Ultrabooks in danger?

Apple obtained the validation of a patent protecting the design profile of the MacBook Air which could be evil ultrabooks manufacturers.

After will the war of the patents related to smartphones and touch tablets setting out trial with armies of lawyers to support, the company Apple now tackle the ultrabooks?

Indeed, the mark Apple comes to obtain validation of a patent for the "water drop" design of the MacBook Air, the ultrafine laptop. Thus according to the patent referenced D661, 296 searchable PDF, the form contoured the machine of Apple, with thicker than the much finer front part back with the hinges of the screen, now part of its intellectual property.

      

Is the Zenbook of Asus in danger?

The Cupertino firm has therefore now the means to curb the enthusiasm of some manufacturers to ultrabooks approaching to too much of the design of their creation, thought to Asus with its premium Zenbook, Acer Aspire S7 or HP and its Envy spectrum XT.

Intel pushes new batteries to reduce the price of the Ultrabooks

To lower the price of the Ultrabooks, savings on all components are being considered. Intel think this time in the batteries...

Yesterday, we return a series both on the issue of the cost of returns to Ultrabooks, under the prism of storage, since it is learned that the part of SSD equipped Ultrabooks would fall in the coming months. Today, Intel is the support by continuing to help builders partners to find the right solutions to lower the price of the Ultrabooks, in attacking this time in batteries. Intel therefore attempts to push two manufacturers new types of batteries, models known as the cylindrical batteries 16650 and prismatic lithium-ion batteries. However, since 16650 cylindrical batteries are produced in small quantities, prismatic Li-ion batteries are more likely to be selected. However talking about solutions that can be adopted by mass as from next year, since these models of batteries must be certified and small problems of ability to persist and must be resolved.

Left A, cylindrical batteries 16650. At right, a prismatic Li-ion battery.

16650 Cylindrical batteries have a diameter of 16 mm and can therefore a priori be used in portable computers to the design purposes. Provided exclusively by the Sanyo Japanese and Chinese BAK for the moment, they earn in interest among assemblers who worry however see this market be controlled only by two suppliers. To them, the prismatic lithium-ion batteries are more expensive to purchase but have an advantage: fineness of only 5 to 6 mm for blocks of 6 x 8 cm. Proposed by more providers, they are available in greater numbers and could receive certifications necessary for their use in the Ultrabooks more quickly.

Note that, despite everything, some manufacturers are beginning to work with these batteries on all small series. This is Acer that performs tests on its Ultrabooks with 16650 cylindrical batteries, and Lenovo IdeaPad 530 of which adopts a prismatic Li-ion battery.