Intel set to expand Sandy Bridge line

Intel set to expand Sandy Bridge processor family According to the latest leaked roadmap details we can look forward to new Sandy Bridge processors this quarter as well as in Q3 with Intel expanding the entry level tiers over the next six months or so with a range of new models. In the near future we can expect a range of Pentium branded processors while a little bit more long term we're looking at a set of new Celeron processors. VR-Zone

Windows 7 (finally) beats Windows XP's U.S. desktop share Someone get the party balloons and slap a big "7" on them, for Windows 7 has finally overtaken its younger brother, Windows XP, in desktop market share. For those keeping score at home or running an office betting pool, the milestone comes just under two years since the release of Windows 7, and a bit over one year since Windows 7 passed Windows Vista's desktop market share. PCMag

House votes to undo net neutrality rules The House of Representatives voted Friday to overturn net neutrality rules created by the FCC in December. The vote, which fell mostly along partisan lines with 234 Republicans and 6 Democrats voting yes, and 177 Democrats and 2 Republicans voting no. The short bill relies on Congress’s authority to override regulatory agencies, rather than revoking funding for the FCC. Wired

Crytek confirms it's working on a DirectX 11 patch for Crysis 2 Crytek has posted that, yes, the team is currently working on a DirectX 11 patch for Crysis 2. There are no details yet on when to expect it or what exactly it will do (early rumors of the patch, debunked by Crytek, suggested it would unlock an advanced graphics mode), but of course it will enable DirectX 11 compatibility for the game. Crytek says it wants to "get the best out of DX11." Joystiq

Fallouts with Apple and censorship in China: New book lifts the lid on the secretive world of Google A new book released next week lifts the lid on the secretive world of Google, revealing how the founders fell out with Apple's Steve Jobs and what happened in the search engine's exit from China. 'In the Plex' was written by Steven Levy, a technology reporter who says his latest work is 'informed by a two-year deep dive into the company'. Daily Mail

Test moves Navy a step closer to lasers for ship self-defense Marking a milestone for the Navy, the Office of Naval Research and its industry partner on April 6 successfully tested a solid-state, high-energy laser (HEL) from a surface ship, which disabled a small target vessel. The Navy and Northrop Grumman completed at-sea testing of the Maritime Laser Demonstrator (MLD), which validated the potential to provide advanced self-defense for surface ships and personnel by keeping small boat threats at a safe distance. ScienceBlog