AMD Updates Phenom, Adds 4 Quad-Core Chips

Devices giving way to 'new ideas about computing': Mark Dean

(NEWSER) - PCs are losing their place at the forefront of personal computing, says a designer of the first IBM PC. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of that computer, the 5150, Mark Dean writes in a blog post that PCs are “going the way of the vacuum tube, typewriter, vinyl records, CRT and incandescent light bulbs." They’ve helped create a world that’s ripe for new technologies, but their day has passed. And for all our excitement over smartphones and tablets, PCs aren't actually being "replaced at the center of computing" by another gadget, "but by new ideas about the role that computing can play in progress." More»

It's official: In Q4, 101M smartphones, 92M computers shipped

(NEWSER) - They’ve only been around for a few years, but smartphones have officially demoted personal computers to No. 2. More smartphones than PCs were shipped in Q4 of 2010—a total of 101 million smartphones, to be exact, up 87% from a year earlier, according to the market researcher. Meanwhile, 92 million PCs were shipped, a gain of less than 3%. Analysts always expected smartphones to surpass PCs, but not until sometime this year, the Financial Times reports. More»

'Intel Insider' designed to bring better HD content from studios

(NEWSER) - Intel has added a surprise new feature to its next generation of Core microprocessors—an anti-piracy feature that it hopes will convince studios to stream true 1080p videos. Until now, studios have offered “HD” streaming content, but they’ve held back on the true 1080p resolution out of fear of pirates, the Wall Street Journal explains. Intel’s new chips—codenamed “Sandy Bridge”—will have an “Intel Insider” feature that is intended to ensure the processor won’t copy such content. More»

May eventually be used on robots, artificial limbs

(NEWSER) - Scientists have developed a new type of artificial skin, which may one day cover robots or bring sensation to prosthetic limbs. This "robot skin," or e-skin made of semi-conductor materials, is flexible and is pressure sensitive, reports the Telegraph. The findings suggest researchers may be able to build robots with a grip delicate enough to hold an egg, but strong enough to grasp a frying pan, notes Reuters . More»

Mossberg offers his annual shopping guide

(NEWSER) - It's time once again for Walt Mossberg's annual computer buying guide, in which the Wall Street Journal 's tech guru runs down the bare minimum the average person should know when buying a laptop. His advice:

• Processors: Intel has a shiny new wave of Core chips, the i3, i5, and i7 models. They're faster, and the i5 and i7 have nifty power-saving features, but there's nothing wrong with older chips for bargain shoppers. Speaking of which...