As promised, chip maker Intel has gone smaller and made a chip that doesn't need that annoying fan that accompanies most tablets and laptops in order to keep the system cool.
The company says it is always looking for new ways to evolve chips. By establishing a better delivery system for thinner and smaller chips that won't require those pesky fans, it could potentially create new doors for innovation of mobile devices.
The overall goal is to "deliver seamless and truly personal computing experiences." The smaller chip would make movability much easier and would deliver a bigger punch than is currently available with previous chips. It could also help to drive down costs.
"The lines between technology categories are blurring as the era of integrated computing takes hold, where form factor matters less than the experience delivered when all devices are connected to each other and to the cloud," said Renée James, Intel president.
"Whether it's a smartphone, smart shirt, ultra-thin 2-in-1 or a new cloud service delivered to smart buildings outfitted with connected systems, together Intel and the Taiwan ecosystem have the opportunity to accelerate and deliver the value of a smart, seamlessly connected and integrated world of computing."
The chip news comes on the heels of the company's new partnership with Rockchip, which was announced late last month and should drive more innovation on similar projects.
Intel had been toying with the idea and concept of smaller and thinner chips in recent months, with a number of reports hinting at its progress, but with this announcement, the company positions itself to continue to be the world's top chip maker.
But even more interesting was James' announcement of a fanless laptop, which would be the first of its kind.
According to James, the new laptop will sport a 12.5-inch screen, is 7.2-mm thin and has a detached keyboard so it can also function as a tablet. The majority of the company's designs are going to be employing the new chip, which they say will give them more functionality and more opportunities for innovation going forward.
Overall, Intel hopes that it can continue to integrate new technology with its budding communications and cloud-based platforms to move forward with new ideas such as the fanless laptop/tablet and the thinner, more versatile chip that could be another game changer for the company.
