Intel launches tablet processor

11 April 2011 Last updated at 11:25 ET

Intel has formally launched its Oak Trail processor, designed for tablet computers.

The new microchip is smaller and uses less power than other models in its Atom range for mobile devices.

Despite being the world's largest manufacturer of microprocessors, Intel has been largely pushed out of the growing tablet market.

Until now, most devices have used chips designed by Apple and Cambridge-based Arm Holdings.

Announcing Oak Trail's retail name - the Z670 - Intel conceded that it was currently lagging behind the competition.

"You won't find a lot of Intel based tablets on the shelves at the moment," said Kevin O'Donovan, marketing manager for notebooks and tablets.

However, he insisted that the company now had a competitive product.

"2011 is about becoming relevant," he said.

Multiple platforms

One of Oak Trail's biggest selling points is likely to be its ability to run a number of different tablet operating systems.

Windows 7, Android, MeeGo and Google's upcoming OS will all work on the Intel platform.

Currently, chipsets based on Arm's designs, such as Nvidia's popular Tegra processors, are unable to run Windows.

However, Microsoft recently announced that it would support Arm processors for the next release of Windows, expected in early 2012.

At least one tablet manufacturer had postponed the launch of their Windows device until Oak Trail became available.

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Laser gun fired from US navy ship

11 April 2011 Last updated at 07:47 ET <!-- Embedding the video player --> <!-- This is the embedded player component -->

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A high-energy laser (HEL) fired from a US warship off the California coast has ignited a nearby boat. Video courtesy of the US Office of Naval Research.

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The US Navy has fired a laser gun from one of its ships for the first time.

Researchers used the high-energy laser (HEL) to disable a boat by setting fire to its engines off the coast of California.

Similar systems had previously been tested on land, however moist sea air presented an extra challenge as it reduces a beam's power.

The navy said that ship-borne lasers could eventually be used to protect vessels from small attack boats.

The US military has been experimenting with laser weapons since the 1970s.

Early systems used large, chemical-based lasers which tended to produce dangerous waste gasses.

More recently, scientists have developed solid state lasers that combine large numbers of compact beam generators, similar to LEDs.

HELs fire

Until now, much of the development of HELs has focused on shooting down missiles or hitting land-based targets.

The latest round of tests showed its wider possibilities, according to Peter Morrison from the Office of Naval Research.

"This test provides an important data point as we move toward putting directed energy on warships.

"There is still much work to do to make sure it's done safely and efficiently," he said.

While a weaponised system would likely be restricted to military vessels, merchant shipping has also expressed an interest in laser technogy,

A gun which uses visible laser light to temporarily blind pirates was announced by BAE Systems in 2010.

The technology is still being tested, ahead of a commercial launch.

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