Patently Apple

Part One: Intel, Haswell and Microsoft's "Think Different" Moment

In 2009 Intel introduced a theme called a continuum of computing and spoke about the three vectors of innovation. In April 2011 they spoke about the rise of tablets and the new mobile device form factors that are on the way. Then in June of this year Intel spoke about the transformation of the PC. They confidentially assured their developers that the turmoil being experienced today in the market, due to tablets, was simply the PC undergoing its third transformation since the mid-ninety's: No more, no less. Otellini described how the growth in computing over the next few years will dwarf what's been accomplished over the past 3 decades. This was about Intel's vision of a future accelerated. And while IDF had its interesting moments, make no mistake about it – the only thing on Intel's mind is their next generation processor called Haswell. This is the processor that they believe will usher in next phase of the mobile device revolution.  

Intel, Apple & the Transformation of the PC

 
If you're a PC and gadgets fan, then June is turning out to be quite the interesting month. Intel delivered a series of keynotes at Computex 2011 last week and Steve Jobs will be bringing the house down tomorrow when he takes the wraps off their latest operating system upgrades dubbed OS X Lion and iOS 5. Apple's blowout news of course will come from revelations about their all-new iCloud music service. In today's report, we'll take a look at some of the interesting new features that will be coming to our personal computers over the next 18 – 30 months. Intel presented some real surprises, especially their 2013 processor which is a whole new from scratch architecture. I liked what I saw on the way from Intel and I'll be thrilled to see what Apple delivers tomorrow. What a great month it's turning out to be for tech heads!  

IDF Beijing 2011: The Rise of Tablets

 
There was a time not too long ago when an Intel Developer Conference (IDF) was considered one of the most anticipated PC industry events of the year. Yet that seems to have all gone to hell after Apple released their first iPad with an A4 processor inside. Apple dared to shatter the standard computing model by abandoning the traditional PC chip makers – and the Chip Gods fell to earth with a mighty thud. Was Intel caught off guard by the ferocity of the iPad's success? Yes – most definitely. They've been caught off guard ever since the debut of the iPhone in 2007. In fact all of Apple's competitors appear to be in some kind of perpetual stupor with every attempt at a counter attack being as anemic as the last. To be honest, Intel could never do it alone and with Microsoft fumbling in the dark and the amateurish Android looking more like Windows for the mobile age every day, it doesn't look promising. In today's report we hone in on Intel's central IDF keynote that honestly attempted to address the iPad revolution head on. Was it enough? You be the judge.  

Dell to Beat Apple to Market with a Notebook-Tablet this Christmas

 

At IDF this week Paul Otellini presented us with a broad overview of the multiple ways in which Intel is aggressively acquiring companies as they transform from being primarily a one dimensional chip company for computers and servers into a multi-tiered computing solutions provider. In David Perlmutter's keynote we learned about a great new 3D wand that is in the making that happens to mirror what Apple is working on in their lab. In a third keynote delivered by Intel's Doug Davis, we were given an overview of the rapid changes that are occurring with Intel's Atom Processors which will be entering the embedded space in 2011. Yet once again, the surprise of this keynote came in the form of a presentation by Dell who revealed a new notebook-tablet. It appears that Dell is on cue to beat Apple to market with this new hybrid notebook in time for the all-important Christmas shopping season. This report shows you Dell's device and some of the changes coming to Intel's Atom processor.

Beyond the PC: The Emerging Smart Revolution

Over the years there have been some really dynamic opening IDF keynotes from Intel's CEO Paul Otellini. While this wasn't one of them, there was certainly a very important message for the whole industry to hear loud and clear. Why? Because while companies like Apple are changing their business model by stepping into the chip business, Intel is likewise stepping out of their traditional chip-centric role in the marketplace to become a total "Solutions Provider." Yet Intel isn't just changing, they're aggressively changing as they rapidly acquire new companies that will help them shape their new emerging business model. Last year's big news was their acquisition of Wind River. This year the train is picking up steam as they acquired McAfee for security software, Infineon for 3G and LTE technology and lastly acquiring the Texas Instruments cable modem business so as to fast-track their Smart TV initiatives. Beyond acquisitions, Otellini provided us with a peek at Sandy Bridge and provided us with an overview of what that powerful architecture will bring to the desktop in 2011. Yet it was a little segment at the end of the Perlmutter keynote that struck home the hardest. We were presented with a demo of a 3D Wand that could only come to life thanks to Sandy Bridge's powerful CPU/GPU architecture; a wand that resembled the outline of a recent Apple patent. Yet there was a twist to this wand that Apple could definitely adopt that would open the door to some rather interesting video gameplay. So tune in and we'll show you what all the fuss is all about.