PC makers are hoping the launch of Microsoft's latest operating system, XP, will boost sales and rescue them from an 11 per cent slump in the market. Dell, Comaq Hewlett-Packard and Gateway have been selling PC's with XP loaded on them since late September. Bill Gates was optimistic at the New York launch saying: "Once again, the technology industry will re-energise our economy". Analysts however, believe any surge in sales will be short-term. It is believed XP sales will be slow caused by reduced consumer demand and companies holding off on technology spending. XP, whose $200 million launch took place on Thursday, went on sale in 63 cities worldwide with the promise of fewer computer crashes for users. Windows XP Home Edition's upgrade version costs £99 and in a standard version costs £197. The professional version costs £193 for an upgrade and £287 as standard. On the positive side, the new package is described as the most user-friendly operating system to date, but critics say it further reinforces Microsoft dependency.
Faster, cheaper, better: Scientists in Britain have invented a system that allows video broadcasts to be sent to individual computers around the world. The information can be delivered faster, in higher quality and up to one million times cheaper than using broadband Web streaming, Chelmsford company Enformatica says. The development could make broadcasts easily and cheaply available not just on computers but on mobile phones, pagers and hand-held devices.
Let's get physical: Intel Ireland has said the future of the Irish high-tech industry is in trouble because of the lack of interest in science subjects at school. The company says it has "viewed with alarm" the declining interest in psychics and chemistry, especially at Leaving Cert level. "These trends must be reversed if we are to sustain and grow the vibrant high-tech industries that have contributed to our strong economy", the Intel submission says.
High-speed?: Motorola says it will be 2004 until 3G phones are on the market in Europe, a year later than forecasts from Nokia and Ericsson. Mobile operators and telecom companies are investing billions of euros in developing high-speed technology to transmit video, voice and rapid Internet services over mobile phones. The longer it takes before 3G networks start operating, the longer it will take for these companies to start generating revenues and profits from their investments.
Banking on it: The investment bank Merrill Lynch has used e-mails to ask for voluntary redundancies. The firm sent e-mails to just under 70,000 people across 44 countries. It is said to be looking to cut jobs as part of a group-wide overhaul.
Super macs: Apple has unveiled a portable digital music device that is the size of a deck of cards, but can hold 1,000 digitally recorded songs. The iPod, works only on Macs running Apple's proprietary operating systems and iTunes 2, its music software. The device is expected to be available on November 1st with a price tag of about £300. Apple says a CD's worth of music would take five to 10 seconds to download to the player, as opposed to five hours needed via USB.
Book up: Amazon.com says it expects to achieve profitability by the end of the year after it reported a narrower loss for the third quarter, meeting analysts' expectations. For the quarter ending September 30th, Amazon.com recorded a net loss of $170 million, or 46 cents a share. In the same period last year the loss was $241 million, or 68 cents a share.
Meanwhile, Sony Corporation on Thursday posted a loss for its second quarter of $111 million in the three months ended September 30th.
In Brief
US President George W Bush was on Friday expected to sign into law a Bill giving increased powers to law enforcement agencies to track down terrorists. The new powers would strengthen powers to wiretap suspects and track their Internet habits.
Modem World
www.oasis.gov.ie
An Irish e-Government system providing information on public services in the State. A recent survey puts Ireland sixth out of list of the 196 best eGovernment countries.
www.irishantiwar.org
Web presence of the Irish Anti-War Movement.
www.munsterrugby.ie
Regularly-updated and slickly-designed website which is home to the Munster Rugby Team
www.cranberries.ie
The official site of rock band The Cranberries
Diary
Wednesday: Cancellation: The National Standards Authority of Ireland has cancelled its planned Annual Conference E-volution - Virtual Business in the Real World.
November 9th: The Irish Software Association 2001 Annual Industry Awards, will be announced by the Tanaiste.
Textbites
"With the launch of Windows XP, we are entering an exciting new era of personal computing. This powerful new version of Windows offers so much to customers - it unlocks the full power of the PC and enables them to enjoy the best of what the digital world has to offer" - Bill Gates at the launch of Windows XP in New York last Thursday. "Achieving profitability for us does not require heroics, just execution" - Amazon.com chief financial officer Warren Jenson after the firm reported narrower than expected losses.