Chips

Microsoft's Uncanny Transformation
June 10, 2013

For much of the last decade, Microsoft has set an example more of doing things wrong than right, but at TechEd last week, Microsoft suddenly was showcasing a number of really smart decisions and best practices. It almost felt like an event from a different company -- or the company I remember from the 1990s, before it got arrogant; when it was younger, more vital and a bit more fun.

Sony Woos the Well-Heeled With Vaio Hybrid, Ultrabooks
June 05, 2013

Sony has launched a new Vaio hybrid tablet/laptop and two new Vaio Ultrabooks. All three have premium audio and visual technologies, and they use Intel's Haswell processors, which were designed for low power consumption. At $1,150 to $1,400, they're pricier than the comparable MacBook Air or other Ultrabooks. "They're clearly for premium buyers," said tech analyst Rob Enderle.

Next Galaxy Tab May Roll In With Intel's Clover
June 03, 2013

Samsung's rumored selection of Intel's Clover Trail+ mobile system on a chip for at least one version of its upcoming Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 was given fresh strength by a Reuters report last week. The rumor had been floating around for weeks, fueled by the publication online of 3D graphics bench test results of a Samsung "Santos 103" tablet running Android 4.2.2.

Haswell Battery Life Claims Energize Hopes for PC Industry
May 24, 2013

Despite improvements in processing power in recent years, battery life remains an issue with the growth of mobile devices. Intel has looked to address this with a new family of Core processors code-named Haswell, which the company said Thursday will offer up to 50 percent more battery life for laptops than its previous Ivy Bridge chips provided.

AMD Stakes Out Mobile Territory With New Low-Power Chips
May 24, 2013

Perennial Intel competitor AMD on Thursday launched three additions to its 2013 A-Series and E-series mobile accelerated processing unit family. They include the Elite Mobility APU, previously code-named "Temash," and the Mainstream APU, formerly code-named "Kabini."Both are system on a chip solutions based on AMD's "Jaguar" microarchitecture for low-power processors.

Intel Puts Its Chips on 'New Devices'
May 22, 2013

Intel's new CEO Brian Krzanich showed Tuesday he's ready to put his stamp on the chipmaking giant by announcing a company reorganization that includes a division for new devices. The division, headed by former mobile unit chief Mike Bell, will reportedly focus on emerging product trends. It will be a key component in Intel's attempt to boost its performance where it has lagged rivals.

Intel Focuses Iris GPUs on Gaming, Video
May 02, 2013

Intel on Thursday announced the Iris family of graphics processor units for its forthcoming Haswell line of processors. The Iris family offers up to double the 3D performance of the chip giant's fastest mobile HD graphics solutions on its processors for laptops and Ultrabooks. It also triples the 3D performance for its R-series processors for desktops.

PC Slump Chips Away at Intel's Q1
April 17, 2013

Intel released a quarterly earnings report Tuesday that fell slightly short of already low expectations, thanks to weak worldwide PC sales. The world's largest computer chip manufacturer reported first quarter revenue of $12.6 billion, a 2 percent drop from the same time a year ago. Net income was $2 billion, or about 40 cents per share, compared with $2.7 billion, or 53 cents per share a year earlier.

Taiwan Semiconductor May Win iPhone Chip Biz
April 03, 2013

Apple might be ditching Samsung as a chip partner in favor of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, according to a published report. Samsung has been making all of Apple's mobile chips since 2010, but the company's contract is set to expire in 2014. When that happens, Apple is reportedly going to rely on TSMC to make a so-called "A7" processor.

When These Chips Are Down, They Fix Themselves
March 12, 2013

The mean cyborg of Terminator 2 was unstoppable until it was immersed in a vat of molten iron. It might have survived, however, if it had self-healing processors at its core like the ones announced Monday by a team of researchers at the California Institute of Technology. The researchers said they had built tiny power amplifiers for chips that recovered functions even after many of their components had been vaporized in tests.

Intel Chips In With Its Own Web TV Service
February 13, 2013

Intel is getting inside Internet TV. What's been grist for rumor mills for weeks was finally confirmed Tuesday. Intel's TV offering -- which won't be branded with the Intel name -- will be a combination hardware, software and content package designed to "delight" consumers, said Erik Huggers, general manager for Intel Media, during the All Things D Dive Into Media Conference.

Investors Rattled Ahead of Apple Earnings
January 23, 2013

Investors' eyes are on Apple as the company prepares to announce its quarterly earnings report on Wednesday. The company's recent stock market losses and several analysts' lowered expectations on iPhone sales suggest this quarter might not be as flush as some in its recent past. Investors' pessimism stems in part from the increasingly fierce competition in the smartphone market.

LG Ships a Big, Bright OLED That Makes Flat-Screens Look Fat
January 02, 2013

LG Electronics on Monday became the first manufacturer to make a 55-inch OLED TV available on the market, taking preorders in Korea for its device. The device is the LG Model 55EM9700. It is listed at $10,000, and will begin shipping in February. With the announcement, LG has taken pole position in the race for the 55-inch OLED TV market over rival Samsung.

2013: Chip Makers to Go All In
January 02, 2013

Despite the arrival of a plethora of new tablets and Ultrabooks, plus a new operating system from Microsoft that was expected to drive PC sales, 2012 was a gloomy year for chip manufacturers. As any confident gambler might do when the chips are down, the leading consumer electronics original equipment manufacturers are expected to double down in 2013.

Where's My Autonomous Car?
December 28, 2012

The world cheered -- well, at least the nerds cheered -- when Google's autonomous cars drove 1,000 miles with no human intervention and another 140,000 miles with occasional human intervention in 2010. Since then, the cars are still tooling about in a series of tests as early fans watch them in action on YouTube and Vimeo.

Linux, the 386, and Days of Auld Lang Syne
December 20, 2012

The year 2012 may not yet be over, but here in the Linux community another kind of curtain was recently dropped for the last time. It's the end of the line for Linux's support of Intel's 386 chip, specifically, and tears are being shed across the land -- or not.

Samsung, Apple Rift Could Throw Intel Into ARM's Arms
December 03, 2012

Apple and Intel are in talks that could lead to Intel taking over Apple's chipset manufacturing, according to a report from Doug Freedman of RBC Capital. The scope of the deal is significant and would require a major about-face on the part of Intel, Freedman indicated. Intel would use rival ARM Holdings' structure for the iPhone design. Apple would redesign the iPad to base it on the x86 processor.

Intel's Two-Pronged Evolution
November 24, 2012

It's hard to think of an IT vendor with a stronger leadership position than Intel, but the company is having trouble shaking off the perception that it is on the ropes or headed for disaster in some of its core markets. On one hand, Intel's mission-critical Itanium platform suffered when Oracle and HP publicly butted heads in an altercation that ended up in court.

Otellini's Departure Opens Door for Intel Outsiders
November 20, 2012

Intel CEO Paul Otellini will retire in May, ending an eight-year reign as the semiconductor industry undergoes a major market transition. Intel did not announce his successor, but said Otellini will oversee the upcoming six-month leadership transition. The company highlighted the bright spots in Otellini's tenure at Intel

Linaro, ARM and the Road to Total Linux Domination
November 08, 2012

Well it seems like the dust may finally be settling here in the Linux blogosphere, and Linux Girl is fervently hoping for some long-overdue rest. We endured the launch of Rectangle with Rounded Corners 5; we patiently listened to the endless blaring fanfare surrounding Windows 8's debut. Is there no end to the autumnal excitement?