IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 29 September
29-09-2010
by Sylvia Leatham
Shared Access in FAI broadband deal | Cork teen wins European science prize
The Irish Times reports that US telecoms infrastructure firm Shared Access has formally launched a EUR30 million investment programme with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). Floodlights will be installed in up 500 soccer clubs around the State, and in return Shared Access will erect wireless antennas that will enhance broadband penetration and mobile phone coverage. Details of the scheme were first revealed in July. The company will share any revenues generated by the antennas with the clubs involved.
The Irish Independent reports that Cork teenager Richard O'Shea, winner of this year's BT Young Scientist Award, has won a top European prize. The 18-year-old sixth-year student was awarded the Adene Special Prize and EUR2,500 for his work in the field of energy at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Lisbon. His project was called 'A biomass-fired cooking stove for developing countries'.
The paper also says that Facebook profiles are not exempt from investigation even if set to private, according to the social networking site. The news comes in the wake of reports that the Department of Social Protection is using Facebook to review suspected benefit fraud. Officials from the department have admitted to using the site to see if people claiming single parent benefits have ticked the box marked ''in a relationship''. Facebook said that profiles are not exempt from local laws even if set to private and that Facebook abides with local law enforcement. "Facebook protects people's right to privacy but in the same way officials investigating a case can access post office details or phone records, accessing Facebook profiles would be the same kind of thing," a spokesman said.
The same paper notes that shares in high-street retailer Game Group tanked in London after it swung into the red during the first half of the year, reporting an operating loss of STG18.8 million, compared to a STG13 million profit a year earlier. Shares in the company, which operates over 1,300 retail stores across the UK and Ireland as well as in countries including France and Australia, sank over 9 percent in early trading before declining even further later during the day to end the session down 11 percent.
The Irish Examiner reports that a new dating website aimed at GAA fans has launched. LoveGAA.ie was set up by Donegal native Dermot Lawless when he discovered there was no dating website specifically for GAA fans.
The paper also notes the launch of non-profit online marketplace GiveandBuy.ie. The site operates like a classified ads service, except that most of the proceeds from sales are given to the seller's preferred charity. Some 90 percent of the sale is donated to the seller's nominated charity with the remaining 10 percent going to the Friends of Kitui charity, a voluntary group working to alleviate poverty in Kitui in Africa.
According to the Wall Street Journal, PC maker Dell will launch a 7-inch tablet in the next few weeks and a 10-inch tablet within six to twelve months. Dell chief Michael Dell briefly showed a 7-inch device at an Oracle conference in the US a week ago but did not provide a release date. "It was showed off at Oracle World by Michael last week and we'll be launching very, very soon -- within the next few weeks," said Dell Greater China President Amit Midha in an interview. He said Dell will launch "a whole slew" of new products in the next six to twelve months, including additional 3-inch, 4-inch and 10-inch devices.
The paper also says that Nintendo will launch its 3D hand-held videogame system in February. The 3DS, the successor to Nintendo's DS portable game system, plays 3D games without the need for special glasses. The system will go on sale in Japan on 26 February for about USD300. The 3DS will then go on sale in the US and Europe in March.
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Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 