Fujitsu will soon release a new netbook powered by Intel's new Pineview-based Atom processors, a filing (PDF) at the FCC indicates. The 10.1-inch netbook will be part of Fujitsu's M-series range, with both the MH380 and M380 LifeBook models using the Pineview chip.
Initial information has surfaced of Intel's sequel to its imminent Pine Trail platform for the Atom processor. Appropriately codenamed Cedar Trail, the 2011 update should be the first built on a 32 nanometer process and will take advantage of this through a new integrated graphics core. The new version will support DirectX 10-level 3D as well as HD video decoding. It should additionally bring dual digital outputs that recognize DisplayPort and HDMI as well as older formats.
Intel is planning on releasing three new 32nm dual-core CPUs for ultrathin notebooks in the first half of next year, Digitimes reported on Thursday. Their notebook manufacturing sources claim the 1.2GHz Core i7-640UM, 1.06GHz Core i7-620UM and 1.06GHz Core i5-520UM would be aimed at the high- to mid-range ultraportable markets and replace the current 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo SU9600. As Core i7 models, the two faster chips would support Hyperthreading and sometimes give these chips the behavior of quad-core models.
Intel is planning to almost completely overhaul its Atom processors with an early Pine Trail unveiling and a near complete replacement of its most important models, a leak suggests. The company reportedly plans to introduce its next-generation designs on December 21st and have PC makers shipping finished products by January 4th, when many had expected the initial unveiling. On that day, Intel is reported by Xbit-Labs as planning to scrap its long-serving 1.6GHz Atom N270 and 1.86GHz N280 chips almost immediately.
In spite of claims of an on time release, Intel's Atom processors using its Pine Trail architecture now won't show until the very start of 2010, a string of leaks have shown Thursday. The 1.66GHz N450 and 1.86GHz N470 are said by Fudzilla to ship on January 3rd and won't necessarily save battery life. Instead, the primary gain will come from moving graphics to the main processor core, reducing the number of chips from three to two and creating more space.
Intel will more aggressively update the Atom processor than it has in the past, executive VP Sean Maloney said in an interview published today. The company waited roughly a year between the original Atom launch and its Z500 upgrade but now plans to put it more closely on the faster "tick tock" pattern it uses for regular processors, where it first shrinks the manufacturing process for an existing design and later ships a new architecture built on that process. Such upgrades will start in earnest with Pine Trail this fall, which technically achieves both by moving to a smaller 45 nanometer design and moving the graphics core to within the processor.
Intel at its Developer Forum keynote entered the smartphone field in earnest with the first edition of Moblin Linux for handsets. Version 2.1 is reworked to optimize the interface for touchscreen phone input and adds a panel-based interface for app switching, somewhat like the metaphor used in Palm's webOS. The software still centers on features from Moblin 2.0 like dedicated media playback and a full web browser.
Sony at its IFA keynote previewed an entirely new category of ultraportable. The VAIO X series will use a low-voltage Intel processor (either Atom or CULV) but will have a carbon fiber shell instead of aluminum or another bulkier material. Changing to the very light but stiff body gives it a record-setting weight of just 1.5 pounds, or half as much as most netbooks and ultraportables like the MacBook Air. It also slims the system down to just half an inch thick across its entire case.
A roadmap leaked by an EeeUser forum member who claims he works in the "industry" reveals upcoming Eee PC notebook models from ASUS. Most notably, the roadmap shows a 12-inch Eee PC is due, which will be powered by NVIDIA's Ion platform. Dubbed 1201N, the PC is due in October, and should run on a 1.6GHz Atom CPU with 2GB of RAM. It will otherwise have a 250GB hard drive, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while carrying a $499 price tag.
MSI plans to preempt the rest of the market by launching the first netbooks based on Intel's Pine Trail Atom platform, according to PC industry tips. Still maintaining that the smaller, much more integrated processors may not be officially ready until early 2010, DigiTimes has heard that MSI intends to ship portables in December rather than wait for the rest of the market. The lead time would let it avoid competing on price for weeks or more.
ASUS, Dell, HP and MSI will soon release a wave of new tablet netbooks, according to industry sources in a Friday DigiTimes report. The first is expected to come from MSI at the start of 2010 in the form of a 10-inch tablet, with an HP-branded and Inventec-built netbook due in April or May. They are both expected to run on Intel's upcoming Pine Trail-M platform. While no new details were unveiled about a Dell netbook tablet, a 5-inch device was rumored from the company recently.
Intel on Monday morning rebuffed claims from late last week that it was cutting off Atom Z500 supplies. A spokeswoman for the company told Register staff that the rumors, which would have all of the netbook-class processors off the market, are "100% inaccurate." Intel's long-term plans for the Z series aren't known, though it's expected that the company's Pine Trail platform will make the Z series at least partially obsolete.
Intel may be shutting down production of its Z500-series Atom chips early, a source from the PC industry says. Unnamed contacts for DigiTimes say the processor developer won't accept any more orders "soon" and that the only processors it will ship past a certain point this year are from at least the three key supporters of Atom-based systems, namely Acer, ASUS and MSI. Supply of the Z500 line should stop altogether by the end of the year for everyone.
Intel mobile group general manager on Wednesday put an end to earlier rumors that had the next generation Atom chip for netbooks, codenamed Pine Trail, has been delayed. Mobile platforms general manager Mooly Eden said Pine Trail is on schedule at an Intel Technology Summit on Wednesday in San Francisco. The chips should now be shipped in the second half of the year, with production versions on display at the Intel Developer Forum in September.
New rumors from the mainboard industry today hint that Intel is poised to update its top-end desktop processor once more this year while also updating its Celerons earlier in the year. Currently topping out with the 3.06GHz Core i7 950, the fall should see that model replaced by the 3.2GHz Core i7 960. Its amount of cache and other features aren't expected by DigiTimes to change, but it should represent the first time a home, non-Extreme desktop processor from Intel has reached 3.2GHz and should be much faster than the similarly-clocked Core 2 Extreme.
Intel's first processor based on the Pine Trail platform could ship as soon as the start of the fall, a report from industry contacts would claim. The Atom N450 is reportedly due in October and would be a single-core processor at an unnamed speed meant to replace the 1.6GHz Atom N270. It should use the technology behind Pineview and would be made built on a new, 45 nanometer design that merges the memory controller and graphics directly into the processor; accompanying it would be the new-generation Tiger Point chipset, which is needed for and takes advantage of the N450 design.
