Hey guys,

Intel is continuing to lead its way and us on the correct computer progression path by engineering products that are smaller and use less power. Not only does Intel have to hit homeruns with every design in order to avoid getting caught in quicksand like AMD, their products have to adhere to and guide the changing market. Intel has concentrated on smaller dies, not increasing unnecessary core count, better power management, and multi-chip processors to combine functions. Intel has withdrawn from the ATX desktop boards as well moving away from its eventual demise. With all this Intel is able to help build devices which are smaller, have longer battery life, and are cheaper.

Intel has what is called the NUC (Next Unit of Computing). A small mobo in a box provides a mini computer complete with graphics that can run Windows. These will get more powerful as Haswell and Broadwell get integrated.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/09/i...ap-leak-i7-i5/

One of Intels new products is the Ultrabook, a sleek and thin folding laptop that lasts all day and can be used without the keyboard.
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/...convertibility

Next up is Atom based touch screen devices like phones, PDA's, and small computers.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/17/intel-bay-trail-200/

After some 20 years of selling branded desktop motherboards, Intel will begin exiting this portion of its business, Intel spokesman Dan Snyder has told PCWorld. The Santa Clara chip giant will begin the retreat from desktop motherboards as soon as its next-generation Haswell CPU ships

Intel exits the desktop motherboard business to focus on new form factors | PCWorld

Microsoft has unexpectedly parted ways with Steven Sinofsky, the leader of one of its most lucrative businesses and an executive often mentioned as a possible successor to the current chief executive.

In a surprise announcement late Monday [November 12, 2012], Microsoft said that Mr. Sinofsky, the president of its Windows division, would leave the company immediately after a 23-year career there ....

Just weeks earlier, Microsoft released Windows 8, the company’s biggest overhaul to its flagship software product in years. The departure raises questions about how Microsoft, one of the giants in the technology business, will prepare itself for a new generation of leadership.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/1...microsoft/?hpw

Some services at Amazon.com’s data centers went down Monday afternoon [October 22, 2012], taking with them a number of popular Web sites and services, including Flipboard and Foursquare.

Amazon reported problems at data centers in Northern Virginia that appeared to have had a ripple effect across the Internet, as many companies depend on the company’s cloud service to run their businesses.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/1...es-with-it/?hp

http://www.pcworld.com/article/20128...tes-again.html

Apple became the most valuable public company of all time after its market value climbed beyond $US620 billion to surpass a milestone set by Microsoft more than a decade ago...

Apple became the biggest public company in the world when it overtook Exxon Mobil to reach the No. 1 spot last year...it has now entered the record books as the biggest company ever.

Story here
And here

Wow. All those little iPods and iPhones sure add up

In its most strategically significant push yet into the hardware business, Microsoft on Monday unveiled a tablet computer called Surface that is intended to challenge Apple’s iPad ....

Microsoft said one version of the Surface tablet would come with 32 gigabytes or 64 gigabytes of storage and feature a type of chip called ARM that is commonly used in mobile devices. Mr. Sinfosky said the price would be comparable to that of other tablets that use ARM chips.

He said a professional version of the tablet would come with an Intel processor, which is standard in more conventional PCs, and would be similar in price to ultrabooks, thin laptops that often start at around $1,000.

Mr. Sinofsky said the ARM tablet would be available when the next version of Windows was released this fall, and the professional version would go on sale a few months later ....

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/te....html?_r=1&hpw

http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/default.aspx

"Today is the launch date for Intel's new "Ivy Bridge" CPUs, officially known as the company's "third-generation Core" processors. Essentially a die shrink of the current "Sandy Bridge," 32-nm second-generation Core chips, Ivy Bridge represents the first implementation of Intel's 22nm manufacturing process. This means that the newer processors will perform as well or better than today's models, with lower power requirements and better cooling."

More:
Intel Ships Third-Generation Core (Ivy Bridge) Processors | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

And:
Technology News: Chips: Intel Aims to Bridge GPU Gap
Intel releases 22nm Ivy Bridge processors - The Inquirer
Intel Releases Ivy Bridge: First Processor with "Tri-Gate" Transistor


Seems they won't be available for purchase until 29 April.

Apple's Mac platform has long been promoted as safer than the competition, but as Mac sales and market share grow, it's become a bigger target.

Nowhere is that clearer than with the Flashback Trojan, a gnarly piece of malware designed to steal personal information by masquerading as very mainstream browser plug-ins. Yesterday [April 4, 2012] Russian antivirus company Dr. Web said that an estimated 600,000 Macs are now infected as a result of users unknowingly installing the software....

The Flashback Trojan is the latest malware attack to target Apple's Mac platform. Here's your guide to what it is, whether you have it, and how to get rid of it

Also see:

Mac Malware Outbreak Is Bigger than 'Conficker'

Flashback Trojan Hits 550,000 Macs

Comments from ABXZone members: www.abxzone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121544

Additional Articles:

www.winsupersite.com/windows-8

www.pcworld.com/article/250887/windows_8_consumer_preview_initial_impressions.html#tk.hp_fv

www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2392889,00.asp

download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-57387755-12/windows-8-faq/?tag=TOCcarouselMain.0

www.anandtech.com/show/5611/windows-8-consumer-preview-available-for-download

A team of European and American mathematicians and cryptographers have discovered an unexpected weakness in the encryption system widely used worldwide for online shopping, banking, email and other internet services...

"Some people may say that 99.8 per cent security is fine," he said. That still means that about as many as two out of every 1000 keys would not be secure.


Story here