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

8 Jul 2016

Essential weekend reading, including: inspiring memories from Inspirefest; Brexit dampens UK start-up ardour; 5G is coming

Ten nuggets of knowledge to take away for the weekend, including: inspiring memories from Inspirefest; Brexit dampens UK start-up ardour; 5G is coming.

 1. 20 Inspirefest highlights that will make you wish you were still there

With Inspirefest over for another year, the Silicon Republic team reflects on the most memorable moments from the 2016 event.

2. European nations approve EU-US Privacy Shield

European countries have given their strong support for the EU-US Privacy Shield, which places clear obligations on companies handling data that belongs to EU citizens.

3. Fears Brexit could cripple UK start-ups as talent wars rage

Despite best efforts by the UK’s tech community to warn of the implications of a Brexit prior to the vote, the decision has been taken and the biggest issue now facing both established tech players and start-ups is attracting overseas talent.

 4. Social media changed my life, says Sinéad Burke

“If I could speak to 16-year-old me… and tell her what the internet has done for me, I think she’d be really proud.”

5. Europe’s telcos call for a 5G super-fund to spur rollout

Europe’s biggest telecoms giants have committed to conducting large-scale 5G trials by 2017 and plan to launch 5G in 28 cities across the EU by 2020.

6. ‘Hey bae intern!’ email shines embarrassing light on Microsoft

Those older than a certain age might want to take out their urban dictionaries to translate an email sent by a Microsoft employee that just might be the cringiest thing ever sent by a tech company.

7. RTÉ Player joins Sky TV’s catch-up service

Sky has added the RTÉ Player to its coterie of catch-up TV services, bringing its most popular shows, including RTÉ News, the Late Late Show, Fair City and more, to the digital satellite and online service.

 8. Apple releases public betas of iOS 10 and Sierra

Following hot in the footsteps of developer betas released by Apple this week, iOS 10 and MacOS Sierra are now available for testing.

 9. 60 jobs for Galway as Mota-Engil establishes UK and Ireland HQ

Some 60 jobs are to be created in Loughrea, Co Galway by subsidiaries of Portuguese multinational Mota-Engil, which is establishing its UK and Ireland HQ in the town.

 10. Just Eat could soon be sending robots to deliver your food

Takeaway delivWery service, Just Eat, is following in the footsteps of Dominos and other pizza delivery services after confirming it’s trialling a robot delivery service in London.

BBQ image via Shutterstock

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

editorial@siliconrepublic.com