MacRumors

EconomicTimes reported that Intel may be dropping its long-standing "Intel Inside" tag line and logo which has been a large part of Intel's branding.

Some sources in Intel whom ET spoke to say that a change is in the offing, and internal documents are learnt to have already started using the new logo.

The new launch is expected in the first week of January.

Of discussion amongst Apple users is whether or not Apple would participate in the co-branding push that has been adopted by PC manufacturers. This participiation is reportedly rewarded with marketing dollars by Intel.

Recent pictures of the new logos appear the new campaign may not be dramatically different.

MacWorld.co.uk previews what we can expect at CES next week.

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicks off in Las Vegas on January 5 and this time it's all about high-definition, portable video, home networking and fun.

CES promises to offer several items of interest to Mac users this year. The ongoing Blu-ray vs HD-DVD battle will continue with more announcements on each side. Pioneer is expected to show off its first commercial Blu-ray drive for computers. Blu-ray is a next-generation high-definition DVD format which Apple has backed.

Intel is also expected to make announcements regarding both their new mobile-processor (Yonah) as well as their Viiv entertainment platform, both technologies which have been rumored and speculated to find their way into future Apple computers.

Appleinsider claims that according to "reliable sources", Apple has contracted out the motherboard design for the next-generation PowerMac to Intel.

According to the rumor site, Apple has its current resources spread so far across the planned Intel iMacs, PowerBooks, iBooks and Mac minis that outsourcing the PowerMac motherboard design may help them keep a targeted ship date of the 3rd quarter of 2006 for the next-generation PowerMac.

The design is expected to take place within the Intel Apple-Group which was quietly formed in November.

Outsourcing PowerMac motherboard design to Intel may have some interesting consequences regarding control and exclusivity of the design. As well, it exposes the PowerMac designs outside of Apple, which could be a source of future leaks.

Appleinsider notes, of course, that the PowerMac case/industrial design will remain under Apple's control.

TechNewsWorld provides some commentary about potential stumbling blocks in the upcoming relationship between Apple and Intel as well as Intel's past relationships with PC manufacturers.

According to the article, Intel's relationships with existing PC manufacturers have been strained over the years, due to a difference in goals:

Last week I spent some time with two of Intel's most visible partners and to say these folks were unhappy with Intel would be a gross understatement.

Beyond this, the writer claims that Apple's reputation for being a difficult partner as well. One recent report claimed that Apple's switch to Intel was even a surprise to IBM.

Toss in concerned and litigious PC manufacturers who believe that Apple may be getting special deals or earlier shipments from Intel, and it could make for an interesting year. Despite manufacturer's fears, at least one rumor claimed that despite Apple's efforts to obtain earlier chips, Intel was not agreeable.

In the next two weeks, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will take place between January 5-8, 2006 and is the expected launching ground for their new mobile processor (Yonah). Meanwhile, Macworld San Francisco will take place between January 9-13, 2006 where the first Intel Macs are rumored to be announced.

Forbes reports on Piper Jaffray analyst research on Apple's sales strength this holiday season.

While retailers are said to have noted that some customers are awaiting the release of the announced Intel-based Macs, that "resellers that are seeing this trend say that it is limited to only a handful of customers."

Meanwhile, iMac sales are stronger than expected and Apple has managed to keep reasonable stock of the iPod at hand for retailers.

All eyes point to Macworld San Francisco for potential updates. The keynote address will be given by Steve Jobs on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 at 9:00 a.m PST.

Apple has posted two new video clips on the iTunes Music Store which are available as free downloads. The two new video clips include (iTunes Links):

Saturday Night Live Short - Lazy Sunday - 2m 31s
Sci Fi Inside: Battlestar Galactica - 21m 03s

Zap2It reports that the half-hour Battlestar Galactica special will first air on television on January 2nd 2006. The show acts as a lead-in to for the winter season of the show, catching viewers up.

"We are thrilled to be the first network to premiere our own original programming on the iTunes Music Store," says Dave Howe, Sci Fi's executive vice president and general manager.

These represent the first free video clips available to iTunes users. Apple has been distributing free songs on their iTunes Music Store to promote songs/artists since April 2004. MacRumors readers have been keeping track of all free songs offered from iTunes in this running list.

One reader points out that one significant new feature in Intel's upcoming Yonah Processor is "Virtualization Technology". Intel describes it as "allowing a platform to run multiple operating systems and applications in independent partitions."

The examples of use Intel provides include uses for administrators performing background system upgrades as well as separating business and personal use environments. The most interesting potential use is described here:

Home users could create virtual partitions isolating multiple user environments such as dedicating resources to a PC game, productivity, and personal video recorder-type environments

Potential uses under Apple's implementation of the Intel processors, of course, include the possibility of launching multiple operating systems, such as Windows and Linux, alongside Mac OS X. Alternatively, Tiger's Fast User Switching could be expanded to provide completely independent environments.

This Intel presentation slide posted on Anandtech's article from Intel Developer Forum 2005 confirms that Yonah is expected to include Virtualization Technology.

This technology brings back up a tamper-resistant code patent which Apple was recently granted. The patent description curiously also had a description of the use of multiple operating systems:

Apple also talks about securing the code while interchanging information among multiple operating systems. Linux, Mac OS X and Windows are called out specifically in the filing.

Available in Software Update for Aperture users:

Aperture 1.0.1 Update addresses a number of issues related to reliability and performance. It also delivers improved image export quality and metadata handling. Among the key areas addressed are:

White balance adjustment accuracy and performance
Image export quality
Book and print ordering reliability
Auto-stacking performance
Custom paper size handling
This update is recommended for all Aperture users.

Alternatively, the download is available from Apple's website.

A group of PC and consumer electronic companies announced today that they are working on a specification for a new display-connector called UDI.

UDI stands for United Display Interface and is intended to serve as a next-generation digital display interface standard for PCs. It is expected to replace the old VGA analog standard connectors as well as providing compatibility with both the DVI and HDMI standards presently used in High Definition consumer products.

UDI will also support HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) which is also supported in the HDMI standard. The Special Interest Group includes a number of industry leaders, including Apple and Intel Corp.

According to this TG Daily article, UDI will be the graphical interface "for the next ten years" by providing added bandwidth at least twice the capability of the largest displays today.

The final specification is expected to be finalized in the second quarter of 2006.

Macworld.co.uk reports that Hewlett Packard may stop pre-installing iTunes on their line of PCs in 2006.

This follows their earlier announcement in July that they would stop selling re-branded HP iPods. According to a statement at the time "reselling the iPod no longer fit with HP's current digital media strategy".

Reportedly, HP had a contractual agreement with Apple to continue bundling iTunes with their HP computers until January of 2006. Beyond that, however, future plans are unclear. HP has not made any announcements, but Macworld.co.uk speculates that HP will adopt a Microsoft Windows Media solution.

Apple and ABC have posted another television show to the iTunes Music Store today. Commander in Chief is now available on iTunes.

NBC has also promised that new shows would be added along the way.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Microsoft is not taking Apple's success lightly and plans on launching a subscription-based [Movie]* download service. The service would presumably offer either unlimited downloads or one with a high limit for a flat monthly fee similar to Napster's present music subscription service.
* Update: Movie service, not TV.

ThinkSecret cites "reliable sources" in reporting that Apple plans on introducing new iBooks, Mac minis and iPod shuffles at Macworld San Francisco in January 2006.

Intel is expected to launch the dual-core version of Yonah -- its new notebook processor -- in January. Low-votage versions are expected to come in at 1.5GHz, 1.66GHz and 1.83GHz speeds, while the "performance" version will ship at 1.66GHz, 1.83GHz, 2.0GHz and 2.16GHz speeds.

ThinkSecret speculates that low-voltage 1.5GHz Yonah iBooks may see be announced in January, while "performance" Yonah procesors may come later in PowerBooks.

No further details about the Mac mini or iPod shuffle are available from the rumor site, although the 1GB iPod shuffle is presently out of stock at the Apple store.