NEWS IN BRIEF
Daily Digest 8 April
08-04-2010
by Deirdre McArdle
Data breaches increased in 2009: report | Rumours of a smaller iPad surface
One hundred and nineteen data security breaches were reported to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in 2009, an increase of 47 percent on 2008 figures. The Data Protection Commissioner, Billy Hawkes, said in his annual report, released Thursday, that 914 complaints were opened during 2009, a slight decrease on the 1031 opened in 2008. Over a quarter (28 percent) of 2009's complaints concern electronic direct marketing. Security breaches at Bord Gais and the HSE were highlighted as the two main incidents of the year. Read the full report here.
Just days after the release of the iPad, than rumours have begun to emerge that Apple is preparing to develop a smaller iPad with a screen of between 5 inches and 7 inches. Citing its senior analyst, Mingchi Kuo, DigiTimes has reported that this new iPad would be ready for release in early 2011 and would cost under USD400.
In more news of Apple, the firm is expected to unveil the iPhone OS 4.0 later on Thursday, with observers suggesting the software upgrade will enable multi-tasking. Speculation has also been circulating that Apple will also be announcing a mobile ad platform. According to All Things D, Apple will outline plans to create an ad network, which it will open up to developers.
The Companies Registration Office has upgraded its website. It claims the revamped site is easier to navigate around. Check it out here.
Sony and Fifa have revealed the World Cup matches that will be shown in 3D this summer. For a full list of the matches see here.
Businesses and universities in the Western Gaeltacht region have received a bandwidth boost from AirSpeed Telecom and HEA Net. AirSpeed said GMIT, NUIG, indigenous businesses and multinationals in the region, as well as TG4, Telegael and Nuacht, are all making use of its "almost unlimited bandwidth".
As it bids to revive its struggling music download service, Nokia has launched a free, unrestricted service in China, the world's largest mobile market. Nokia will be launching eight handsets in China under its Comes with Music service. Read more about the story here.
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 