Intel officially launches Sandy Bridge processors
Says its better for games, videos and general performance
Intel’s WiDi (Wireless Display) moves up to version two, which adds full 1080p video streaming to the menu. So, you could stream a full HD movie that’s resident on your PC or notebook in the study, directly to your TV in the living room.
Mooley also made quite a fuss about Intel Insider, which provides point to point security for premium digital media. Basically media companies have shied away from allowing premium HD content to be streamed to a PC due to concerns about piracy, but Intel claims that with the Intel Insider feature the security of premium, streamed content is guaranteed.
Kevin Tsujihara – President, Warner Brothers Home Entertainment – joined Mooley up on stage confirming that as a result of Intel Insider, Warner was now happy to allow premium HD, or even 3D content to be streamed to a PC. Mooley was also keen to point out that this premium content could then be wirelessly streamed to your HDTV using WiDi for an even better experience.
We’re not quite as excited by Intel Insider though, since, in essence it allows the PC to do what games consoles have been doing for around two years. Plus, you’re more likely to have your games console in your living room, so there would be no need for wireless streaming to watch it on your TV. That said, the new functionality is welcome, even if it’s not quite the milestone that Intel would have us believe.
Putting our slightly cynical view of Intel Insider to one side though, there’s no denying that the second generation Core platform is looking superb, especially from a mobile perspective. A thin and light notebook based on Sandy Bridge could be the stuff that dreams are made of.
Read our full reviews of the new desktop Core i5-2500K and Core i7-2600K processors.