New & Noteworthy: IBM's Server-bred desktop chip; 4X

DVD-RW drives on the way; Pixar Posts Profits

IBM's Server-bred desktop chip IBM is getting ready to take the wraps off a new 64-bit desktop processor that is based on the server-relegated Power 4 design. CNET speculates "The chip's heritage--the Power 4 design--suggests that it will be a high-performance processor. Though it's unclear what clock speed the new PowerPC will offer, IBM has been gunning for the 2GHz mark. The company said last year that it intended to hit that speed target by the end of 2002." Details regarding the chips specifications will be revealed at this fall's Microprocessor Forum. More.

4X DVD-RW drives on the way ZDNN reports that the DVD RW Alliance, a group of companies advocating the DVD RW format for recording and rewriting files onto DVD discs, announced on Thursday its new 4X DVD R specification. The technology is designed to allow devices to record a full-capacity DVD R disc in less than 15 minutes. Apple is a member of the DVD Forum. More.

Pixar posts profits Pixar Animation Studios - under the direction of CEO Steve Jobs - has announced financial results for its fiscal second quarter ended June 29, 2002. For the quarter, Pixar earned $10.4 million or $0.20 per diluted share. These results compare to earnings of $8.8 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, achieved in the year-ago quarter. Revenues for the quarter were $22.8 million, as compared to $16.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Pixar also announced that it is raising projections for 2002 EPS from the previous range of $1.15 to $1.25, to a new range of $1.25 to $1.35. "Pixar is firing on all cylinders," said Jobs. "Our results this quarter reflect the outstanding performance of Monsters, Inc., which is poised to continue with its domestic home video release next month, and earnings from our growing film library, which continues to outperform our expectations." More.