Apple officially buying Intel’s 5G modem business for $1 billion
Apple has officially confirmed that it is buying Intel's 5G modem business for $1 billion. The acquisition includes thousands of patents, 2,200 employees, and more. Combined, Apple says it will now hold 17,000 wireless technology patents.
Will the Surface Pro 7 ditch Intel chips for Qualcomm’s 5G support?
Microsoft may switch from Intel to Qualcomm or AMD for its next-generation Surface Pro device, according to new rumors. If Microsoft did go with Qualcomm and its Snapdragon SoC chips, we could be looking at a Surface Pro that launches with 5G cellular connectivity right out of the gate.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 Plus brings a performance boost to flagship phones
Qualcomm is giving a modest performance boost to the Snapdragon 855. The company has taken the wraps off of the new Snapdragon 855 Plus, which offers a few new features over the original Snapdragon 855, and will likely power many of the best Android flagship phones over the next few months.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 brings high-tech features to budget phones
Qualcomm has taken the wraps off of the new Snapdragon 215 chipset, aimed at bringing premium features like dual camera sensor support to budget handsets. The chipset will likely be featured in phones in the sub-$200 price range and is aimed at replacing the Snapdragon 212.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 has smart card-equivalent security certification
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 is Qualcomm's flagship processor for the year, and it's available in a range of smartphones. Now, the chip is certified with a smart card equivalent security rating, which essentially means that manufacturers may not need to include external security chips in their phones.
Google and Qualcomm want to make more smart headphones with the Google Assistant
Google and Qualcomm have released a new development kit aimed at making it easier for manufacturers to add Google Assistant support to headphones and headsets. The development kit is now available, and supports the use of push-to-talk to communicate with the Google Home app on your smartphone.
Intel gives up on 5G modems for smartphones, will focus on other devices
5G is the new frontier for many manufacturers, but it seems Intel won't be one of the ones leading the crowd. After a delay that saw Intel's manufacture of 5G modems pushed back to 2020, Intel has given up on the 5G modem business, and will focus its efforts elsewhere. But is something else to blame?
Apple and Qualcomm settle all disputes, reach six-year agreement on chips
Apple and Qualcomm have announced that they have settled all disputes between them around the world -- and not only that, but have also agreed to a six-year agreement for Qualcomm to supply Apple with chips. We now expect future Apple phones to feature Qualcomm 5G modems.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 and 730G offer premium features in a midrange chip
Qualcomm took the wraps off of the new Snapdragon 730 and 730G processors, aimed at offering premium features in a slightly more affordable chip, for so-called "premium midrange" phones. The company also unveiled the Snapdragon 665, which is the successor to the Snapdragon 660.
From cars to computers: How data is transforming F1 racing
After a single weekend of racing, a Formula 1 pit crew typically pulls around 2TB of data from the car. Everything, from tire pressure to the temperature of the track, is recorded and analyzed in the name of boosting performance -- and not all drivers are happy about it.
Judge recommends U.S. iPhone import ban for infringing on Qualcomm patents
Just a few weeks after a San Diego judge found that Apple infringed on three Qualcomm-owned patents, an International Trade Commission judge has found that Apple infringed on another Qualcomm patent -- and recommended an import ban on certain iPhone models in the U.S.
Smart speakers are about to get an IQ bump thanks to new Qualcomm chips
Qualcomm announced a new chipset that is designed to make the next generation of smart speakers sound, listen, and connect better than ever. Called the QCS400, it could soon be appearing in everything from small portable speakers to soundbars, taking your entire listening life to the next level.
Why premium is the most overused, and least understood, word in tech
Everyone has heard the word premium, and many of us will have purchased a premium product; but what does premium actually mean, and why is it used so much in tech? There's not one correct answer here, but it's helpful to understand why company's invest so much in advertising using the word premium.
Intel 5G modem chips won’t be available until 2020, could delay 5G iPhone
Chip manufacturer Intel announced this week that its 5G modem chips would not be available in cell phones until 2020. This is particularly a problem for Apple, which uses Intel chips in its devices and had planned to launch the next-generation iPhone with 5G capabilities in 2020.
Need speed? Qualcomm unveils the Snapdragon X55, the world’s fastest 5G modem
Ahead of a wave of 5G smartphones to be unveiled at MWC 2019 in Barcelona next week, Qualcomm is preparing for an even faster future. On Tuesday, the silicon giant unveiled a second-generation 5G modem for the following wave of smartphones, promising blistering download speeds as high as 7Gbps.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X55 could bring blazing-fast 5G to laptops
Ahead of Mobile World Congress, Qualcomm unveiled Snapdragon X55, the world’s fastest 5G modem. While it promises to bring fast data connectivity to the next generation of 5G smartphones, Windows Central reports that the modem also holds potential in transforming Always Connected PCs.
Apple vs. Qualcomm: Everything you need to know
Apple and Qualcomm have been engaged in a legal cat-and-mouse game for a long time now, filing a number of lawsuits against each other in the United States, China, and the United Kingdom. Don't worry, we're here to help -- you'll find all the latest developments right here.
C-V2X system helps cars navigate intersections, even without a line of sight
A new C-V2X (cellular vehicle-to-everything) will be shown off by Audi, Ford, and Ducati at CES 2019. V2X is a form of short-range communication that can be sent and received by both cars and infrastructure. It allows cars to navigate around each other and the environment, even without a line of sight.
Apple pushing update to iPhone in China in response to legal troubles
Apple has been facing legal issues in China, where sales on some iPhone models are facing a ban due to alleged infringements of patents from Qualcomm Inc. On Friday, Apple announced that it will push out a software update to users in China in hopes of resolving any potential legal issues.
Qualcomm takes on Intel with fastest graphics processor, Snapdragon 8cx chips
Qualcomm debuted its next-generation SoC known as the Snapdragon 8cx. It features a new eight-core CPU and the most powerful graphics core Qualcomm has ever bundled onto a single die. The new chip will find its way into new devices in Q3 2019 and is already shipping out to device makers for testing.
Qualcomm’s dual-screen PC concept looks like two connected Surface Go tablets
Though we're seeing evolving concepts of how a dual-screen device should look like and function, Qualcomm may have taken an interesting approach. Rather than two screens powered by a single processor, a teaser showed what appears to be two Surface Go tablets housed inside -- and likely connected by -- a folio cover.
Microsoft’s Always-Connected PCs gets more powerful with 64-bit app support
Microsoft announced another major milestone for its Windows on ARM project. Now, with the launch of Visual Studio 15.9, developers can start creating 64-bit apps that will run on Always-Connected PCs. These devices run Windows 10 on Qualcomm Snapdragon ARM-based processors, rather than Intel or AMD silicon.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 675 will power the next generation of midrange phones
Qualcomm announced a new chipset that will likely go on to power the next generation of Android smartphones. The Snapdragon 675 is set to show up in phones in the $350-$500 range over the next few years. Features include better performance, a focus on image processing, and more.
Montblanc’s $995 Summit 2 watch stays on your wrist for longer between charges
Montblanc has taken the wraps off of the new Montblanc Summit 2 -- the first watch to feature the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor. The watch features a premium design and Google's Wear OS, and it should have a better battery life too, thanks to the Snapdragon Wear 3100.
Tiny new Bluetooth chip is a big revolution for high-tech headphones
A new Qualcomm Bluetooth chip is about to change high-tech headables due to its tiny size, quad-core processor, and energy efficiency.
Qualcomm’s push against Intel worked, and we’re all reaping the benefits
Intel has launched a slew of processors at IFA 2018, though these feel like more than just another batch of refreshed CPUs. These feel like a reaction. Qualcomm has been pushing its PC agenda of longer batteries and increased connectivity for the past six months, and now it seems as if Intel has been forced to respond.
New aptX bundle understands what you’re listening to, chooses the best settings
Qualcomm has announced a new version of AptX, its Bluetooth audio codec, which cleverly bundles together standard aptX, aptX HD, and low latency into one, then dynamically picks the best settings depending on what you're listening to. It's called aptX Adaptive, and here's what you need to know.
Qualcomm may finally reveal a new wearable chipset on September 10
It looks like Qualcomm's next wearable chipset may finally be ready. The company hasn't released a chipset for wearables since February 2016, but earlier this year it confirmed it was working on a new one. Now, the company has sent out press invites telling us that "It's time," and to "set your watches.
Qualcomm Snapdragon reportedly Microsoft’s first choice for Surface Go CPU
Microsoft watcher Paul Thurrott claims that the company originally intended to use Qualcomm’s ARM-based Snapdragon processor in its new Surface Go. But Intel supposedly caught wind of the move and offered “deep discounts” on its Pentium Gold processor that Microsoft simply could not refuse.
Qualcomm smartwatch chip may include eye-tracking support for AR glasses
Qualcomm will release a new smartwatch processing platform later this year, which it says will make wearables smaller, with improved features and better battery life. Touchscreen smartwatches are in desperate need of a revival, and this could kick-start one. Here's what we know about it.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 850 chip appears in benchmarks with improved performance
A benchmark for Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 850 processor show a less-than-stellar increase in multi-core performance over the previous 835 chip. Introduced in June, the Snapdragon 850 promises up to 30 percent better performance, yet benchmarks show that leap applies to single-core numbers.
Qualcomm releases new antennas that will make 5G phones a reality in 2019
The race to 5G is slowly but surely proceeding. Qualcomm has announced its first 5G antennas. The antennas will be paired with the forthcoming Snapdragon X50 5G modem in upcoming 5G phones for 2019. The tech giant has sent samples of the antennas to handset manufacturers to use in upcoming 5G phones.
Flagship Android phones top iPhone X in download speed, report claims
According to a new report, phones equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 have much faster download speeds than phones equipped with Intel's XMM 7480 modem, such as the iPhone X. That can impact everyone on a particular network -- the faster file is downloaded, the faster bandwidth is freed up for others.
Why I still won’t wear wireless headphones
Wireless headphones promise liberation from cords, tangles, and snags, but there’s just one issue holding them back: battery life. And until manufacturers figure it out, sales numbers prove consumers aren’t yet biting.