A round-up of other tech news in brief

Apple's Jobs criticises Flash

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs has called Adobe Systems’ Flash multimedia software a “closed system” that is ill-suited to the company’s suite of mobile devices, escalating the war of words between the two companies.

Mr Jobs said Flash’s system is closed because it is a proprietary system from Adobe, which controls everything from its features to its pricing.

Ironically, perhaps, similar charges have been made about Apple’s products and services, such as iTunes.

In a long, detailed letter posted on Apple’s website, Mr Jobs cited several problems with Flash, which is used to run video on many internet sites but which is not compatible with Apple’s iPhone and iPad. – (Reuters)

Nualight signs distribution deal

Nualight, a maker of low-energy LED lighting for food retail environments, has signed an exclusive all-Ireland distribution deal with the Cross Group. The two firms estimate the deal, in which the Cross Group will establish a network of retrofit engineers to upgrade Irish food retailers to LED lighting, will be worth €5 million.

Cork-based Nualight was founded by Dr Liam Kelly in 2004. Its investors include ESB Novus modus, 4th Level Ventures, Enterprise Ireland and the Quinn family, former owners of Superquinn.

Customers include Tesco in Ireland, Britain and the US.

Weedle to launch service in US 

Weedle, a social web service that allows people with skills to connect with those who require them, is to attend the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco next week to launch its service in the US.

Weedle, which secured $4 million (€3 million) in angel funding last month, says it will show off a significant upgrade to the beta of its service, which has been running since June. It says it will demonstrate social media being used for an entirely new purpose.

Weedle was founded by Iain McDonald, who sold his previous venture, telecoms company Perlico, to Vodafone for €60 million in 2007.