CES 2008: Intel says "Internet in your pocket" the future

8 January 2008 17:52 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Intel has announced its vision for the future at its keynote speech at CES in Las Vegas.

And what's that future? The Internet in your pocket.

Telling most people what they must surely already know, Intel Corporation President and CEO Paul Otellini today said the Internet will continue disrupting the consumer electronics and entertainment industries in new ways.

"We're now in the midst of the largest opportunity to redefine consumer electronics and entertainment since the introduction of the television", Otellini said during a keynote speech at the International Consumer Electronics Show. "The personal Internet of tomorrow will serve you - delivering the information you want, when you want it, how you want, wherever you are."

The prediction follows what many companies are already seeing as today rather than tomorrow with most exhibitors displaying connected devices from TVs to radios to digital cameras.

Otellini highlighted a future where someone visiting the Beijing Olympics later this year could use a pocket-sized mobile Internet device to audibly and visually translate building signs, restaurant menus and conversations in real-time rather similar to Microsoft's Tell Me concept unveiled by Bill Gates on Sunday.

So what's stopping the world embracing the internet everywhere today? Well according to Otellini, not surprisingly, the lack of powerful microprocessors. Well that and wireless hotspot penetration.

Intel hoping to provide a solution for the current microprocessor shortful said it is developing a new chip codenamed "Canmore" as a "CE system and an Internet system".

Otellini announced that Canmore will be available in the second half of this year and will pair a powerful PC-class processor core with leading-edge, dedicated A/V processing that can play 1080p video with 7.1 surround sound, a 3D graphics unit for cool user interfaces and online games, and technologies to enable broadcast TV.