New and Noteworthy: Intel snubbing Microsoft in favor of Apple?; Apple patent suggests 'Home' folder iPods; more

CNET staff

Sept. 2, 2009 12:14 a.m. PT

2 min read

Intel snubbing Microsoft in favor of Apple? CRN speculates that recent indicators betray a growing favor of Apple at Intel -- displacing ties to Microsoft. "There is a big rift between Intel and Microsoft," says technology analyst Rob Enderle, pointing to the prominent role Apple played at the recent Intel Developer Forum, and to the minor role played by Microsoft, as evidence of the fractured Wintel partnership. "During [Intel CEO] Paul Otellini's keynote, [Apple] basically got up there and pitched their entire product line. I have never seen that done at an Intel event." More.

Apple patent suggests 'Home' folder iPods PC Advisor reports that Apple has secured a patent on technology that makes it feasible for the company to offer portable user accounts in future. "A user account contains all a user's documents, data and other information. The notion of portable user accounts, which contain all a user's documents, data and other information, has been debated for years. Rumors have often suggested Apple has planned to make user accounts portable in this way - potentially using an iPod." More.

Where to track down free and cheap music for your iPod The American Chronicle has some tips on bypassing the iTunes Music Store for cheaper, albeit less polished, tracks. "While eMusic is the cheapest, most smaller music services have begun offering music in MP3 formats. It makes sense for digital services to do this, as Apple?s iPod is by far the most popular player and songs sold in other protected formats won?t work on iPods. Process tends to be about the same or slightly higher than iTunes. The following services may be worth watching checking out." More.

Previously on MacFixIt