The 404 723: Where we eat a bacon explosion (podcast)
Now that the New York Marathon is over, Caroline has the flexibility to indulge in food experimentation like the Bacon Explosion, which sounds like a meat lover's dream come true, except that Caroline is (mostly) vegetarian!The Bacon Explosion was created by a Web site called BBQ Addicts, and consists of a 5X5 weave of bacon with bits of pork sausage sprinkled on top and fortified with even more bacon bits, all rolled into a disgustingly filling log of meat.And since the holidays are coming up, why not skip the generic shirt, tie, robe, and socks gifts and ship your family the Bacon Explosion Pig-Porter that ships in its own piggy sleeve! We're able to pull ourselves away from the images of bacon to chat about Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's interview on "60 Minutes" with Lesley Stahl. Although not everyone was happy about his "performance," there's no doubt Zuckerberg has evolved as a CEO since his last interview with Stahl on "60 Minutes" three years ago.On the show, Mark discusses the newest Facebook profile revisions, "The Social Network," and his relationship to Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the identical twins who accused him of stealing their idea for the original Facebook. Check out the face behind Facebook here! Wilson is currently in China, but we're hoping he stops by the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve Center to join scientists as they dress up like giant Pandas to re-acclimate cubs back into the wild.Although it's certainly more humanitarian, the panda plushies sound a lot like Furry Fandom, a phenomenon that takes interest in anthropomorphic animals and/or mythology creatures that are supposed to take on characteristics of the human being inside the costume.We'll leave the rest for Caroline to describe!Enjoy the rest of the show, and don't forget to send your YouTube video messages to the404(at)cnet(dot)com, or leave us a voicemail by calling 1-866-404-CNET (2638)!Episode 723PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video  Follow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Oxygen Audio debuts car stereo with iPhone interface
Oxygen Audio debuts car stereo with iPhone interface
French electronics manufacturer Oxygen Audio will introduce an audio system at CES 2011 that uses an iPhone as the head unit interface. The O'Car audio system physically integrates an iPhone by snapping it to the front of the audio deck. A cantilever swivels the phone horizontally or vertically, and angles it in any direction. Using the iPhone as the software platform, you'll be able to use your favorite app-du-jour for traffic information and navigation or whatever new technology comes to the market--as long as it goes to your phone.A downloadable app controls the entertainment system, offering AM/FM/RDS radio, 4 by 55 watt amp and subwoofer control, and also provides seamless app multitasking. The single DIN head unit, which will retail for $299 in first quarter of 2011 (although there's a chance European markets will get it before Christmas), is equipped with hands-free calling Bluetooth capabilities and an external speaker. While you won't be able to access programs on your phone using voice commands, the O'Car app will automatically dim audio programs for voice prompts if you're using turn-by-turn directions or receiving or making phone calls, said Oxygen Audio spokesman Gregory Borchardt. And should you decide to switch devices, the aftermarket manufacturer is developing adapters for Androids.The O'Car uses an app as a radio interface on an iPhone.Oxygen AudioSteering wheel controls aren't integrated with the O'Car system this time around, but the next generation of the unit will, says Borchardt. There aren't any USB ports on the unit for additional devices, but the next generation O'Car should have that functionality, according to an article at CE Outlook.Integrating iPhones in the audio unit isn't just a way to capitalize on a technology trend. This strategy is being deployed by Smart and BMW as a cost-effective way to bring the latest communications and telematics features into vehicles. The advantage of using mobile devices as the entertainment platform is that they stay up-to-date, and people upgrade their phone a lot more frequently than they upgrade their ride. Source: CE Outlook
French electronics manufacturer Oxygen Audio will introduce an audio system at CES 2011 that uses an iPhone as the head unit interface. The O'Car audio system physically integrates an iPhone by snapping it to the front of the audio deck. A cantilever swivels the phone horizontally or vertically, and angles it in any direction. Using the iPhone as the software platform, you'll be able to use your favorite app-du-jour for traffic information and navigation or whatever new technology comes to the market--as long as it goes to your phone.A downloadable app controls the entertainment system, offering AM/FM/RDS radio, 4 by 55 watt amp and subwoofer control, and also provides seamless app multitasking. The single DIN head unit, which will retail for $299 in first quarter of 2011 (although there's a chance European markets will get it before Christmas), is equipped with hands-free calling Bluetooth capabilities and an external speaker. While you won't be able to access programs on your phone using voice commands, the O'Car app will automatically dim audio programs for voice prompts if you're using turn-by-turn directions or receiving or making phone calls, said Oxygen Audio spokesman Gregory Borchardt. And should you decide to switch devices, the aftermarket manufacturer is developing adapters for Androids.The O'Car uses an app as a radio interface on an iPhone.Oxygen AudioSteering wheel controls aren't integrated with the O'Car system this time around, but the next generation of the unit will, says Borchardt. There aren't any USB ports on the unit for additional devices, but the next generation O'Car should have that functionality, according to an article at CE Outlook.Integrating iPhones in the audio unit isn't just a way to capitalize on a technology trend. This strategy is being deployed by Smart and BMW as a cost-effective way to bring the latest communications and telematics features into vehicles. The advantage of using mobile devices as the entertainment platform is that they stay up-to-date, and people upgrade their phone a lot more frequently than they upgrade their ride. Source: CE Outlook
Fnd offers a better way to search the iTunes Store
Fnd offers a better way to search the iTunes Store
Developed by Jeremy Mack and designed by Ryann Pierce, and launched this week, Fnd is a Web app (available at Fnd.io) that provides an easier way to search the iTunes Store. Fnd is like a green Google for iTunes. At the center of the bright, green page is a search bar. Below, a link lets you use Fnd to browse the top charts, with various filters available via pull-down menus.Fnd returns results more quickly than iTunes does, and it presents results in a streamlined, more digestible layout. Mack told MacStories that Fnd uses Apple's own API and "has no server, it talks directly to the App Store and iTunes from your browser." The result is Fnd finds what you are looking for nearly instantly -- in a fraction of the time it takes iTunes to load search results.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETAnd thanks to Pierce's design efforts, parsing the results of your search in Fnd takes a fraction of the time it would in iTunes. Fnd uses a tab layout, letting you view results across all categories, or filtering by Apps, Music, Movies, TV, Books, Mac, and Podcasts. Switching to one of the filters is nearly instantaneous and each filter provides sub-filters to refine your results further. And on the default All view of a search results page on Fnd, the app smartly lists only two or three results per filter type, with a link to view more of that type.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETFnd also can integrate itself into your life and apps in a number of useful ways. Tap the hamburger button in the upper-right corner and choose Integration to integrate Fnd into your browser, the Launch Center Pro app for the iPhone or iPad, or Alfred on a Mac. For your browser, Fnd offers two bookmarklets, one to search Fnd from your bookmarks bar and the other to turn an iTunes link into a Fnd link for sharing purposes because no one likes to click on a link and then wait for iTunes to load. And if you use Launch Center Pro on your iPhone or iPad, you can can add a "Search Fnd' or a "Search Fnd by Category" button to the app. Lastly, you can add a Fnd workflow for the Alfred app on a Mac.Via Cult of Mac
Developed by Jeremy Mack and designed by Ryann Pierce, and launched this week, Fnd is a Web app (available at Fnd.io) that provides an easier way to search the iTunes Store. Fnd is like a green Google for iTunes. At the center of the bright, green page is a search bar. Below, a link lets you use Fnd to browse the top charts, with various filters available via pull-down menus.Fnd returns results more quickly than iTunes does, and it presents results in a streamlined, more digestible layout. Mack told MacStories that Fnd uses Apple's own API and "has no server, it talks directly to the App Store and iTunes from your browser." The result is Fnd finds what you are looking for nearly instantly -- in a fraction of the time it takes iTunes to load search results.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETAnd thanks to Pierce's design efforts, parsing the results of your search in Fnd takes a fraction of the time it would in iTunes. Fnd uses a tab layout, letting you view results across all categories, or filtering by Apps, Music, Movies, TV, Books, Mac, and Podcasts. Switching to one of the filters is nearly instantaneous and each filter provides sub-filters to refine your results further. And on the default All view of a search results page on Fnd, the app smartly lists only two or three results per filter type, with a link to view more of that type.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETFnd also can integrate itself into your life and apps in a number of useful ways. Tap the hamburger button in the upper-right corner and choose Integration to integrate Fnd into your browser, the Launch Center Pro app for the iPhone or iPad, or Alfred on a Mac. For your browser, Fnd offers two bookmarklets, one to search Fnd from your bookmarks bar and the other to turn an iTunes link into a Fnd link for sharing purposes because no one likes to click on a link and then wait for iTunes to load. And if you use Launch Center Pro on your iPhone or iPad, you can can add a "Search Fnd' or a "Search Fnd by Category" button to the app. Lastly, you can add a Fnd workflow for the Alfred app on a Mac.Via Cult of Mac
Fix glitches by updating your software
Fix glitches by updating your software
For example, my most recent Secunia scan indicated that Apple's iTunes and QuickTime, Adobe Systems' Flash player, and Sun Microsystems' Java Platform were out-of-date. I opened the Apple Software Update app to get the latest versions of iTunes, QuickTime, and the Safari browser (which Secunia did not identify as out-of-date).I also visited Adobe's site to get the latest release of the Flash player and Sun's site for a Java update, but Secunia's scanner still identified these programs as vulnerable. It turns out, the old versions of Flash and Java aren't uninstalled when the new versions are added.You can remove old versions of the Flash player by downloading and running Adobe's Flash Player Uninstaller (scroll to the bottom of the page to find the uninstaller download).The Java site claims that you should retain old versions of the Java Runtime Environment because some older apps may be incompatible with more recent releases. Still, if you're running out of disk space, you can remove old Java versions via Windows' Add or Remove Programs Control Panel applet (or Vista's Programs and Features).On my year-old notebook, there are six different Java versions, each using about 136MB of disk space. To play it safe, keep at least the last two Java releases installed.Secunia's online scanner gives you the option of checking "Enable thorough system inspection" to have the scanner look for applications in nondefault locations. Using this option can add several minutes to the scan--with the option unchecked, the scan usually takes only a few seconds to complete.The in-depth scan did uncover a handful of outdated applications on my PC that the online scanner missed, though none posed the same security threat as the old versions of the iTunes/QuickTime and Flash player did. Still, the patches are free, so why not?
For example, my most recent Secunia scan indicated that Apple's iTunes and QuickTime, Adobe Systems' Flash player, and Sun Microsystems' Java Platform were out-of-date. I opened the Apple Software Update app to get the latest versions of iTunes, QuickTime, and the Safari browser (which Secunia did not identify as out-of-date).I also visited Adobe's site to get the latest release of the Flash player and Sun's site for a Java update, but Secunia's scanner still identified these programs as vulnerable. It turns out, the old versions of Flash and Java aren't uninstalled when the new versions are added.You can remove old versions of the Flash player by downloading and running Adobe's Flash Player Uninstaller (scroll to the bottom of the page to find the uninstaller download).The Java site claims that you should retain old versions of the Java Runtime Environment because some older apps may be incompatible with more recent releases. Still, if you're running out of disk space, you can remove old Java versions via Windows' Add or Remove Programs Control Panel applet (or Vista's Programs and Features).On my year-old notebook, there are six different Java versions, each using about 136MB of disk space. To play it safe, keep at least the last two Java releases installed.Secunia's online scanner gives you the option of checking "Enable thorough system inspection" to have the scanner look for applications in nondefault locations. Using this option can add several minutes to the scan--with the option unchecked, the scan usually takes only a few seconds to complete.The in-depth scan did uncover a handful of outdated applications on my PC that the online scanner missed, though none posed the same security threat as the old versions of the iTunes/QuickTime and Flash player did. Still, the patches are free, so why not?
Teen dies after trying to stop iPhone thief
Teen dies after trying to stop iPhone thief
In the case of robbery, there's always an impulse to fight back. It should always be resisted.Last Thursday, according to police in Santa Ana, Calif., 15-year-old Rubi Rubio was walking her 7-year-old sister home from school when a man stepped up and asked her for the time.When Rubio took out her iPhone, the man grabbed it and ran to a waiting car.Rubio chased him and jumped onto the trunk of the car as it drove away. As the Orange County Register reports, police say the car swerved to shake her off. She fell and hit her head on the road. She died two days later of her injuries. She had received the iPhone from her mom only a week previously.More Technically IncorrectFacebook's solution to the job problem: Hire teensThe blogging judge and the Internet profanityMight Apple have a future as a fashion conglomerate?iPhone theft has, in many cities, become one of the main types of stealing. Last year, iPhones were involved in 14 percent of all crimes in New York.Recently, though, Apple's introduction of Activation Lock is said to have significantly reduced iPhone thefts. The feature requires a user's Apple ID and password before they canturn off the phone's location tracking or reactivate a locked phone.Though instinct is to immediately react when one's possessions are stolen, sadly, in this case, it has led to the worst eventuality.Santa Ana Unified School District, where Rubio was a student, told the Register: "We have contacted our parent community about the robbery, and we haveencouraged them to talk with their children about being safe and how torespond if they ever happened to find themselves in such a terriblesituation."
In the case of robbery, there's always an impulse to fight back. It should always be resisted.Last Thursday, according to police in Santa Ana, Calif., 15-year-old Rubi Rubio was walking her 7-year-old sister home from school when a man stepped up and asked her for the time.When Rubio took out her iPhone, the man grabbed it and ran to a waiting car.Rubio chased him and jumped onto the trunk of the car as it drove away. As the Orange County Register reports, police say the car swerved to shake her off. She fell and hit her head on the road. She died two days later of her injuries. She had received the iPhone from her mom only a week previously.More Technically IncorrectFacebook's solution to the job problem: Hire teensThe blogging judge and the Internet profanityMight Apple have a future as a fashion conglomerate?iPhone theft has, in many cities, become one of the main types of stealing. Last year, iPhones were involved in 14 percent of all crimes in New York.Recently, though, Apple's introduction of Activation Lock is said to have significantly reduced iPhone thefts. The feature requires a user's Apple ID and password before they canturn off the phone's location tracking or reactivate a locked phone.Though instinct is to immediately react when one's possessions are stolen, sadly, in this case, it has led to the worst eventuality.Santa Ana Unified School District, where Rubio was a student, told the Register: "We have contacted our parent community about the robbery, and we haveencouraged them to talk with their children about being safe and how torespond if they ever happened to find themselves in such a terriblesituation."
Tech companies- Gay marriage ban is bad for business
Tech companies: Gay marriage ban is bad for business
Some big-name tech companies are adding their support for same-sex marriage and making the case that banning these unions deters employee recruitment efforts.Dozens of companies, including Apple, Facebook, eBay, and Intel, will file an amicus brief -- a court document field by an interested group that is not actually a party to the case -- on Thursday to declare their support, Fortune reported today.Facebook publicly announced its support through a message on its "LGBTQ@Facebook" page."This week, Facebook is proudly joining many other businesses in submitting briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court supporting same-sex marriage," the message read. "The briefs explain to the Court how the Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8 discriminate against employees in same-sex marriages and create undue burdens on companies and employees."The companies will file the brief in connection with the Hollingsworth v. Perry case, which will decide whether the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits California from defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The Fourteenth Amendment prohibits states from denying any person equal protection under the law.The companies argue that a ban would make it harder for businesses in California to hire potential employees if those employees think they would receive better treatment and benefits in another state, or another country, according to the draft brief obtained by Fortune.The tech companies join dozens of others, as well as top Republicans, including HP's Meg Whitman, who think the state should not ban gay marriage. Update, 6:28 p.m. PT: Updated with Facebook's statement.
Some big-name tech companies are adding their support for same-sex marriage and making the case that banning these unions deters employee recruitment efforts.Dozens of companies, including Apple, Facebook, eBay, and Intel, will file an amicus brief -- a court document field by an interested group that is not actually a party to the case -- on Thursday to declare their support, Fortune reported today.Facebook publicly announced its support through a message on its "LGBTQ@Facebook" page."This week, Facebook is proudly joining many other businesses in submitting briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court supporting same-sex marriage," the message read. "The briefs explain to the Court how the Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8 discriminate against employees in same-sex marriages and create undue burdens on companies and employees."The companies will file the brief in connection with the Hollingsworth v. Perry case, which will decide whether the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits California from defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The Fourteenth Amendment prohibits states from denying any person equal protection under the law.The companies argue that a ban would make it harder for businesses in California to hire potential employees if those employees think they would receive better treatment and benefits in another state, or another country, according to the draft brief obtained by Fortune.The tech companies join dozens of others, as well as top Republicans, including HP's Meg Whitman, who think the state should not ban gay marriage. Update, 6:28 p.m. PT: Updated with Facebook's statement.
Target will offer at least $200 for your iPhone 5
Target will offer at least $200 for your iPhone 5
iPhone 5 owners looking to trade in their phone can get at least $200 from Target.The retailer announced Friday that the current trade-in promotion applies to older iPhones as well. An iPhone 4S trade-in could net you at least $125, while the iPhone 4 could score you $75. The actual trade-in price naturally depends on the phone's condition and storage capacity.The money comes as store credit that consumers can use to buy one of the new iPhone models or almost any product at a local Target store or on Target's Web site. Customers who own a Target REDcard can also trim 5 percent off the cost of a new iPhone or other smartphone.However, traders can score better deals by going elsewhere. Target works with NextWorth on its trade-in program. Directly using NextWorth typically earns you more money. For example, a 16GB iPhone 5 in working condition is worth at least $300 via NextWorth.Walmart is also offering up to $300 in the form of store credit for a working iPhone 5.As always, people who want to trade in or sell their iPhone or other smartphone should shop around.Like other retailers, Target on Friday launched preorders of the iPhone 5C and will sell the 5C and 5S at Target Mobile centers starting September 20.Correction, 1:55 p.m. PT: An earlier version of this story misstated the trade-in value Target is offering for older iPhone models and where Target is selling the iPhone 5S and 5C. Target is offering at least $200 for the iPhone 5, at least $125 for the iPhone 4S, and at least $75 for the iPhone 4. The iPhone 5C and 5S will be available for purchase at in-store Target Mobile centers.
iPhone 5 owners looking to trade in their phone can get at least $200 from Target.The retailer announced Friday that the current trade-in promotion applies to older iPhones as well. An iPhone 4S trade-in could net you at least $125, while the iPhone 4 could score you $75. The actual trade-in price naturally depends on the phone's condition and storage capacity.The money comes as store credit that consumers can use to buy one of the new iPhone models or almost any product at a local Target store or on Target's Web site. Customers who own a Target REDcard can also trim 5 percent off the cost of a new iPhone or other smartphone.However, traders can score better deals by going elsewhere. Target works with NextWorth on its trade-in program. Directly using NextWorth typically earns you more money. For example, a 16GB iPhone 5 in working condition is worth at least $300 via NextWorth.Walmart is also offering up to $300 in the form of store credit for a working iPhone 5.As always, people who want to trade in or sell their iPhone or other smartphone should shop around.Like other retailers, Target on Friday launched preorders of the iPhone 5C and will sell the 5C and 5S at Target Mobile centers starting September 20.Correction, 1:55 p.m. PT: An earlier version of this story misstated the trade-in value Target is offering for older iPhone models and where Target is selling the iPhone 5S and 5C. Target is offering at least $200 for the iPhone 5, at least $125 for the iPhone 4S, and at least $75 for the iPhone 4. The iPhone 5C and 5S will be available for purchase at in-store Target Mobile centers.
Take note Apple, Dell makes plastic look good
Take note Apple, Dell makes plastic look good
In a visit over the weekend to a Best Buy in the heart of Silicon Valley, two things got my attention.One was the disproportionately large number of people gawking at Netbooks. The other was two gorgeous Dell laptops. There is a design renaissance at Dell, which is encouraging, considering that for years Dell sold, very forgettable, if not ugly, pedestrian designs.The Adamo line--a luxury laptop inspired by the Apple MacBook Air--has led the way for Dell. But that line, with the exception of the recent price drop to $999 of one Adamo model, is priced above $1,500--out of reach for most people. What Dell has done with its newest plastic models is deliver a pleasing design along with a good price and solid specifications--based on Intel's newest Core i3 and i5 processors. The 15.6-inch Inspiron (i1564-6980CRD) is slim and cheap at $649 but exudes the look of a more expensive laptop.Ditto with the 17-inch model (i1764-60750BK).This is a feat Apple is incapable of because Apple refuses to sell laptops below $999--not to mention the fact that Apple has yet to bring out laptops based on the new Intel Core i series of processors.And this also underscores why Apple will never completely dominate the laptop market. And why there is a kernel of truth in the Microsoft laptop hunter ads.(Thinness is key to the improved Dell aesthetics.See this 360 degree spin of the 15.6-inch model, which, by the way, doesn't do the design justice.Seeing the design up close leaves a bigger impression, at least for me.) So, Dell deserves credit--not all the design glory should go to Apple.Dell has delivered elegant designs that don't come with a luxury laptop surcharge.See the colorful Dell Inspiron lineup at Dell.com
In a visit over the weekend to a Best Buy in the heart of Silicon Valley, two things got my attention.One was the disproportionately large number of people gawking at Netbooks. The other was two gorgeous Dell laptops. There is a design renaissance at Dell, which is encouraging, considering that for years Dell sold, very forgettable, if not ugly, pedestrian designs.The Adamo line--a luxury laptop inspired by the Apple MacBook Air--has led the way for Dell. But that line, with the exception of the recent price drop to $999 of one Adamo model, is priced above $1,500--out of reach for most people. What Dell has done with its newest plastic models is deliver a pleasing design along with a good price and solid specifications--based on Intel's newest Core i3 and i5 processors. The 15.6-inch Inspiron (i1564-6980CRD) is slim and cheap at $649 but exudes the look of a more expensive laptop.Ditto with the 17-inch model (i1764-60750BK).This is a feat Apple is incapable of because Apple refuses to sell laptops below $999--not to mention the fact that Apple has yet to bring out laptops based on the new Intel Core i series of processors.And this also underscores why Apple will never completely dominate the laptop market. And why there is a kernel of truth in the Microsoft laptop hunter ads.(Thinness is key to the improved Dell aesthetics.See this 360 degree spin of the 15.6-inch model, which, by the way, doesn't do the design justice.Seeing the design up close leaves a bigger impression, at least for me.) So, Dell deserves credit--not all the design glory should go to Apple.Dell has delivered elegant designs that don't come with a luxury laptop surcharge.See the colorful Dell Inspiron lineup at Dell.com
Taiwan pub steadily criticizes Intel's Ultrabook
Taiwan pub steadily criticizes Intel's Ultrabook
One DigiTimes post titled "Ultrabook platform may not benefit ODMs" claims that profits will be less than standard laptop designs, offering an average profit of only "US$5-10 to notebook ODMs, 50% lower than the average of US$10-20 for traditional notebooks." Another article titled "Intel downstream partners request CPU price drop" calls for Intel to reduce the price of its processors so OEMs can sell Ultrabooks for prices below the $1,000 mark. In the article, Ray Chen, president of Compal Electronics, a major ODM, offers up a dire-sounding warning, claiming that if Ultrabooks suffer from weak sales, Apple will take up the slack and profit at Wintel's (Windows-Intel) expense. Apple already has a design analogous to the Ultrabook in the MacBook Air, which has been gaining in popularity. But that's not necessarily a problem for Intel, as Apples uses Intel's Sandy Bridge processors across its MacBook line.A third article titled "Consumers may still have difficulty accepting ultrabook pricing" claims that Ultrabooks "may not earn favor from consumers because average prices are still about 30% higher than those of mainstream notebooks." Intel believes Ultrabooks can take as much as 40 percent of the laptop market in 2012, a lofty goal that demonstrates how serious Intel is about the Ultrabook.To that end, Intel has created a $300 million Ultrabook fund to invest in companies building hardware and software technologies focused on Ultrabooks. A spokesperson for Intel said the company doesn't comment on rumor and speculation, "which is primarily what DigiTimes is in the business of publishing."
One DigiTimes post titled "Ultrabook platform may not benefit ODMs" claims that profits will be less than standard laptop designs, offering an average profit of only "US$5-10 to notebook ODMs, 50% lower than the average of US$10-20 for traditional notebooks." Another article titled "Intel downstream partners request CPU price drop" calls for Intel to reduce the price of its processors so OEMs can sell Ultrabooks for prices below the $1,000 mark. In the article, Ray Chen, president of Compal Electronics, a major ODM, offers up a dire-sounding warning, claiming that if Ultrabooks suffer from weak sales, Apple will take up the slack and profit at Wintel's (Windows-Intel) expense. Apple already has a design analogous to the Ultrabook in the MacBook Air, which has been gaining in popularity. But that's not necessarily a problem for Intel, as Apples uses Intel's Sandy Bridge processors across its MacBook line.A third article titled "Consumers may still have difficulty accepting ultrabook pricing" claims that Ultrabooks "may not earn favor from consumers because average prices are still about 30% higher than those of mainstream notebooks." Intel believes Ultrabooks can take as much as 40 percent of the laptop market in 2012, a lofty goal that demonstrates how serious Intel is about the Ultrabook.To that end, Intel has created a $300 million Ultrabook fund to invest in companies building hardware and software technologies focused on Ultrabooks. A spokesperson for Intel said the company doesn't comment on rumor and speculation, "which is primarily what DigiTimes is in the business of publishing."
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