Intel is working on NUC (Next Unit of Computing), a Mini PC with a 100mm x 100mm form factor. The system is equipped with an Intel Core i3/i5 Sandy Bridge processor, integrated graphics (Intel HD 3000), Thunderbolt, HDMI, and USB 3.0. The system is designed for the digital signage market.
There's a heatsink and fan assembly on board, too, and the mini PCIe connectors leave the door open for added functionality. Because it runs an Intel Core i5 CPU instead of the ARM processors found in options such as the Cotton Candy and Raspberry Pi, the NUC promises to be a more powerful mini-desktop. But don't get too excited: Intel envisions it as a component in digital signage instead. Look for Intel's mini-PC at a kiosk near you in the second half of 2012, when it's expected to drop.