It then takes advantage of a feature built into modern computer chips, called Connected Standby.

BBC: Skype slashes battery use for Windows 8 system launch

Mr Sierra stressed that other software developers would also have access to Window's Connected Standby feature, meaning Skype's advantage might be short-lived.

BBC: Skype slashes battery use for Windows 8 system launch

Only after a year, will Windows 8-based, super-thin, touch-based with 10 hour connected standby devices have been in the market long enough to get a sense of how buyers will react.

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But he looked ahead toward the Haswell generation of Intel Architecture, which will come out in 22nm after Ivy Bridge, as the point at which Intel and its partners will be able to offer devices that can remain in standby mode, but still connected to the Internet (to receive, for example, phone calls or alerts) for 10 days without a recharge.

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