Yep, it's another Intel Developer Forum. As Pat Gelsinger, Intel VP and Chief Technology Officer noted, it's actually the 13th IDF, but Pat wants to call it the 14th IDF, since 13 is an unlucky number. It was an odd note to start out this IDF, but perhaps it's a reflection of the uncertainty of the times. The tech recession seems to be lightening a bit, but the light at the end of the tunnel still seems distant.

The Intel marketing team must work tremendous hours before IDF, trying to figure out the themes for each conference. After all, they have to come up with some flavor of coherent theme not once, but twice a year -- and not have it all sound repetitive. In truth, it is repetitive, but all in a good way. Technology is still evolving, though it's worth asking if perhaps the utterly revolutionary era of silicon technology is behind us.