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Intel has “best quarter ever”
Intel on Tuesday reported strong earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2010, with the company calling it the “best first quarter ever.” The company recorded net income of US$2.4 billion for the quarter ended on March 27, an increase of 288 percent compared to the first quarter a year ago. In January, Intel launched new Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 chips for laptops and desktops, followed by new Xeon server 5600 chips in the middle of March. The chips were made using the 32-nanometer manufacturing process, which makes microprocessors faster and more power-efficient while reducing manufacturing costs.
Twitter reveals business model
Twitter on Tuesday introduced a new service called Promoted Tweets, which will let companies send ads in the form of ordinary messages, according to a blog posted by co-founder Biz Stone. The introduction is an important step for the company, since it represents the first step towards turning the microblogging service into a money-making venture. Initially, up to 10 percent of users will see the promoted messages. Twitter will work with Best Buy, Bravo, Red Bull, Sony Pictures, Starbucks, and Virgin America, to roll out the first ads, he said.
Apple unveils new MacBook Pros
Apple has updated the 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models with Intel’s Core i5 and i7 processors, which will include two integrated graphics processors to improve the laptops’ battery life and performance. Apple users can pick between four standard models, three with a 15-inch display and one with a 17-inch display, according to the company’s online store. The least expensive option is the 15-inch model with a 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 for US$1,799. The high-end 15-inch model has a 2.66GHz Intel Core i7 and costs $2,199. All three models have 4GB RAM memory as the standard
Google wants more innovative air conditioning
Data center executives from Google and other large companies, including Microsoft and Amazon, are pushing back against new efficiency requirements proposed by a prominent standards group, saying they are too “prescriptive” and don’t leave them room to innovate. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, recently proposed the amendments to its efficiency standard for buildings, ASHRAE Standard 90.1. The companies called the requirements “too prescriptive.” Instead of setting efficiency targets and letting engineers decide how they can best meet them, the amendments specify types of cooling systems that companies should use.