Editing Acorn Computers (section)

====Refocusing and discontinuation of activities====
To concentrate on these two activities Acorn hired a group of former [[STMicroelectronics]] silicon-design engineers and they formed the basis of a {{nowrap|£2 million}} silicon-design centre that Acorn set up in [[Bristol]].<ref name="ac-prelim-results-for-1998" /><ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/1998/12/15/acorn_poaches_st_microelectronics_design/ |title = Acorn poaches ST Microelectronics design team |access-date = 2011-05-09 |last = Cullen |first = Drew |date = 1998-12-15 |work = The Register |quote = Acorn Group PLC is beefing up its digital TV business by poaching a seven strong chip design team from ST Microelectronics. ... setting up a £2 million chip research centre in Bristol. |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121003001904/http://www.theregister.co.uk/1998/12/15/acorn_poaches_st_microelectronics_design/ |archive-date = 3 October 2012}}</ref> They also started to dispose of some of their interests in the former workstation market and in January 1999 sold their 50% interest in Xemplar Education to Apple Computer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/01/11/acorn_falls_off_education_tree/|title=Acorn falls off education tree|website=[[The Register]]|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003002924/http://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/01/11/acorn_falls_off_education_tree/|archive-date=3 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.acorn.co.uk/acorn/news/press/xemplar.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990506202028/http://www.acorn.co.uk/acorn/news/press/xemplar.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 May 1999|title=Acorn : Acorn Sells Xemplar Stake|date=6 May 1999}}</ref>

Attempts were made to secure the rights to Acorn's desktop products including network computers and "various associated technologies", RISC OS, and the abandoned Phoebe workstation project by a consortium of Acorn market interests, and a memorandum of understanding was reportedly signed by both Stan Boland, representing Acorn, and former Acorn executive Peter Bondar, representing the consortium. However, Acorn pulled out of this tentative deal amidst accusations of attempts to sideline the consortium and to negotiate directly with its financial backers.<ref name="acornuser1998xmas">{{ cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/AcornUser202-Xmas98/page/n5/mode/1up | title=Phoenix burns after Acorn snub | magazine=Acorn User | date=Christmas 1998 | access-date=18 March 2022 | pages=6 }}</ref> It was reported that [[Stephen Streater]] of [[Eidos Interactive|Eidos]] may have made a {{nowrap|£0.5 million}} bid for the rights to the PC range,<ref name="pcw great oaks 1998">{{cite news |date=26 November 1998 |title=Great oaks from little Acorns? No |url=http://www.computeractive.co.uk/pcw/news/1924362/great-oaks-little-acorns-no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420004311/http://www.computeractive.co.uk/pcw/news/1924362/great-oaks-little-acorns-no |archive-date=20 April 2013 |access-date=10 April 2012 |work=[[Personal Computer World]]}}</ref> but in October 1998 the distribution rights to the existing designs of machines were granted to [[Castle Technology]] to supply Acorn's dealer network.<ref name="e14-q&a" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/1998/10/16/acorn_builds_castles/|title=Acorn builds Castles in the Air|website=[[The Register]]|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810091956/https://www.theregister.co.uk/1998/10/16/acorn_builds_castles/|archive-date=10 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.acorn.co.uk/acorn/news/press/castle.html |title=Acorn Computers Press Release – Acorn announces distribution deal with Castle Technology for RISC based products |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990506180305/http://www.acorn.co.uk/acorn/news/press/castle.html |archive-date=6 May 1999}}</ref> In March 1999, [[RISCOS Ltd]] acquired a licence to develop and release [[RISC OS]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/03/06/riscos_to_continue_os/|title=RISCOS to continue OS 4 development|website=theregister.co.uk|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003003128/http://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/03/06/riscos_to_continue_os/|archive-date=3 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riscos.com/news/news_items/PR050399.htm|title=RISCOS Ltd Press Release 05/03/1999|website=riscos.com}}</ref>

{{Quote box
 |quote  = [T]he future of this company lies as a leading player in the digital TV system components&nbsp;...
 |source = Chief Executive, Stan Boland, in {{nowrap|September 1998}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.acorn.com/acorn/news/restructure/ | title=Result of strategic review and implementation of fundamental restructuring programme | publisher=Element 14 | date=17 September 1998 | access-date=20 March 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990128155842/http://www.acorn.com/acorn/news/restructure/ | archive-date=28 January 1999}}</ref>
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By January 1999, Acorn Computers Limited had renamed to '''Element 14 Limited''' (though still owned by Acorn Group plc), referring to the element [[silicon]] with atomic number 14; this change was to reflect the changed nature of the business and to distance itself from the education market that Acorn Computers was most known for.<ref name="e14-q&a" /><ref>{{cite news |first = Peter |last = Clarke |title = Acorn renamed, refocused as Element 14 |date = 1999-01-14 |work = [[EE Times]] |url = http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4037045/Acorn-renamed-refocused-as-Element-14 |access-date = 2011-06-08 |quote = Acorn Computers Ltd. has changed its name to Element 14 Ltd. as part of its conversion from a computer designer and manufacturer to a developer of software and silicon intellectual property (IP). |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121003155747/http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4037045/Acorn-renamed-refocused-as-Element-14 |archive-date = 3 October 2012}}</ref> Other names had been considered by the company, but the domain name ''e-14.com'' had been registered before the official announcement.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-53518116.html | title=Acorn plans name change to reflect new ambitions | work=[[Computergram International]] | date=5 January 1999 | access-date=3 December 2013 |url-status = dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610074204/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-53518116.html | archive-date=10 June 2014|url-access=subscription|via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}</ref>