IF YOU think that smartphones are clever, then, in the words of the Alan Partridge-endorsed Bachman Turner Overdrive, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

Today's TEDx Liverpool event at FACT debated what the future would hold for mobile technology.
Not so long ago, mobile phones were clunky bricks that made phone calls. But today, smartphones are mini computers that are the gateway to the internet for tens of millions around the world.
We already use them to buy goods online and to play games. But soon, one TEDx speaker suggested, we will be able to use them to pay for goods on the high street, as replacement passports and even to check our health.

CREATIVE industries support agency Vision + Media has announced that it is to lose 40% of its staff through compulsory redundancies.
The announcement follows a two-month consultation period with staff at the Salford-based body, which supports the North West creative sector.

I WROTE a feature for today's Liverpool Echo on the state of the Mersey creative sector in 2011 - and thought I'd post a copy here for you to have a look at.

WHEN it comes to Merseyside's creative sector, Kevin McManus is a veritable fountain of case studies.
Kevin runs Merseyside ACME, the agency that works to promote and support the region's creative and digital firms.
He says small firms in the sector are seeing an upturn in business after an uncertain three years of downturn and recession.

CREATIVE and digital firms that want to attract new investment have until Monday to sign up to a support scheme.
Fast Company 2, which was launched at Liverpool Software City in November, aims to help firms in the sector forge links with potential investors, including venture capital companies.

CREATIVE industries support agency Vision + Media is moving to a four -day working week and staff are taking a 20% pay cut as it battles to cope with public sector funding cuts.
The abolition of its main funders, the North West Development Agency (NWDA) and the UK Film Council, mean the organisation is now looking for new sources of fun ding to continue its work.
Now, as part of a cost-saving initiative, the 40 staff at Vision + Media will reduce their working hours to a four day week from November 1 and accept a pay cut.

THE man in charge of the BBC's move to the north of England hit out at critics of the plan, accusing them of dredging up "old stereotypes".

Peter Salmon said moving more than 1,000 jobs from London to the new Media City in Salford would inspire a generation of "young, northern boys and girls".
The plan has been controversial with many staff said to be upset at the prospect of having to move and speculation some stars will quit their jobs rather than leave the capital when shows including Match of the Day and BBC Breakfast move.
Click here for the full story by Maria McGeoghan of the Manchester Evening News

CREATIVE industries support body Northwest Vision and Media (NWVM) has won £1m in funding to help people win business at the £500m MediaCity complex.
NWVM secured the funding from the Northwest Development Agency to continue its Digital Media Skills Programme for the next two years.

THE COOL kids of the PowerPoint world took over the Contemporary Urban Centre in Liverpool tonight for the second Ignite Liverpool event.
The celebration of "geek culture" saw presentations on subjects ranging from brass bands to the importance of making software accessible to disabled people.
The event saw a selection of speakers - including me - give five-minute PowerPoint presentations on subjects close to their heart.

The controversial Digital Economy Bill became law today.
In a statement this morning, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said:
"The Digital Economy Bill has now been published as the Digital Economy Act 2010, following Royal Assent. The Act includes provisions relating to the UK's communications infrastructure, public service broadcasting, copyright licensing and online infringement of copyright, and security and safety online and in video games.
"Some of the measures in the Act will come into effect immediately with others coming into effect in two months' time. Many of the Act's provisions require further public consultation and in some cases approval by Parliament, before they can be implemented."
To read more reaction to the controversial Digital Economy Bill, click here.

THE controversial Digital Economy Bill (DEB) is set to become law within days despite a vigorous online campaign against it.
The bill, backed by the film and music industries, aims to crack down on online copyright infringement.
The Government says the bill could save thousands of jobs by ensuring the creative industries do not miss out on millions of pounds of revenue.
But the bill faced huge criticism for measures designed to stop piracy, including rules that could see people's internet connections cut off for suspected copyright infringement.