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Intel adds new desktop processors to roadmap
It looks like those playing along with Intel's roadmap at home have a bit of updating to do to their scorecards, with HKEPC Hardware revealing a few new details on the chip maker's plans for the new year. The biggest bit of news this time around concerns Intel's new 45nm dual-core desktop processor, now codenamed "Wolfdale," which will have a thermal design power rating (TDP) of 65W, in line with current Core 2 Duo processors. Look for it to launch sometime in the fourth quarter of this year. Intel has also firmed up a few more details on its quad-core Yorkfield processor, with it clocking in with a 95W TDP and apparently still on track for a (late) Q3 release this year.[Via Reg Hardware]
Meet your shiny new 2007 HTCs
If the X7500 "Athena" somehow managed to fail to attract your attention and you found the Vox, Libra, Love, and Cavailer positively forgettable, first verify that you have a pulse (because we really don't think that's normal) then check this out: HTC's 2007 arsenal is shaping up to be a doozy, with several previously-unknown models stepping into the spotlight. First up is the "Kaiser" (pictured top left), a follow-on to the Hermes that adds GPS -- a feature that's becoming increasingly common in high-end Pocket PCs. The "Elf" (top right) and "Panda" (not pictured) are midrange devices; they'll lack 3G radios, but the Panda's claim to fame will be a giant QVGA display that weighs in at well over 3 inches, while the Elf makes a name for itself with a fashion-friendly design and a touchpad in place of the typical d-pad. The "Wings" (bottom left) will ultimately take the torch from the Vox -- yes, the still-unreleased Vox -- by adding 3G, GPS, and a beefier processor. Finally, a new clamshell Smartphone will pick up where the Star Trek left off, rocking a GPS receiver and more wireless radios than its predecessor. If you can't find yourself an '07 HTC to your liking now, well... that's just crazy talk, but we know a Finnish outfit that might like your business.[Via PDA247]
AMD's revamped roadmap unveils APUs, Hawks, and Griffins
While we've had plenty of time to digest Intel's path forward, we've been critiquing AMD's latest efforts rather than gazing down their intriguing roadmap. Nevertheless, a (presumably yawn-inducing) four-hour presentation yielded a few noteworthy tidbits about where AMD's headed, and how it plans to arrive. The firm insinuated that Intel's gazillion-core approach was simply rehashing the megahertz race, and said it would be focusing it efforts instead on Accelerated Processing Units (APUs). Although the composition is still a bit vague, the devices will supposedly be "multi-core chips that include any mix of processor cores and other dedicated processors," such as discrete units for graphics, physics, audio, video, encoding, etc. While a dash of this has already been divulged when we heard about Fusion, it looks likes AMD's getting pretty serious about it now. Additionally, the desktop roadmap didn't deviate from what we'd previously seen, but the firm plans to unveil a new power-conscience "Hawk" processor to replace the current Turion 64 X2 and Mobile Sempron chips. Moreover, it's working on offering up a hybrid graphics solution, which would see discrete GPUs disabled when unplugged from a power source, letting the integrated graphics set take over and conserve juice. Finally, the company plans to introduce yet another mobile chip (dubbed Griffin) in late 2007 that will reportedly support split power planes and HyperTransport 3.0, hopefully meaning that it'll be based on a quad-core architecture. While we don't exactly recommend sitting through the entire webcast, those who eat, sleep, and drink circuitry can hit the read link for the full (and we do mean full) skinny.[Via TechReport, thanks Keaton]
More fuel to the fire: BlackBerry 8703 appears on VZW roadmap
If we haven't been inundated with enough information about the BlackBerry 8703e for Verizon Wireless, here comes some more of the usual business. August 28th came and went with no official announcement, so could this be light at the end of the tunnel? Here we see the latest Data Device Roadmap with 8703e with a release date of 09/01/06. With all the hype built around this device, we're hoping that they follow through on this one -- guess we'll find out for sure this Friday!
Archos roadmap reveals WiFi-, DTV-, and 3.5G-enabled PMPs
In a refreshing change of pace from the frustrating veil of secrecy under which most consumer electronics companies keep their future plans, Archos has done us all a big favor and posted a roadmap highlighting some of the technologies we can expect to see in its upcoming devices. Most prominently featured in this so-called investor kit is one of the models we spotted in a Swiss catalog last month, which is now starting to look very much like the ultimate PMP: besides a 30GB hard drive and 4.3-inch screen, it seems the 504 will also sport the always-popular docking cradle, along with WiFi, GPS, and even a 3.5G cellular modem for pulling in Internet TV broadcasts and direct downloading of purchased content. We also saw what looks like a revised version of the AV 700 called the AV 700 TV (pictured), which appears to have no less than four antennas sticking out of the top for tuning into Freeview and presumably other OTA digital TV formats. Keep your eyes peeled, video fans, because it sounds like Archos is really planning to shake things up this year by packing in more connectivity options than anyone else on the market -- and that's just fine with us.[Thanks, Bray]
Apple pushes Intel into new direction
Apple and Intel seem to be a marriage made in heaven (it is still feels a little odd to write things like that). Anand Chandrasekher, a senior Intel exec, has been quoted by Computer World as saying that Intel's partnership with Apple has made the chip maker think about things it never considered. Chandrasekher says that this 'push' will become evident in Intel's roadmap, but don't expect anything right away.
