Intuitive Convertible Design for the Intel-Powered Classmate PC Enhances Collaborative Learning

Local computer manufacturers unveiled the Intel-powered convertible classmate PC designs, joining the existing clamshell design to meet the variety of elementary school students' needs worldwide.
The new flexible design, based on Intel Corporation technologies, converts instantly from a clamshell to a tablet mode with a touch screen to allow for a more intuitive classroom experience. According to research with students and teachers, the 180-degree swivel design, rotational camera and touch screen encourage flexible classroom interaction and natural collaboration. Both the convertible and the clamshell classmate PC designs are based on ethnographic studies and feedback from pilot programs conducted in both mature and emerging markets.
Intel is also introducing the Intel® Learning Series, an initiative that integrates hardware, software and services designed specifically for education. The Intel Learning Series supports technology companies that customize products and services in their own country, innovating in and around the classmate PC reference design to enhance and improve students' experiences with technology. Working together, the technology ecosystem delivers customized products and services to meet the unique needs of education worldwide. The Intel Learning Series provides a common framework for these companies to communicate their unique roles and values in delivering the total solution to education. Local PC manufacturers will offer both the new Intel-powered convertible classmate PC and the existing clamshell design to students and teachers. The PCs will be preloaded with student-friendly software through support from the Intel Learning Series.
The addition of the new convertible PC will coexist with the very successful clamshell design, which is being used in Portugal's Magalhães (Magellan) Initiative – the Portuguese government's country-wide program to provide PCs to all elementary school children via the local computer manufacturer and telecom service providers. The Magalhães Initiative is one of most comprehensive educational technology programs in the world and other countries, like Venezuela, are working with Portugal to extend this model for their country. The Initiative reflects the scale of programs targeted for the Intel Learning Series.
Intel also unveiled its collaboration with JP Sá Couto, the local OEM in Portugal, and a local design company, CEIIA, to develop a new design of the Magalhães PC that will include features such as unique reading and writing capabilities, a larger screen, more memory for local content and additional connectivity options such as 3G and WiMAX. These new features meet the unique needs of Portugal and will be offered in addition to the existing solutions as part of the Magalhães Program.
"Education is one of the best ways to improve the future for individuals, villages, or nations," said Lila Ibrahim, general manager of the Intel Emerging Markets Platform Group, which developed the classmate PC reference design based on ethnographic research and supports the Intel Learning Series. "There are 1.3 billion school-age children around the world and of those only 5 percent have access to a PC or the Internet. The IT industry has a huge opportunity to contribute to how technology can improve students' learning and students' lives. With our announcement today, Intel continues its long-standing commitment to advancing education through technology to transform lives around the world."
Built on Intel® architecture and powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor, these purpose-built netbooks provide an affordable and functional PC to support a wide variety of classroom applications and activities. Designed with students in mind, the classmate PC is small and light enough for a child to easily carry. Equipped with a water-resistant keyboard, the classmate PC is also "backpack friendly" – able to withstand bumping in a backpack and accidental drops by students. In tablet mode, the convertible classmate PC screen has a "palm rejection" feature that is designed to allow the child to write more naturally by resting their palm on the touch screen. It also includes education-oriented software and applications from software and content vendors in the Intel Learning Series.
The Intel® Learning SeriesIntel-powered classmate PCs are part of the Intel Learning Series, offering a cost-effective, end-to-end solution developed in collaboration with local manufacturers and brought to students by an extensive network of local OEM vendors. More than 100 software and hardware vendors, content providers, educational service providers and local OEMs have been working with Intel to develop a complete infrastructure to support Intel-powered classmate PCs. Local manufacturers such as CTL, Equus and M&A in the United States, MDG in Canada, CMS in the United Kingdom, NEC in France, Olidata in Chile, ASI in Australia and Hanvon in China will also be offering the convertible classmate PC in their countries. These offerings complement the existing clamshell design being offered in countries worldwide.
"Our involvement with software and hardware developers ensures that the Intel Learning Series is culturally relevant, sustainable, and supports local economies," said Ibrahim. "Through the Intel Learning Series, we are gathering the great minds and experiences of the IT industry to create a fun and rewarding environment for the students to learn and develop the skills they need in the 21st century."

Intel Shows Broad Industry Support for Internet Experience to Your TV

INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW, Las Vegas, Jan. 8, 2009 – Intel showed broad industry support today that brings a variety of rich Internet applications to the TV through new connected consumer electronics (CE) devices running on the Intel® Media Processor CE 3100. The new Intel processor is the first in a family of purpose-built System on Chips (SoCs) designed specifically for the CE industry.
Eric Kim, senior vice president of Intel's Digital Home Group, outlined the company's CE vision last August. He said the company plans to bring Internet-based content to the TV through the power of CE-centric Intel processors and a new TV applications framework called the Widget Channel, developed with Yahoo! Inc.* Today, a variety of CE and entertainment companies are embracing this new opportunity.
"Intel is working with leading-edge CE manufacturers, broadcasters, movie studios and content and service providers to deliver a new connected TV experience," Kim said. "This effort is aimed at enhancing today's traditional TV watching with complementary widgets that will expand content options, deliver real-time information and offer interactive features, all of which can be personalized to fit the viewer's needs. The Widget Channel combined with the Media Processor CE 3100 provides the performance and flexibility needed for industry innovation, which can be seen from the demonstrations today showing connected CE devices running a broad range of popular TV widgets."
Internet on TV– From Vision to RealityIntel is working with major broadcasters, including CBS*, who believe that the Widget Channel will create an opportunity for content providers and CE companies to work together to help consumers connect more deeply to the content they watch. CBS is exploring the Widget Channel framework as an additional channel for its content. The network showed prototypes at CES that will provide its viewers more choices and interaction and increased flexibility on when and where they can watch rich content.
Connected CE Technology DemonstrationsShowcasing the potential to enjoy Internet applications while watching cable TV, Intel and Comcast Corporation* demonstrated the integration of the Widget Channel with Comcast's interactive program guide. This proof-of-concept ran a wide array of TV Widgets and accessed Internet-linked applications on the Comcast guide that uses tru2way* technology, a Java-based platform with open application programming interface specifications.
"The cable television experience has continued to evolve and become more robust," said Tony Werner, chief technology officer, Comcast. "We've already witnessed an explosion of functionality and choices of programming thanks to innovations like video on demand. As cable providers move toward open standards with tru2way technology, applications like the Widget Channel could enable more convenient and interactive applications to be developed and integrated into the consumer television viewing experience."
Toshiba, Samsung Among First ManufacturersToshiba* and Samsung* are among the first CE manufacturers to deliver new devices based on the Media Processor CE 3100. Toshiba plans to launch AV devices including LCD TV, LCD TV/DVD Combo and a standalone network player supporting the Widget Channel applications framework. Toshiba demonstrated a concept of the system during CES and is expected to bring the new products to the United States market segment in the second half of this year.
"The Widget Channel is an excellent, highly consumer-friendly platform," said Yoshihide Fujii, corporate senior vice president, president and CEO of Digital Media Network Company, Toshiba Corporation. "Combined with the power of the Media Processor CE 3100, it will deliver instant access to a vast amount of rich Internet content on a TV. At the heart of our digital products strategy is the goal of creating a new realm in home entertainment, and this initiative matches that vision. We are excited to feature the superb capabilities of the Widget Channel framework in our TVs, network players and other devices, and look forward to bringing great value and benefits to our customers."
The Samsung* set-top box is featured in the integration demonstration for Widget Channel and tru2Way, and is equipped with triple HD DVR tuners, and supports cutting-edge features such as MPEG4 video format and embedded DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem.
"As a leading vendor in the set-top box industry, Samsung is very pleased to show a new device concept through cooperation with the industry's top leaders," said Geesung Choi, president of Samsung Electronics Telecommunications Network Business. "We believe that with this set-top box, cable operators can provide various kinds of web-based, customer-centric services."
Range of Demonstrations at Intel CES BoothTechnology demonstrations in the Intel booth showed a range of new capabilities enabled by the Media Processor CE 3100 such as a Blu-ray Disc reference design integrated with Widget Channel. The reference design showed how Blu-ray Disc systems can be enhanced with Internet content and services. Also demonstrated was a media player from Giga-Byte Technology*, LTD* and Futarque A/S*, and an innovative user interfaces and 3-D graphics from Imagination Technologies.*
Major film studios such as Universal Pictures also showcased Widget prototypes that enhance the user experience around their Blu-ray movie titles. Universal showcased The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor that enable viewers to delve deeper into interactive capabilities such as upcoming movie trailers, cast and crew information, parent guides, bonus features and more. These new Blu-ray Disc Widget prototypes present opportunities to build greater consumer relationships and will open the door to new revenue generation through commerce and advertising.
Widget Channel Gallery Expands with New Content and ServicesIntel and Yahoo! have spurred the industry to start developing TV Widgets since first announcing the Widget Channel at the 2008 Intel Developer Forum. Since then, TV Widgets from content services providers have been developed by companies such as Accedo*, Associated Press*, CBS*, CinemaNow*, eBay*, Joost*, MySpace*, TF1*, and Yahoo!*, including Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Weather, Yahoo! Finance and Flickr* services. The MyMedia Widget, developed by Intel, incorporates personal media like music, photos and videos into a widget for display on TV. These new services add a new dimension to TV and provide capabilities such as games, shopping, community, information services and movie downloads.

Intel Announces Preliminary Fourth-Quarter Financial Information

Intel Corporation today announced preliminary fourth-quarter financial information with revenue of approximately $8.2 billion, down 20 percent sequentially and down 23 percent year over year. Revenue will be lower than the company's previous expectation, provided on Nov. 12, 2008, as a result of further weakness in end demand and inventory reductions by its customers in the global PC supply chain.
The preliminary estimate of gross margin for the fourth quarter is at the bottom of the previous expectation of 55 percent, plus or minus a couple of points.
As a result of the year-end market price of Clearwire Corporation stock, Intel will impair the value of its investment, resulting in a non-cash charge to fourth-quarter earnings of approximately $950 million. The company now expects the net gain or loss from equity investments and interest and other to be a loss of between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion versus a previous expectation of a loss of approximately $50 million.
Spending (R&D plus MG&A) is expected to be approximately $2.6 billion, lower than the previous expectation of approximately $2.8 billion.
Restructuring and asset impairment charges are expected to be approximately $250 million, unchanged.
The company is continuing to review its fourth-quarter results and will provide additional information in its previously scheduled earnings announcement on Jan. 15. A news release will be distributed after close of market, and a public webcast will be available at 2:30 p.m. PST on the Investor Relations Web site at intc.com. The company is currently observing the pre-earnings quiet period and will not make further comments about its fourth-quarter results in the interim.
Cautionary StatementThe above statements contain estimates of the company's preliminary fourth-quarter financial information. The company is continuing to review its financial and operating results, and actual results may differ materially from those contained herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to vary from those contained herein are identification of additional assets such as debt or equity securities or inventories that require an impairment charge to be recorded. In addition, the preliminary fourth-quarter financial information could vary from the above estimates based on the final accounting.

Children, Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries Receive Hand Up from Intel, Non-Profits

Intel Corporation, two non-profit organizations and several celebrities have joined forces to raise awareness and funds so children in developing countries can attend primary school and their parents can earn higher incomes.
Throughout the developing world more than 75 million primary age children are not in school – robbing them of future opportunity continuing the cycle of poverty – and at least 80 percent of humanity lives on less than $10 a day, according to data from the United Nations1.
Intel, Kiva.org* and Save the Children* are kicking off a year-long effort today called the Small Things Challenge. The program will appeal directly to individuals worldwide and encourage them to get involved by donating money to Save the Children's Rewrite the Future program, which is focused on securing quality education for the millions of children out of school due to war and armed conflict. Individuals are also urged to provide micro-loans through Kiva.org to entrepreneurs in the developing world, another way to raise the standard of living. Individuals can provide support and find more information, including a video featuring musicians and celebrities who support the cause, at www.smallthingschallenge.com.
"While these issues will continue to challenge our world for some time, we can improve peoples' lives by pooling small contributions," said Intel Chairman Craig Barrett, who also chairs a United Nations initiative on technology in the developing world. "Someone once told me ‘a small deed done is better than a great deed planned.' Even the smallest, individual action or donation can make a big difference – every journey starts with a first step."
The three organizations are also calling on people worldwide to signal their support at www.smallthingschallenge.com for the need to increase access to education and to foster economic development in emerging countries. Intel will donate 5 cents for every person who clicks on the "we'll donate 5 cents for you" button on the Web site. The company will provide up to $300,000 this year to the Small Things Challenge, in addition to the $100 million that Intel is investing in other education programs this year. Intel believes that children everywhere deserve to have the skills necessary to become the next generation of innovators.
"For millions, the dream of going to school remains unfulfilled," said Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children. "In conflict-affected countries, one of three children is currently out of school. This campaign will help us to reach more of these vulnerable children with the gift of education and open doors for future opportunities."
There is no minimum value for a donation to Save the Children, but micro-loans through Kiva.org start at $25. Every small, individual action can make a big difference – especially if millions participate. For example, in Darfur, Sudan, a $10 donation can help Save the Children provide school supplies for a child or $50 can help provide a blackboard for a classroom. Or through Kiva.org a $25 loan can be combined with others toward the $250 loan a fisherman in Cambodia needs to buy more nets so he can catch and sell more fish.
"The spirit of entrepreneurship is as strong among the poor of the developing world as it is in Silicon Valley," said Kiva.org CEO Matt Flannery. "Micro-loans have helped people increase their incomes through self-employment. The Small Things Challenge aims to continue empowering the world's poor so they can better support their families and keep their children in school, ultimately breaking the cycle of poverty."
The Small Things Challenge will take center stage at several high-profile activities at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas, including Barrett's keynote speech on Friday. Conference attendees can also pledge support to Kiva.org and Save the Children – at kiosks at Intel's booth (Central Hall, booth #7153).
Barrett's speech is a part of the show's Technology and Emerging Countries Program, which focuses on the role technology plays to further economic growth. During the speech, Barrett will highlight how Save the Children's and Kiva.org's work is impacting millions of people worldwide already. He'll also deliver a special call-to-action to the audience.

Clearwire Introduces Clear™ 4G Mobile Internet Service to Portland

Clearwire (NASDAQ: CLWR) today officially transformed Portland into the fastest unwired city in the West, and home to one of the first 4G WiMAX wireless broadband services in the world, called Clear™. With Clear, consumers and businesses can access the Internet wirelessly, at true broadband speeds - at home, in the office, around the Portland metro area, and on the go.
"Today is a historic day for the evolution of mobile computing and communications services in Portland, and the U.S.," said Benjamin G. Wolff, chief executive officer of Clearwire. "Clearwire is reinventing wireless by delivering an unmatched combination of Internet speed and mobility. We're providing a valuable service designed to improve our customers' productivity and make their lives more enjoyable, wherever they happen to be in our coverage area."
"WiMAX is a new wireless technology that raises the bar on a truly mobile and affordable Internet experience for consumers," said Sean Maloney, executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer at Intel Corporation. "Intel, along with Clearwire and its partners, are proud to bring U.S. customers a next-generation, world-leading broadband solution that redefines how, when and where consumers interact with the Internet."
A Clear DifferenceThe true value of Clear is the ability to get more out of the day from anywhere in the Clear coverage area. One simple service, at one low price, can meet our customer's needs at home, in the office, or on the go. Whether it's a busy parent catching up while waiting to pick up a child from practice, a small business owner staying productive at the office and out with a client, or a college student looking for broadband on a budget, Clear offers customers more for less.
Clear's simple and innovative pricing gives customers ultimate flexibility. Clear's mobile, residential and business plans can be purchased by the day or by the month, and do not require long term service contracts. Home Internet service plans start at $20 per month, while mobile Internet plans start at $30 per month, or customers can purchase a convenient day pass for $10. Additional savings are available for customers that purchase both home and mobile Internet services or that sign up for a two-year service agreement. Full details about pricing options are available at www.clear.com.
Unlike other wireless services, Clear delivers a "True Broadband" experience, with up to 6 Mbps download speeds with the Clear residential modem, while mobile Internet customers can expect to receive up to 4 Mbps download speeds.
Simply Plug-In and GoClear is making it easy for customers by offering several simple choices for broadband connectivity. Mobile users simply plug-in Clear's compact, mobile WiMAX-enabled USB modem into their laptop to get online. The USB modem, from Motorola, is available for only $49.99. Customers can purchase the modem from a store or online, and activate service at their convenience, anywhere in Clear's coverage area.
For residential service, Clear offers customers a wireless high-speed modem that is about the size of a small book. Customers simply plug the modem into a power outlet anywhere in their home or office and connect the modem to their PC. This enables consumers and businesses to install high-speed Internet service without the need to schedule an appointment, drill holes in their walls, or otherwise disrupt their day. The Clear residential modem, from Motorola, can be leased for just $4.99 monthly.
Leading PC OEMs including Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, Lenovo, Panasonic, Samsung and Toshiba have announced plans to deliver Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology-powered notebook computers with embedded WiMAX technology that will be compatible with the Clear network in the first half of this year. Several OEMs also plan to offer Intel® Atom™-based netbook models with embedded WiMAX that will also support the Clear network.