HP is working on a project codenamed "Carona" that focuses on using fiber optic-like technology to address some problems that data centers and supercomputers are facing in terms of scalability and power consumption. Advancements and implementation of this technology could effectively make "electronics" so last MacWorld.

Corona will be a 265 core computer chip manufactured with a 16nm form factor that uses beams of light to connect the cores together. The cores in the chip will be arranged in 64 core clusters and be able to operate at 10 trillion operations per second, allowing the cores to communicate with each other at 20 terabytes per second! The cores would also be able to communicate with external memory at 10 terabytes per second... that's insane. Put 5 of these chips together and you're in the same league with modern supercomputers in terms of computing power. "Integrated photonics" is the key to making Corona a reality by 2017 and it focuses on using a similar technology that exists in telecommunication networks but this has to be adapted for core-to-core communication. This technology is not a reality yet but with chip manufactures shrinking optical communication devices to fit onto chips, the reality is getting closer. According to HP Lab's researcher Marco Fiorentino,

Corona would be incredibly fast but how will it help increase scalability and reduce power consumption which are equally important? Read on after the break to find out.

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Wired:HP Preps Laser-Powered Chip of the Future

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It's been about 67 years since Germany has actively explored platooning technology but the Robotics Innovation Center at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz) brought it back to the present at CeBIT this year. Their EO prototype electric car showcased some interesting abilities and, despite its futuristic design, there didn't seem to be any futuristic weapons mounted on it just yet; so, for now, it seems we're safe.

The EO prototype is the product of only 10 months of work and is a ways away from traversing the Autobahn but it has demonstrated some pretty cool functionality. For example, the car is very versatile with regards to adjusting to its environment. Every driver finds themselves in common situations where space is limited and they are required to maneuver vehicles in awkward ways. Thankfully, the EO can shorten its wheelbase to perform tighter turns, something that would be useful for urban driving. It can also lower its center of gravity to make "high speed" driving more efficient. It's also well worth mentioning that it can rotate its wheels 90 degrees making parallel parking a cinch.

But wait, there's more! Platooning will help make sure that you never have to roam alone again, even if you book a vacation without using Travelosity. Find out more and check out a video after the break.

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cnet:EO car explores power-sharing platoons

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Earlier this month, Google hit a security snag with Google Wallet that ended up exposing sensitive payment information for people who had their phones stolen and settings wiped. In general, Google doesn't like to think things through and seeing as how they've been racing through development to be at the forefront of digital-wallet adoption, this is not a surprise. Thankfully, Google was proactive about solving the problem and at least gave Google Wallet users some half-baked recourse.

What may come as a surprise to some is the reaction of Isis CEO Michael Abbot. For those of you not familiar, Isis has been in the process of developing a technology that would act as a framework for payment processors to integrate with. It's similar in concept to Bump in the sense that mobile phone manufacturers would build in their NFC technology and consumers could simply tap their phones against a retailers cash registers to render payment. They have been developing this technology with backing from Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and AT&T and are looking to start technology trials in Austin Texas and Salt Lake City Utah around July this year.

Find out why Abbot's thinks Google hasn't ruined digital-wallet adoption after the break.

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cnet:Google Wallet snafu won't hurt adoption, Isis CEO says

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Zynga has had an extremely lucrative partnership with Facebook and it was revealed that Zynga accounted for 12% of their revenue when Facebook filed for its IPO. Their relationship wasn't always as pleasant as a sunshine-filled day on the farm, however. Back in May 2005 Zynga wasn't happy with Facebook taking 30% of their revenue and it prompted some uneasy negotiations that ended up in Zynga reaching out to other potential partners.

It also prompted Zynga to start developing games that were independent of Facebook and, within a few months after their Facebook fight, they had managed to churn out a few games on their own. They also managed to become a public company and have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into their own server farms in order to transition from Amazon services. Their goal here is to take Zynga.com and turn it into their own platform where they can carve out their own territory. According to CEO Mark Pincus,

That's not the whole story though. Read on after the break to find out what else Zynga has in mind to make their vision a reality.

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BloombergBusinessweek:Zynga Dumps the Training Wheels

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An interesting thing has occurred on BT Games's South African website. They have given their customers the ability to pre-order a game that hasn't officially been announced. What makes it more intriguing is that the game in question here is the fabled fourth installment of the God of War franchise, God of War IV, which they estimate to be released in February 2013. Exactly how they reached this conclusion is up for debate: it is possible they know something we don't or maybe they are just being optimistic? The game hasn't been officially announced in any capacity as of this article but at the beginning of this year Joystiq reported that Timothy Williams, the man in charge of the orchestral music in many videogames, had listed God of War IV in his resume under the "Video Games" section.

You really don't have to stretch your imagination to believe a 4th game in the wildly popular God of War franchise could happen. In fact, I would go so far as to say it's a probability just based on a gut feeling but this may just be a clever publicity stunt for the retailer. At least they are smart enough not to be charging you money for the pre-order at this time. See it for yourself after the break.

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BT Games:The Next installment in the Ever Popular God of War Franchise

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