Intel Moves to Larrabee into 2010 || What a move

According to a report published by c’t magazine, Intel is now aiming to launch Larrabee in a variety of flavors in 2010 and has scrapped the previous late 2009 plan. Intel’s Joseph Schultz made this comment during the opening of a visual computing research center in Saarbruecken, Germany. Spokesman Nick Knupffer confirmed the narrowed-down date, but declined to provide further comments.
Schultz also told c’t that it will be a “big challenge” to compete with Nvidia’s and AMD’s products and especially highlighted the power-efficiency achieved by AMD’s Radeon graphics cards.

Intel is very careful providing any information about its x86-based Larrabee. What we know, however, is that the device will be based on second-generation Pentium processor technology with the P54C core. The first Pentium core (P5, 800 nm, 60 and 66 MHz) was in development since 1989 and was introduced in 1993. The P54C was launched in 1994 with speeds up to 120 MHz, while the succeeding 350 nm P54CS reached 200 MHz. The 55C core (280 nm up to 233 MHz) followed in 1995 and was replaced with the Pentium II in 1997.

Larrabee is expected to come in multiple flavors with at least 8 cores at the low-end have at least 32 cores on the high-end. At a clock speed of 2 GHz, the 32-core version could be topping a theoretical maximum performance of 2 TFlops.

Intel Declares War || Can You Imagine This

Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), one of the world’s largest chip foundries, just announced a marketing collaboration involving Intel’s Atom processor. Atom is Intel’s effort to downsize its processor chips to fit into the realm of emerging smart devices below the Personal Computer space. TSMC will work closely with Intel to port some of the Atom processors to its own process and design flows. TSMC will also have the ability to do engineering on the chip to build customized versions for the large number of existing TSMC customers. However, Intel will have ownership of the final device and the customer, as Intel will be selling the custom designed chips that TSMC designs and builds in its foundry.

As PC sales wane, and their chip revenues along with them, Intel looks to additional sources for revenues. Consumer products represent a massive potential market, though at clearly lower margins and price points. But, Intel’s cost of operations makes it a supplier at too high a price to go after the cut-throat and highly price sensitive consumer market. And Intel is not set up for customized, System On Chip (SOC) solutions the market demands. Enter a partner that can bring all of this capability to Intel – TSMC.

This is a direct attack by Intel on competing processors, especially the ARM processor, which is trying to move upstream from the smart phone and embedded gadgets market it currently dominates, while Intel is trying to move downstream with Atom into this overlapping space. The battleground in the middle will be aggressive and likely bloody, with huge potential returns. And while Intel’s attack is primarily on ARM, it also has profound effect on other players – AMD, Qualcomm (Snapdragon), Nvidia, TI, and even Marvel to whom Intel sold off its own ARM-based processor (XScale).

Nokia and Intel Collaborate On Mobile Devices

Intel announced a technology partnership with Nokia that could potentially give the chip maker the breakthrough it has been looking for into the mobile market.

The companies said last night they would work together on a new class of mobile computing devices, but would not say when they would come to market or give details on the kind of wireless products they hoped to develop together.

Analysts saw the pact as strategically important for Intel in the long term because it gains the world's top cellphone maker as a potential client.

But given the lack of details, analysts said it could take one or two years for products to come to market, and it remained to be seen if they would find favour with consumers.

"Intel at least has its foot in the door. It's an important and strategic customer," said Gartner analyst Jon Erensen, who sees the partnership as a way for Intel to get into the market for advanced phones known as smartphones.

However, he added, "You're probably talking about something like 2011 before you get down to the power consumption and integration (levels) you'd need for that kind of device."

Analysts said the deal gives Intel a chance to take on leading cellphone chip makers Qualcomm Inc and Texas Instruments, a big Nokia supplier.

It could also mean stiffer competition for ARM Holdings , which supplies core cellphone processors to both Texas Instruments and Qualcomm, and whose customers rely in part on software from Wind River Systems.

Intel said earlier this month that it would buy Wind River, whose software speeds up and connects devices made by Samsung Electronics, Apple, Hewlett-Packard Co and Motorola.

Intel, whose microprocessors are found in eight out of 10 personal computers, already works with LG Electronics on mobile devices. The agreement with Finland's Nokia, the world's largest cellphone maker, is a bigger step.

Intel Chief Executive Paul Otellini has said that the handheld, embedded and netbook markets would be as important for the company as the PC market in the near future.

Under the agreement, Intel will buy intellectual property from Nokia related to high-speed wireless technology. They also plan to collaborate on open-source mobile Linux software projects, which some analysts say will compete with Google's Android software in the netbook and mobile Internet device (MID) market.

Intel and Nokia said they aimed to define "a new mobile platform beyond today's smartphones, notebooks and netbooks" for hardware, software and mobile Internet services. They stressed the pact was about their technology collaboration and not about specific products.

Intel G41 Motherboards by Simmtronics

Simmtronics has announced Intel G-41 chipset based motherboards for desktops as well as notebooks. Simmtronics G41T-M motherboards feature Intel G41 and ICH7 chipsets with support for Socket LGA775 based 45nm process made processors that include Intel Core 2 Quad. A Micro-ATX form factor motherboard based on Intel G41 chipset from Simmtronics is available for Rs. 4,200 with three years of warranty.

Nokia Pact Won't Fix Intel's Atom Chip

INTEL (TICKER: INTC) and Nokia (NOK) announced a strategic alliance to develop Intel architecture-based mobile chips and open-source software. The goal appears to be creating open and standards-based technologies to explore new ideas and products in mobile computing and communications.

Collaborative efforts between the two companies will be centered around these three initiatives: definition of mobile chipset based on Intel architecture; development of open-source software infrastructure such as Nokia's Maemo and Intel's Moblin; and Intel licensing of Nokia's HSPA/3G modem internet protocol ...

Dell Grows Intel 'Nehalem EP' Iron

INTEL LEADS the CPU market, full stop. More than ever, perhaps. So, why change its perfectly good branding then? After all, Core 2 - and Core 3, and so on - does sound better than Pentium, Hexium or Sexium, and definitely far better than Itanium, all names sounding like some evil Big Pharma drugs.

Aside from a lot of extra marketing and sales work, resulting in marketeers keeping their jobs in these tight times, there doesn't seem to be any real reason to rehash the branding just because of the Nehalem arrival.

The new chips, rather than being called say Core 3, got the brand new Core i7 moniker, in a way reminding us of the old P7 codename. Now, the dual-channel mainstream Nehalems will be called Core i5, and the low-end integrated-graphics parts might bear the burden of the Core i3 brand. And, just like the current i7 with the brand new three-digit product numbers instead of the old four-digit ones, you'll have an interesting time comparing chip models.

So, when you do your holiday system shopping later this year, you could, for instance, choose between the old Core i7 965, the new Core i7 960 or the brand new Core i5 XXX (I didn't say '860'). While all three are internally basically the same CPUs and run at a 3.2GHz clock, the differences will be there. The first one is the old 2008-launch part with unlocked multiplier but C0 stepping. The second one is to be the new part late this year, with locked multiplier but newer, more efficent D or even E stepping. And, finally, the last part will have two memory channels and the LGA1156 versus LGA1366 socket, but faster Turbo mode and of course cheaper P55-based mainboards. Love the confusion?

Many publications commented on the new branding approach, with mixed reactions. There is no clear connection to the old Core 2 branding, and even the product numbering was completely rehashed. Core 2 Quad Extreme QX9770 and Core i7 Extreme 965 cover the same market segment and run at the same default clock and, in fact, aren't that far apart in performance. But there's no correlation at all in the naming. The old Pentium, Pentium 2, Pentium 3 approach was, in this respect, more consistent.

Why not look at something like that, since Intel already went with this BMW-style numbering? The "7" series is the high end, the "5" series is the mainstream, and the "3" series is doing the basic work. An obligatory "X" could be added at the end of any Extreme part in the "7" and "5" series, to avoid having to use different basic numbers for otherwise same-clocked extreme and normal, that is, locked parts. A similar "L" could be added for the low power parts, and an "M" for the mobile parts. Plus, of course, a "G" for the graphics-enriched ones.

After all, at the Xeon front, that's the case already. The "W" parts are top bin workstation CPUs, the "X" parts are for high end servers, the "E" parts are the mainstream offerings, and the "L" parts are the low power workhorses for dense and green computing.

Then, there should be enough numbering in reserve to accommodate the 32nm 'Westmere' parts without changing the i7-i5-i3 sequence. Right now this scheme seems to be a bit tight for the i7 series as we'd only have the 980, 985, 990 and 995 numbers available before hitting the four digits, and that has to take care of the next 20 months at least. Aside from that, the possible i8-i6-i4 sequence could then be left for the Sandy Bridge and Haswell generations.

Talking about numbers, in Chinese, eight is a very lucky number, but four isn't. The last murdered Alpha CPU was codenamed EV8, but was supposed to be really called, umm, the 21464. So, maybe, let's skip any future 'i4' at the low end, eh?

Intel Chairman Barrett to Step Down

Intel Chairman Craig Barrett will step down from his post in May, ending a 35-year stint at the world's No. 1 chipmaker, the company announced Friday.

Barrett, who joined Intel in 1974, also served as the chief executive of the company from 1998 through 2005.

"Intel became the world's largest and most successful semiconductor company in 1992 and has maintained that position ever since," said Barrett. "I'm extremely proud to have helped achieve that accomplishment."

Barrett said he was confident that Intel has the right management in place to continue its leadership in the chip making industry.

Jane Shaw, a board member since 1993, will replace Barrett as non-executive chairman in May.

Earlier this week, Intel CEO Paul Otellini announced that last quarter's profit tumbled 90% to $234 million, and reportedly told employees that he couldn't rule out the possibility that Intel might actually lose money in the current quarter. It would be the first time that's happened in more than 20 years.

The company also announced Wednesday that it will be cutting production at two U.S. silicon wafer facilities and closing three facilities in Asia, affecting between 5,000 and 6,000 workers.

Shares of Intel (INTC, Fortune 500) rose 3% in mid-afternoon trading, but the company's stock has lost more than 40% since August.

Intel Wins Nokia As Mobile-chip Customer

Intel Corp., the world's largest chipmaker, will sell processors to Nokia Oyj for mobile devices, marking the biggest breakthrough in Intel's expansion into the phone market.

The two will develop a new mobile device and chips, Intel and Nokia said today in a statement. Intel will also get mobile- phone radio technology from Nokia and the companies will develop versions of the Linux operating system for mobile devices.

Intel, whose microprocessors run more than 80 percent of the world's personal computers, has struggled for about a decade to get a foothold in the market for mobile-phone chips. The company has a unit that sells a scaled-down version of its personal-computer processor. The chip, called Atom, is designed for mobile devices that access the Web and handle basic computing functions.

"Even if they get just a piece of Nokia's business, it's a big deal," said Will Strauss, a Cave Creek, Arizona-based analyst for research firm Forward Concepts. "Nokia is still the biggest cell-phone maker in the world."

In 2006, Intel Chief Executive Officer Paul Otellini scrapped his predecessor's $5 billion investment in chips for mobile devices, after the company was late to the market and failed to win enough customers.

Restarted Effort

Now Otellini is again pushing to get Intel's chips into phones, a bid to lessen the company's reliance on computers, which account for more than 90 percent of sales. A total of 1.21 billion mobile phones were sold globally last year, according to ABI Research in Oyster Bay, New York.

Intel rose 3 cents to $15.71 at 11:18 a.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The stock had gained 7 percent this year before today. Nokia, based in Espoo, Finland, fell 10 cents to 10.19 euros in Helsinki trading.

Intel Chief Financial Officer Stacy Smith said in February that the company needed to land one of the top five mobile-phone makers if it wanted to build a significant business.

Intel is challenging Texas Instruments Inc., the largest maker of chips used to run programs in mobile phones. San Diego- based Qualcomm Inc., meanwhile, supplies the majority of communications chips for phones. Both companies have said that Intel would struggle to break their dominance because its products use too much power.

Intel announced in February it had landed LG Electronics Inc., the world's third-largest phone maker, as a customer. LG will use an Intel processor to make a mobile Internet device, a cross between a mobile phone and a computer.

Intel's attempts to create a mobile business have foundered in the past, even when they've had announcements of interest from customers, said Jim McGregor, an analyst at Scottsdale, Arizona-based research firm In-Stat.

"They've been dreaming of getting a significant win at Nokia," he said. "It's a big announcement, they're a key guy. The only question now is whether they will actually come out with a product."

Switching To Good Reduced Complexity : Intel

What’s in a name? If you’re Intel, there’s plenty of brand equity in names like Atom, Centrino, Core and Pentium. But there’s also a fair share of confusion, too, among consumers and IT buyers.

And so, Intel is planning on revamping its portfolio of brand names, an effort that revolves around a good-better-best format. In a statement, the company said:

…we are focusing our strategy around a primary ‘hero’ client brand which is Intel Core. Today the Intel Core brand has a mind boggling array of derivatives (such as Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad, etc). Over time those will go away in its place will be a simplified family of Core processors spanning multiple levels: Intel Core i3 processor, Intel Core i5 processor, and Intel Core i7 processors. Core i3 and Core i5 are new modifiers and join the previously announced Intel Core i7 to round out the family structure. It is important to note that these are not brands but modifiers to the Intel Core brand that signal different features and benefits. For example, upcoming processors such as Lynnfield (desktop) will carry the Intel Core brand, but will be available as either Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 depending upon the feature set and capability. Clarksfield (mobile) will have the Intel Core i7 name.

So glad Intel has taken the complexity out of it. Actually, the company acknowledges that there will be multiple brands in the market next year, including the old names, as the company makes the transition.

Under the Core brand, the i3 represents the entry-level of the Core family, with Core i5 and Core i7 representing the mid-level and high-level products. Celeron will stick around for entry-level computing, Pentium for basic computing and Atom for devices such as netbooks and smartphones. For PCs, think of Celeron being good, Pentium being better and Core being best.

Even Centrino, which came to be synonymous with wireless computing, won’t completely go away. The company plans to transition the name to WiFi and WiMax products next year.

Dell Grows Intel 'Nehalem EP' Iron

Intel Corp., the world's largest chipmaker, will sell processors to Nokia Oyj for mobile devices, marking the biggest breakthrough in Intel's expansion into the phone market.

The two will develop a new mobile device and chips, Intel and Nokia said today in a statement. Intel will also get mobile- phone radio technology from Nokia and the companies will develop versions of the Linux operating system for mobile devices.

Intel, whose microprocessors run more than 80 percent of the world's personal computers, has struggled for about a decade to get a foothold in the market for mobile-phone chips. The company has a unit that sells a scaled-down version of its personal-computer processor. The chip, called Atom, is designed for mobile devices that access the Web and handle basic computing functions.

"Even if they get just a piece of Nokia's business, it's a big deal," said Will Strauss, a Cave Creek, Arizona-based analyst for research firm Forward Concepts. "Nokia is still the biggest cell-phone maker in the world."

In 2006, Intel Chief Executive Officer Paul Otellini scrapped his predecessor's $5 billion investment in chips for mobile devices, after the company was late to the market and failed to win enough customers.

Restarted Effort

Now Otellini is again pushing to get Intel's chips into phones, a bid to lessen the company's reliance on computers, which account for more than 90 percent of sales. A total of 1.21 billion mobile phones were sold globally last year, according to ABI Research in Oyster Bay, New York.

Intel rose 3 cents to $15.71 at 11:18 a.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The stock had gained 7 percent this year before today. Nokia, based in Espoo, Finland, fell 10 cents to 10.19 euros in Helsinki trading.

Intel Chief Financial Officer Stacy Smith said in February that the company needed to land one of the top five mobile-phone makers if it wanted to build a significant business.

Intel is challenging Texas Instruments Inc., the largest maker of chips used to run programs in mobile phones. San Diego- based Qualcomm Inc., meanwhile, supplies the majority of communications chips for phones. Both companies have said that Intel would struggle to break their dominance because its products use too much power.

Intel announced in February it had landed LG Electronics Inc., the world's third-largest phone maker, as a customer. LG will use an Intel processor to make a mobile Internet device, a cross between a mobile phone and a computer.

Intel's attempts to create a mobile business have foundered in the past, even when they've had announcements of interest from customers, said Jim McGregor, an analyst at Scottsdale, Arizona-based research firm In-Stat.

"They've been dreaming of getting a significant win at Nokia," he said. "It's a big announcement, they're a key guy. The only question now is whether they will actually come out with a product."

Four on the Floor

And that means pure creative exhilaration with four 64-bit cores inside the new Mac Pro. The Core-based Intel Xeon is so power efficient, that Apple engineers were able to remove the liquid cooling system from the previous Power-PC based model. Which means you can load up the Mac Pro with more cards, more hard drives, more memory. So you can do more with Final Cut Studio, Aperture, Logic Pro, and the growing number of universal applications for creative professionals.

AMD Black Edition AMD Phenom X4 9950

Realize new possibilities for connecting with friends, family, and digital entertainment with the phenomenal performance of the AMD Phenom X4 quad-core processors. Built from the ground up for true quad-core performance, AMD Phenom X4 processors speed through advanced multitasking, critical business productivity, advanced visual design and modeling, serious gaming, and visually stunning digital media and entertainment.

Processor

* Type / Form Factor: AMD Phenom X4 9950
* Multi-Core Technology: Quad-Core
* 64-bit Computing: Yes
* Processor Qty: 1
* Clock Speed: 2.6 GHz
* Compatible Processor Socket: Socket AM2+
* Manufacturing Process: 65 nm
* Thermal Design Power: 140 W
* Thermal Specification: 64 °C
* Architecture Features: HyperTransport technology, Enhanced Virus Protection, AMD Cool'n'Quiet Technology, AMD Virtualization

Cache memory

* Installed Size: L2 - 4 x 512 KB - L3 cache - 2 MB

Expansion / connectivity

* Compatible Slots: 1 x processor - Socket AM2+

Miscellaneous

* Included Accessories: Cooler (fansink)
* Package Type: AMD Processor in a Box (PIB), OEM/tray

Manufacturer warranty

* Service & Support: 3 years warranty
* Service & Support Details: Limited warranty - 3 years

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200

Leaders of the pack seeking monster performance, look no further. With four execution cores, the Intel Core 2 Quad processor blows through processor-intensive tasks in demanding multitasking environments and makes the most of highly threaded applications. Whether you're creating multimedia, annihilating your gaming enemies, or running compute-intensive applications at one time, new quad-core processing will change the way you do everything. Pioneer the new world of quad-core and unleash the power of multithreading.
General

* MPN: BX80580Q8200
* Product Type: Processor

Processor

* Type / Form Factor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200
* Multi-Core Technology: Quad-Core
* 64-bit Computing: Yes
* Processor Qty: 1
* Clock Speed: 2.33 GHz
* Bus Speed: 1333 MHz
* Compatible Processor Socket: LGA775 Socket
* Manufacturing Process: 45 nm
* Thermal Design Power: 95 W
* Thermal Specification: 71.4 °C
* Architecture Features: Enhanced SpeedStep technology, Execute Disable Bit capability, Intel 64 Technology, Enhanced Halt State (C1E), Intel Thermal Monitor 2

Cache memory

* Installed Size: L2 cache - 4 MB

Expansion / connectivity

* Compatible Slots: 1 x processor - LGA775 Socket


Miscellaneous

* Package Type: Intel Boxed

Manufacturer warranty

* Service & Support: 3 years warranty

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+

Multi-tasking has become a way of life, but sometimes your PC just can't keep up with everything you want to do on it at the same time. The AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor enables true multitasking - taking computing to an all new level. Dual-Core technology is like having two processors working together, each one taking care of different applications. So now you can simultaneously burn a CD, check e-mail, edit a digital photo, and run your virus protection - all without slowing down your computer. To protect your computer you've installed all the latest virus protection and firewall software. The result? Your PC is safer but slower. Upgrade to a computer powered by the AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor - now you can run protection programs in the background while a second runs the applications you want to work on - making computing fast again.
Processor

• * Type / Form Factor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+
• * Multi-Core Technology: Dual-Core
• * 64-bit Computing: Yes
• * Power Efficiency: Energy Efficient
• * Processor Qty: 1
• * Clock Speed: 2.7 GHz, 2.6 GHz
• * Compatible Processor Socket: Socket AM2
• * Core Voltage: 1.325 V/1.35 V/1.375 V, 1.3 V/1.35 V, 1.2 V/1.25 V
• * Manufacturing Process: 65 nm, 90 nm
• * Thermal Design Power: 65 W, 89 W
• * Thermal Specification: 68 °C, 70 °C, 72 °C

* Architecture Features: 3DNow! Professional technology, HyperTransport technology, AMD64 technology, integrated memory controller, Enhanced Virus Protection, AMD Cool'n'Quiet Technology, AMD Virtualization, HyperTransport technology, AMD64 technology, integrated memory controller, Enhanced Virus Protection

Cache memory

* Installed Size: L2 cache - 1 MB ( 2 x 512 KB ), L2 cache - 2 MB ( 2 x 1 MB ), L2 cache

Expansion / connectivity

* Compatible Slots: 1 x processor - Socket AM2, 1 x processor

Miscellaneous

* Included Accessories: Cooler (fansink)
* Package Type: AMD Processor in a Box (PIB), OEM/tray

Intel Quad-Core Xeon E5440

This industry's first quad-core processor for mainstream servers provides breakthrough performance and capabilities for the ultimate in powerful, dense and energy efficient servers. With the Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor you get breakthrough performance - up to 50% greater than the industry-leading Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor in the same power envelope.

Processor

• Type / Form Factor: Intel Quad-Core Xeon E5440
• Multi-Core Technology: Quad-Core
• Processor Qty: 1
• Clock Speed: 2.83 GHz
• Bus Speed: 1333 MHz
• Thermal Design Power: 80 W
• 64-bit Computing: Yes
• Manufacturing Process: 45 nm
• Compatible Processor Socket: LGA771 Socket
• Thermal Specification: 67 °C
• Packaging Type: FC-LGA6

Cache memory

• Installed Size: L2 cache - 12 MB
• Type: Advanced Smart Cache

Expansion / connectivity

• Compatible Slots: 1 x processor, 1 x processor - LGA771 Socket

Miscellaneous

• Pricing Type: CTO,
• Included Accessories: Passive 2U heatsink,
  
• Package Type: Intel Boxed, OEM/tray
• Compliant Standards: RoHS
• Manufacturer Selling Program: HP Smart Buy

Manufacturer warranty

• Service & Support: 3 years warranty
• Service & Support Details: Limited warranty - 3 years

Atom means Intel is Serious About Smallness

The new moniker "Atom" sets in marketing stone the Intel brand for small devices. I'll skip the banalities about Atom silicon being crucial for Intel's future and just pose a question: Can Intel spur innovation in ultrasmall devices the way it has in the PC and server industry?

I won't hazard any rash predictions but will make a few observations about the current landscape.

First, a little recent history. The ultramobile PC (UMPC) based on Intel's first-generation processor (the A110) for small devices has not exactly been the market sensation that the iPhone has. The Samsung Q1 and the Asus R2H are two examples of products that never really took off. As if to recognize this mistake (and confuse people in the process), Intel has stopped referring to this category of gadgets as UMPC and now calls it the Mobile Internet Device or MID.

This underscores the pitfalls and potential for Intel. The pitfalls: consumers will forever unfavorably compare the UMPC and MID to the more feature-rich notebook PC or, conversely, to the smaller, cheaper cell phone. The potential: a new category of computers spearheaded by a device with an iPhone-like following.

Enter the Atom-branded low-cost platform for ultraportable devices. Asus's popular Intel-based Eee PC is already demonstrating the potential here. So much so that a Sony vice president recently cited the Eee PC as a threat. (He depicted it as causing "a race to the bottom" because of its low price.) The XO laptop offered by the One Laptop Per Child organization is another example. (It uses an AMD Geode processor.) Both are priced around $300 and both are Internet-centric devices that offer the same wireless capabilities of more expensive laptops.

For smaller MID-like devices, such as the iPhone and Nokia N810, success is less certain. Many of the scores of pocket-sized gadgets on the market use processors based on the tried-and-true ARM design. Intel won't displace ARM anytime soon. But these devices are proprietary, which may leave Intel an opening. Because Intel's Atom processor is compatible with the Core 2 Duo instruction set, developers of small devices have a common platform to target.

"This is our smallest processor built with the world's smallest transistors," Intel Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Sean Maloney said in a statement. "This is...a fundamental new shift in design. We believe it will unleash new innovation across the industry."

This is probably true. But Intel has a long way to go in a crowded market that bears little if any resemblance to the PC industry, where the chipmaker competes relatively comfortably with only one other company (AMD). There's also a long wait for Intel's Moorestown, the next generation of small chips for small devices due in 2009 or 2010. The great expectations for Moorestown almost overshadow the current Atom technology. Moorestown will not only be more power efficient but more highly integrated: a system-on-chip (SOC) design combining the CPU, graphics, and memory controller onto a single chip.

Intel Nettop Is All About Cost Cutting

Intel's upcoming Atom processor is all about cost. And the Atom-based Nettop desktop cuts costs right down to the bone.

Though Atom Netbooks such as future Asus Eee PC notebook models have been described in the press, the Nettop concept is not so clear. So, what is a Nettop?

The Nettop falls under the rubric of Intel's "Basic PC" category, whose underlying thrust is penny pinching. Cost will range from $100 to $299.

The Nettop is centered on the low-cost "Diamondville" variety of the Atom processor but incorporates a number of other cost-saving measures including what Intel lists in a "Business Client Group" presentation as "no system fans...no CPU socket...(an) optimized PSU (power supply unit)" and "cost optimized OS solutions."

Intel also states that "moving from HDD to SSD" (from hard disk drives to solid-state drives) will result in "additional platform savings."

Internet connectivity is what a user will be using the Nettop for primarily. Machines will run either Windows or Linux software.

Intel in the same presentation cites a forecast of 60 million "Basic Nettop" units by 2011.

Linux Destined For Low-Cost Intel Atom PCs

Intel's low-cost Atom processors will be at the core of inexpensive PCs. And inexpensive computers these days often come with Linux.

How do PC companies shave off the last hundred dollars or so to get to $299 or in some cases $199? Easy. They swap out Windows (pricey) for Linux (free).

Case in point: Home Depot, the home supply store, sells a Mirus-branded desktop with either Windows or Linux. Based on the same hardware, one model sells for $419, the other for $299. Can you guess which one is $299? That's a steep price cut--more than 25 percent--for the system with Linux. Inside the Mirius is a Celeron D 420, which lists for $34, the cheapest chip that Intel currently lists on its pricing Web site.

Linux-based PCs like this are prime real estate for Atom. Especially when reports this week cite the cheapest upcoming Atom processors (due in the second quarter) at below $30.

A likely high-profile candidate for Atom and Linux is the Eee PC. The Linux option allows resellers to keep offerings as cheap as possible. The current Eee PC at Newegg is priced at $349 with Linux and a Celeron M processor (the forerunner--from the standpoint of market positioning--to Atom).

Processors from Via Technologies also match up well with Linux operating systems such as gOS. Wal-Mart sells (online) an Everex gPC2 TC2512 desktop computer with a 1.5GHz Via C7-D Processor and Google-centric gOS for $199.

Though Atom-based computers with Linux will be targeted at emerging markets, the success of the Eee PC in mature markets like the U.S. and Japan means that there is pent-up demand for stripped-down but practical PCs. "In emerging markets it will be a first PC. In mature markets, it will be a second or third PC within a household," said Dean McCarron, founder and principal of Mercury Research. Also, an Atom-based desktop could potentially go on the back of a monitor that is used in point-of-sale applications, McCarron said.

And don't overlook Via's C7 or low-end versions of its upcoming Isaiah processor being paired with low-cost computers with a Linux option. The V7 is slated for HP's upcoming HP 2133 Mini-Note PC and Isaiah is expected to garner a number of design wins in both ultraportable notebooks and desktops.

Though the HP 2133 may not be the best example of a low-cost PC (it is expected to come with Windows Vista Business, hiking the price to almost $750), expect Linux-based "Netbooks" (Intel's self-described category for small, inexpensive notebooks) to be less expensive than this.

At IDF Shanghai, Intel's Vision of Chips

While the marquee processor theme at IDF Shanghai is "milliwatts to petaflops," Intel is also set to offer a vision of universal connectivity.

The main theme for the event, which starts Wednesday, Beijing time, refers to "very, very big to very, very small and low power," according to Pat Gelsinger, senior vice president and co-general manager of Intel's digital enterprise group, speaking in a video.

"Milliwatts" refers to chips such as Atom, a tiny low-power, low-cost processor destined for ultramobile devices and low-cost desktops typically running either Linux or Windows XP. The first Atom chips will launch in June.

"Petaflops" refers to high-performance computing--what used to be called supercomputing. ("Peta" is quadrillion, or a thousand trillion; "flop" is floating-point operation.) Intel is targeting petaflop supercomputers that would compete with the fastest supercomputer in the world: IBM's Blue Gene/P machines.

Though more technology and product details will certainly emerge in the next two days in Shanghai, the main chip themes are already out there. Gelsinger spelled them out at briefing earlier this month.

The chip buzzwords are: Tukwila, a new quad-core chip with 2 billion transistors, a whopping 30MB of cache, and a new interconnect technology called QuickPath; Dunnington, a six-core chip for multiprocessor computers that can support four or more processors (in this case, each with six cores); Nehalem, a follow-on to the current "Penryn" processors, it is a new 45-nanometer chip microarchitecture due in the fourth quarter that scales up to eight cores; and Larrabee, a visual-computing architecture that uses many cores ("many" usually means many more than a typical quad-core computer).

In addition to Atom, the processor spotlight will likely fall on Nehalem and Larrabee. Nehalem is a relatively known quantity; Larrabee, a relatively unknown quantity. So interest should focus on the latter.

Nehalem boasts increased parallelism, better branch prediction (to move instructions more quickly through the instruction pipeline), and an on-chip memory controller for increased memory performance--what Intel calls "memory latency reduction." Something, by the way, Advanced Micro Devices already has in its chips.

Larrabee is a graphics processor scheduled for the 2009-2010 time frame. It will include a new vector instruction set to improve the performance of graphics and video applications. Larrabee will be compatible with Intel's popular x86 instruction set, theoretically making life easier for software developers.

On another front, Intel is evangelizing universal connectivity, always a problematic proposition, simply because it invariably promises more (sometimes much more) than it can deliver. Intel puts it this way: "Imagine a day when a single device small enough to fit in your pocket...knows your tendencies and preferences and can adapt and optimize its interfaces to match what you are doing at any point any time...Imagine a day when this device...can dynamically become a hybrid combination of other computing and multimedia devices in close proximity." You get the picture. Intel calls this "Carry Small, Live Large."

On a slightly more practical level, the Cliffside technology is being demonstrated from the Mobile Products Group; it enables a single Wi-Fi adapter to function like two independent Wi-Fi adapters. The hope is that this technology could sync your MP3 and video files without a USB cable, directly and wirelessly connecting your notebook to your TV to view HD movies.

Thin Intel Netbook to VIE With MacBook Air?

During a keynote speech at the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai, an Intel executive brandished a Netbook that looked Air-thin. Will inexpensive Linux Netbooks be a poor man's MacBook Air?

Most of the photos to date of upcoming Netbooks are ho-hum designs, engineered to be inexpensive yet practical for users such as young schoolchildren. But some upcoming designs look intriguing--and extremely thin.

"This Netbook is running Linux...As you see, this doesn't mean an ugly design. It's a really nice-looking, stylish design," said Dadi Perlmutter, executive vice president and general manager of Intel's Mobility Group, when waving a very-thin-looking Netbook (photo) at the audience during his keynote at IDF.

Consider the typical specifications for a Netbook (best exemplified by the tiny Eee PC) and it's not a stretch to design an ultraportable, ultrathin Netbook:

Power-sipping Atom processor: This chip will draw as little as 0.65 watt, much less than the Air's Core 2 Duo chip which has a TDP (Thermal Design Power, or thermal envelope) of 20 watts. This means less heat dissipation.

Solid-state drive: Netbooks (Eee PC, Intel Classmate) will typically use SSDs, not hard-disk drives--another power- and space-saving feature. (There will be exceptions such as the 2go, which packs a hard drive.)

No optical drive:: Typically, Netbooks won't come with optical drives--meaning power and cost savings.

Smaller display: Netbooks will have small, less-power-hungry displays, ranging from seven to nine inches.

Though not as well-endowed as full-fledged notebooks like the MacBook Air, Netbooks won't set you back $3,000 either. It's likely that the price will be much closer to $300--but that's a big unknown at this point.

Intel sees two distinct market opportunities for the Netbook. In the developing world, Netbooks will attract first-time buyers. In more mature markets, they will become supplemental PCs.

Intel Atom N270 Processor Set For Netbooks

The Atom N270 processor got buried last week under the mobile Internet device PR juggernaut. But it may prove to be more popular initially than the high-profile Atom Z5XX series for MIDs.

As previously reported, the Atom Z500, Z510, Z520, Z530, and Z540 series of processors will go into handheld-size mobile Internet devices (MIDs) such as the Lenovo IdeaPad U8. Intel promoted the Z5XX series heavily at IDF because the chipmaker needs to jump-start a new category of personal computers that fit in your pocket. Whether consumers actually need these devices is a question that will be answered later this year.

Intel Atom, Celeron segmentation

(Credit: Intel)

The Atom N270 is quite different in this respect: It has a ready-made market. The N270 will go into an existing market segment--Netbooks--and will replace the popular Celeron in many cases, making this Atom potentially a high-volume chip. For example, currently, the Eee PC and Intel Classmate (technically Netbooks) use the Celeron. Versions of both these compact notebooks are slated to use the Atom. Based on Intel's description of the market, this category of Netbooks will use the N270 (see graphic).

Though the die (the actual processor inside the chip package) is the same for both the Atom Z5XX series and N270, the packaging and chipsets are different (see graphic). The N270 will use the 945GSE and 82801 (ICH7M) core logic. A version of this chipset (with 950 integrated graphics) is used in low-cost notebooks and desktops today. The Celeron has traditionally used the lower-end 915 chipset.

So, the way it shakes out is: the Atom Z5XX series for MIDs; the N270 (and upcoming processors) for Netbooks; the Celeron for low-cost notebooks. Note: the Atom Z5XX series includes a single-chip with integrated graphics called the Intel System Controller Hub.

Intel Core 2 Duo P8600

The Intel Core 2 Duo processors are built in several of the world's most advanced, high-volume output manufacturing facilities using Intel's leading silicon process technology. The processor family is based on the revolutionary Intel Core microarchitecture, designed to provide powerful yet energy-efficient performance. With the power of dual cores, or computing engines, the processors can manage numerous tasks faster. They also can operate more smoothly when multiple applications are running, such as writing e-mails while downloading music or videos and conducting a virus scan.

Processor

• Type / Form Factor: Intel Core 2 Duo P8600
• Multi-Core Technology: Dual-Core
• 64-bit Computing: Yes
• Processor Qty: 1
• Clock Speed: 2.4 GHz
• Bus Speed: 1066 MHz
• Compatible Processor Socket: Socket P
• Packaging Type: 478-pin Micro FCPGA
• Manufacturing Process: 45 nm
• Architecture Features: Enhanced SpeedStep technology, Execute Disable Bit capability, Intel Virtualization Technology, Intel 64 Technology, Intel Advanced Smart Cache, Intel Smart Memory Access

Cache memory

• Installed Size: L2 cache - 3 MB
• Type: Advanced Smart Cache

Expansion / connectivity

• Compatible Slots: 1 x processor - Socket P

Miscellaneous

• Package Type: Intel Boxed

Manufacturer warranty

• Service & Support: 3 years warranty
• Service & Support Details: Limited warranty - 3 years

"How to Bring Google AdSense Down" Or "You are Guilty but We will not Tell You Why" and "How to Resurrect Your Google AdSense Account".

Description

This story is about a first-hand encounter with Google AdSense injustice. It explains why at the moment is might be unwise to try to rely on Google AdSense for your source of income. In short my account was disabled. I had to appeal twice in order to reinstate it. I was never told why the account was disabled. Hopefully this story will help you to regain the access to your account, should it get disabled.
First published: Apr 25 2006 / Last update: Apr 28 2006

Introduction

I was reading a lot recently about the idea of multiple sources of income, especially passive ones. Working full time as a director of development at a very successful startup (mailchannels.com), that tries to ease the pain created by spam, viruses and phishing attacks, and trying to have a life didn't leave me much time for experimentation with new sources of income.
My personal site was generating about 600 page views a day and a friend of mine suggested that I add Google Ads to my site. As my site's final rendering is autogenerated from templates it didn't take more than a few minutes to accomplish the task. And that's how in December 2005 I've started my little experiment with Google ads.

The Revenue Experiment

I've tried using ads programs before but it never really worked, since ads were random most of the time, so chances that someone would click on those weren't very good. Google revolutionised the industry by analysing the content in real time and placing very targeted ads - significantly increasing the chances that those ads will get clicked on.
Since my website didn't have too much content, I've quickly learnt that it's not really going to make any significant addition to my income, since on average I was getting about a dollar a day.
But nevertheless I have kept the ads, hoping that I'd add more content over time and that revenue will become more significant.
Until now I was getting most of the traffic to my site from google's search engine. Recently I've discovered that there is a plethora of social linking sites, so I've run another experiment of bookmarking a few of my pages on those sites. Which had a very good outcome, the number of clicks for those pages has grown by 10 times over just a few days. I can't yet tell if the trend is going to continue, but it was certainly a very positive outcome, considering that I've submitted just two pages.

The Days of Thunder

A few days ago, I've logged to my adsense account to discover to my amazement that I've made $32 in one day, having 169 clicks - that's a 30 times increase in the daily revenue. I said wow! But the next day it went back to the average and didn't repeat again.
A few days later I've received an email from Google, saying that my account was disabled:

Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2006 11:04:53 -0700
  Message-ID: <1145642693590.2e8b4253-5c8c-4f19-9485-9c53b14c00da@google.com>
  From: Google AdSense 
  To: stas@stason.org
  Subject: *Google AdSense Account Disabled
  Cc: Google AdSense 
  
  Hello Stas Bekman,
  
  It has come to our attention that invalid clicks have been generated on
  the Google ads on your site(s). We have therefore disabled your Google
  AdSense account. Please understand that this step was taken in an
  effort to protect the interest of the AdWords advertisers.
  
  A publisher's site may not have invalid clicks on any ad(s), including
  but not limited to clicks generated by:
  
  - a publisher on his own web pages
  - a publisher encouraging others to click on his ads
  - automated clicking programs or any other deceptive software
  - a publisher altering any portion of the ad code or changing the
  layout, behavior, targeting, or delivery of ads for any reason
  
  Practices such as these are in violation of the Google AdSense Terms
  and Conditions and program polices, which can be viewed at:
  
  https://www.google.com/adsense/localized-terms?hl=en_US
  https://www.google.com/adsense/policies?hl=en_US
  
  Publishers disabled for invalid click activity are not allowed further
  participation in AdSense and do not receive any further payment. The
  earnings on your account will be properly returned to the affected
  advertisers.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  The Google AdSense Team

I've realised that that surge in clicks was most likely the reason that made Google disable my account - the only problem, is that I didn't generate those clicks. In fact I was away for 4 days, hiking in the rain forests in Tofino, when this has happened.
So I've followed up:

Message-ID: <4449269A.4020704@stason.org>
  Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2006 11:38:18 -0700
  From: Stas Bekman 
  To: Google AdSense 
  Subject: Re: *Google AdSense Account Disabled
  
  Google AdSense wrote:
  > Hello Stas Bekman,
  > 
  > It has come to our attention that invalid clicks have been generated on
  > the Google ads on your site(s). We have therefore disabled your Google
  > AdSense account. [...]
  
  Yeah, I've noticed the surge in clicks on a single day. But it wasn't me, 
  neither have I encouraged anybody to do that.
  
  Think about it - I can go to any website that features Google ads and 
  start clicking on ads non-stop for a few hours - you will have to disable 
  the AdSense account on that website. So any malicious user can make bring 
  someone's source of legitimate revenue down.
  
  How do you deal with that?
  
  I hope you realise that I'm innocent and turn my account back on. I'm 
  perfectly fine with you having reduced the revenue made on that day from 
  my total.
  
  Thank you.
  
  -- 
  _____________________________________________________________
  Stas Bekman mailto:stas@stason.org  http://stason.org/
  MailChannels: Assured Messaging(TM) http://mailchannels.com/
  The "Practical mod_perl" book       http://modperlbook.org/
  http://perl.apache.org/ http://perl.org/ http://logilune.com/

And a few days later, I've received an email from Google Adsense suggesting to appeal the account closure:

Return-Path: 
  Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 09:02:56 -0700
  From: "Google AdSense" 
  To: "Stas Bekman" 
  Subject: Re: [#54514657] *Google AdSense Account Disabled
  Message-ID: <#14.33fd3e1.a07b57cc.444cf6b0.6@google.trakken.com>
  User-Agent: Neotonic Trakken/2.32.2
  
  Hello,
  
  As you know, Google treats instances of invalid clicks very seriously. By
  disabling your account, we feel that we have taken the necessary measures
  to ensure that invalid clicks will not continue to occur on your site. Due
  to the proprietary nature of our monitoring system, we're not able to
  disclose any specific details of these clicks. 
  
  Publishers disabled for invalid click activity are not allowed further
  participation in Google AdSense. However, if you can maintain in good
  faith that the invalid clicks we detected on your ads were not due to your
  actions or negligence, or the actions or negligence of others working for
  you, you may appeal the closing of your account. 
  
  Google reserves sole discretion in considering whether to take any action
  on an appeal. 
  
  In order to appeal the disabling of your account, please email us at
  adsense-adclicks-appeal@google.com with the details requested below.
  Please compose a new email and do not reply to this message. We're unable
  to consider appeals that do not contain all of this information: 
  
  - Your name
  
  - Your company's name (if applicable)
  
  - Your publisher ID number (located in the AdSense code on your website
  with the format, pub-################)
  
  - Your website's URL
  
  - Date your account was disabled
  
  - Your website's audience
  
  - The source of your website's content
  
  - Frequency of content updates
  
  - The primary sources of your website's traffic
  
  - The number of people involved with the administration of the site
  
  - Any relevant information that you believe would explain the invalid
  click activity we detected 
  
  If Google decides to evaluate your appeal, we will do our best to inform
  you quickly and will proceed with appropriate action as necessary. If we
  have reached a decision on your appeal, subsequent or duplicate appeals
  may not be considered.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  The Google AdSense Team

So there nothing else I can do but to appeal, following their guidelines:

Message-ID: <444D0D2C.4020709@stason.org>
  Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 10:38:52 -0700
  From: Stas Bekman 
  To:  adsense-adclicks-appeal@google.com
  Subject: appeal for pub-8889692424303178
  
  Hi,
  
  I'd like to appeal the disabling of my account.
  
  - Your name
  
  Stas Bekman
  
  - Your company's name (if applicable)
  
  Not applicable
  
  - Your publisher ID number
  
  pub-8889692424303178
  
  - Your website's URL
  
  http://stason.org/
  
  - Date your account was disabled
  
  21/04/06
  
  - Your website's audience
  
  Miscellaneous, mainly programmers and computer enthusiasts
  
  - The source of your website's content
  
  Articles and links collections that I've created.
  
  - Frequency of content updates
  
  On average weekly.
  
  - The primary sources of your website's traffic
  
  Google search engine and other linking services
  
  - The number of people involved with the administration of the site
  
  Just 1 (I).
  
  - Any relevant information that you believe would explain the invalid
  click activity we detected
  
  I've noticed the surge in clicks on a single day (169 from the average of 
  a few). But it wasn't me, neither have I encouraged anybody to do that. I 
  was suggested by several people that someone who either hated the ads on 
  my site or wanted to burn some advertiser's funds could have done that. 
  Since you don't provide the details on where those clicks came from, I've 
  no idea what has happened.
  
  I've read about similar cases online and it seems like trying to build 
  your business based on Google ads is very unsafe bet - since anyone can go 
  to any website that features Google ads and start clicking on ads non-stop 
  for a few hours - you will have to disable the AdSense account on that 
  website. So any malicious user can make bring someone's source of 
  legitimate revenue down. How do you deal with that?
  
  Do you have any tips on how to avoid such cases happen in the future? As 
  far as I can see, there is nothing a publisher can do about protecting 
  themselves from this evil. Can you?
  
  Thank you.
  
  -- 
  _____________________________________________________________
  Stas Bekman mailto:stas@stason.org  http://stason.org/
  MailChannels: Assured Messaging(TM) http://mailchannels.com/
  The "Practical mod_perl" book       http://modperlbook.org/
  http://perl.apache.org/ http://perl.org/ http://logilune.com/

And Google Adsense replied the next day that I'm guilty as charged, w/o supplying any additional information:

Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 09:20:15 -0700
  From: "Google AdSense" 
  To: "Stas Bekman" 
  Subject: Re: [#54822692] appeal for pub-8889692424303178
  Message-ID: <#14.3448724.8650f5cb.444e4c3f.1@google.trakken.com>
  
  Hello Stas Bekman,
  
  Thank you for your appeal.
  
  After receiving your response, we re-reviewed your account data
  thoroughly. We have reconfirmed that invalid clicks were generated on the
  ads on your site in violation of our Terms and Conditions and program
  policies.
  
  https://www.google.com/adsense/terms
  https://www.google.com/adsense/policies
  
  We have these policies in place to help ensure the effectiveness of Google
  ads for our publishers as well as our advertisers. According to our policy
  on this matter, we are unable to reinstate you into the program.
  
  Please bear in mind that subsequent or duplicate appeals may not be
  considered and you may not receive any further communication from us. We
  appreciate your understanding.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  The Google AdSense Team

Well, it seemed that there is absolutely nothing that I can do about the situation. And that's when I've published this article.
But read on as the story goes on to a happy Hollywood ending (so far).

Let the Sun Shine

While researching similar stories online, I've found a few suggestions on how to restore the disabled account. (see the "related links" section at the end of this article.) So I decided to give those suggestions a try. I've posted a second appeal:

From: Stas Bekman 
  Subject: appeal for pub-8889692424303178
  Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 11:39:23 -0700
  
  Hi,
  
  I'd like to appeal the disabling of my account.
  
  - Your name
  
  Stas Bekman
  
  - Your company's name (if applicable)
  
  Not applicable
  
  - Your publisher ID number
  
  pub-8889692424303178
  
  - Your website's URL
  
  http://stason.org/
  
  - Date your account was disabled
  
  21/04/06
  
  - Your website's audience
  
  Miscelaneous writing, mainly programmers and computer enthusiasts
  
  - The source of your website's content
  
  Articles and links collections that I've created.
  
  - Frequency of content updates
  
  On average weekly.
  
  - The primary sources of your website's traffic
  
  google search engine and other bookmarking services
  
  - The number of people involved with the administration of the site
  
  Just 1 (I).
  
  - Any relevant information that you believe would explain the invalid
  click activity we detected
  
  I've now read hundreds of stories of people who got banned, most claiming 
  that they think they got banned because of the clicks coming from their 
  IPs. Since you have not stated what was the reason for banning, I'll take 
  a chance and hope that this was indeed the case. I didn't realize that 
  even if I didn't click on the ads on my site, someone else in my office 
  could have done this. Some of the folks per-use my site for finding 
  information. Our network is seen as single IP to the outside world. And no
  
  I have never encouraged them to click on any ads.
  
  I'm sure though that the surge of links coming on a single day (169) 
  wasn't generated by anybody in my office nor me, at least everybody I've 
  asked said they didn't do it (but I could be wrong).
  
  Please help me to prove my innocence - let me know if I can assist with 
  providing you with information, logs or whatever you ask for.
  
  As I've mentioned before I'm not interested in the amount of money that 
  was earned via the illegal activity.
  
  Thank you for your consideration.

And a few hours later I was surprised to receive a reply that my appeal was successful:

Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 17:11:43 -0700
  From: "Google AdSense" 
  To: "Stas Bekman" 
  Subject: Re: [#55343692] appeal for pub-8889692424303178
  
  Hello Stas Bekman,
  
  Thank you for clarifying your situation. We have reviewed your
  circumstances and have reinstated your account, effective immediately.
  Based on the findings of our investigation, we have deducted $30.82 from
  your account. This amount represents the earnings previously credited to
  your account from invalid clicks. The deduction should occur in your next
  scheduled payment.
  
  For your reference, we've included some short guidelines to assist you in
  preventing invalid clicks in the future:
  
  It is against our program policies for website publishers to click on the
  ads on their own web pages, or to encourage others to do so. In addition,
  the use of automated techniques to generate clicks, such as robots or
  scripts, is prohibited.
  
  If you would like to visit the destination of an ad to view its content or
  to add it to your filter list, you can use the AdSense Preview Tool,
  available here:
  
  https://www.google.com/support/adsense/bin/topic.py?topic=160
  
  The Google AdSense preview tool is an addition to the right-click menu for
  Windows Internet Explorer 6.x, allowing you to preview the ads that may
  show on any web page. Clicks and impressions from the preview tool are not
  applied to the advertiser's account. You can click through to the target
  site without worrying about invalid clicks being generated on your
  account, and without costing the advertiser for your test clicks. 
  
  Finally, please be sure to review and remain in compliance with our Terms
  and Conditions and program policies: 
  
  https://www.google.com/adsense/terms
  https://www.google.com/adsense/policies
  https://www.google.com/support/adsense
  
  If you have any questions, please feel free to respond to this email.
  
  Sincerely,
  

Description

This story is about a first-hand encounter with Google AdSense injustice. It explains why at the moment is might be unwise to try to rely on Google AdSense for your source of income. In short my account was disabled. I had to appeal twice in order to reinstate it. I was never told why the account was disabled. Hopefully this story will help you to regain the access to your account, should it get disabled.
First published: Apr 25 2006 / Last update: Apr 28 2006

Introduction

I was reading a lot recently about the idea of multiple sources of income, especially passive ones. Working full time as a director of development at a very successful startup (mailchannels.com), that tries to ease the pain created by spam, viruses and phishing attacks, and trying to have a life didn't leave me much time for experimentation with new sources of income.
My personal site was generating about 600 page views a day and a friend of mine suggested that I add Google Ads to my site. As my site's final rendering is autogenerated from templates it didn't take more than a few minutes to accomplish the task. And that's how in December 2005 I've started my little experiment with Google ads.

The Revenue Experiment

I've tried using ads programs before but it never really worked, since ads were random most of the time, so chances that someone would click on those weren't very good. Google revolutionised the industry by analysing the content in real time and placing very targeted ads - significantly increasing the chances that those ads will get clicked on.
Since my website didn't have too much content, I've quickly learnt that it's not really going to make any significant addition to my income, since on average I was getting about a dollar a day.
But nevertheless I have kept the ads, hoping that I'd add more content over time and that revenue will become more significant.
Until now I was getting most of the traffic to my site from google's search engine. Recently I've discovered that there is a plethora of social linking sites, so I've run another experiment of bookmarking a few of my pages on those sites. Which had a very good outcome, the number of clicks for those pages has grown by 10 times over just a few days. I can't yet tell if the trend is going to continue, but it was certainly a very positive outcome, considering that I've submitted just two pages.

The Days of Thunder

A few days ago, I've logged to my adsense account to discover to my amazement that I've made $32 in one day, having 169 clicks - that's a 30 times increase in the daily revenue. I said wow! But the next day it went back to the average and didn't repeat again.
A few days later I've received an email from Google, saying that my account was disabled:
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2006 11:04:53 -0700 Message-ID: <1145642693590.2e8b4253-5c8c-4f19-9485-9c53b14c00da@google.com> From: Google AdSense To: stas@stason.org Subject: *Google AdSense Account Disabled Cc: Google AdSense Hello Stas Bekman, It has come to our attention that invalid clicks have been generated on the Google ads on your site(s). We have therefore disabled your Google AdSense account. Please understand that this step was taken in an effort to protect the interest of the AdWords advertisers. A publisher's site may not have invalid clicks on any ad(s), including but not limited to clicks generated by: - a publisher on his own web pages - a publisher encouraging others to click on his ads - automated clicking programs or any other deceptive software - a publisher altering any portion of the ad code or changing the layout, behavior, targeting, or delivery of ads for any reason Practices such as these are in violation of the Google AdSense Terms and Conditions and program polices, which can be viewed at: https://www.google.com/adsense/localized-terms?hl=en_US https://www.google.com/adsense/policies?hl=en_US Publishers disabled for invalid click activity are not allowed further participation in AdSense and do not receive any further payment. The earnings on your account will be properly returned to the affected advertisers. Sincerely, The Google AdSense Team I've realised that that surge in clicks was most likely the reason that made Google disable my account - the only problem, is that I didn't generate those clicks. In fact I was away for 4 days, hiking in the rain forests in Tofino, when this has happened.
So I've followed up:
Message-ID: <4449269A.4020704@stason.org> Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2006 11:38:18 -0700 From: Stas Bekman To: Google AdSense Subject: Re: *Google AdSense Account Disabled Google AdSense wrote: > Hello Stas Bekman, > > It has come to our attention that invalid clicks have been generated on > the Google ads on your site(s). We have therefore disabled your Google > AdSense account. [...] Yeah, I've noticed the surge in clicks on a single day. But it wasn't me, neither have I encouraged anybody to do that. Think about it - I can go to any website that features Google ads and start clicking on ads non-stop for a few hours - you will have to disable the AdSense account on that website. So any malicious user can make bring someone's source of legitimate revenue down. How do you deal with that? I hope you realise that I'm innocent and turn my account back on. I'm perfectly fine with you having reduced the revenue made on that day from my total. Thank you. -- _____________________________________________________________ Stas Bekman mailto:stas@stason.org http://stason.org/ MailChannels: Assured Messaging(TM) http://mailchannels.com/ The "Practical mod_perl" book http://modperlbook.org/ http://perl.apache.org/ http://perl.org/ http://logilune.com/ And a few days later, I've received an email from Google Adsense suggesting to appeal the account closure:
Return-Path: Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 09:02:56 -0700 From: "Google AdSense" To: "Stas Bekman" Subject: Re: [#54514657] *Google AdSense Account Disabled Message-ID: <#14.33fd3e1.a07b57cc.444cf6b0.6@google.trakken.com> User-Agent: Neotonic Trakken/2.32.2 Hello, As you know, Google treats instances of invalid clicks very seriously. By disabling your account, we feel that we have taken the necessary measures to ensure that invalid clicks will not continue to occur on your site. Due to the proprietary nature of our monitoring system, we're not able to disclose any specific details of these clicks. Publishers disabled for invalid click activity are not allowed further participation in Google AdSense. However, if you can maintain in good faith that the invalid clicks we detected on your ads were not due to your actions or negligence, or the actions or negligence of others working for you, you may appeal the closing of your account. Google reserves sole discretion in considering whether to take any action on an appeal. In order to appeal the disabling of your account, please email us at adsense-adclicks-appeal@google.com with the details requested below. Please compose a new email and do not reply to this message. We're unable to consider appeals that do not contain all of this information: - Your name - Your company's name (if applicable) - Your publisher ID number (located in the AdSense code on your website with the format, pub-################) - Your website's URL - Date your account was disabled - Your website's audience - The source of your website's content - Frequency of content updates - The primary sources of your website's traffic - The number of people involved with the administration of the site - Any relevant information that you believe would explain the invalid click activity we detected If Google decides to evaluate your appeal, we will do our best to inform you quickly and will proceed with appropriate action as necessary. If we have reached a decision on your appeal, subsequent or duplicate appeals may not be considered. Sincerely, The Google AdSense Team So there nothing else I can do but to appeal, following their guidelines:
Message-ID: <444D0D2C.4020709@stason.org> Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 10:38:52 -0700 From: Stas Bekman To: adsense-adclicks-appeal@google.com Subject: appeal for pub-8889692424303178 Hi, I'd like to appeal the disabling of my account. - Your name Stas Bekman - Your company's name (if applicable) Not applicable - Your publisher ID number pub-8889692424303178 - Your website's URL http://stason.org/ - Date your account was disabled 21/04/06 - Your website's audience Miscellaneous, mainly programmers and computer enthusiasts - The source of your website's content Articles and links collections that I've created. - Frequency of content updates On average weekly. - The primary sources of your website's traffic Google search engine and other linking services - The number of people involved with the administration of the site Just 1 (I). - Any relevant information that you believe would explain the invalid click activity we detected I've noticed the surge in clicks on a single day (169 from the average of a few). But it wasn't me, neither have I encouraged anybody to do that. I was suggested by several people that someone who either hated the ads on my site or wanted to burn some advertiser's funds could have done that. Since you don't provide the details on where those clicks came from, I've no idea what has happened. I've read about similar cases online and it seems like trying to build your business based on Google ads is very unsafe bet - since anyone can go to any website that features Google ads and start clicking on ads non-stop for a few hours - you will have to disable the AdSense account on that website. So any malicious user can make bring someone's source of legitimate revenue down. How do you deal with that? Do you have any tips on how to avoid such cases happen in the future? As far as I can see, there is nothing a publisher can do about protecting themselves from this evil. Can you? Thank you. -- _____________________________________________________________ Stas Bekman mailto:stas@stason.org http://stason.org/ MailChannels: Assured Messaging(TM) http://mailchannels.com/ The "Practical mod_perl" book http://modperlbook.org/ http://perl.apache.org/ http://perl.org/ http://logilune.com/ And Google Adsense replied the next day that I'm guilty as charged, w/o supplying any additional information:
Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 09:20:15 -0700 From: "Google AdSense" To: "Stas Bekman" Subject: Re: [#54822692] appeal for pub-8889692424303178 Message-ID: <#14.3448724.8650f5cb.444e4c3f.1@google.trakken.com> Hello Stas Bekman, Thank you for your appeal. After receiving your response, we re-reviewed your account data thoroughly. We have reconfirmed that invalid clicks were generated on the ads on your site in violation of our Terms and Conditions and program policies. https://www.google.com/adsense/terms https://www.google.com/adsense/policies We have these policies in place to help ensure the effectiveness of Google ads for our publishers as well as our advertisers. According to our policy on this matter, we are unable to reinstate you into the program. Please bear in mind that subsequent or duplicate appeals may not be considered and you may not receive any further communication from us. We appreciate your understanding. Sincerely, The Google AdSense Team Well, it seemed that there is absolutely nothing that I can do about the situation. And that's when I've published this article.
But read on as the story goes on to a happy Hollywood ending (so far).

Let the Sun Shine

While researching similar stories online, I've found a few suggestions on how to restore the disabled account. (see the "related links" section at the end of this article.) So I decided to give those suggestions a try. I've posted a second appeal:
From: Stas Bekman Subject: appeal for pub-8889692424303178 Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 11:39:23 -0700 Hi, I'd like to appeal the disabling of my account. - Your name Stas Bekman - Your company's name (if applicable) Not applicable - Your publisher ID number pub-8889692424303178 - Your website's URL http://stason.org/ - Date your account was disabled 21/04/06 - Your website's audience Miscelaneous writing, mainly programmers and computer enthusiasts - The source of your website's content Articles and links collections that I've created. - Frequency of content updates On average weekly. - The primary sources of your website's traffic google search engine and other bookmarking services - The number of people involved with the administration of the site Just 1 (I). - Any relevant information that you believe would explain the invalid click activity we detected I've now read hundreds of stories of people who got banned, most claiming that they think they got banned because of the clicks coming from their IPs. Since you have not stated what was the reason for banning, I'll take a chance and hope that this was indeed the case. I didn't realize that even if I didn't click on the ads on my site, someone else in my office could have done this. Some of the folks per-use my site for finding information. Our network is seen as single IP to the outside world. And no I have never encouraged them to click on any ads. I'm sure though that the surge of links coming on a single day (169) wasn't generated by anybody in my office nor me, at least everybody I've asked said they didn't do it (but I could be wrong). Please help me to prove my innocence - let me know if I can assist with providing you with information, logs or whatever you ask for. As I've mentioned before I'm not interested in the amount of money that was earned via the illegal activity. Thank you for your consideration. And a few hours later I was surprised to receive a reply that my appeal was successful:
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 17:11:43 -0700 From: "Google AdSense" To: "Stas Bekman" Subject: Re: [#55343692] appeal for pub-8889692424303178 Hello Stas Bekman, Thank you for clarifying your situation. We have reviewed your circumstances and have reinstated your account, effective immediately. Based on the findings of our investigation, we have deducted $30.82 from your account. This amount represents the earnings previously credited to your account from invalid clicks. The deduction should occur in your next scheduled payment. For your reference, we've included some short guidelines to assist you in preventing invalid clicks in the future: It is against our program policies for website publishers to click on the ads on their own web pages, or to encourage others to do so. In addition, the use of automated techniques to generate clicks, such as robots or scripts, is prohibited. If you would like to visit the destination of an ad to view its content or to add it to your filter list, you can use the AdSense Preview Tool, available here: https://www.google.com/support/adsense/bin/topic.py?topic=160 The Google AdSense preview tool is an addition to the right-click menu for Windows Internet Explorer 6.x, allowing you to preview the ads that may show on any web page. Clicks and impressions from the preview tool are not applied to the advertiser's account. You can click through to the target site without worrying about invalid clicks being generated on your account, and without costing the advertiser for your test clicks. Finally, please be sure to review and remain in compliance with our Terms and Conditions and program policies: https://www.google.com/adsense/terms https://www.google.com/adsense/policies https://www.google.com/support/adsense If you have any questions, please feel free to respond to this email. Sincerely, The Google AdSense Team As you can see they have deduced those $30 that were generated during that surge of 169 clicks (versus the normal average of under 10), which is totally fine with me.
Give it a try, hopefully it will work for you too.

Conclusion

While I understand that there is a lot of click fraud going on, and realise that Google needs a way to fight it, this study case clearly shows that:
Innocent are much more likely to be hurt because there is justice system in place. Google plays God here - sorry, we can't tell you why you are guilty and we don't need to prove it to you. Good bye.
It's darn easy to bring someone's AdSense account to a closure by Google - just arrange a surge of clicks on someone's site. You've already heard of botnets, right? And you've heard of people cracking captchas by making other people do the typing, right? And probably 10,000 other ways. It's probably much harder to make a dent in bigger sites with a lot of traffic, so smaller sites are much more vulnerable, since it's much easier to create a burst of clicks and get it on the Google fraud team radar.
I'm wondering about the following: Google prohibits the publishers to click ads on their own sites - but that's silly: what if I see an ad that I'm genuinely interested in? It's so easy to forget about that prohibition and click on the ad - and boom, you get banned. Or your co-worker sitting on the same IP clicks some ads - how could he know about the prohibition? I'm not talking about going all day around and click on your site's ads, I'm talking about clicking a few of them here and there - it won't make the publisher more than a few dozens of cents. Why Google Adsense can't just not account for those few clicks, rather than count them as a fraud? Simply change the contract to say: any clicks coming from your IP will not be accounted as a revenue. That'd certainly help a lot of people: both the publishers and the Google AdSense team.
Another problem is that when Google disables your account you lose all your earnings so far, even those that have happened before the illegal activity (which hopefully wasn't done by you, which was the case with me). i.e. if my account wouldn't have been re-enabled those $100+ dollars would have been lost.
Also after notifying me that the account is disabled, Google has continued serving ads on my site, until I've removed their javascript code after I realised that the appeal was just their way to show that they listen. I wonder who was getting paid for those clicks generated during that period. If they have considered the site to be illegally generating clicks, were the advertisers burning their money for nothing?
So, the next time you get excited by all those books and sites touting Google Ads as your greatest source of revenue, think twice before you waste your time and energy on something that is *not* under your control and can be taken away by a malicious user in co-operation with Google AdSense team.
Google AdSense is undeniably a great tool when it works, but I'd definitely love to have a better control over it.

Corollary

Once Google AdSense has re-enabled my account, guess what ads did it start to serve on the very page you are looking at? "Get Google AdSense" of course.

The Google AdSense Team

As you can see they have deduced those $30 that were generated during that surge of 169 clicks (versus the normal average of under 10), which is totally fine with me.
Give it a try, hopefully it will work for you too.

Conclusion

While I understand that there is a lot of click fraud going on, and realise that Google needs a way to fight it, this study case clearly shows that:
Innocent are much more likely to be hurt because there is justice system in place. Google plays God here - sorry, we can't tell you why you are guilty and we don't need to prove it to you. Good bye.
It's darn easy to bring someone's AdSense account to a closure by Google - just arrange a surge of clicks on someone's site. You've already heard of botnets, right? And you've heard of people cracking captchas by making other people do the typing, right? And probably 10,000 other ways. It's probably much harder to make a dent in bigger sites with a lot of traffic, so smaller sites are much more vulnerable, since it's much easier to create a burst of clicks and get it on the Google fraud team radar.
I'm wondering about the following: Google prohibits the publishers to click ads on their own sites - but that's silly: what if I see an ad that I'm genuinely interested in? It's so easy to forget about that prohibition and click on the ad - and boom, you get banned. Or your co-worker sitting on the same IP clicks some ads - how could he know about the prohibition? I'm not talking about going all day around and click on your site's ads, I'm talking about clicking a few of them here and there - it won't make the publisher more than a few dozens of cents. Why Google Adsense can't just not account for those few clicks, rather than count them as a fraud? Simply change the contract to say: any clicks coming from your IP will not be accounted as a revenue. That'd certainly help a lot of people: both the publishers and the Google AdSense team.
Another problem is that when Google disables your account you lose all your earnings so far, even those that have happened before the illegal activity (which hopefully wasn't done by you, which was the case with me). i.e. if my account wouldn't have been re-enabled those $100+ dollars would have been lost.
Also after notifying me that the account is disabled, Google has continued serving ads on my site, until I've removed their javascript code after I realised that the appeal was just their way to show that they listen. I wonder who was getting paid for those clicks generated during that period. If they have considered the site to be illegally generating clicks, were the advertisers burning their money for nothing?
So, the next time you get excited by all those books and sites touting Google Ads as your greatest source of revenue, think twice before you waste your time and energy on something that is *not* under your control and can be taken away by a malicious user in co-operation with Google AdSense team.
Google AdSense is undeniably a great tool when it works, but I'd definitely love to have a better control over it.

Corollary

Once Google AdSense has re-enabled my account, guess what ads did it start to serve on the very page you are looking at? "Get Google AdSense" of course.