Smart cards are cards with embedded chips that can be used to process data. They are also known as integrated circuit or chip cards. They are usually the same size as a credit card, and made of plastic, although SIM cards are also a form of smart card.

The first use of smart cards was in phone cards for pay phones in France. Since then, they have been used in debit and credit cards, SIM cards in cell phones, and as a means of payment for public transport. More recently, smart cards have been used as identity cards.

Security is very high with smart cards. They are tamper-resistant, with a cryptographic algorithm to protect the data that they carry. This makes them ideal for identity cards, credit cards and other cards that contain personal or financial information.

Every contact smart card has a small gold area on its surface. This is the part of the card that must make contact with the card reader. An electronic connector reads the card through the gold pad. The card must be inserted into the reader in the correct orientation so that the gold pad is placed in the correct position to be read.

Contactless smart cards are now available. Unlike the older cards, these only need to be positioned close to the contactless card reader, rather than inserted into a reader. This makes the contact less cards much quicker to use, which is particularly advantageous when paying for public transport. The card can just be touched against the reader when entering a bus or passing through a gate, without needing to stop and use a card reader.

The main drawback to using smart cards is that they are easily damaged. The plastic cards are often broken, particularly as they are likely to be roughly handled and stuffed into pockets and handbags. It is fairly cheap to replace a broken smart card, however.

Intel announced the release of a new processor, the Core i7 980X in 2010. This six core processor has been designed under the codename Gulftown, and internet rumors about its features and performance have been rife. Many people expected the chip to be branded as the i9, rather than added to the existing i7 range.

The Intel Core i7 980X processor is a six core, twelve thread, 32nm manufactured chips with 12MB of L3 cache memory, 130W thermal design power and a 6.4 GT/s Quickpath Interconnect. It also has a DDR3 1066 memory integrated memory controller.

The i7 980X is the first six core processor to be developed by Intel. It has two more cores than its predecessors in the i7 range. It also has an L3 cache that is 50 percent bigger than the Core i7 Bloomfield processor.

Intel’s hyperthreading technology allows twelve threads to run in parallel, with each of the six cores being able to run two processes. This will improve performance and multitasking.

The i7 980X also employs Intel’s turbo boost technology that allows the processor to work faster automatically when some extra performance is necessary.

The difference in performance between the i7 980X and the older i7 processors only becomes apparent when running certain types of programs. Windows doesn’t start up any faster, and game performance is not improved. It is when working with video or creating 3D models that the capabilities of the new processor are employed. Performance with this type of activity is significantly improved, since they allow the multiple cores to work in parallel. The two extra cores in the i7 980X then make a huge difference.

The i7 980X is also more energy efficient than older Intel processors, and it produces less heat.

The Intel Core i7 980X is a high-end processor that is designed for the sort of extreme performance that will only truly be used and appreciated by the most demanding computer owners.

Windows 7 was released by Microsoft in 2009, taking the place of Vista as the newest Windows operating system. The differences between Windows 7 and Vista are not as great as those between Vista and its predecessors, and the hype for Windows 7 was similarly smaller. Since Vista was not well received by consumers, this was perhaps for the best.

Windows 7 was designed to improve performance and the user experience. It comes in Starter (designed for netbooks), Home Basic (designed for countries in the developing world), Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions.

The most obvious changes in Windows 7 when compared to older versions of Windows are to the taskbar. Programs can be pinned to it so they are easily accessible, and the preview screen that pops up when the cursor hovers over a program’s icon on the taskbar has been improved from its Vista incarnation. In Windows 7, there is a separate preview of every open window for each program, and a full size version appears when the mouse is passed over the preview. The Jump List ensures that programs can be opened quickly and easily.

The Aero Peek feature, located on the taskbar, turns all windows transparent so the desktop can be seen behind them. The desktop can be organized using the Snap and Shake functions. Snap expands a window to fill either the whole screen or the left or right half only. Shake gets rid of all windows apart from the chosen one that is “shaken”.

The library function makes it easy to get to files by providing lists of all of a particular type of file (Documents, Videos, Pictures, Music) regardless of where they are stored on the computer.

Windows 7 is also designed to be quicker, better at networking and more compatible with non-Microsoft programs. It can also work with a touch screen computer to provide additional functions.