I mentioned the timeline for Haswell-based Ultrabooks in an article about Connected Standby yesterday so let me just bring that up-front for you to see (and discuss) today.

Read the full story

The Verge have published a nice piece about what’s coming to the Ultrabook scene later in 2013. We’ve already reported on the Touchscreen and WiDi requirement (and what it really means) but via an interview with Kirk Skaugen we’re given a few more interesting statements. The biggest of which is a confirmation that Connected Standby is coming.

Read the full story

The Intel CES press event didn’t hold any major news for us yesterday. Low power 3rd-Gen Core, Perceptual Computing, Convertibles, Haswell and even a touch of Bay Trail were expected as Ultrabook-related news but to announce that all 4th-gen Core Ultrabooks (Haswell platform, Q3/Q4) will have Touchscreens was a complete surprise and I can only describe it as a massive risk-taking move by Intel. What does it really mean though? Higher pricing, consumer focus? There won’t be any Windows 7 Ultrabooks, that’s for sure.

One thing that is for sure is that the Ultrabook is going to get more difficult to use in bright light. Capacitive touchscreens mean fingers-on-glass and in general, glossy finishes. It means that all Ultrabooks will now have additional costs associated with them and it means that some users and some commentators will rebel because they don’t want a touchscreen. But there’s another view…

Read the full story

Update: High quality video from the Intel CES 2013 press conference here.

Notes from the Intel Press Conference at CES. (Ultrabook-related only, for Bay Trail, see UMPCPortal)

Intel just announced the 7W TDP Core processors that we’ve been expecting. (see previous article)

Read the full story

Supporting 1080p wireless transfer, including protected content, using H.264 hardware encoding over 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz Wi-Fi networks in Version 3, Intel Wi-Di is becoming more and more interesting. There are now TVs and monitors available with Wi-Di built in and the new Netgear Push2TV 3000 (PTV3000) is breaking new ground in size and price.

I took a look at the latest low-latency version of the product and got hands-on with the tiny Netgear PTV3000 which is launching at $59.

Read the full story

I don’t believe any of the Gen-1 Ultrabooks should be taken off the market to be replaced with Ivy Bridge models but there’s a risk that they will be if manufacturers adopt a two-prong approach with low and high-end Ivy Bridge devices. News just in via The Verge says that new Ivy Bridge Ultrabooks, the UX32A and UX32Vd, will start at $800. Does that leave any space for price drops on the UX21 and UX31?

While old stock may go for cheaper prices in Q3 we think it’s unlikely that the UX21 and UX31 will continue on the production line.

Read the full story

The Toshiba Portege Z830 is lining up to be one very interesting Ultrabook indeed. It’s the lightest 13” model there is at an amazing 1.13KG [see Ultrabook weight comparison here by clicking ‘weight column] and has a great line-up of ports and features. Even better news, and solving the mystery of why some people are reporting the casing to be structurally solid when we felt something a little wobbly at IFA, is the news that the casing is now a magnesium alloy and aluminum structure.

Read the full story

You go to the Intel Developer Forum to learn. You learn about Intel’s heading, new technology and knowledge from other attendees. Unlike trade-shows where you’ll be talking to marketing teams and show-floor assistance, you get to hear from expert engineers, product managers and technologists. Thanks to Intels support at IDF I was able to sit down for a one-to-one with Adam King, senior manager responsible for the Ultrabook sector and get some outstanding questions answered.

Read the full story