fab

Intel isn't churning out chips at the usual rate, reflecting the PC market's downturn and the slow uptake of Windows 8, according to an analyst.

Intel's factory utilization is down around 60 percent, well below normal, said Jim McGregor, principal analyst for Phoenix based Tirias Research, in a phone interview. The news was first reported at ITWorld.

"A lot of this started in September when holiday shipments of PCs didn't go the way they expected," McGregor said. "That [60 percent utilization rate] is increasing as they burn off inventory. But they're still … Read more

Doctors have already replaced a patient's jaw with a 3D-printed titanium implant, so why not part of a skull? Earlier this week, 75 percent of an American patient's skull was surgically replaced with a custom-made implant produced by a 3D printer from Oxford Performance Materials.

The full name of the implant is the OsteoFab Patient Specific Cranial Device. The implant is made from PEKK biomedical polymer and printed using CAD files developed to fit each person. The world of skulls is not one-size-fits-all. Much like an expensive pair of bespoke shoes, these skull implants are unique to the individual.… Read more

Intel merrily building processors for Apple's iPhone and iPad is a nice thought. So, hold on to that thought for at least a couple of years.

Until then, Samsung's in the way. That chipmaking giant has a factory in Austin, Texas, for building iPhone and iPad processors -- now and well into the future.

And Samsung seems to be doing a pretty good job. Courtroom wrangling alone won't necessarily drive an immediate wedge between the two companies if Samsung delivers the goods, which it has done pretty consistently.

Then there's the other big obstacle to an Intel deal: … Read more

Fast-growing e-commerce site Fab plans to expand its focus on India after taking a "seven-figure investment" from Times Internet, the digital arm of the Times of India Group.

The specific financial terms were not revealed, but the investment will include a partnership between the two companies "to explore and execute on our India market strategy in the coming years," Fab founder and CEO Jason Goldberg wrote today in a blog post.

The investment and collaboration come a little more than a month after the design-focused shopping site acquired India-based True Sparrow, a tech venture company that … Read more

Fab is reporting record sales for the Thanksgiving period, with roughly 33 percent of purchases made by way of its mobile apps.

The quirky flash-sales site sold more than $6.5 million worth of product in the span from Black Friday through Cyber Monday -- nearly four times the amount sold during the same period last year, the company said. Cyber Monday was particularly busy. Fab made the most money ever on a single day, pulling in $1.3 million in sales.

Fab said its mobile apps were partially responsible. A third of the sales came from the apps, with … Read more

Fab can put another notch on its trendy Facebook belt -- the quirky e-commerce site said it's made at least 20 percent of its Thanksgiving revenue from shoppers who joined Fab through Facebook.

Overall, Fab saw at least 25 percent of its revenue between Black Friday and Cyber Monday come from social media sites. Facebook led the way during the four-day period, now one of the biggest shopping times of the year.

While Fab didn't say how other social media contributed to its revenue overall, CEO Jason Goldberg did post the traffic breakdown in his blog betashop:

• 65 … Read more

Fab keeps making friends in all the right spaces.

Daily deals site LivingSocial today started featuring gifts from the spunky e-commerce site as part of its holiday gift list.

Fab CEO Jason Goldberg wrote in a blog today that the inclusion of Fab products into LivingSocial's online store is a "perfect" partnership. "We could not be more excited about partnering with LivingSocial to bring Fab's curation to their large and highly engaged customer base," Goldberg wrote.

The move puts Fab's products in front of LivingSocial's 24 million U.S. members. While 50 … Read more

The quirky e-commerce site Fab is giving its customers free shipping just as the holidays approach.

A fast-growing startup -- the 17-month-old company counted its 9 millionth user earlier this month -- Fab launched the new promotion today. The company will pay for shipping for orders that total $75 or more, but only on certain products.

The free shipping counts toward 98 percent of all of Fab's products, all of which are identified by a truck icon, Fab CEO Jason Goldberg wrote in a note to users.

After transforming from a gay social network into flash sales retail site … Read more

After shutting down shipping because of Hurricane Sandy, shopping site Fab made sure to keep its holiday deadlines, unveiling its holiday shopping stores and a milestone of 9 million members.

"This has been a tough week for us here at Fab in NYC, but we're still smiling. Big time," the company said in a blog post.

Like other New York-based online companies, Fab felt the impact of the superstorm, but the ever-cheeky site was determined to plow on with its holiday promotions scheduled for today. This includes the addition of holiday shops to the site and to … Read more