Neowin.net

As we all know Apple dropped support for Motorola's desktop processors, and chose to use IBM’s processors for its next generation desktop PCs. This action was viewed by some analyst as a final blow between these two company’s partnership and to the future success of Motorola. Unlike some of its competitors Motorola didn't give up, instead started developing a new desktop processor, a dual-core processor.

Motorola's spun-off chip division "Freescale" will be producing a dual-core processor scheduled for unveiling at this years Microprocessor Forum (MPF). Motorola's dual-core processor will feature an on-board memory controller among other features. With this Motorola is hoping to once again get back into the processor market, and maybe signup another deal with Apple.

This move comes off as an attempt to regain the lost processor market share Motorola had with Apple. Even though Apple still uses Motorola processors in its laptops, many analyst agree that this will change soon. Leaving Motorola one partner short, and in the end hurt an already damaged company. Not standing still Motorola has made a new deals with Apple. Such as putting support for Apple's iTunes music format on Motorola cell phones. Though the details of this deal are still pretty scarce, it will probably give Motorola a good boost in the cell phone market.

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This leaves Nintendo, once again, with a lot of titles that are bound to gather critical acclaim - and almost certainly deservedly so - but with the exception of Metroid Prime 2 not that many that are likely to scythe through the competition during a hectic Christmas rush.

Any GBA owners bound to an elderly relative's couch this Christmas won't have too much to worry about, however, with a number of exciting titles due on the handheld - despite the impending launch of the Nintendo DS, which is due out in Europe in early 2005. In fact, it'll be interesting to see how GBA sales fare in the run-up to Christmas purely on that basis.

We'll be in the queue though, busily scrabbling to get hold of Mario Golf Advance Tour (Sept 17th), the eagerly awaited The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Nov 12th), Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Nov 19th), and - for the sake of working out what it is more than anything - "Super Mario Ball" (Nov 26th). Square die-hards will be pleased to see Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls down for early December, too.

Key exclusives due out on Nintendo platforms in the run up to Christmas:


GameCube

Wario Ware, Inc.: Mega Party Game$ - September 3rd

Animal Crossing - September 3rd

Pikmin 2 - October 8th

Donkey Konga - October 15th

Paper Mario 2: The Thousand Year Door - November 12th

Tales of Symphonia - November 19th

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes - November 26th


Game Boy Advance

Mario Golf Advance Tour - September 17th

Pokemon Leaf Green/Fire Red - October 1st

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap - November 12th

Mario vs. Donkey Kong - November 19th

Super Mario Ball - November 26th

Mario Party Advance - December 3rd

Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls - December 10th