Intel is showing private demos of an eight-core PC system at CES 2007 that’s been dubbed “V8.” Consisting of two Xeon quad-core processors built onto an Intel workstation motherboard, the system offers eight cores inside a large, WATX chassis. Components for the configuration are orderable today from resellers like Newegg, while fully configured systems can be bought online from GamePC.com, Intel said. Intel engineers also posted a sign indicating a 3DMark 2006 CPU score of 6,058. The system uses a 1,330-MHz front-side bus. Although GamePC.com wasn’t specifically advertising V8 systems on its Web site at press time, the company’s GPW-771E workstations range from $4,083 to $9,493.

Motorola is bringing Linux-based phones with strong entertainment features to the consumer marketplace. Two new phones, introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, are the MOTORIZR Z6, a slide-to-open phone similar to the company’s existing Z3, and the MOTOMING A1200, a flip-open, touch-screen communications and entertainment device. Both are quad-band GSM phones, while the A1200 also supports EDGE for high speed network access.

A mysterious online countdown. USB drives containing cipher keys. Notes and videos from a woman who calls herself Loki. Bloggers’ reports of extravagant gifts, marked with a return address for Microsoft’s headquarters. And all trails leading to a Web site for something called Vanishing Point. After weeks of sifting through clues, bloggers, gamers and technology enthusiasts got some relief this week when Microsoft revealed that Vanishing Point is part of a viral-marketing campaign for Vista, the new PC operating system set for a consumer launch later this month.

PCmover for Vista is expected to be available at major retailers in North America and the U.K. by January 30, 2007 and available online at by January 18, 2007–prior to Microsoft’s official launch date of its new Vista operating system. The promise of a new and improved operating system is leading many people to consider purchasing new PCs. And once they’ve brought the new machine home, every new PC owner will face the same challenge: how to transfer the software applications, email contacts, files, and photos–the personality and functionality of their old PC to their new one. Laplink’s PCmover allows users to perform their migration using several options: genuine Laplink USB Cables, any local network (including wireless) or removable media (CD-R, DVD-R or external hard drives).

Laplink Software announced the availability of PCsync, one of the first Windows Vista file synchronization software products specifically designed for Ultra-Mobile PCs. With PCsync, consumers running Windows Vista on UMPC devices can easily synchronize large files and folders–including photos, music, videos and more–between UMPCs and other PCs running Windows Vista, Windows XP or Windows 2000.

A senior editor for PC World Magazine was fatally shot in his home in what authorities said Wednesday was a drug-related attack. Rex Farrance, 59, the San Francisco, California-based magazine’s senior technical editor, was shot in the chest after four masked men broke into his home Tuesday evening, Pittsburg police said. The assailants also pistol-whipped Farrance’s wife, Lenore Vantosh-Farrance, 56, a registered nurse. She called 911, but the attackers fled before officers arrived. No one has been arrested, officials said.

DataViz announced that its mobile Office Suite Documents To Go, is now available as a preview for Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Edition devices. The Documents To Go preview will allow users to create, view, and edit native Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. In addition users can view Adobe PDF files and decompress zip files that appear as email attachments. Other features include support for password protected Word and Excel files and charting.

Seamless Internet’s just-introduced S-XGen ultramobile portable computer promises to keep mobile workers connected throughout the workday. The UMPC, which the Carson City, N.Y., division of Seamless WiFi unveiled Jan. 8 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, will provide business professionals with a near full-size fold-out QWERTY keyboard as well as an 8-hour battery life. “The unit’s 8-hour battery life makes the S-XGen the first ‘panic-free’ mobile device–one that seriously addresses the real needs of today’s road warriors whether they are on a plane, held up in a taxi cab or out in the field,” Al Reda, president and CEO of Seamless WiFi, said in a company release. The new UMPC will include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, triband cellular wireless technology, Ethernet connectivity, 256MB of RAM and a 20GB hard drive.

SoftSkies is a music visualizer and screen saver that produces photo-realistic cloudscapes, rich with color and motion. SoftSkies features mood-enhancing color designs, patent-pending cloud animation, dynamic imagery, and detailed visual controls. SoftSkies is ideal for relaxation, music appreciation, and creating ambiance for any environment. Users can customize SoftSkies to design their own skyscapes with varying weather conditions and colors palettes. SoftSkies includes an assortment of color combinations designed in collaboration with Colorcalm to add atmosphere and compliment decor. SoftSkies also displays scenic photos as “living images” with animated cloudscapes that create a mesmerizing on-screen experience.

Vehicle Manager from Iambic, is available for Windows Desktop, Windows Mobile Pocket PC and Windows Mobile Smartphone. It can handle information about one single car up to a fleet of vehicles. Along with helping managing each car’s maintenance schedule, it also does a great job keeping track of vehicle-related expenses (such as fuel, mileage, etc.) and insurance data. Additionally, the desktop Edition includes a synchronization component allowing to sync information between the PC and its Windows Mobile based counterparts.