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Focuses on the limitless reach of embedded computer intelligence. Embedment of devices in voice-activated global positioning systems, car engines, home security systems and medical devices; Integration of consumer electronics and home computer; Aim of improving security, eliminating human surveillance and tracking inventory.

This article forecasts on various computer technology that are set to be released in the U.S. market in 2005. There is an emerging use of the personal computer (PC) as an alternative home entertainment center. A number of companies, including Hewlett Packard and D-Link are betting on this possible trend. However, one's idea of a High Fidelity system is any good amplifier and speaker with enough volume. The computer as a music source is going to send out 24-bit digital music, which may be better than what a pocket drive produce, but there is a possibility that genuine high-fidelity enthusiasts will not support Media PC music. Indeed, during the 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), there is always a separate show for high-performance audio over at the Alexis Hotel, quite a long way from the Las Vegas Convention Center, a separation in both distance and attitude. There may also be a limit to the number of people who want to move their photographs from their high resolution computer monitor to their living room television. As high-definition television becomes more popular and good quality camcorders become ubiquitous, this may change. There once was a fad for showing home movies in the living room, and perhaps that will return. What certainly will go over is a set top box with more functions, but easier to use, than TiVo. Several such systems were featured at CES. These systems are approved by the cable companies, and allow the user to record one feature on disk while watching something else, but with a better organized user interface with context sensitive help, and offering choices only when those choices are relevant. Furthermore, hard drive capacity will continue to expand. 2004 saw the end of the Zip drive.

The article relates the changes that occurred in the global computer industry as of April 2004. The computer industry looked pretty predictable six months ago. Since then there have been surprises in processors and technology that have changed the whole playing field. These unexpected events involve almost all of the major players in processors and systems. The largest changes have happened to Intel, the world's biggest processor maker. Intel was set to bring its new 90 nanometer Prescott chips into the market and had updated Itanium chips in the queue. AMD's Opteron chips were then becoming a major challenge for Intel, as they were both powerful and offered 64-bit extensions while still running 32-bit code very well. When Intel's prime partner with Itanium, HP, brought Opteron systems to market, Intel announced it would supply 64-bit capability when the customers needed it. Sun Microsystems is another company in the throes of change. It has just cancelled its next planned processor, the UltraSparc V, in order to go with new multicore designs named Niagara and Rock. It has also extended its systems line to embrace AMD's Opteron and Linux while continuing to enhance the Solaris operating system. On top of these processor events, the personal computer industry is about to go through a major set of changes in 2004 and 2005. The base design will change more in one year than ever before. How this will play with businesses and home users is still an open question.

This section presents several products for the computer industry introduced in the U.S. market as of September 2004. Previously known as Out-of-the-Box, BlueGlue 3.0 from OpenLogic is a one-stop distribution of open source development tools for Java and LAMP developers. It features more than 100 open source projects--including Apache, JBoss, Tomcat, Struts, Eclipse, PHP, Python, MySQL, PostgreSQL, CVS, Hibernate, AspectJ, and Wiki--with automated installation, configuration, integration, deployment, and testing of any combination of projects chosen. Regular updates keep everything current and sample applications are provided. Metrowerks Corporation and Nintendo have begun distributing a tool suite for the handheld Nintendo DS videogame system. The Metrowerks suite includes a multi-core, thread-aware debugger that works simultaneously on the ARM 9 and ARM 7 processors; ARM linker overlays that reduce memory consumption by allowing developers to detect and remove unused code in linked applications; a command line interface as well as a graphical user interface and cache viewing capabilities; and an ARM compiler optimized to work with the Nintendo DS hardware. AOpen has launched the XC Cube EX915, its first Cube system supporting the new Intel Pentium 4 Prescott CPUs of up to 4 GHz. The XC Cube EX915 uses the Intel 915G chipset, with built-in Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900. High-end gamers can add the AOpen Aeolus PCX 5750 VGA card for better video performance. The XC Cube EX915 incorporates a 275 Watt micro power supply and a 4-way voltage technique to further stabilize the CPU.

The article presents an update on the condition of the computer industry in the U.S. in 2004. The computer industry looked pretty predictable in 2003. Since then there have been surprises in processors and technology that have changed the whole playing field. These unexpected events involve almost all of the major players in processors and systems. The largest changes have happened to Intel, the world's biggest processor maker. Intel was set to bring its new 90 nanometer Prescott chips into the market and had updated Itanium chips in the queue. AMD's Opteron chips were then becoming a major challenge for Intel, as they were both powerful and offered 64-bit extensions while still running 32-bit code very well. When Intel's prime partner with Itanium, HP, brought Opteron systems to market, Intel announced it would supply 64-bit capability when the customers needed it. On the Itanium side, IBM is taking its Power processor architecture to levels that are very competitive with Intel's Itanium. Intel's plan to dominate the high end processor market with its proprietary Itanium design now faces challenges from AMD below and IBM above. Sun Microsystems is another company in the throes of change. It has just cancelled its next planned processor, the UltraSparc V, in order to go with new multicore designs named Niagara and Rock. It has also extended its systems line to embrace AMD's Opteron and Linux while continuing to enhance the Solaris operating system.

Highlights several computer developments in 2003. Trends predictable by Moore's Law; Features of the Apple G-5 dual processor system; Commoditization of desktop computers.

Reports on the announcement of Intergraph Corp. that it has produced a line of standards-based workstations and servers and a new division to develop and market them. Features of the system; Usability of the system; Function and operation.