD start enabling live migration across servers with different processors -- a process that is currently limited to transfers between compatible chips -- that could solve some problems related to server virtualisation. Other potential areas for new levels of compatibility between Intel and AMD processors include memory, security and power management, according to experts. Separately this week, the European Ombudsman criticised EU regulators for procedural errors in their antitrust inquiry of Intel. However, this will not affect the EUR1.06 billion fine imposed against Intel in May.
Smart Schools project criticised
On Monday, the Taoiseach launched a three-year, EUR150 million 'Smart Schools' plan to install a teaching laptop and digital projector in each classroom in the country. Developed by the joint advisory group established by the Minister for Education and Science Batt O'Keeffe, the plan calls for the Department of Education to spend EUR22 million this year on technology for primary schools. Announcing the plan, O'Keeffe predicted that the international average of five computers per classroom would be achieved in Ireland over the next three years. However, the plan has drawn criticism in some quarters due to the poor internet connectivity experienced in many Irish schools. With one-in-three schools using satellite broadband, some experts have called on the Government to address poor connectivity in schools before making investment in hardware. "Putting a laptop into a school with no broadband is the same as giving someone a car without any roads," Irish National Teachers' Organisation incoming general secretary Sheila Nunan told the Irish Examiner. In mid-October, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan's budget drew criticism from ICT Ireland for reducing investment in the rollout of ICT in the classroom by 30 percent.
YouTube backs 'citizen journalism'
The era of so-called 'citizen journalism' may now be upon us, with news this week that Google-owned video-sharing website YouTube has launched YouTube Direct, a dedicated channel for amateur journalists and broadcast news media. YouTube Direct allows media organisations to request, review and re-broadcast YouTube clips directly from YouTube users. The service is free to use. The channel is built from YouTube's APIs and is an open source application that lets media outlets add customised versions of YouTube's upload platform on their own websites. The system also allows users to submit their videos to a news organisation of their choice and editors at the station or website can choose whether to use or decline the footage via a private dashboard. Although the platform was built with news organisations in mind, YouTube has said it can be used by any organisation looking to source video content, from businesses looking for promotional videos to politicians seeking user-generated political commercials. A number of well-known media outlets have already been using YouTube Direct, including ABC News, the Huffington Post, NPR, Politico, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Washington Post.
New jobs on the cards
There was positive news on the jobs front this week with the announcement that two Irish wireless internet providers, Amocom and Callidus, are to merge into a new firm called Ripple Communications, creating 35 new jobs in the process. Set to target customers in rural areas, Ripple Communications is hoping to increase its customer base from 3,100 in 12 counties to 30,000 within five years and to expand its services to all 26 counties. In other merger news, digital marketing agency Digital Ambition has merged with internet technology company Web Splash to form FuriousTribe.Com, a new digital media agency. The move creates nine new jobs at the Media Cube facility based on the campus of the Institute of Art, Design & Technology, Dun Laoghaire. FuriousTribe's core competencies include online advertising, social media marketing, branded entertainment content, strategic web development, user experience design and content for mobile consumption. The company is also an Apple-approved iPhone development company. Elsewhere, Bentley Systems, a US company that specialises in software for engineers and architects, said on Wednesday that it is to establish an international Shared Services, Sales and Marketing Centre in Dublin, creating as many as 150 high-quality jobs.
WRI sold to investment firm
In acquisitions news, Dublin-based hotel reservations firm Web Reservations International (WRI) has been bought by affiliates of existing investor Hellman & Friedman, for an estimated USD340 million in cash. The purchase price supplements the estimated USD150 million WRI shareholders have already received in payouts in recent years. Ray Nolan, the company's co-founder and former chief executive, is thought to have made more than USD100 million through the sale. WRI sold EUR350 million worth of accommodation in 2008, generating net revenues of EUR38 million. Its websites include Hostelworld.com, Hostels.com, Boo.com, Bedandbreakfastworld.com and Trav.com. Founded in 1999, Hostelworld.com was an instant success, attracting U2 manager Paul McGuinness and business associate Trevor Bowen to its list of shareholders. WRI is headquartered in Dublin and has offices in Shanghai and Sydney. It employs 93 people.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 