Our round-up of good stories to keep you informed on tech this weekend.
Ten nuggets of knowledge to take away for the weekend, including Twitter CEO to step down, Ireland as a global start-up hub and BlackBerry to go Android.
1. Ireland could be a global start-up hub by 2020, says Start-up Ireland CEO (video)
There has never been a better time to be a start-up in Ireland. Start-up Ireland CEO Eoin Costello believes this is precisely why we need to double-down on the financial, infrastructural and educational infrastructure to sustain this momentum.
2. Twitter CEO Dick Costolo to step down, Jack Dorsey returns as interim CEO
In a surprise development, social network Twitter’s CEO Dick Costolo is to step down. The company moved quickly to reaffirm to Wall Street that targets for Q2 revenues will be in the US$470m to US$485m range.
3. A pioneer in science communications, and a friend, Mary Mulvihill RIP
It is with heavy hearts that we report that award-winning science journalist, broadcaster, author and friend Mary Mulvihill passed away yesterday, following a short illness.
4. Fathers’ Day gift guide: Drones, homes and automobile tech
With Fathers’ Day just around the corner and dads usually incredibly difficult to buy for, Siliconrepublic.com has some ideas for how to make everyone else in the family rather jealous, with gifts ranging from affordable drones to the best entertainment systems going.
5. Is Blackberry going Android for its new slider smartphone?
Smartphone maker Blackberry may be equipping a new smartphone with Google’s Android software as it bids to grow from its current, consistent, 1pc market share.
6. Salesforce ensures its own future with CoderDojo and Citywise connections
The global skills gap is a growing concern for multinational tech employers, but at a recent event in its Irish base, Salesforce showcased initiatives which aim to ensure that skilled young people are coming through the pipeline.
7. ISS astronauts land safely back on Earth
Astronauts Samantha Cristoforetti (ESA), Terry Virts (NASA) and Anton Shkapleroy (Roscosmos) safely landed in Kazakhstan yesterday following their three-hour descent from their six-month stay on the International Space Station (ISS).
8. Oculus Rift will include an Xbox controller at launch in Q1 2016
After finally setting a release period of Q1 2016, Oculus has said its Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) gaming headset will come with an Xbox One controller in what could be a coup for Microsoft.
9. The evolution of social media (infographic)
Social media has become, over a very short space of time, the major mode of communication for huge numbers of people across vast distances around the world. It’s evolution has been remarkable.
10. Japan to land spacecraft on Phobos by 2022
In what would be the first time in space history, as far as human beings are concerned, the Japanese space agency – JAXA – wants to send a spacecraft to one of Mars’ moons and bring it back.
Takeout image via Shutterstock
