'Fan docks' are about to become a thing

Computex Yesterday at Computex, Intel announced the new Core M, a new CPU architecture based on a Broadwellian 14nm process, and said it is destined to appear in premium tablets and two-in-one typoslabs.

Today, Chipzilla revealed a little more about the new product by showing off a reference design for a Core-M-equipped typoslab called Llama Mountain. The device was a typical, if very thin, typoslab inasmuch as the keyboard and display come apart.

But Intel also showed off a fan-equipped dock into which it settled the reference machine's screen. Blowing cool air over the tablet lowered its temperature sufficiently that it was possible to crank up the clock speed of its CPU.

Llama Mountain is a reference design so there's no way of knowing if OEMs will follow Chipzilla's lead and make fan docks. But with Intel promising to deliver a vPro version of the Core M it is not hard to see PC-makers interested in business sales bringing them to market to make typoslabs even more attractive.

Another thing Intel today detailed is its RealSense technology, which will manifest in camera modules it expects PC-makers will start to integrate as of 2014's last quarter. The 3D-capable cameras will mean images in videoconferences gain depth, with Skype, Lync and Chinese chat giant QQ.com all ready for 3D chat. Depth perception also means it will become possible to use one's hands to control on-screen action in games or with apps built to offer a gestural interface. ®