posted by Bill Calder on September 26, 2008
It’s great to see all the momentum out there in netbook-land. These simple little internet 
devices, while limited in their capability, are generating a lot of buzz out there. That’s a good thing, and Intel has certainly been behind this trend with a great little energy efficient processor called Atom. But as with anything new and exciting and different there are bound to be misperceptions.
We’ve seen some really innovative Atom-based netbooks—-from Dell, Acer, Asus, MSI (be sure and check out the “love” edition), and others. But there’s also been some confusion as to what constitutes a netbook. We’ve seen full featured laptops with 160G hard drives and $700+ price points referred to as netbooks. We’ve seen full featured laptops with multiple expansion slots running Vista compared to the Intel Classmate PC and the Asus Eee PC, both of which are more clearly in the netbook category.
It’s important to note what a netbook really is: a basic, single function device designed primarily for internet consumption. They are great for this purpose — browsing, checking email, social networking, etc. But buyers may be disappointed if they expect to do video editing, watch full length movies, and multi-task with multiple applications running as they would a traditional laptop computer. As awesome as this little Atom processor is — the smallest chip Intel makes with the world’s smallest transistors — in netbooks, it is not meant to replace the rich user experience one gets from the Core 2 Duo or Intel Centrino 2 Processor technology based machines.
Comments (8)
tagged: Acer Aspire One, Atom, EeePC, mini-note, mini-notebook, netbook, NetBook Mag, Ultra Mobile Device
posted by Ken Kaplan on September 23, 2008
When in Rome, do as the Romans do…with MIDs!
Imagine strolling through the Colosseum wirelessly connected to the Internet and sharing the experience with the world using the video camera on you mobile Internet device!
BenQ booted up its Intel Atom-based MID this week in Italy thanks to the TIM network, and Engadget wrote “Let’s get these out to other nooks and crannies of the wide world, eh BenQ?”
Here’s a look at the Alice Mobile MID S6 (a.k.a Aries2), from Slashgear.
We got to see lots of cool new mobile Internet devices at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco in August, where I got to spend time with UMPCPortal.com’s Steve Paine. He gives his take on the BenQ in Italy release.
We’re starting to see more Intel Atom-powered devices like the BenQ to hit the mainstream due to hard work by device makers, Internet service providers and the development community. And it’ll take the buzz from enthusiasts spreading their desire to have one for their social and family networking — here’s “Chick digs MIDs” video roundtable chat with Intel Insiders, employees and Steve Paine I shot at IDF in San Francisco for Intel Atom Software Community guru Jeff Moriarty.
As the August IDF was caming to a close, I grabbed my video camera and asked Steve and Jeff what’s ahead for Intel Atom-powered MIDs and some of the Netbooks they as at the event.
In addition for keeping my eye out for the new Clarion release in the U.S., there are some upcoming events I’m watching, hoping to stay in sync with rise and spread of MIDs:
The head of Intel’s Ultra Mobility Group, Anand Chandrasekher is keynoting at Ceatac next Tuesday, September 30.
Intel Developer Forum in Tiapei October 20-21, where Anand and his team will share the latest insights on Intel Atom with developers.
Comments (0)
tagged: Intel Atom, Intel Software Community, MID, Mobile Internet Device, wireless
posted by Mark Bohr on September 20, 2008
On September 20 Gordon Moore was awarded the IEEE Medal of Honor, the Institute’s highest award, in a ceremony in Quebec City, Canada. He is being recognized for his contributions to the advancement of semiconductor technology, both as an engineer and entrepreneur. I can think of no more deserving individual in our industry. Gordon was one of Intel’s co-founders and served over periods of time as CEO and chairman of the board. This is the entrepreneur and manager side of Gordon, and Intel wouldn’t have survived its turbulent early years and risen to the top of the semiconductor industry without his leadership. But Gordon was always a process engineer at heart, always interested in the latest technological advances that propelled Intel to the leading edge first of memory technology, then of microprocessor technology. When I was elected to the position of Intel Fellow it was Gordon who introduced me at the awards ceremony, an honor that I will never forget.
Comments (1)
tagged: Gordon Moore, Moore's Law, technology, transistor
posted by Ken Kaplan on September 12, 2008
One of Intel’s key competitive advantages is the “Tick-Tock” chip design and manufacturing method. To help Intel shareholders — like me, my family and many friends — better understand how this Tick-Tock method really works, my pals inside Intel’s Investor Relations created this video with Intel CIO Dianne Bryant.
Comments (0)
tagged: 45nm, Chip Design, Chip Manufacturing, Core i7, Diane Bryant, Intel, Nehalem, Tick-Tock
posted by Bill Kircos on September 08, 2008
Intel’s Sean Maloney got to literally test drive Clearwire’s upcoming WiMAX network while visiting Portland, Oregon a few weeks ago.
Check out the promise of a WiMAX network - the ability someday soon to drive around town and always be connected. Just how many people in one car downloaded e-mail, streamed high-def video, made a clear Skype phone call and tested Internet radio? What wireless speeds did they hit while driving around town on one connection? What are the (hefty) differences in the scope of equipment needed for a 2G cell tower vs. a WiMAX one?
Check out the video here and thanks to Clearwire for the inside look and inviting us.
It’s been a milestone year for WiMAX. At IDF two weeks agoDell and Sony joined several others in publicly committing to adding WiMAX to some of their laptop models. Sprint XOHM will light up its first US city, Baltimore, next month. Efforts around the world sprout up virtually every day.
A second proposed and somewhat similar network called LTE is now hoping to move its own network availability timeframe in from 2012. We plan to ship our first ever Wi-Fi/WiMAX product later this year in the U.S. for our popular Centrino 2 laptops.
And of course, the big U.S. news - the proposed formation and $3+ billion joint investment in a new Clearwire company, backed by Sprint, Comcast, Google, Time Warner and others. That, and the Open Patent Alliance effort for easier and more open intellectual property rights should further speed WiMAX adoption.
Here’s a good primer on WiMAX, too.
Comments (0)
tagged: Centrino 2, Clearwire, Maloney, Sprint, WiMAX, wireless, Xohm
posted by Ken Kaplan on September 03, 2008
For me, the Intel Developer Forum is a place to witness real progress, talk with tech demo lab gurus and test drive new devices and services before many of them hit the market.
I learn a lot about the engineering wonders being built into the latest chips — turbo mode for the new Nehalem-designed chips — but getting my hands on things like new laptops, mobile Internet Devices and netbooks helps me set my sights on how new technologies can help me experience my interest (photos, video making, collecting information, travel) in new ways.
I got to spend time with the super nice and wise Steve “Chippy” Paine from UMPCPortal.com, who keenly tested and collecting information of just about every MID and Netbook at IDF.
Comments (0)
tagged: IDF2008, IDFSF08, Intel, Intel Atom, MID, Netbook, WiMAX
posted by Craig Raymond on September 02, 2008
So……I’ve got some big news today in the world of demos (and things demo related). We did a live piece of video at Intel Headquarters today for a sneak announcement from our friends over at BigStage.com. And your favorite demo guy has all the goodies for a new hot web and content tool that internet users can really get their heads into.
Big Stage allows users to create their online “@ctor”, a digital avatar of themselves from just a few clicks of a regular digital camera. Now, this is something we’ve seen for a while now, but BigStage takes it to the next step. With the tools from BigStage, you can alter and manipulate costumes and expressions to give life to your creation, and put that “actor” directly into internet content.
That’s right. Ever wanted to see yourself in the Mona Lisa? I’ve done it. Play a cameo on your favorite TV sitcom? Been there. Digitizing yourself over Michael Phelps, so it looks like you hitting the wall for your 8th Olympic gold, and then send to all of your Facebook contacts? Priceless.
Check out Johnathan Streitzel from Big Stage talk to us about today’s big announcement.
There you go. An internet application with nearly limitless possibilities, something that always makes a demo guy drool (……don’t say I never did anything for ya). And today, it available to the non-nerd, non-geek internet viewing public. Oh, and did I mention that it’s free? It is. So load it up now, and show the MySpacers and Facebookers out there something that will really make their jaws drop. Social networkers UNITE!!!!
Comments (1)
tagged: avatar, bigstage, craigraymond, demo, intel, mobility
posted by Becky Emmett on September 02, 2008
Lets face it, unless you have the time to really follow the technology space closely, its likely you have been left behind on at least one of the more recent online communication tools. Keeping up on texting to IM to MySpace to Twitter can be overwhelming and even intimidating. As a parent, it can be even more so as there is never enough time in a day to get everything accomplished you need to. Even as an aunt, technology is the one sure fire way to connect with my 14-year-old niece who seems to text more than any other human on the planet. Without text, I’m sure I’d ‘talk’ with her much less than I do.
Here at Intel, we’ve put together a great resource for parents to demonstrate that communicating with their kids (or family or friends) in an online world really can be easy and accessible. With kids back in school - it may be one of your best bets at reaching your child on the go. You can find the guide here. Don’t be left in the dark; check it out and start building your accounts on your Intel-powered PC, mobile phone or Mobile Internet Device (aka MID). And if you happen to need a place to check out the ins and outs of PC-buying as well as other tips and tricks, PC.com is my go-to. Happy back-to-school!
Comments (1)
tagged: mid, mids, school
del.icio.us