A warning about a new computer virus affecting computers throughout Ireland has been issued. W32/Prolin is a worm which uses Microsoft Outlook to spread. The worm arrives in an email with the subject: "A great Shockwave flash movie". The body of the message apparently contains the text: "Check out this new flash movie that I downloaded just now. . .It's Great, Bye". The worm, although not yet as prevalent as the Melissa or LoveBug outbreaks, has been unearthed with increasing frequency in Ireland. A fix and further information can be downloaded from www.sophos.com or through www.renaisance.ie.
Wanadoo It For Free: French ISP Wanadoo is to buy British counterpart Freeserve in a £2.05 billion all-share deal that will leapfrog the combined ISP into the European top three. The deal will achieve Wanadoo's aim of becoming a leading pan-European ISP and enable cash-strapped Freeserve to pool investments with its richer French peer.
Jobs Worth: One European worker in two is dissatisfied with their current salary, is the not unsurprising result of an online poll conducted across Europe by Monster.com. The European figure is mirrored in Ireland where, despite the booming economy, 49 per cent of Irish workers are dissatisfied with their salary. Approximately 13,000 visitors participated in the survey carried out simultaneously on Monster's seven European sites in late November.
Like Clockworks: Another language barrier has fallen following the launch of the iTranslator Online, www.itranslator.com, an e-commerce portal enabling professionals and businesses to submit documents via the Web for translation. Developed by L&H's Globalisation and Internet Translation division and produced and administered largely from the company's Dublin-based subsidiary Clockworks International, users can choose machine translation for remarkably accurate "gist quality" translations on the fly or "polished" translations through fee-based access to L&H's worldwide network of human translation services.
Such A Strain: A doctor has warned parents of the dangers of the risk of wrist and arm damage after treating a child who suffered a repetitive strain injury because he spent too much time playing computer games. Writing in the Scottish Medical Journal, Dr Diana Macgregor said she believed the 11-year-old boy could be the first reported case of a computer-induced form of the condition in a child.
Cards Of The Future, Now: Anyone keen to send a more modern Christmas greeting than the static cards of yore, is invited to record and send free online video greetings at the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre courtesy of ireland.com. The service will be available on Wednesday and Thursday from 5.30 to 8.30pm.
Vision Thing: The Irish Internet Association has awarded its second Net Visionary Award to Barry McDonagh of Concern/TheGoodspider.com. The award recognised the contribution made by McDonagh to the development and promotion of the Internet industry in Ireland and beyond. The Goodspider, www.thegoodspider.com, helps users fight global poverty through visits to the site.
Web Boot Camp: The Irish Software Association in association with Harvard Business School is to run a three day `boot camp' specifically targeted at fast growth technology companies from December 11-13th in Dublin. Further details are available from katherine.lucey@ibec.ie.
Fever Pitch: Fever Interactive has been commissioned by BBC Online to develop a prototype model for the new BBC homepage which, it is hoped, will come online early next year. It is the only Irish company to have been chosen for the task and will compete against four other UK-based companies contract.
Fast Acting: Deloitte & Touche, in association with Act Venture Capital, Techmark and Business Plus, is organising the Technology Fast 50 Awards in Ireland. To qualify, companies must be involved in the technology business, be in business for more than three years and have rapid growth. Further details are available on www.deloitte.ie. The closing date for nominations is December 14th.
In Brief...eircom net has launched a new low cost web-based EDI (electronic data interchange) service specifically geared towards the needs of small and medium sized businesses. . . Shares of Apple Computers fell to their lowest levels in a year after the company warned that slow holiday sales would lead to its first quarterly operating loss in three years. . .
Diary
Tomorrow: Macromedia seminar in Dublin's Vicar Street. It will feature an overview of software from the company that produces Flash 5, Generator, FreeHand, Director. The seminar features the first public showing of Dreamweaver 4, Fireworks 4 and UltraDev 4.
Modem World
www.irishwriters-online.com
Irish Writers Online, which hosts almost 300 concise literary biographies, now has a permanent home.
test.thespark.com/deathtest/
Ever wondered how long you going to live? Take the death test and find out, then you can start celebrating your death-day as well as your birthday. Please don't take this too seriously.
Textbites
"The agreement is part of a long-term, company-wide strategy to improve supply chain efficiencies, consolidate manufacturing and restructure to improve financial performance and build on company strengths." - Motorola statement announcing a restructuring that will see the telecoms equipment maker shed 750 jobs at its Swords manufacturing plant.
"This is clearly a blow for those employed in Motorola who will lose their jobs as a result of today's announcement." - The Tanaiste Mary Harney's response to the announcement.
News monitor column compiled by Conor Pope, Computimes Editor.
The full text of Computimes reports is available on The Irish Times web site at www.ireland.com
