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Google's first Street View EV is a Jaguar loaded with air quality sensors
Over the next twelve months, Jaguar I-Pace EVs outfitted with Google's Street View mapping technology will be driving around Dublin.
Facebook opens 'war room' to fight meddling in EU election
Facebook is now using "war room" to fight election interference for most of Europe. The social network has debuted a 40-person team devoted to tracking and fighting misinformation campaigns ahead of the European Union election on May 20th. The team, based in Facebook's European headquarters in Dublin, includes a mix of data scientists, engineers and security experts whose goal is to intercept bogus content before it has much opportunity to spread.
Ireland says EU overstepped authority over Apple tax bill
Ireland says the European Union overstepped its authority and misinterpreted the country's laws when it ordered the country to claim 13 billion euros ($13.59 billion) in allegedly unpaid taxes from Apple. The company will also reportedly dispute this figure later this week. It's by far the highest tax bill chased by the EU, and is one of multiple cases it's pursuing against corporate tax deals granted by EU countries. The commission says that lower tax bills create illegal "state aid", giving firms advantages over rivals.
Your next heart monitor could be graphene-coated Silly Putty
For a child's toy, Silly Putty has some downright crazy physical properties. The mixture of boric acid and silicon oil, originally developed as a synthetic replacement for rubber, is a non-Newtonian fluid. Its viscosity isn't affected by temperature, but rather external force -- that is, its rate of flow depends on how hard you push or stretch it. And while its original inventors were content to leave it as a plaything, a team of researchers from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland are about to put it to work in the medical field.
US government says online storage isn't protected by the Fourth Amendment
A couple months ago, a New York judge ruled that US search warrants applied to digital information even if they were stored overseas. The decision came about as part of an effort to dig up a Microsoft user's account information stored on a server in Dublin, Ireland. Microsoft responded to the ruling and challenged it, stating that the government's longstanding views of digital content on foreign servers are wrong, and that the protections applied to physical materials should be extended to digital content. In briefs filed last week, however, the US government countered. It states that according to the Stored Communications Act (SCA), content stored online simply do not have the same Fourth Amendment protections as physical data: Overseas records must be disclosed domestically when a valid subpoena, order, or warrant compels their production. The disclosure of records under such circumstances has never been considered tantamount to a physical search under Fourth Amendment principles, and Microsoft is mistaken to argue that the SCA provides for an overseas search here. As there is no overseas search or seizure, Microsoft's reliance on principles of extra-territoriality and comity falls wide of the mark.
Dublin City University adopts Chromebooks -- time to go streaking through the quad!
Instead of handing out cheap mugs (or iPads... or iPods) and sending students on their merry way, administrators at Dublin City University will be showering incoming freshmen with free Chromebooks -- in doing so, it'll become the first European higher-education institution to adopt the device. As you probably recall, Google's always-connected laptops have gone through various incarnations throughout the years, but they've always included a dash of WiFi or 3G and a pinch of hasty boot -- intentionally ditching local storage for the cloud. The Google Chromebooks for Education partnership is said to support DCU's commitment to make 80 percent of its classes partially or fully online by 2013, allowing coeds to stay in their Scooby Doo pajamas or attend class from Pi Kappa Delta HQ. Now, if only the dining hall supported online ordering...
Augmented reality Tetris game uses Kinect hack, Wiimote, smooth jazz (video)
What does it take for a gaming classic to survive in a world ruled by titles like Portal 2 and Homefront? A Kinect hack, a Wiimote, and some electronic elbow grease, apparently. Trinity College student Keysosaurus -- as he's know to his YouTube pals -- has used a bit of C#, XNA, and OpenNI coding to play 3D augmented reality Tetris using Kinect body controls and a Wiimote. The Kinect gestures do most of the work, rotating the board, zooming the camera in and out, and moving the pieces into place, while the Nintendo controller is used to rotate. Video's after the break, but beware, the familiar strains of "Korobeiniki" have been replaced by smooth guitar jazz, so turn the volume up at your own risk.
iPad 2 launch day in Ireland
Another report from our special correspondent in Ireland, James Britton It's a beautiful day in Dublin to be standing in line for the international launch of iPad 2, but apparently Dubliners have better things to do. Either that, or I'm just the only one obsessed about it since last night. Morning checks at Compu b and HMV on Grafton Street in Central Dublin were met with bustling sidewalks but no iPad queues. I have confirmed with Compu b that they will have stock and are the only Apple reseller that seems to have a plan for today. Their 4 locations in Ireland will close at 4:00 pm today to reset and reopen for the iPad 2 unveiling at 5:00 pm. An HMV employee could not confirm any details other than it will be available from 5:00. While I was milling about Compu b for 10 minutes at midday, I overheard around 4 or 5 other customers asking about iPad availability but none of them stuck around to form a line. The same scenario at HMV down the street - still no queue. The Irish seem to have Spring fever rather than iPad fever as the thermometer has risen above 50ºF (10ºC). My guess is as soon as the shops close at 4:00, the itch to buy will settle in and queues will form. UPDATE: I left at about 12:00 for about 2 hours with no line formed and now there 22 people in front of me and 8 behind me. The lucky man to be first in the queue is Kevin who will be buying 2 32 GB 3G-enabled models. Enda Crowley, Compu b Dublin's social media manager, was "shocked to see this many customers waiting with 3 hours to go" and said he will make sure to tally the stock so that nobody in the queue will be disappointed.
Steorn invites us to 'get real' with fairy-powered Orbo free energy device, we invite it to do the same (video)
Oh, Steorn, how we've missed you. The company rushed onto the scene in the summer of 2007 promising free energy for all, then said "we screwed up" when its demonstration failed to show anything but red faces. Naturally the screw-up wasn't thanks to an ill-advised attempt to break the laws of physics, instead blamed on a bearing failure. Now, coffers filled again after assuredly brisk sales of USB-powered divining rods, the company has rented another demonstration space, this time in Dublin. In the promotional video below Steorn pledges that this week things will "get real" by mocking those who have mocked the company, including our very own reference to power divined from the Fay and other mythical sources. We're going to firmly stand by our disbelief -- but to say that we're jazzed about the prospect of another exciting demonstration would be a huge understatement. [Thanks, Chris]
UK game tax policies has Realtime Worlds considering move to Ireland
Realtime Worlds is becoming synonymous with Scotland's game development with their upcoming title All Points Bulletin, but there are reports the company may consider relocating to Ireland. As one of Scotland's most prominent development studios, Realtime Worlds is keenly aware that as the computer games industry grows the UK lags behind other countries in terms of tax incentives. (Edge Online has an excellent overview of the situation which details how UK firms pay tax on R&D while countries like Canada and France provide rebates for game developers.) The situation as it affects Realtime Worlds and other Dundee-based companies is that if corporate tax breaks aren't possible in Scotland, they may need to head to greener pastures. Even moreso if such pastures include a 5-year tax holiday, which was mentioned at last weekend's Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin.Herald Scotland quotes Colin Macdonald, Realtime Worlds Studio Manager, as saying,"If the package on offer in Ireland was attractive we'd have to give it serious consideration. [...] Dundee is a great place to be based, one of the main hubs for computer games in Britain, but at the end of the day we've got to look after our bottom line."
Dragonica enters open beta in Europe
The free-to-play game Dragonica has entered open beta in Europe as of June 10th. Dragonica is a 3D side-scrolling MMO developed by Barunson Interactive and operated by gPotato (Gala Networks Europe Ltd.). The title is currently offered in English, French, and German languages and has very low system requirements, so it should run well on older hardware or even on netbooks from what Gala Networks Europe states.Just for additional clarification, this open beta is for the EU's Dragonica operated by gPotato, not to be confused with the North American version of the game titled Dragonica Online, which we previewed at E3 2009.
Celebrating St. Patrick's Day MMO-style
Though not many Americans can quite tell you why they are celebrating St. Patrick's Day or wear a bit of green. they do love an excuse to head to an Irish pub and drink a Guinness. And this year is no different with the holiday being observed anywhere from March 15 to March 17 this year. A few MMOs are getting in on the action as well. EverQuest II is celebrating all week long with their pub-crawl inspired Brew Day Festival which has in turn inspired a video parody. And Pirates of the Caribbean Online has turned the seas green as well as offering shamrock tattoos and green hair to players to customize their avatar.Even Lord of the Rings Online is slipping in its own St. Paddy's Day celebration with a quest that rewards you with a giant size keg during Spring Festival. Tapping that beast gets you so drunk, your character passes out and wakes up in another part of Middle-earth! Better in-game, than in life, eh? Finally, if Virtual Worlds are more your style, there are sure to be many player run St. Patrick Day events in Second Life. You may have missed yesterday's float parade, but you can always visit virtual Dublin any time of year. %Gallery-18489%
Activision buys DemonWare, claims Irish paper
Dublin's Sunday Independent reports that Activision has dropped €15 million (about $19.75m) for DemonWare, maker of the popular network middleware technology. DemonWare's two primary products are its State Engine and Matchmaking+, used to power the multiplayer component of Activision's Call of Duty 3 -- as well as THQ's Saint's Row and Ubisoft's Rainbow Six Vegas. Since its creation in 2003, DemonWare, which is headquartered in Dublin, has emerged as a leading outsource option for publishers' networking needs. As online multiplayer grows into an industry standard, DemonWare technology could prove to be a valuable asset to Activision .DemonWare has yet to comment on the alleged acquisition.Source (registration required)
Get your Irish hands on the Wii next month
Irish gamers will get a chance to get their hands on the Wii next month at the annual Toys 4 Big Boys, which features home entertainment and electronics through a variety of third-party supporters. Nintendo falls in line as one, offering up demo stations for visitors during the show on November the 10th, 11th and 12th.Any Irish readers planning on hitting Dublin for the event?[Via Cubed3]
