Intel as expected officially confirmed the information that three of its CPUs: Pentium G622, Core i3-2102 and Core i3-2312M – may be “improved” while in use by customers. All that it takes is to purchase an advance card and enter the code printed on it into a special “unlock application”. All three processors are built on Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture.

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With Apple TV and Google TV both vying for our attention from our desktops to our televisions, there’s plenty of more room for other media center devices, right?

The Amino Freedom is designed to support common Internet formats such as Adobe® Flash® and Microsoft® Silverlight® and is powered by the first generation of Intel and Nokia’s MeeGo for the TV – enabling us to innovate at Internet speed and keep you one step ahead of the next big thing.

Cool thing, it’s powered by the Intel/Nokia operating system, MeeGo. Bad part, it’s not due out until 4th quarter of this year. Well that and pricing is also to be announced.

[ Links: Amino Freedom ]

In the market for an Intel i5 or Intel i7, SATA 3 and USB 3 enabled, crazily overclockable motherboard that pulls no punches in giving you the most up to date options? Look no further than the ASUS Rampage III Extreme Intel Motherboard. The motherboard itself has more heatsinks than my last three computers combined.

The kind folks over at Tweaktown take the ASUS Rampage III Extreme through its paces in their typically detailed review process and come up with the following:

But even with all the overclocking features put aside, the board is solidly designed and built. The high end Caps, Chokes and even the tracing layout has been well thought out and put into play. Make no mistake, though, this board is meant for performance and for pushing as hard and as far as you can. We were able to reach our highest stable clock yet on the 980X (using only air cooling).

Definitely a motherboard for the people wanting to squeeze out the absolute most from their PC’s for that extra 10% or more. With a price tag of under $370 via NewEgg.com, you’re getting a well-built motherboard that should wow even the most hardcore of hardcore gamer and overclock fan.

Head over to Tweaktown for the rest of their review.

[ Links: Tweaktown Review, ASUS Rampage III Extreme Motherboard ]

Not sure how I feel about this. The commercial feels cheap and unfinished and it looks far too much like the Nokia N8, which is a Symbian device, not the purported Nokia and Intel MeeGo device that will replace the Nokia N900/Maemo 5 device. Just looks like a N8 with a very thin slider keyboard. Rumored specs include:

MeeGo OS
HDMI connector
USB (host mode)
CPU:1Ghz Cortex A8
Camera: 12MP, with flash
Video: 1024 x 600
Support 720P video format, and 1080P HD playback
64G internal storage

Just putting the rumor out there. More updates later.

MSI will unveil its next-generation tablet PC Wind Pad aimed at the Apple iPad at Computex Taipei 2010 to be held from June 1 to 5 in Taiwan.

Available in either Windows 7 OS or Android OS, the Wind Pad features a 10-inch LED touch screen, Intel Atom processor and Intel GMA 3150 graphics card.

Weighing 800 grams, it supports Wi-Fi/3G, GPS module, a webcam, a USB port and eight hours of battery life.

Link to the original article…

In a move that more than likely caught the entire world – well, the people that actually care about open source on phones, pocketables, netbooks, televisions (upcoming) and so forth – by surprise.

I’m sure you’ve heard the news: Moblin and maemo are merging! We are taking the best pieces from these two open source projects and are creating the MeeGo software platform. Both teams have worked for a long time to support the needs of the mobile user experience – and MeeGo will make this even better. We want it to be fun, focused, flexible, technically challenging and ultimately, something that can change the world.

As far as how this fits into the Nokia Linux based Maemo handset platform, which so far has produced the Nokia N900 to date, has yet to be discussed. But products are to be released in the second half of 2010 based on the MeeGo open source OS, of which “MeeGo” is copyright the Linux Foundation.

[ Links: MeeGo ] [ Discussion: Talk.Maemo.Org ]

Cowon launched its Windows 7-based MID Cowon W2 in the Korea market. It comes with a 4.8 inch wide LCD screen with 1024×600 resolution, utilizes an Intel Atom processor for low power consumption. Features include full browsing, high-performance virtual keyboard and Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR.

Designed with metallic body, it supports up to 10 hours of battery life and 230 hours of sleep mode time. Other features included two USB ports, D-SUB, SKYPE support, JetToolbar and voice recognition function.

But I don’t see a forward facing camera and you know this is probably never coming to the US.

Link to the original article…

Lenovo announced the industry’s first hybrid PC for consumers, the IdeaPad U1 hybrid notebook, a groundbreaking concept and new genre in PC form factors. The IdeaPad U1′s unique design is engineered to provide consumers with two PCs in one device – each with its own processor and operating system – that work together and independently as either a clamshell laptop or a multitouch slate tablet.

The IdeaPad U1′s fashionable scarlet red exterior has a footprint just smaller than a piece of paper and is paired with an equally impressive 3.8 pound thin and light design. With its unique detach-and-converge form factor, users can easily remove the screen to instantly switch from clamshell mode into a multitouch slate tablet. When the IdeaPad U1 is in its traditional clamshell form, the system boasts an 11.6-inch HD LED screen and runs Windows 7. When the 1.6 pound, multitouch screen is removed, it becomes an independent slate tablet with a powerful ARM processor, running Lenovo’s customized Skylight operating system.

Leveraging the benefits of both CPU, the two devices can synchronize to work as one with the ability to share battery power, 3G wireless, data and documents. In this way, the base laptop system can serve as a hub and docking station and the slate tablet as a mobile device. The two PCs have been engineered to work together and independently through Lenovo’s Hybrid Switch technology that enables seamless toggling between the two processors. For instance, users can surf the Web in laptop mode and then continue from the same point without interruption if they detach to tablet mode.

The IdeaPad U1′s laptop and tablet modes each support more than five hours of 3G Web browsing and 60 hours of 3G standby. In addition, the U1 comes with integrated video camera and two stereo speakers with integrated microphone with echo cancellation make this the ideal PC for users who need flexibility but do not want to compromise features or functionality.

The Lenovo IdeaPad U1 hybrid notebook will be available June 1, 2010 with an estimated retail price of for under $1000.

Link to the original article…

Psystar is easily the most confused company of 2009. First they sell Hackintoshes and basically dares Apple to say something. Yeah, that’s about as safe as sticking a hornet’s nest down their pants and thinking absolutely nothing will happen. Then when Apple won an injunction against Psystar, their awesomely named lawyer Eugene Action announced that Psystar was not shutting down.

While Psystar took down their cheaper Mac clones (read: Hackintosh) but kept up their Rebel EFI software, it seemed like Apple had won and the very small company that thought they could convince the world that Apple’s injunction did not include Rebel EFI, their software that allows for the install of OS X onto most Intel based computers did not fall under the injunction.

Wrong. But not simply because of Apple. The OSx86 Community and Netkas have publicly called Psystar “liars” and have stated that Rebel EFI is based on their efforts to bring Apple OS X to a multitude of Intel configurations.

So then after not being able to sell Rebel EFI, Psystar vows a spectacular comeback and starts to sell… wait for it, t-shirts. Yes, t-shirts is definitely the savior of a confused company like Psystar.

Of course, this quickly changed to a new solution for the befuddled company… they will resume selling hardware, but with Linux.

Earlier this month, Psystar suspended all sales of its hardware products, honouring the court’s decision which favoured Apple. This week, Psystar has also temporarily halted sales of Rebel EFI while the former clone maker confirms the tool’s legality with the court. Psystar also announced it will continue hardware sales in the coming days – with Linux rather than Mac OS X.

So a company that’s been known to sell potentially community sourced software for a profit, that tried to sell computers to many people cheaper than Apple – and many deliveries did not happen – then went on to sell t-shirts (yes, t-shirts) has decided to sell Linux based systems… yeah. Linux. Systems.

Psystar, you’ve won the most confused company of 2009. Good luck with the Linux systems. I know that you will change your mind within a few days.

[ OSNews, ComputerWorld, The Consumerist ]

MSI has unveiled Intel’s next-generation Atom platform based netbook Wind U135, which is expected to be launched next year. The new version of Atom processors, codenamed Pine Trail, will consume 20 percent lesser power than its predecessor. And it consists of a new processor and a low-power Intel chipset N450 that allows integration of graphics into the CPU, thereby enabling improved performance and smaller form factor. Adopting a 10-inch LED backlit display with 1024 x 600 resolution, the MSI Wind U135 features 3.5G WiMAX support, chiclet keyboard and anti-slip design coated with color film. Coming in Trendy Blue and Cherry Red, the Wind U135 will be available in Korea market in January, 2010.

No words on pricing yet.

Link to the original article…

Intel announced its new Intel Atom processors today that feature integrated graphics built directly into the CPU, enabling improved performance and smaller, more energy-efficient designs in a new generation of netbooks and Atom-based entry level desktop PCs. Major OEMs have committed to having systems on the new Intel Atom processors and a new companion chipset available within the next few weeks.

The newest Intel Atom platform for netbooks consists of a new Intel Atom processor, the N450, and a new low-power Intel NM10 Express Chipset. For entry level desktop PCs, it consists of either the Intel Atom processor D410 or the dual core D510, also paired with the Intel NM10 Express Chipset.

Link to the original article…

Intel Corporation has made its beta version of the Intel Atom Developer Program Software Development Kit (SDK) available for Microsoft Windows and Moblin operating systems developers. The kit helps software companies and individuals design and submit applications for Intel-based netbooks to ultimately sell at stores opening next year. Unveiled at the Intel Developer Forum in September, the Intel Atom Developer Program is designed for independent software vendors (ISVs) and software developers to create innovative applications and/or components for netbooks. The program provides tools, SDKs and community resources to develop new apps or port existing apps to Atom-based devices, including netbooks, which are forecast to reach more than 50 million units sold by end of 2009.

The Beta version of the SDK is now available for both Microsoft Windows (C and C++) and Moblin (C) operating systems. With the Beta SDK, developers can submit their applications for validation and, once validated, begin to take advantage of the program’s revenue-generating opportunities in 2010. Intel is offering incentives for developers to begin submitting applications by offering a chance to win big prizes including a smart car or vacation package.

Developers can download the beta version of the SDK today and learn more about the program, application programming interfaces (APIs), validation process, application store framework and developer contests at appdeveloper.intel.com.

Link to the original article…