Do you use Daylight Savings as a reminder for anything techy?

posted by Becky Emmett on October 29, 2008

I personally use it as a reminder for a couple things. First, there is of course the smoke-alarm battery update. Can't ignore that one. But it's also the time I check my computer's health. I know, it's kind of geeky to think that way, but ignoring it leads to a slow and sluggish machine. I have a mini checklist (see below) for optimal processor performance (yes, I work for Intel. Yes, I'm a processor geek).

1 - Empty the recycle bin. This one is the easiest.
2 - Delete your temporary files. Get rid of all those un-necessary files.
3 - Check for viruses and spyware. Be sure your anti-virus/anti-spyware software is turned on and working.
4 - Uninstall un-used programs. Loading up your hard drive can slow down a system. I swear, I just found a dial-up program on my machine! Random.. but it's now gone!
5 - Defrag your hard drive. Over time, the files on your hard drive get broken into pieces, making them harder to retrieve and update.

Oh, and while this isn't to necessarily get your computer moving faster, it will give you peace of mind. I also back up my files. I do this more often than twice per year.. but sometimes I slip. We're all busy, right!

What do you do?

 

[This is a repost to what I put up on TwitterMoms this morning.]  

 

Honey Bee Monitoring- Intel researchers tackle agricultural issues

posted by Kiesha Cochrane on October 29, 2008

Love them or hate them, without Honey Bee's we won't survive. Bee's pollinate the everyday foods we eat making them vital to our way of life. The honey bee population here in the US is in critical condition from what scientists are calling "Colony Collapse Disorder" or CCD where bees leave their hives to pollinate and never return. What is causing CCD is still unknown.

 

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Moorestown is up and running!

posted by Rama Vohra on October 28, 2008

Mobile Internet Devices today are powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor.  At IDF in Taipei last week, Intel showed a demo of the next generation of silicon, codenamed "Moorestown." This is exciting because it's going to be lower power and allow OEMs to build smaller devices.

They showed a cool vision video during the keynote that showed possible usages for devices in the future.  Check it out and let us know what you think! 

 

 

More Oprah Coolness

posted by Becky Emmett on October 24, 2008

Things just keep getting better here at Intel - We're sponsoring "The Oprah Winfrey Show."  Since I watch the show every day and have been a fan since, well almost forever really, I can't fully express how excited I am.   Linking Intel with "The Oprah Winfrey Show" audience reinforces the important connection between women and technology.

Watch for Intel on the TV show throughout the season and online at www.oprah.com/Intel.  Intel is also playing a role in the upcoming O You! event in San Francisco tomorrow.  Visit www.oyouonline to see the live webcast from the Intel booth within the show (starting at 10am PT).  You also have time to submit questions to the speakers!  Let's keep the tech dialog going!

 

First Mass Animation, now Digital Drag Race?

posted by Michael Brito on October 23, 2008

So, the other day I wrote about this killer Facebook application, Mass Animation, for animators to compete against each other and showcase their skills for the world.

Well, how about trying on the Digital Drag Race for size. The Digital Drag Race is a chance for leading designers in the industry to face off and showcase their mad skills in a digital design challenge. Chosen designers will be given the same software, system build and set of design assets to race against the clock in a timed, motion graphics design challenge. When the challenge is completed, Judge's Choice will be determined by a panel of industry experts. People's Choice will be determined by public voting held on the Digital Drag Race site. 

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On the Road to Mobility 2.0

posted by David Angell on October 22, 2008

I've been living in the era of Mobility 1.0. I connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi. I use it at home, at Intel, and on the road. Wi-Fi is great stuff, but a Wi-Fi hotspot is like an oasis in the desert. When I'm at one, my notebook and I replenish our Internet thirst, but in between and beyond these wireless watering holes are vast wireless deserts.

My notebook is my place of business and my playground. It's how I stay connected to my work, my online life, my finances, my shopping. The Internet isn't a luxury. It's a necessity. So why do I have to seek it out? Why can't broadband Internet travel with me and my notebook? My notebook wants to go "free range" with broadband Internet, roaming the wide open spaces beyond the confines of Wi-Fi cages. If my notebook could talk, I'm sure it would say, "Why can't I connect to the Internet like that little cell phone punk does for voice?"
But now I can tell my jealous notebook that our mobile freedom is on its way.

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Tune in to CBS TV Shows Online, With Friends!

posted by Becky Emmett on October 21, 2008

Watching CBS shows online became easier and more fun thanks to the newly launched Social Viewing Room.   People can now visit www.cbs.com/socialroom and easily find, befriend and have conversations with others in the same 'room'.  Intel is the exclusive launch partner and Heather Dixon explains the relationship best noting "Intel is passionate about bringing traditional TV and online video to the Internet, so that people can experience their favorite shows anytime, anywhere with cutting-edge technology. CBS's Social Viewing Room takes the experience to the next level by enabling viewers to interact with their friends online creating a very compelling new social media tool.  Now, the PC can start to replicate the traditional living room experience but in a virtual space - enabling the PC viewer to banter, laugh and comment with the power of Intel microprocessors." 

When it comes to cutting-edge technology and improving people's lives, Intel always seems to be in the middle. I'm behind on NCIS so will be checking it out later today - anyone want to join me?

 

Clear the way for Mass Animation

posted by Michael Brito on October 17, 2008

Yes, if you are an animation fan, an animator or someone who just likes cool movies like Hancock, The Chronicles of Narnia and the Happening, please read on.  Okay, the Happening was really a horrible movie but there were 1 or 2 phenomenal scenes like the car crash and lion attack.  

Nonetheless, Mass Animation is a collaborative effort that combines the dynamic worlds of extreme animation, Hollywood and Facebook (yes, the social network). It is a contest whereby participating animators will have an exclusive opportunity to create individual scenes for a 5-minute, professional-quality short film to be debuted sometime in early 2009 -- stay tuned for more!

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Hello WiMax, Goodbye Broadband Cables!

posted by Michael Brito on October 13, 2008

Yup, you heard it right.  The RJ45 Ethernet cable is standing on its last legs and it's just a matter of time before they will be piling up at the local recycling houses. Not sure what an RJ45 is? Well, take a look behind your computer, modem or router and you will notice a thick plug - see here for a picture of it - that is required to connect to the Internet.

Thanks to the launch of WiMax (only in Baltimore so far  ... booo), most people, including myself, will have the luxury of connecting to the internet without worrying these darn cables. Check out this pic where Executives from Sprint/Nextel and its partners ceremonially cut the broadband cord last Wednesday with the launch of the first mobile WiMax network in the U.S.

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WiMax, we've been waiting!

posted by Kiesha Cochrane on October 09, 2008

I'm still semi-delirious from my trip to Baltimore for the WiMax launch this week. The buzz has been building around WiMax for years and on Wednesday, we finally got to see it in action as the citizens of the city of Baltimore became the first users!

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Intel & O You! (from O, The Oprah Magazine)

posted by Becky Emmett on October 08, 2008

I can finally yell from the rooftops some very exciting news!  Intel will have a significant presence at the upcoming O You! event happening October 25 in San Francisco.  For those of you who don't know, O You! is an annual event that brings O, The Oprah Magazine to life.  The must attend one-day show includes speakers such as Nate Berkus talking about "Love Where You Live",  Martha Beck's "Rules to Live By", Stacy London on "New You Breakthrough", Suze Orman on "8 Qualities of Wealthy Women" and much more. 
 
More information can be found at Oyouonline.com, powered by Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology. To submit your question for any of the eight contributors, visit www.oyouonline.com/intelinsider.   A portion of those questions will be answered live at the Intel booth at the show and the rest will be answered on the Web site.  Don't worry too much if you can't attend in person, video from the Q&A session at the Intel booth will also be available online (I'd bookmark the site if I were you). Seriously, it doesn't get much better than this.  Hope to see you there!

 

What is a Mobile Internet Device?" Ah, to count how many times I get that question!!

posted by Rama Vohra on October 07, 2008

For those of you who have not heard what  Mobile Internet Device (MID) is, I thought I would take the time to describe how you stay "connected" is about to change.

A mobile internet device can be described as something that is smaller than your notebook PC, but a little larger than a smartphone. The screen size on a MID is around 4"-6", and allows you to connect to the internet wherever you go, depending on your internet connection. Not only that, you can stay entertained by watching videos, sharing pictures...and check out your friend's latest profile on your social networking site.

And why would you need such a device? I have heard this many, many times: "My phone already does everything I need! And it fits in my pocket!"

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The Future Looks Bright

posted by Esther Andrews on October 07, 2008

With all the recent economic turmoil - Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Washington Mutual, Wachovia, Bear Sterns, Merrill Lynch, and more...the bad news seems to just keep coming. And yet, our technology future looks brighter than ever. I just had the chance to go into Intel's research labs and see the work brilliant engineers are doing on technologies that will make their way into all of our lives in the next two to ten years. And it is exciting! Intel continuously invests in Research and Development even in economic downturns.

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XOHM's WiMAX Service Changes the Rules

posted by David Angell on October 06, 2008

Sprint's XOHM WiMAX debut in Baltimore this week is a historic event. It marks the beginning of a new era of next-generation mobile broadband service. But XOHM's WiMAX network is delivering more than just the latest in wireless broadband technology-it's changing the rules for mobile Internet service. We as consumers will finally have a real choice in our mobile data service plans and terms.

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Netbooks - They're Not Just for Kids

posted by Esther Andrews on October 06, 2008

I recently brought home one of the latest Asus Eee PCs to play with, but made the horrible mistake of pulling it out of my bag in front of my 17-year old, who grabbed it from my hands, took it to his room, locked the door, and wouldn't give it back. He's a computer geek and with the simplicity of netbooks, I didn't think he'd find much to respect. Within seconds he'd connected to our home network and was exploring the Internet. He thought the Linux OS and GUI were the coolest, easiest to use he'd ever seen. A netbook is now on his Christmas wish list as a fun gadget he can grab and take to school with him to take notes and start working on his assignments before he gets home. Santa may have to bring me one too!