Intel Producing 32nm Processors Next Year!

So you heard them! Intel has completed the development phase of its next-generation 32 nanometers (nm) processors. They are now planning to roll out an entirely new 32nm processor in the fourth quarter of 2009! No sign of slowing down in processor development despite cutting its next year revenue forecast by 1 billion.

In fact, it’s always the plan in Intel to introduce an entirely new processor micro-architecture with a cutting edge manufacturing process about every 12 months. They proudly claimed such achievement to be an effort unmatched in the industry, this I totally agree with no doubt at all.

Besides, producing 32nm chips next year would mark the fourth consecutive year Intel has met its goal.

You may ask what’s so fascinating about 32nm?

Well, it simply means by using such technology Intel is able to use more energy-efficient, denser and higher performing transistors on a processor. Hence, giving you more power with less energy consumption.

Hopefully we’ll also see price dropping for older processors, which will be a bargain for the consumers.

On a side note, AMD just released their first 45nm Opteron server processor last month, now Intel is talking about manufacturing 32nm processors next year. Looks like AMD still have a long way to catch its main competitor’s tail, huh?

Cell Phone Keypads: Goodbye 1-2-3, Hello A-B-C

Judging by the new handset models that were on display at the CTIA show in Las Vegas, it looks like the standard 1 through 9 numeric keypad will be soon be gone from all but the lowest-end cell phones. With the rise in popularity of mobile texting, email and Web surfing, many users in the U.S. need a full alphanumeric set of buttons or a touchscreen to use their devices the way they want to.

While potential customers and the technology press await T-Mobile's More about T-Mobile G2 smartphone later this year, the wireless carrier is reportedly already knee-deep into the development of the next level of devices powered by the open source More about open source Android operating system.

The company will roll out a home phone and a tablet/netbook computer sometime in 2010, according to The New York Times, which cites confidential documents generated by a T-Mobile partner.

The home phone will include docking stations and the ability to send and receive data while recharging its battery, the newspaper says. The netbook computer, meanwhile, will not have a keyboard but will feature a touchscreen.

LinuxInsider requested comment from T-Mobile but received no response by press time.
A New Level of Devices

The Android news could indicate a seismic shift in the smartphone market -- a shift that's as much a result of software development as anything that carriers or handset makers are doing in their research labs.

"It just showcases that the market is ready for a change, and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) More about Google (Android's developer) is positioning itself to be the architect of that change," Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group told LinuxInsider. "The power players aren't just the carriers. They are enablers, but Google is moving between them and discovering a channel that Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) More about Microsoft doesn't have locked up yet."

T-Mobile's moves also speak to confidence in the Android platform, Enderle added, which is attracting a development roster rivaling Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) More about Apple while still building out its market share.
Potential Uses at Home

Those wondering why T-Mobile would think about developing a home phone need only consider the advantages that a Net-enabled wireless handset brings them while on the road.

"The idea of taking that a step further and having a home phone handset, with T-Mobile@Home (the carrier's US$10-per-month plan) -- but with the ability to interact with it for Web-surfing, or interacting with a laptop or Gmail and Google Calendar -- is kind of a slick idea," Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT More about Pund-IT, told LinuxInsider.

The tablet/netbook computer part of the equation could also plug into existing offers from T-Mobile for free, unlimited use of company WiFi hot spots, or be bundled in with new service plans.

"There are bits and pieces of infrastructure already out there -- hotspots, @Home service -- that could easily be leveraged for tablet or netbook offerings," King said.
Creation vs. Consumption

The current land rush among wireless carriers involves the race to turn smartphones into more computer-like devices. Apple may have won the first leg of this race with its iPhone, but the transformation is just beginning, says Al Hilwa, an analyst with IDC.

"Who's going to cross over into PCs faster? Whoever does will have access to a broad, well-monetized, rich market," Hilwa told LinuxInsider. "The segmentation that's taking place in the market is this: There are creation machines, and then there are consumption machines. People run around with iPhones, and they consume email, documents, books, music -- but they rarely create them. They're not being created on these devices."

T-Mobile may be throwing its weight behind creation, or authoring, devices, Hilwa continued, "and actually, since there's no established dominant player or platform in the mobile space, some companies are quite ready to write that into the PC space or authoring space. That definitely could be a disruptive force."
New Netbook Architecture Required

Any success enjoyed by T-Mobile's G1 phone is all about the software, not the phone itself, said Kevin Burden, a research director at ABI Research.

"It's not the sexiest phone out there. AT&T (NYSE: T) More about AT&T will tell you that. T-Mobile will tell you that," Burden told LinuxInsider. "It's the operating system that appealing to users."

Android's open source advantages have already forced changes in operating system planning from market leaders like Nokia (NYSE: NOK) More about Nokia, Burden said. Android has already been demonstrated on more robust devices such as netbooks, although some architectural changes need to take place before this next level of mobile computing can truly take off.

"If you look at netbooks right now, most of them are based on x86 processor architecture," Burden said. "The original idea of a netbook is not exactly what the netbook is today. The way it is today, they are slimmed-down notebook computers running Windows. The original idea was a heck of a lot smaller Internet-access type system, but when x86 gets in there, it's kind of hard to disconnect from the PC space.

"By the end of this year, we'll see more ARM-based netbooks, using chips from Freescale and Qualcommm and Nvidia. These systems are not necessarily running Windows. They'll be running version of Linux and could be running versions of Android too. Then, netbooks become something different than what they are. We're talking days between charges, 15 hours of battery life. It's going to be spectacular."

Dell Gives Healthcare IT a Booster Shot

Dell has announced an array of new products and services designed for healthcare IT systems. A mobile clinical computing system is designed to allow caregivers more options in securely accessing medical information from a variety of devices. Dell is also partnering with Perot Systems, Sam's Club and eClinical Works.

Dell (Nasdaq: DELL) More about Dell on Monday made a slew of announcements that considerably beefed up its offerings for the healthcare More about healthcare IT industry.

These include a mobile clinical computing solution, virtualized systems, cloud-leveraging solutions and partnerships with several other vendors. The computer maker is also teaming up with retailer Sam's Club.

Dell has been in the healthcare IT business for about 10 years, and the announcements are aimed at enhancing its offerings, company spokesperson Cathie Hargett told TechNewsWorld.

The new technologies come in time to take advantage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which, among other things, provides up to US$180 billion in federal funding to computerize Americans' health records and increase the use of technology in the healthcare industry.
Doctors Without Technological Borders

Among the new offerings announced is Dell Mobile Clinical Computing Solutions. This lets physicians access patients' records from any terminal using smart cards and Symantec's (Nasdaq: SYMC) More about Symantec Workspace Corporate product for single sign-on and secure authentication.

Symantec Workspace Corporate is part of the security vendor's Endpoint Virtualization Suite, which securely manages applications in a virtualized environment.

"Physicians or caregivers can roam from room to room or device to device without interrupting their session," Hargett said.

This capability is not entirely new, however. Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq: JAVA) More about Sun Microsystems has offered roaming capabilities using smart cards and single sign-on access through its Sun Ray technology, both in the U.S. and worldwide, for several years now. U.S. Sun Ray customers in the healthcare field include Denver Health, which provides healthcare for a quarter of all residents of Denver, Colo.
On-Demand Desktop Streaming

Another element of Dell's new lineup is On-Demand Desktop Streaming. This is for stationary environments where data management and security are critical. It consists of the Dell OptiPlex 755, FX160, 760 and 960 desktops; Optiplex 1950III and 2950 III servers, and Dell's 6248 Switch, NF600 and SAN FE 600W storage solutions.

Virtual disk images will be streamed to desktops. This enhances security because users get a new, pristine image every time they boot up.

While Dell partners with VMware (NYSE: VMW), Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) More about Microsoft and Citrix (Nasdaq: CTXS) More about Citrix Systems for virtualization, it's likely that Citrix has been picked for this solution, as it is based on streaming images to the desktop. However, Dell's Hargett could not confirm that.
Virtual Remote Desktop

Virtual Remote Desktop offers centralized control and management of end-user devices while enabling personalized end-user desktops, access from any device -- whether within our outside the corporate firewall -- and session mobility, where a single desktop session can follow the user from one device to another.

The solution was developed in collaboration with Citrix. It consists of Citrix XenServer Dell Edition; Citrix Desktop Delivery Controller; Citrix Secure Gateway; and Citrix Provisioning Server.

Virtualization not only will help clients keep down costs but also will enhance security, since virtualized images work within a sandbox.
Dedicated Remote Workstation

IT admins can retain centralized control of end user data and network security through Dell's Dedicated Remote Workstation.

It consists of the Dell Precision R5400, which is a standards-based rack workstation. The Dell FX100 remote access device and host card are optional. Dell claims it can extend capabilities for high performance computing (HPC) applications.

"We'll work with whatever works best for the customer," Hargett said.
Dell, Perot and the Cloud

In addition to Mobile Clinical Computing, Dell is teaming up with Perot Systems to provide virtualized desktop, storage, server and electronic health records on-premise, hosted off-site or in secure private clouds.

Perot Systems brings to the partnership a viewpoint that extends beyond the technology.

"Instead of looking at solutions as a technology challenge, we look at re-engineering the workflow and process from the clinical viewpoint," Perot spokesperson Jonathan Moss told TechNewsWorld.

Perot also works with other major vendors in healthcare IT, such as IBM (NYSE: IBM) More about IBM, HP (NYSE: HPQ) More about Hewlett-Packard and Sun. "We're vendor-agnostic," Moss said. "We work with whatever's best for the client."
Dell, Sam's Club and eClinical Works

Dell is also offering up a solution for small medical practices, which make up the bulk of the healthcare system. For this, it's partnering with eClinicalWorks and Sam's Club.

eClinicalWorks offers integrated practice management and electronic medical records (EMR) functions, a patient portal, support for wireless tablets and PDAs, e-prescribing solutions, an SQL database, an XML architecture and a browser-based smart client.

Dell is teaming up with the provider to offer turnkey solutions to small medical practices on Sam's Club's Web site, said Hargett.

"Dell will integrate the eClinicalWorks EMR and clinical practice management software into the system, send the systems out to the practices and set them up, [and] work with eClinicalWorks to train the staff and the practice," Hargett said. "eClinicalWorks will provide the software support and Dell the hardware support.

RealNetworks vs. Hollywood in DVD 'Ripping' Case Starts

RealNetworks and Hollywood studios are squaring off today in a U.S. District Court in San Francisco where Judge Marilyn Hall Patel will determine if the program RealDVD violates laws created to prevent the copying of DVDs that use digital-rights-management technology. RealDVD is a $30 software program that allowed you to copy DVDs onto your computer. Last year a judge halted the sale of the program.

RealNetworks maintains its RealDVD software is a convenience to consumers who can copy DVDs to a laptop for easy disc-free playback. The software, RealNetworks points out, doesn't strip any copy protection from the DVD.

Leading movie studios, represented by the Motion Pictures Association of America, counter RealNetworks software violates the terms of a licensing agreement covering the digital-rights-management protocols used by DVDs. It asserts RealDVD violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) because it bypasses the copy protection built into DVDs.

Late last year seven major Hollywood studios filed a lawsuit against RealNetworks seeking a permanent ban on sales of RealDVD. The court granted lead plaintiff Universal Pictures a temporary ban on sales of RealDVD until at least this month's court proceedings. In a suit filed the same week last year RealNetworks also submitted a lawsuit to the San Francisco court seeking a declaratory judgment permitting it to sell RealDVD.

The chief concern Hollywood has with RealDVD is that the software will allow people to "rent, rip, and return" DVDs from services such as Netflix without actually paying for a movies they keep. Hollywood sees services like RealDVD as a major threat to the billions in revenue earned through DVD sales.

RealNetworks refutes the MPAA's chief complaint that it bypasses, or cracks, DVD copy protection called CSS. It also denies any violation of the DMCA because RealNetworks licenses the CSS encryption. RealNetworks adds it preserves the DVD's CSS copy protection because its RealDVD program makes an exact copy of the DVD, placing an exact image of the disc on the customer's computer hard drive -- CSS protection and all.

RealNetworks claims RealDVD was designed to maintain a DVD's copy protection with personal use and travelers in mind rather than promote piracy. And as the company rightfully points out, those who really want to rip a DVD will have to turn to illegal free software that doesn't maintain any copy protection. (See related: DVD Ripping Flourishes)

Observers point out that Hollywood has a vested interest in nipping DVD copying technology at the bud for several reasons. One reason is to protect the sales of DVDs, which was estimated at $13.45 billion last year, according to Adams Media Research. Another is to crimp technological innovation when it comes to movie distribution and sales. Hollywood's tight ownership of movie distribution chain is already being threatened by the likes of Apple's iTunes Store and Amazon that sell digital downloads of movies.

Studios have innovated and addressed its customers' cries for disc-free convenience when it comes to movies. Recently leading Hollywood studios released premium DVDs that come with a built-in digital copy that can be transferred from a DVD to a computer. The DVDs, called iTunes Digital Copy, has a catch. The digital copy of the movie can only playback on iTunes software. iTunes Digital Copy is not widely available.

Judge Patel will hear testimony from each side's witnesses today. The case is scheduled to last three days.

Hyundai Genesis joins BMW 3-Series, Acura TL on Most Popular Luxury Car List

Some people purchase luxury rides for their plush interiors, slick exteriors and high-tech amenities. Others do it for the status. Either way, they have purchased a vehicle in a segment known for refined cosmetics, top-shelf build materials, gadgets galore and ultracomfortable ride characteristics.

Unfortunately, luxe cars are also known for their high sticker prices — a fact that consumers haven't overlooked. The luxury market was down 16.6 percent in 2008, compared with 2007. However, with the exception of the most expensive entries, the overall luxury segment's share of the U.S. car market actually increased slightly, so people are still interested in plush performance.

MSN Autos separates the luxury segment into three categories: near luxury, luxury and ultraluxury. Not surprisingly, the lesser-priced near-luxury category (prices start in the low to mid $30Ks) is the most researched group on MSN Autos. Regardless of its popularity, sales in this subcategory are down around 13 percent in 2008, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

Is there a silver lining here? Sure. What hasn't been hurt by this topsy-turvy economy is the quality and selection of luxury cars available to buyers today, which is reflected in this year's list of the top 10 most researched luxury cars on MSN Autos.

Google sees infrared in plan to scan world's books

THERE'S a hitch in Google's plan to digitise the world's books and make them searchable online: scanning them is taking too long.

That's because character recognition software needs a neat 2D image of the text. But book bindings cause pages to arch up either side of the spine - bending text and making it hard to interpret.

However, last week Google was granted a patent (US 7508978) on an answer to this problem. Its trick is to project an infrared pattern onto the open page spread. This lets a pair of infrared cameras map the three-dimensional shape of the pages by detecting distortion to the pattern. This in turn allows the distortion of the text to be determined - and therefore the degree of correction needed to read it accurately.

* Like what you've just read?
* Don't miss out on the latest content from New Scientist.
* Get 51 issues of New Scientist magazine plus unlimited access to the entire content of New Scientist online.
* Subscribe now and save

If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.

Three Reasons Why Microsoft's App Store Will Thrive

Microsoft's plans for its mobile application store just may change the way consumers look at apps and the Windows Mobile operating system. Not only has Microsoft changed contentious policies still enacted in Google and Apple's respective app stores, it has partnered with some of the most popular contemporary content providers and introduced original strategies for businesses. Here are three major reasons why I think Microsoft could blow its competition out of the water.

Refund Policies

If you're dissatisfied with the ridiculous farting application you just bought, Microsoft will take it back for a full refund within 24 hours. Microsoft refunds its 30 percent share of the sales price, and developers return their 70 percent share. Google has a similar policy, but Apple's refund policy has infuriated developers. Apple makes developers pay back the full amount of the application, and still takes its 30 percent cut, shifting the financial burden on developers.

Pricing Strategy

Apple mandates that applications be purchased through iTunes, and Google makes use of Google Checkout. Microsoft, on the other hand, has decided to allow customers the choice of either paying via credit card or have the charges planted on their mobile phone bill. This is a brilliant move, and though financial arrangements between Microsoft and cellular carriers have not been disclosed, it's safe to assume money is changing hands. This makes carriers happy, and strengthens relationships with those who are actually moving the phones. It also makes consumers less likely to second-guess purchases during the process of entering credit card information into a phone.

Content Partnerships

While some of Microsoft's content partnerships are nothing new -- Facebook, Pandora, MySpace, etc. -- the company has built a strong team of supporters. Some companies who have shaken hands with Microsoft include: CNBC, Accuweather, Ilium Software, Resco, Spb Software, WebIS, Sling Media, Zagat Survey, Namco, Netflix, and Electronic Arts Mobile. With that team of respected content providers standing in Microsoft's corner, you can expect developers to generate some very original apps. Even Microsoft's Facebook app will be different than other mobile versions: It will allow users to record and upload video to their Facebook pages.

More details on Microsoft's App Marketplace are expected to be issued as CTIA continues. Expect Microsoft to build a competitive edge as it learns from Apple and Google's successes and mistakes.

Conficker Predictions - Doomsday Scenarios for April 1

Graphic: Diego Aguirre
Doomsday is nearly here. Well, maybe.

The fear-inducing Conficker worm is set to explode (or something) this Wednesday, April 1. Wondering what the hell that actually means? You aren't alone.

No one knows exactly what Conficker will bring, but plenty of theories are floating around. Some take on apocalyptic tones, while others seem more like nonchalant groans. Before you unplug your computer and brace yourself in the fetal position, though, consider some of the possibilities and how likely they appear to be.

1. It'll be Y2K all over again.

Just picture it: Computers worldwide simultaneously freak out. Banks go haywire, airports shut down... -- oh, wait a minute. None of that stuff ever happened.

That's exactly what a lot of security experts are expecting to see this week: a collective sigh of relief as all the hype turns into a big fat punchline, ripe for months of late night comedy milking.

"The truth is, there will be no April 1st outbreak, despite what some of the press stories have said so far," says Joe Stewart, director of malware research with SecureWorks.

"The probability of a major [Conficker]-related event taking place on April 1 is really not very likely," agrees Vincent Weafer, vice president of Symantec's security response group.

Armageddon? Fuh-get-it.

2. Hackers will take over the world.

On the other end of the spectrum, some are suggesting that the worst could actually occur. Just look at these sentiments from a not-at-all sensational story by U.K. tabloid The Sun (and yes, these are all unmodified, direct quotes):

• "Millions of computers around the world could go into meltdown."

• "The aggressive bug could be hiding on your PC at home right now, waiting to kick in."

• "For the hackers, it's like having a virtual army at their fingertips."

• "They could also plunder information, including your bank details."

Meltdown? Hiding in my home? Army? Plunder?! That fetal position is starting to look more appealing.

But really, most people who study security for a living say this extreme type of scenario seems awfully unlikely. What's more, research released just today by IBM Internet Security System's X-Force (note to self: rename bowling team "The X-Force") suggests Conficker's presence in the U.S. has been greatly exaggerated. Fewer than 6 percent of Conficker infections are in North America, IBM says. The majority are in Asia, followed by Europe and then South America.

The smartest thing you can do right now is to check if you're infected -- and, if you are, run a removal tool to make the fix before midnight.

3. Every infected computer will lose all of its data.

The Conficker event scheduled for April 1 could contain code telling the bug to wipe out the hard drives of every personal computer in sight. Key word there: could.

The truth, as PC World's Erik Larkin points out, is that the folks behind malware are typically looking to make some sort of measurable gain. As valuable as your photo collection from last year's family vacation is (and yes, I know about the bikini pics), odds are, it's not what a hacker is after.

4. Spam, spam. Lots of spam.

One way that gain could be accomplished is through spam -- and lots of it. With millions of machines believed to be affected worldwide, Wednesday's potential communication expansion could give Conficker's creators the power to blast us with bundles of annoying new e-mails. That threat, some say, could be very real, as could the idea of targeted denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.

Still, any DoS attacks would more likely be aimed at corporate networks, not individual users, and many major institutions have already taken steps to protect themselves.

5. Jerry Yang will suddenly become an omnipotent force, ruling the entire world from a top-secret Silicon Valley bunker.

Hey, I'm just saying -- anything's possible here. And of all the scenarios we've considered, this final one may be the most troubling. I mean, what anti-virus program could possibly protect us from that frightful fate?

Fetal position, here I come. I'll be under my desk if anyone needs me.

Apple resurrects the 17-inch iMac

Remember when Apple discontinued the 17-inch iMac in 2007? Well, it looks like that iMac hasn't gone away at all and is still available to schools for only $899. Italian blog, SetteB.it, discovered the new offering in the March edition of Apple's "eNews of Education" newsletter. "The new iMac line also includes a 17-inch model starting at $899," Apple states in the newsletter. It seems that Apple is providing the model as an enticement for schools in the K-12 range to invest funds they may receive through the Obama Administration's "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act". President Obama has stated repeatedly that he wants to spread access to technology across the country. Photograph: Marc Simon
Apple's newsletter also links to an Apple white paper that declares that the education funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 "represents a tremendous boost in education spending . . . at a time when the country needs it most." It won't be bad for Apple, either; the company concludes its white paper by stating, "Apple is ready to partner with you as you move forward with plans to invest in education and technology. Apple can assist you in matching your educational goals with the technology that will help you be successful."

This is certainly a great deal for schools, especially as some look for the best way to invest any funds they may receive from the federal government. But if Apple really wanted to capitalize on the current economy, why not release this well-priced device for the entire public? Oddly enough, the 17-inch iMac was originally intended for schools and only became available to everyone in 2002 after public demand grew, according to Ars Technica. Then, in 2007, Apple officially discontinued the 17-inch iMac only to have it resurface today. Currently, Apple offers 20- and 24-inch models to the general public starting at $1199. But who knows? Maybe history will repeat itself if demand grows loud enough. So how about it folks, anybody out there want to buy a 17-inch iMac for less than $1000?

Dell is Dull

Smartphone Canceled for Lack of InterestDell is Dull: Smartphone Canceled for Lack of Interest
Remember the Dell smartphone? Apparently neither do cellular carriers. According to Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu, the Dell smartphone profoundly failed to wow carriers and was dumped.

Dell faced stiff competition from RIM's Blackberry, Apple's iPhone, and the upcoming Palm Pre, and based on Wu's report, couldn't handle the pressure of making a sexy, functional device that would entice interest. "From our conversations with supply chain and industry sources, it appears that it ultimately came down to lack of carrier interest," Wu wrote.

Dell built prototypes that ran both Windows Mobile and Google Android but couldn't physically differentiate its handhelds from competitors. Sexy tech sells, and judging from Dell's computer line-up, which is mostly full of cheap-looking plastic devices -- Adamo notwithstanding -- the company failed to open any eyes. And since Dell did not craft its own OS, it seems as though it's almost had no chance.

Nevertheless, Dell has "gone back to the drawing board" and will rejoin the race with a device that will "likely involve vertical integration of some sort including software and/or services," Wu writes.

There is also buzz that Dell might be looking to buy Palm, which would definitely give Dell a heads-up in the smartphone biz.

Conficker D-Day Arrives; Worm Phones Home (Quietly)

The Conficker worm today has begun to phone home for instructions but has done little else. Conficker was programmed to today begin actively visiting 500 out of 50,000 randomly generated web addresses to receive new instructions on how to behave. Conficker has begun to do this, according to security company F-Secure, but so far no doomsday scenarios have emerged.

confickerAmong security experts, the consensus seems to be that very little will happen today. This may be in part because of the high amount of publicity Conficker has received, but then again April 1 is not the first time Conficker has been programmed to change the way it operates. Similar trigger dates have already passed with little change, including January 1, according to according to Phil Porras, a program director with SRI International. Security experts at Symantec, the maker of Norton Antivirus, also believe the threat is overblown and says Conficker today will "start taking more steps to protect itself" and "use a communications system that is more difficult for security researchers to interrupt."

Technology companies and experts across the globe have been working together to halt the spread of Conficker, disrupt its communications and uncover who created the worm. Microsoft has even issued a $250,000 bounty for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Conficker's authors. Despite the security sector's best efforts, very little is known about the origins of Conficker or its purpose. Nevertheless, some breakthroughs have been achieved. On March 30, Security experts with the Honeynet Project discovered a flaw in Conficker that makes it much easier to detect infection. IBM researcher Mark Yayson also believes he has discovered a way to "detect and interrupt the program's activities," according to The New York Times.

Since the Conficker worm was discovered in October 2008, the malware has only received programming updates from its author and worked to infect other computers. Conficker is believed to have infected 10 million computers worldwide mostly in Asia, Europe and South America. According to IBM, only 6 percent of North American computers have been infected.

While today may be a non-event, Conficker could be used to create harm in the future. Possiblities include a massive botnet, which would give Conficker's authors control over millions of computers worldwide. The botnet could then be used to attack corporate or government networks, commit identity theft, or deliver massive amounts of spam. Security experts warn that all Windows users must make sure their operating system and antivirus programs are up to date with the latest patches and virus protections. So far, Windows is the only operating system known to be vulnerable to Conficker.

Omnia HD: The World’s First HD Mobile

The Samsung Omnia HD, set for release later this year, will be a GSM quad-band phone with a set of powerful multimedia features. It will be the first phone to offer 720p HD video recording.
Additionally, it will be equipped with an 8 megapixel camera, TouchWiz user interface, GPS receiver, and FM radio.

Quick Specs

Operating System: Symbian S60 5th Edition
Screen Resolution: 3.7" QHD AMOLED Touch Screen
Keyboard Type: On-screen
Communications: Bluetooth, GPRS, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, UMTS
Meda Type: microSD
Camera Resolution: 8.0 megapixels
GPS: Yes
Dimensions: 4.84 x 2.28 x 0.51 inches
Battery Type: Lithium - Ion, 1500 mAh
Release Date: 6/30/2009

Amazing product, I think this is the long-awaited iPhone-killer

The MacBook Air-Dell Adamo Deathmatch

The Tale of the Tape

You know all about the on-again, off-again PC-Mac turf war, of course. Which is better? One thing we can tell you is that PC makers sure are taking note of Apple's awesome design work. And that's the setup for the welterweight matchup we have going on today.

In this corner (pictured at right), the MacBook Air, the sleek standard-bearer for how Apple does computing. In the other, the Dell Adamo, the spunky up-and-comer that packs on ports…and takes some not-so-subtle jabs at the big "A."

Neither company really positions its ultraslim ultraportable as a high-performance hot rod. Heck, both of them eschew optical drives to stay lean and mean. But they're both expensive--very, very expensive. We figured it was time to find out if either the Air or the Adamo has what it takes to win.

Now before these two palookas start mixing it up, let's look at what they each bring to tonight's fight. The MacBook Air is the cagey vet. Since it first showed up on the scene, it has improved its game by providing better processors and an honest-to-goodness graphics card, nVidia's GeForce 9400M. That means it can actually play some games--not many, but some.

The Air we last reviewed offered a 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo CPU and 2GB of RAM, and scored a 78 in WorldBench 6. In our battery-life tests, the Air survived for about 2.5 hours before sputtering out. It can accommodate a 120GB hard disk (our more-expensive model came with a 128GB solid-state drive). But then, of course, there's also the dreaded "Apple Tax": These machines range in price from $1799 to $2499.

The Dell Adamo, on the other hand, offers lesser parts and…charges…more? Really? Let's go over this. Dell's high-style PCs cost between $1999 and $2699. The Adamo maxes out at a 1.4GHz CPU but compensates with 4GB of RAM to handle a 64-bit version of Windows Vista Home Premium. Supposedly its battery will last 5 hours in tests, if we're to believe promotional materials. Will it get slapped around in our WorldBench 6 suite? Stay tuned; we'll update this story as soon as we receive results from our labs. For now, though, buckle up for a feature-by-feature smackdown.

Hey, you two silicon status symbols: Are you ready to rumble? FIGHT!

Round 1: The Packaging

Apple: Ships in a neat little box. It's tiny. It's mostly white. It comes with a handle. Yay!

Dell: When the Adamo arrives at your doorstep, it looks as if someone froze your new laptop in carbonite. Yeah, I went there. It's a minimalistic plastic display case that houses the small handful of accessories (a DisplayPort-to-VGA cable, a power cable, and a microscopic manual) that come with the Adamo.

Winner: Draw. If you're going by cool factor, Dell out-Appled Apple in this department. Environmentally friendly plastic casing, not so much.

Round 2: The Keyboard

Apple: The Air didn't invent the notion of cut-out Chiclet keys--it just popularized them. The buttons are reasonably spaced, and you rarely run the risk of mistyping. That said, the function keys are shrunken down a little bit too much for my tastes. Otherwise, the Air has a slick set of backlit keys.

Dell: One editor here refers to the little dip in the middle of these wide keys as "finger buckets." The fancy-pants Dell marketspeak for it is "scalloped keys." Whatever. The point is, the keys are flat-ish and wide, as I've grown to love on a number of laptops (the HP Mini 1000 being among them), and they have a little lip for your fingers to rest in. The Adamo also finds room to accommodate a couple of multimedia-shortcut keys next to the power button. The only drawback here is that making out some of the keys without the ambient backlighting turned on is a little difficult.

Winner: Dell. Bigger keys and more of them equal a win in my book.

Round 3: The Touchpad

Apple: Looking at the touchpad, it's pretty obvious why the Air gave up some ground from the keyboard. The mousing area on the MacBook is big and beautiful. While some people (ahem, me) have trouble with getting the multitouch functions to work 100 percent correctly, all the time, it feels--and looks--great.

Dell: The Adamo's touchpad borders on the average side. It's not bad by any stretch; the buttons are firmly in place and give the right amount of pressure. Like the Apple laptops, this Dell model provides some multitouch functionality as well.

Winner: Bigger surface area. Feels better. Apple.

Round 4: The I/O Ports

Apple: I can count the number of ports on three fingers. You can guess which ones they are. You get a single USB port, a mini-DisplayPort, and a headphone jack. That's it.

Dell: Here’s where the big "D" gets it right. The Adamo has two USB ports, ethernet and headphone jacks, one eSATA connector, one DisplayPort, and a user-accessible SIM-card slot for WWAN service.

Winner: Dell. As if this one was even going to be close. At least both machines offer Webcams and built-in microphones.

Round 5: The Screen

Apple: A crisp 13.3-inch display stays protected behind a big, aluminum bezel. With the Air's native 1280-by-800-pixel resolution, you'll get some great, colorful images on the backlit LED screen. Of course, the glossy coating means you're bound to get a little bounce-back in broad daylight, too.

Dell: Ditto on the glare from the glossy coating, but this screen is worth it. The Adamo offers edge-to-edge glass that's securely locked into place on the 13.4-inch screen. Its WLED display one-ups the Air's with a 1366-by-768-pixel resolution (translation: 720p-friendly). Initial tests show that the screen looks pretty sharp. But one thing I keep mulling over is the obviously Mac-esque shortcut bar that sits on the desktop (shown here). It provides clean, quick links to all the main apps you'd use on the computer. And it's easily customizable.

Winner: Dell. The Adamo has a bright, bigger screen with a higher resolution? Sold.

Round 6: The Overall Design

Apple: Thanks to its simple, spartan design, the Air has much cleaner lines. Then again, managing without all of the perks that have been nipped and tucked out of the 12.8-by-9.0-by-0.8-inch, 3-pound Air in order to make it so small is a bit of a pain. As in life, it's all about trade-offs.

Dell: As slim as the Adamo is (13 by 9.5 by 0.65 inches and 4 pounds), it's still a bit boxy. Hey, that's not a knock. After all, just about every laptop is a little on the square side (even Apples, until pretty recently). The dotted grillwork on the back pops, and the two-tone top makes the Adamo look more like a fashion accessory than most laptops on the scene do.

Winner: Draw. This one boils down to a matter of aesthetics and taste. Whether you like clean and simple or you want to try to match your shoes to your laptop, either machine works.

As I said at the beginning of this slide show, hang tight: We will have a full review of the Adamo up soon with all of our WorldBench 6 test results in place.

Intel Producing 32nm Processors Next Year!

So you heard them! Intel has completed the development phase of its next-generation 32 nanometers (nm) processors. They are now planning to roll out an entirely new 32nm processor in the fourth quarter of 2009! No sign of slowing down in processor development despite cutting its next year revenue forecast by 1 billion.

In fact, it’s always the plan in Intel to introduce an entirely new processor micro-architecture with a cutting edge manufacturing process about every 12 months. They proudly claimed such achievement to be an effort unmatched in the industry, this I totally agree with no doubt at all.

Besides, producing 32nm chips next year would mark the fourth consecutive year Intel has met its goal.

You may ask what’s so fascinating about 32nm?

Well, it simply means by using such technology Intel is able to use more energy-efficient, denser and higher performing transistors on a processor. Hence, giving you more power with less energy consumption.

Hopefully we’ll also see price dropping for older processors, which will be a bargain for the consumers.

On a side note, AMD just released their first 45nm Opteron server processor last month, now Intel is talking about manufacturing 32nm processors next year. Looks like AMD still have a long way to catch its main competitor’s tail, huh?