Intel is preparing to launch the successor to its successful Centrino platform, dubbed ‘Sonoma.’ The platform will include the new ‘Dothan’ Pentium M chips, with a 533-MHz front-side bus (up from Centrino’s 400-Mhz), a new WLAN chipset that will support 802.11a, b, and g, as well as additional power-saving tricks to push up the already-impressive battery life of Centrino-class notebooks. Sonoma-based laptops should be shipping towards the second half of this year.
Intel has also released the final specifications for ‘Azalia,’ the Intel High Definition Audio standard that is set to replace the current AC’97 standard that has been our ears’ own personal curse over the last few years.
