Just one day after telling retailers about a contest to win a MacBook Pro with a Core i5 processor, Intel sent out a correction saying the contest was actually for an HP ENVY laptop with the same processor according to a report in AppleInsider. Web pundits had a heyday with the “announcement” from Intel yesterday, but there hasn't been any response on Apple's forum to the rumor.

The Spanish site faq-mac.com quotes Alvaro García, director of communication of Intel Iberia, as saying, “Everything has been an error.” García says the problem came from a publicity agency that Intel had subcontracted for the contest mailing. According to García, Apple hasn't contacted Intel on the matter.

In today's email, Intel apologized “for any confusion”, saying “we got the processor right, but not the computer.” But the Core i5, formally announced at CES last week, is based on the new 32 nanometer technology, and offers better performance and graphics while also lowering power consumption. That's perfect for laptops, and speculation continues strongly in favor of the Core i5 for a MacBook Pro refresh. Intel says the new processors' “Turbo Boost Technology gives you speed when you need it and delivers energy efficiency when you don't.” Some models of the Core family will include Intel HD Graphics.

The fact that Intel backed off yesterday's statement certainly doesn't mean there won't be a Core i5 MacBook Pro announcement from Apple on January 27th. Or were you expecting some other announcement then?