After 
launching a new category of computers called Ultrabooks at last year’s Consumer Electronics Show, Intel is now focusing on hyping what’s inside.
Company touted a new deal with Comcast that will provide the cabler’s Xfinity TV-based programming to Ultrabooks, all-in-one PCs, smartphones and tablets that use Intel’s chips through live streams and on demand options.
Without Microsoft presenting its keynote or hosting a booth at CES for the first time in 14 years, the door is left wide open for another major consumer electronics player to cast a large shadow over the confab in Las Vegas this week.
Expect all eyes to be on Google.
You 
might be a fan of buying used games, but Sony isn’t.
The company has filed a patent application for technology that would prevent video game consoles from playing used games. That, mixed with rumors about the next-generation systems banning used games, was enough to get gamers (and investors) panicking.
As 
Connecticut residents continue to try to come to grips with the horrific school shootings in Newtown, one nearby city is calling on citizens to round up and destroy their violent video games.
On Jan. 12, citizens of Southington, located about 30 miles to the northeast of Newtown, will have the opportunity to visit their city’s drive-in theater and deposit violent games in a trash bin in return for a $25 gift certificate to a family-friendly local attraction.
While 
the market for old Nintendo games isn’t what it was, say, 20 years ago, plenty of people still love the older systems. But classic cartridges, unfortunately, don’t exactly age well.
The SNES, for example, turns 23 this year. While most of today’s games should have no trouble surviving that long thanks to their use of DVD and Blu-ray formats, the older cartridge technology is suffering.
Disruption 
isn’t always obvious. In fact, it can sometimes fly under the radar for years, establishing a solid base before upending the ways certain industries do business.
That’s understandable, given the changing business models many startups go through. But just because a business isn’t on the tip of everyone’s tongue doesn’t mean it’s not primed to change the way things are done.
Not every company that’s about to shake up (or is in the process of shaking up) its respective industry is a household name just yet, but here are 10 we think you could be very familiar with in the near future.
When 
Sheeba Anderson picked up two bags of donated, pre-wrapped gifts for the six foster children in her home on Dec. 20, she was thinking of the joy that would be on their faces on Christmas morning.
So imagine her surprise when she learned that some unknown Bad Santa had hidden a real gun amidst the toys.
The 
tragic school shooting in Newtown, CT has once again revived the debate about the impact of violent video games in the media. Senators are calling for hearings. Groups like the NRA are pointing a finger of blame at the industry. And parents are confused and scared.
Aside from a couple of statements from the Entertainment Software Association and Entertainment Consumers Association, the industry has kept its mouth shut about the shooting — and it’s likely to do so for some time. There is, after all, no upside in walking into the fray.
But December wasn’t the first time the issue of video game violence came up. At E3 in June, show goers debated whether the level of violence in demos was over the top. I had a chance to discuss the issue with several CEOs of major publishers.
In 
the aftermath of the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Electronic Arts has removed links to a collection of weapons manufacturers from the official website of Medal of Honor: Warfighter.
The links, which were pointed out in a New York Times story that ran on Christmas Eve, appeared on a “Partners” page for the game and showcased many of the real-world weapons featured in Warfighter.
President 
Barack Obama’s got game. Video game, that is.
In a discussion with Barbara Walters right before the holiday, the POTUS (along with First Lady Michelle Obama) broke away from the issues of the day and discussed what they like to do during their downtime. Turns out, they use the iPad to play a game.
Chris Morris: Journalist 