Following the announcement of new 3rd generation Intel Quad-Core processors (codenamed Ivy Bridge) by Intel, HP today announced six new desktops based on the new processors. The new processors offer features like built-in security, improved HD and 3-D performance. HP describes the 6 new desktops as follows:

• HP Omni 220qd: A 22-inch sleek all-in-one PC that offers a streamlined cantilever design and optional features such as Beats Audio for a PC that sounds as good as it looks.
• HP Omni 27qd: The company's first 27-inch all-in-one PC and the first non-touch HP PC to feature HP's exclusive Magic Canvas software for a truly engaging experience.
• HP TouchSmart 520xt: The 23-inch all-in-one is designed for consumers who demand a premium multimedia and touch experience.
• HP Pavilion HPE h8t and h8xt: The stand-alone desktops provide the ultimate computing experience in a sleek and simple design. Select models can support up to three displays.
• HP Pavilion HPE h9t Phoenix: The company's most powerful Pavilion stand alone desktop to date, it is engineered to run power-hungry applications such as video editing and games with ease.

HP didn’t provide detailed specifications for the new systems, but provided starting price for them. The Omni 22qd will start at $999, Omni 27qd will start at $1,199, TouchSmart 520xt will start at $999, Pavilion HPE h8t will start at $699, Pavilion HPE h8xt will start at $799 and Pavillion HPE h9t Phoenix will start at $1,149. All the desktops except h9t Phoenix will ship on June 24th, the Phoenix will ship on April 29th.

Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2012 second quarter ended March 31, 2012. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $39.2 billion and quarterly net profit of $11.6 billion, or $12.30 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $24.7 billion and net profit of $6.0 billion, or $6.40 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 47.4 percent compared to 41.4 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 64 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

The Company sold 35.1 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 88 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 11.8 million iPads during the quarter, a 151 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 4 million Macs during the quarter, a 7 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 7.7 million iPods, a 15 percent unit decline from the year-ago quarter.

“We’re thrilled with sales of over 35 million iPhones and almost 12 million iPads in the March quarter,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The new iPad is off to a great start, and across the year you’re going to see a lot more of the kind of innovation that only Apple can deliver.”

“Our record March quarter results drove $14 billion in cash flow from operations,” said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO. “Looking ahead to the third fiscal quarter, we expect revenue of about $34 billion and diluted earnings per share of about $8.68.”

Google today officially introduced the much rumored Google Drive that will allow you to upload and access all of your files, including videos, photos, Google Docs, PDF and more. Google calls it a place where you can create, share, collaborate, and keep all of your stuff. Main features of Google Drive are:

Create and collaborate: Google Docs is built right into Google Drive, so you can work with others in real time on documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Once you choose to share content with others, you can add and reply to comments on anything (PDF, image, video file, etc.) and receive notifications when other people comment on shared items.

Store everything safely and access it anywhere: All your stuff is just... there. You can access your stuff from anywhere—on the web, in your home, at the office, while running errands and from all of your devices. You can install Drive on your Mac or PC and can download the Drive app to your Android phone or tablet. We’re also working hard on a Drive app for your iOS devices. And regardless of platform, blind users can access Drive with a screen reader.

Search everything: Search by keyword and filter by file type, owner and more. Drive can even recognize text in scanned documents using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. Let’s say you upload a scanned image of an old newspaper clipping. You can search for a word from the text of the actual article. We also use image recognition so that if you drag and drop photos from your Grand Canyon trip into Drive, you can later search for [grand canyon] and photos of its gorges should pop up. This technology is still in its early stages, and we expect it to get better over time.

You can get 5GB of storage for free on Google Drive and if you need more, you can choose to upgrade to 25GB for $2.49/month, 100GB for $4.99/month or even 1TB for $49.99/month. When you upgrade to a paid account, your Gmail account storage will also expand to 25GB. You can learn more and start using Google Drive here. Check out the introductory video of Google Drive below.

A Dutch website claims that Apple will release a new version of iPhoto for Mac that will be inspired by iPhoto app for iOS and will allow better integration between the two apps. The website wrote they have heard from their sources that “the new version will be largely inspired by iPhoto for iOS”.

The new iPhoto for Mac will have option of creating photo albums to share via iCloud, a feature that will replace MobileMe photo gallery. It will also allow transfer/editing of photos between iPhoto app on iOS devices and iPhoto ’12 on Mac. The new iPhoto will require Mac OS X Lion or Mountain Lion and will not work on Snow Leopard or older OSes.

Feature-wise it will offer the same easy retouching tools found on iPhoto app for iOS devices and offer quick edit and share features. According to Apple Weetjes, the new iPhoto ’12 should come this summer, which would indicate that Apple might launch the new application along with Mac OS X Mountain Lion.

AMD today added the new HD 7970M, HD 7870M and HD 7770M graphics cards to their mobile GPU lineup. All the three cards are based on new 28nm Graphics Core Next (GCN) Architecture that AMD claims is responsible for the world’s most powerful and advanced mobile GPU with the new HD 7970M. AMD says that not only the new GCN architecture improves performance, but also increases efficiency by using less power in idle state.

The new chips have AMD ZeroCore Power technology that allows the GPU to completely power down when not in use. For additional power saving the new cards also feature AMD Enduor technology that seamlessly powers down GPU when integrated graphics is being used and then powers up the GPU when needed.

The HD 7970M GPU is aimed at gaming laptops and comes with 850MHz clock speed, 1280 Stream processors, 256-Bit memory interface, 1200MHz memory clock, 153.6 GB/s memory bandwidth and 2GB GDDR5 memory. The HD 7870M is designed for high-end mainstream laptops with 800MHz clock speed, half the number of Stream processors at 640, 128-Bit memory interface, 1000MHz memory clock, 64GB/s memory bandwidth and 2GB GDDR5 memory. And finally, HD 7770M is designed for ultrathin laptops needing full-fledged graphics and it comes with 675MHz clock speed, 512 Stream processors, 128-Bit memory interface, 1000MHz memory clock, 64GB/s memory bandwidth and up to 2GB GDDR5 memory.

AMD says that the new HD 7000M series GPUs will appear in over 200 laptops in coming weeks from various PC makers. We think that Apple might use the HD 7870M and HD 7770M GPUs in upcoming MacBook Pros. Below we have added complete specifications list of the new GPUs and the introductory video.

With every major TV maker now planning to introduce TVs with 4K resolution by 2013, it is now very clear that 1080p is the past and 4K is the future. So how can you secure your home theater’s future? The answer is very simple, buy 4K supporting home theater equipment. And even though Blu-ray only offers 1080p video you can buy upscaling Blu-ray players like the new flagship Blu-ray player from Sony, BDP-S790 that supports 4K upscaling for Blu-ray playback.

The WiFi connected player also supports streaming services like Video Unlimited, Music Unlimited, Netflix, Flixter, VUDU, Amazon Instant Video, Slacker, Pandora and many other, along with Blu-ray, DVD and CD playback. It comes with dual core processor for faster response, dedicated 4K upscaling chip, dual HDMI outputs and noise reduction technology for streaming content. It also has “Media Remote” app for controlling the player via iOS and Android devices. Other features are social media integration, Gracenote support, Homeshare network speaker compatibility and USB support.

Sony BDP-S790 is available for pre-order on Sony’s website priced $249.99 and will be available in other stores starting May 5th 2012.

Intel today introduced the quad-core 3rd generation Intel Core processor family for desktops and laptops. The new processors are the first chips in the world made using Intel’s 22-nanometer (nm) 3-D tri-Gate transistor technology. Intel says that the combination of Intel’s cutting-edge 3-D tri-gate transistor technology and architectural enhancements help make possible up to double the 3-D graphics and HD media processing performance compared with Intel’s previous generation of chips. Overall, CPU performance should increase by up to 20% with the new architecture.

The performance gains found in the new processors are due in part to the groundbreaking, three-dimensional structure of the new Intel transistors. Until today, computers, servers and other devices have used only two-dimensional planar transistors. Adding a third dimension to transistors allows Intel to increase transistor density and put more capabilities into every square millimeter of these new processors.

According to Intel, their engineers also reworked the graphics architecture of the 3rd generation Intel Core processors, helping to deliver dramatic improvements in the overall visual experience. Changing the chips’ architecture while at the same time shrinking the size of the underlying transistors is an acceleration of Intel’s “tick-tock” model. Previously, the company adhered to a strict “tick-tock” model in which a new manufacturing process was introduced in 1 year (the “tick”), and the architecture of the chip (the “tock”) was altered the next.

Intel also claims that the 3rd generation Intel Core processor with Intel HD Graphics 4000 delivers up to two times better 3-D graphics performance compared to the previous-generation processor, bringing more gaming fun with richer detail at higher resolutions. Intel HD Graphics 4000 supports Microsoft DirectX 11, OpenGL 3.1 and OpenCL 1.1.

Systems based on quad-core 3rd generation Intel Core processor products will be available beginning this month from leading system makers. Boxed versions of these processors will also be available this month from online, retail and channel resellers. Additional versions of the 3rd generation Intel Core processor products for servers, intelligent systems in retail, healthcare and other industries, Ultrabook devices and laptops and more will be available later this year.

Fitbit today announced that the Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale is now available for purchase at national retailers and at Fitbit.com. According to Fitbit, Aria is a high performance scale that tracks weight, % body fat and BMI, and automatically uploads your info through your Wi-Fi network to your Fitbit account. With your Fitbit account, you can set weight goals, track your progress, as well as garner extra motivation by earning badges through Fitbit's online and app tools.

Aria automatically recognizes 8 users by weight and all the people can see their own stats on their separate Fitbit.com accounts. It also has iPhone and Android app for tracking your weight, setting goals and tracking process.

"Fitbit is dedicated to creating products and services that allow you to easily understand and analyze your everyday health in one simple account," said James Park, CEO and co-founder of Fitbit. "With our newest device, Fitbit Aria, and our mobile and online tools, you'll understand more about your weight and be empowered to set and achieve your weight goals."

The Fitbit Aria is now available in black and white colors for $129.95 on Fitbit’s website and Best Buy. You can also order Aria on Amazon.

Things have been quiet on iPhone nano rumor front for quite sometime, but that is changing today as China Times is claiming that Apple will launch a low cost iPhone Nano this year. According to China Times, Apple will launch low cost iPhone model to capture lower-end smartphone market, which has been mainly dominated by Android phones. The website also claims that this move should benefit Apple’s supply chain partners like Hon Hai and Warburg in coming months. The website didn’t provide much detail/rumor about the actual iPhone nano, but said production of low cost iPhone should begin in second half of this year. There isn’t much to this iPhone nano rumor, but it should fire up the iPhone nano rumor mill and we should hear more about iPhone nano from analysts and tech journalist soon.

Last week, Samsung sent out invitations for its May 3rd London press event to announce the next generation of Galaxy S smartphone. And this week they have started a teaser campaign to hype the Galaxy S III launch by posting a video on YouTube that indirectly makes fun of iPhone users. The video starts by stating, “Truly smart technology becomes a natural part of life.” And claims how a galaxy fits in your hand, changing your world, so that “you can now stand out from… everyone else.” At the end they show a herd of sheep making fun of Apple’s i-product users.

Samsung has previously called iPhone users iSheep and has even tried making fun of Apple customers who stand in line for new Apple product launches. While trying to get people to line-up for their own product launches by giving free phones and concert tickets. However, Samsung hasn’t been able to generate Apple like excitement even in their own backyard in Korea, where consumers lined up to get their hands on the new iPad on launch day (video below). These ads and teaser videos from Samsung have started showing their weakness (there isn’t much to differentiate Android devices) rather than gain mindshare against Apple.