Google Friend Connect

Google has unleashed an application by which any website can add social applications to their site. It would appear that this will allow developers access to any of the social networking sites signed up to the OpenSocial initiative, which includes MySpace, Friendster, IMEEM and a whole lot more.

Read all about it here

Music Sales Forecasts Might Be Silly

From Wired.com:

"Forrester has new predictions about the future of music. Apparently, 41 percent of music sales will be digital by 2013. As previous studies have shown, the increase in digital sales will not make up for the ongoing decline in CD sales, and so as a result, the music market will shrink at a compound annual growth rate of 0.8, dropping to $9.8 billion in 2013. Sales in 2008, by comparison, are expected to total $10.2 billion."

Of course, they also state that these forecasts probably aren't worth the virtual paper they're not printed on ....

Class Picture 2: Suit Up

The first class picture was mysteriously missing a few characters. Obviously an attempt to hide the truth. But we will not be censored! The truth is out there. Here is the original, restored in all its hilarious glory.

Student Mobile Broadband Wars Set To Begin

Good news for students wanting to get online:

"Mobile operators offering mobile broadband will begin vying for the hearts – and wallets – of connected third-level students, following the latest deal by O2 and HEAnet (Ireland’s National Education and Research Network) to offer mobile broadband for €13 a month."

Read on at siliconrepublic.com

Semester One Almost Complete

Semester One of the very first class in Entertainment Systems is almost over - just the small matter of EXAMS to sort out!

Pictured are the combined class of Entertainment Systems, Computer Forensics, Physics w/ Computing and Applied Computing - well those who were in for first class on Friday morning that is!

The creative programming sketchbook Processing is out of Beta and version 1.0 has been released. Looking forward to getting stuck into this package as its development has been mightily impressive. For the uninitiated:

"Processing is a programming language, development environment, and online community that since 2001 has promoted software literacy within the visual arts. Initially created to serve as a software sketchbook and to teach fundamentals of computer programming within a visual context, Processing quickly developed into a tool for creating finished professional work as well."

I've heard that Processing integrates very nicely with audio packages so one could develop an audio engine in SuperCollider and then do a funky front end in Processing. Music technology students can expect to be seeing these packages in future modules!

Morgan Stanley Programming Challenge

Are you ready for the challenge?

This autumn Morgan Stanley's Technology Division have launched the 2nd Morgan Stanley Student Programming Contest and this season the contest is open to students from all across Europe.

The contest is an online programming competition, designed internally by a team of Morgan Stanley Technologists to challenge students to implement a set of programs that solve exciting algorithmic problems.

This years prizes include a Dell XPS M1710 Gaming Laptop, an XBOX 360 Elite, an iPod Nano and a debugger prize of an Iomega Prestige Portable 500 GB Hard Drive.

Visit the Morgan Stanley Pro Contest Website for more information and to register.

Irish middleware company Havok and Intel have launched a worldwide competition with a cash prize of US$40,000 to find the “next big thing” in video game development. Entitled the Havok Physics Innovation Contest, amateur game developers are being asked to create an inventive, playable PC game demo using the Intel sponsored no-charge PC version of the Emmy award-winning Havok Physics software. Supporting the growth of future video game developers, Havok’s goal is to drive innovation and creativity for the use of physics in game developing worldwide.

Read more about the Havok Physics Innovation Contest

Semester 1 Exam Timetable

The timetable for Semester 1 exams has been published. Put these dates in your diary:

• 15 Dec. 9.15: Computing Essentials (Main Hall)
• 17 Dec. 9.15: Discrete Mathematics (F06,F08,F09)
• 19 Dec. 11.45: Software Development Lifecycle (E19A,E19B,E15)
• 22 Dec. 11.45: The Entertainment Industry (Main Hall)

They've also been added to the Entertainment Systems Google Calendar.

Alas Poor Blu-Ray, We Hardly Knew Ye ...

Analyst Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates has stated the current economic climate will have a negative impact on Blu-Ray adoption this Christmas. He claims that people just don't have the cash to go upgrading their home entertainment systems. In reference to internet-based video-on-demand services, he also notes:

If you can get movies over the wire on demand and have an entire library at your disposal on the screen, that's the way you're going to go.

When it comes to Blu-Ray, I really don't see what the fuss is all about. I believe that the general public does not need to watch everything in full-HD, certainly not having recently only upgraded from VHS to DVD. DVD brought a wow-factor picture and sound quality, as well as being much more convenient than VHS. However, blu-ray doesn't really offer all that more, certainly not enough to justify a new player costing €300 and discs that start at €25. Also, viewers need to have a full HD TV set on top of the player and despite what the media may have reported, not everyone has a giant flatscreen at home.

I predict that blu-ray will sell poorly this Christmas and next year, the price of players and discs will halve. I still don't think this will generate the sales numbers the industry hopes. Meanwhile, the installation of media-centres will increase and (mostly illegal) video downloads will shoot through the roof. The industry will move to more convenient video download services by next year, with the iTunes store being made available in more countries.

That's my €0.02 anyway. What do you think?

Atari and Ireland

You'd be forgiven for believing that the games industry was relatively new to Ireland. However, Jamie McCormick has a great article over on gamedevelopers.ie about how Atari once had a development division in Ardfinnan (Co. Tipperary) in the 1970s, employing over 200 people at its height.

Read Atari and Ireland

Multimedia Jobs in Ireland

Multimediajobs.ie is a website that is dedicated to posting vacancies in the Irish multimedia domain. The current crop of Entertainment Systems students haven't even completed Semester 1, but it's worth keeping an eye on the jobs market (and the salaries!) all the same.

Current vacancies include an Audio Visual Manager (¢40-60k), Digital Media Planner (negotiable salary) and various development roles (all around ¢50k).

Are You a PC or a Mac

If you're thinking of buying a new computer and can't decide between a PC or a Mac, the following guide from switched.com might be of assistance. It breaks the argument down to a number under a number of categories: ease of use, media, performance, hardware, accessories, software, security, gaming, battery life (for laptops), support and cost.

Mac vs PC - Which is for You?

Class night out

Well lads, I know a few of ye have been itching for the lot of us to go out and hit the town hard so I'ma (I am going to) step up to the plate. This is just a suggestion so shoot it down if you want to. Next thursday night in Electric Avenue, will be held Oxjam. There'll be four really good bands playing (Tröusersnake anybody) and the Untz lads will be there playing techno and jungle if you're into that sort of thing (I am). All proceeds go to Oxfam so we can get pissed and feel good about ourselves at the same time! We can all go to Geoff's or something first if ye like. Details on the poster.

Paintballing!

Hey guys, I came across this offer for a days paintballing in Combatzone in Limerick

Heres the gist!

"Paintballing is the ideal clibs and societies day out as it acts as a great icebreaker for new members and it encourages group interaction and teamwork...Combatzone is Ireland's most popular student paintball venue with 25 acres of action packed missions...Our new student pack is €25 per plaer and includes 200 paintballs and full commando kit. Our play and stay deal in €50 and includes a days paintballing, accommodation at jury's inn Limerick City and V.I.P. entry to the Trinity Rooms Nightclub..."

Ive been to a few places and this looks like a pretty good deal so i was thinking if theres enough interest then we could organise a day out for the class...

If your interested then leave a comment with your name or email myself and I can get an idea of how many would be going!

Thanks, Ross

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