Actor, producer, and director LeVar Burton goes on a search for the next Big Thing in TV at the Intel Developer Forum this week, but as he shows us, it isn’t easy.  Follow LeVar’s quest on Twitter using #smarttv.

Softex has introduced SecureDrive, which works with Intel Core vPro processors to manage the growing number of self-encrypting hard drives in PCs, a rapidly growing alternative to software-based encryption. For those at Intel IDF 2010, take Softex SecureDrive for a spin in booth # 675 in the Intel® vPro™ Technology Community.

Raytracing is a technique used to generate real time 3-D images with stunning quality. It helps to deliver reflections and refractions not achievable through traditional rendering approaches. Intel researchers from Intel Labs in Santa Clara were able to get the game Wolfenstein raytraced on the notebook! See the magic and the video.

When you think about Intel, your first thoughts may steer towards processors, the Intel bong or Jeffrey the Robot. But yesterday, at the annual pre-IDF research press event, Intel researchers aimed to show another side - a growing side - of Intel that is focused on delivering the amazing and engaging user experiences of the future. See Intel Lab's Brian McCarthy blog and see more from IDF.

Already hitting the books and back into the swing of things at school? But is your technology keeping up with you in the classroom? Intel takes you Back to School this year, and shows off the latest systems powered by the Intel® Core™ family of processors. Whether you’re a parent looking to give your middle-school student a leg up in all subjects, or a college junior looking for an updated system to tote around campus, Intel has something for you.

 

Webcast and Blog

• Guest Post: Intel Summer Intern, Sarah Helfgott

An update of the Intel® Solid-State Drive Toolbox is now available for Intel SSD users. New features include a System Configuration Tuner to help users configure their system for optimal SSD performance, power efficiency and endurance. The toolbox is a free, downloadable utility that helps manage the health of your Intel SSD. Download it at: www.intel.com/go/ssdtoolbox. Check out the full multimedia press kit at www.intel.com/pressroom/kits/ssd/.

Do you use technology to build relationships? Intel Social Scientist Kathi Kitner does, and apparently so do women all over the world. In the latest guest post from Intel Scoop’s  series of articles on stress and technology, Kathi discusses how she and other women use technology to “tend and befriend” – a phrase used to describe women’s tendency to “tend” (care for others) and “befriend” (connect with others) – when stress levels increase. Read the Kathi’s post at scoop.intel.com/2010/09/technology-and-relationships.php.