IN THE PAPERS
In The Papers 14 October
14-10-2010
by Sylvia Leatham
Intel results fuel Leixlip investment hopes | Bing deepens Facebook ties
The Irish Times reports that Intel's results have renewed speculation that the chip giant will make a new capital investment at its plant in Leixlip, Kildare. Intel chief Paul Otellini said the record revenue of USD11 billion and net profit of USD2.9 billion were driven by strong demand from large businesses and growth in emerging markets. Intel's Irish operations have been vying to attract fresh investment from the parent company for the last number of years. Local management are understood to be very hopeful that a capital investment is imminent.
The Irish Independent notes that Marissa Mayer, Google's vice president for search products and user experience, has taken on a new role within the company focusing on location-based services. Mayer is also joining the search company's operating committee, the most senior management group. Google was unavailable to expand on what Mayer's shift in focus will mean.
The paper also says that Apple has been granted a patent that prevents youngsters from using "age inappropriate" language in iPhone text messages. The patent concerns "systems, devices and methods" for filtering "text-based messages" that contain "objectionable content". It aims to ensure youngsters are not able to use their iPhones to send text messages that contain swear words or suggestive language.
The paper also reports that Facebook and Zynga have moved to prevent staff selling privately held shares by imposing huge fees on such transactions. Both firms have been tipped to list on the stockmarket in the next few years. Currently both are private but have offered stock to employees. To prevent these shares ending up in outside hands, Facebook has imposed a fee of USD2,500 for each sale, while social games firm Zynga has set the charge at USD6,000.
The Irish Examiner says that a campaign has been launched to help community and voluntary groups connect with the public through "digital storytelling". The Better Together campaign will be focused around a new website, www.bettertogether.ie. Charities, clubs and associations who upload videos to the website will be entered into a national competition for the most inspiring and engaging stories. The public is invited to visit the site to view videos, connect with charities, clubs and associations in their area, and show their support by volunteering or donating.
According to the Financial Times, Microsoft's Bing search engine has begun showing US users which products, restaurants and movies their Facebook friends like, deepening a four-year alliance between the companies. The move has the potential to improve the search experience because the results will be influenced by the opinions of people whose insights the individual values, instead of mass popularity or algorithmic guesses about the worth of web content.
The Wall Street Journal says that global shipments of PCs had a weaker-than-expected rise in the third quarter as softening consumer demand and interest in new tablet devices dragged down sales. Poor back-to-school sales crimped the computer market, according to data trackers IDC and Gartner. The two companies also cited fading interest in low-cost laptops and netbooks, which are finding strong competition from tablet devices. Both companies said worldwide unit shipments expanded in the quarter but failed to meet their expectations. Gartner said shipments grew 7.6 percent, while IDC estimated growth at 11 percent.
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