Weekend takeaway: 10 tech stories you need to read right now

27 Nov 2015

Where to get investment in Ireland; Facebook's new baby leave policy; and Apple leads jobs charge.

Ten nuggets of knowledge to take away for the weekend, including: where to get investment in Ireland; Facebook’s new baby leave policy; Apple leads jobs charge.

1. Looking for investment? Here are 25 sources of funding you need to know

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur refining the pitch for your great idea or an established SME seeking capital for growth and development, this list has you covered.

 2. Apple leads charge as over 2,600 jobs announced in November

Thanks in large part to Apple’s decision to once again expand its Cork operations, well over 2,600 STEM jobs were announced in November, with little nationwide spread.

 3. Facebook gives four months of paid baby leave to all employees

Just days after CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed he will be taking two months’ paternity leave, Facebook has updated its global paid baby leave policy to include four months of paid baby leave for new fathers and mothers.

4. Robots will not take our jobs, says Deloitte’s CTO (video)

Technologies like augmented reality and augmented intelligence will actually empower and amplify the individual and result in new opportunities for more people, said Deloitte CTO Bill Briggs.

 5. I say old chap, new Google Glass could be a monocle

You might have thought the Google Glass concept was as good as dead commercially, but oh no, Google might be about to get very spiffing altogether with a new Google Glass monocle concept.

 6. Commerce will be invisible in the future, says PayPal’s John Lunn (video)

As mobile wallets evolve, purchases will be made on our behalf by our devices and most people won’t even notice transactions happening, according to PayPal’s start-up chief John Lunn.

 7. Young Scientist Exhibition goes international with Abu Dhabi launch

Inspired by the accomplishments of Ireland’s youth in the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BYTSTE), the city of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates is to host its own Young Scientist Exhibition.

 8. The numbers just don’t add up on skills, warn data-crunching HR people

The HR people have had their say and they warn that the skills gap in the Irish economy is intensifying, with a particular shortage of people with data analytics skills. They have also warned that the best people are just not being rewarded, making their work even more difficult.

 9. Cavan town Munterconnaught wins Eir competition to get fibre-to-home broadband

The Cavan town of Munterconnaught will soon be getting some much-needed ultra-fast broadband as part of Eir’s Fibre to the Home (FTTH) competition worth €250,000.

 10. Star Wars: The Force Awakens – yet another new trailer

For those wondering what happens in the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie, you could probably just watch all of the numerous trailers that have now been released and get your fill.

Weekend tech takeaway image via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com