Business Articles

Intel has announced it will team up with Arm to develop a plethora of chips for mobile SoCs, IoT, data centres, and government/aerospace applications.

The Intel Core i5-1240P-based, NVIDIA T550-powered ThinkPad P14s Gen 3 is normally priced at just over US$2,500 - however, Lenovo has cut it down to just under US$1,140 instead for a limited time. The SKU in question comes with a matte FHD display and 8GB of RAM - then again, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI 2.0 and a physical webcam shutter are part of the deal.

Expensive Starlink satellite Internet dish and decoder equipment can now be obtained on the cheap to expand its service footprint in Australia and New Zealand. The deal lowers the Starlink equipment price to just AUD$199, but it is only for select rural regions.

Less than a month after unveiling the brand's first mini PC with dual Ethernet ports, Minisforum is back with a second piece of hardware that packs this feature. The Venus NPB7 uses the Intel Core i7-13700H alongside up to 64 GB memory and 1 TB storage. Shipments are scheduled to begin in roughly a month.

The first three months of 2023 (or 1Q2023) has proven a dismal quarter for PC sale - especially for top-5 brand Apple, apparently. It has outstripped other major OEMs such as Lenovo and Dell in terms of falling shipments and market share year-on-year (YoY). Then again, according to market analysis group IDC, there may be an upside to the lack of growth thus far.

Some Google Pixel owners have received surprisingly high Google Pay credits. While amounts vary, some credits amount to over US$1,000. Google wants to reverse the payments made in error, but those who have already spent the money do not need to repay it.

Telecommunications networks that work in the stratosphere represent the next big thing for companies like SoftBank. However, the airborne platforms on which this "Information Revolution" are to be based depend on batteries that can withstand the extremes of temperature and pressure at those altitudes to work. Enpower Greentech Inc (EGI) claims to have developed a power-pack with the durability, stability and energy density needed to live up to that demanding use-case.

After cutting memory chip prices, Samsung announced a drastic 95% drop in year-on-year profits for the quarter, forcing it to join the list of chip makers which will be cutting production as well, on account of the recessionary slump in sales. The long-term goal to invest in new manufacturing capacity still stays, though.

Insta360 has announced that it is offering a better shot at getting one of its high-end cameras for potentially lifestyle vlog- or even VR-quality content during its 2023 Spring Sale. The deals in question include up to US$110 off the innovative, modular ONE RS action camera, the top-end version with the 1-inch sensor and Leica branding included. Then again, Amazon still does better on some options.

Samsung has announced it will continue working with AMD to bring Radeon-based GPUs to mobile products, indicating the tech could be featured on future Galaxy-branded smartphones, tablets and laptops.

Amazfit is currently promoting its program by which it sells some units of its wearables that have been "professionally" refurbished with even more attractive discounts. They consist of the rugged T-Rex Pro or 2 premium smartwatches at up to 20% off their already reduced "renewed" prices via the brand's Amazon Store for a limited time.

CZUR will shortly launch an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for the StarryHub Business Conference System, a 4K LED projector. The device has a built-in camera, microphone and speakers so that you can use the gadget for video meetings. Plus, you can wirelessly screen mirror from up to four devices simultaneously.

The new HP Color LaserJet printers for businesses have been announced. Models in Color LaserJet 4200/4300, Enterprise 5000/6000, and X500/X600 series use TerraJet Toner, using less plastic packaging while providing 20% more printable colors. Other features on the higher-end models include the ability to markup documents without a PC.

Huawei's latest premium HarmonyOS smartphones went to pre-order on March 30, 2023 in their native China. Four days later, the devices - whether vanilla P60, its Pro sibling or Ultra top-end counterpart - are reportedly nowhere to be found for sale in the country. Those who have managed to secure one of the new XMAGE camera flagships allegedly face prolonged shipping delays.

For the second year in a row (and the third time since 2020), the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) has been cancelled. In the past, E3 was the largest annual event for gaming and often where major games and consoles would be announced.

Available on Amazon since August 27, 2021, the 27-inch Dell S2722QC 4K UHD monitor comes with dual 3 W speakers, USB-C connectivity with 65 W PD, as well as AMD FreeSync support. With a list price of US$369.99, the S2722QC is now down by 19% on Amazon, so those interested can buy it for US$299.99.

The new ZV-E1 is touted as the ideal camera to get started as a creator in 2023. It combines specs such as the 12MP 35mm full-frame Exmor R sensor, flip-out touchscreen and Sony's new AI features from premium alpha-series cameras with increasingly classic features of the ZV series such as a "high-performance" integrated microphone with its own fluffy wind-sock and straightforward controls.

There has been a stark reminder posted of just how much AMD and Intel motherboards have gone up over the last couple of years in terms of average selling price (ASP). Data taken from a major European retailer reveals that average prices of MSI, Gigabyte, and ASRock boards have skyrocketed beyond the ongoing inflation surge that began in 2021.

Starlink launched about 500 new satellites since the beginning of the year, including of the new V2 generation. Waitlisted users on the Best Effort tier are now being upgraded to Starlink Residential speeds for free as SpaceX takes advantage of the drastic carrying capacity increase.

Lenovo has unveiled the Ryzen 7000-powered Yoga Pro 7, and its Raptor Lake-based counterpart the Pro 7i, each with a choice of either RTX 3050 or 4050 discrete graphics. The two new laptop variants also boast the same up-to-3K/120Hz 16:10 IPS display with "premium" business features such as a webcam with a ToF sensor as well as IR and a battery capacity improved on compared to the previous generation.

Intel has paid tribute to one of its originators on announcing his "peaceful" death in his Hawaii home. The semiconductor pioneer leaves the world his pivotal insight, invaluable contributions and eponymous "Law" on his passing. Moore's career-long dedication to getting more and more stuff on chips has arguably helped propel consumer tech to its current levels of sophistication, performance and impact on our lives.

According to several reports, OnePlus and Oppo have decided to leave European and UK markets. Reputedly, the two companies planned to pull out of France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK first, starting in mid-2023. However, official statements from Oppo and OnePlus suggest otherwise.

Apple has reportedly held an event during which its inaugural mixed-reality headset had been revealed - however, it was apparently a private launch preview for about one hundred of the OEM's own top executives. Then again, this alleged exclusive sneak peek is billed as a potentially pivotal juncture in the Reality series' development, as it was held in the same venue as that of many of the Cupertino giant's public and ever-popular product launches.

ViewSonic has launched a new line of tablets pitched at creators who want a device just for writing or drawing on the go (or "pen tablets"), one of which is now touted as the most portable 12-inch iteration of this category on the market. The ID1230 is joined by 7-inch (PF720) and 10-inch (PF1020) counterparts, each of which feature advanced pressure sensitivity, multiple hotkeys and USB type-C support.

TCL'S CSOT display research group has been working on new technology that can reduce the bezel around a given mobile device's display to as little as 1mm on all sides. Now, the company has announced that this new panel type is ready for mass production. It is touted to boost power efficiency and battery life in addition to screen-to-body ratio in next-gen smartphones.

TSMC made 587.6 billion new Taiwanese dollars (NTD, or ~US$19 billion) in revenue from the manufacture of its most cutting-edge consumer-grade 5 to 4 nanometer (nm) chips in 2022. Now, it is backed to make about 19% more from the same in 2023. Then again, older processes are still pulling their weight in helping the Taiwanese giant's business.

Dell is introducing a whole range of refreshed Latitude 7x40 series laptops today. The new Latitude range is comprised of Latitude 7340, Latitude 7440, Latitude 7640, Latitude 7340 Ultralight, and Latitude 7440 Ultralight with the Latitude 7340 and 7440 also being available in 2-in-1 form factors. All models come with Intel 13th gen vPro CPUs up to the Core i7, 5 MP webcams, quad-speakers, and Dell's suite of business and privacy protection apps.

Dell's Latitude 5430 Chromebook is a business-focused Chromebook that features 12th-Gen Intel CPUs, either a clamshell or 2-in-1 form factor, and security features like automatic enterprise enrollment upon booting the laptop for the first time.

Dell's latest Latitude 5000-series laptops boast 13th Gen Intel processors. Additionally, Dell focused on sustainability with the manufacture of these machines, increasing its use of recyclable plastics by up to 64%.

Dell is introducing a new design with the Latitude 9440 2-in-1 with a mini-LED backlit zero-lattice keyboard, a larger touchpad with haptic conference keys, and a fully Thunderbolt 4 interface. The Latitude 9440 2-in-1 conforms to Intel Evo standards and comes with a host of security and AI features to enhance collaboration.

Dell has officially launched the Precision 7780 and Precision 7680 laptops. Both feature current-gen hardware from Nvidia and Intel, up to 128 GB of RAM, 4 TB storage, and more. They are available for purchase now, with prices starting at US$2,529.

Dell has officially unveiled the Dell Precision 7960 Tower and Precision 5860 Tower for heavy workloads. They can be configured with a multitude of Intel Xeon chips, ECC memory, Nvidia RTX A series graphics cards and more. They will be available for purchase on April 18.

Introduced last year, the Dell P2222H is a 60 Hz monitor focused on productivity. It features a stand with height, tilt, swivel, pivot adjustments, multiple inputs (HDMI, DP, VGA), as well as a USB hub with one upstream and four downstream 5 Gbps ports. Thanks to a 49% price cut, it can be acquired from Amazon for just US$168.99.

UGREEN has announced that its latest USB type-C dock accessory has upgraded to integrate a 1Gb/s RJ-45 port, as well as a new DisplayLink chipset for its dual-monitor support. It allows the user to either extend the display contents across 2 4K/60Hz external displays, or switch one to a mirror mode instead. The new 9-in-1 I/O solution for ultrabooks such as the MacBook Pro is now available via sellers such as Amazon.

JLab touts its new Go Work Pop headset as a new way to upgrade a work-from-home audio set-up with prolonged battery life and Bluetooth 5.3. It also offers a noise-cancelling boom mic and "Cloud Foam" earcups for comfort during long calls. The new addition to the on-ear category might also match a user's existing devices with Teal and Lilac colorways in addition to its Graphite version.

Previously priced at US$597.48 on Amazon and US$599.99 on LG's US online store, the 34-inch curved ultrawide 34WP75C-B.AUS monitor is now available on Amazon for just US$396.99. Its highlights include AMD FreeSync Premium support, HDR10, sRGB 99% color gamut, two 7 W speakers, 65 W Power Delivery, and more.

Job vacancies with Game Freak, the developer behind the Pokémon video-game franchise, seem to show that work on Pokémon Gen 10 is forging ahead. The predicted launch year for the title has led to some discussion about when the Nintendo Switch 2 could be released, as it is likely the next-gen Pokémon game will be optimized for the next-gen Switch console.

Apple's latest service has debuted as Shop with a Specialist over Video, which consists of a new feature that allows a user to see and consult with a Store retail representative while on the company's official website. The new video chat feature only seems to apply to iPhone sales and in 1 market during its normal opening hours thus far.

A YouTuber has come up with an interesting solution for a potential Nintendo Switch 2 dev kit solution, but it will likely be too costly for anyone who fancies knocking up next-gen Mario Kart. In addition, a Nintendo executive has been talking about the company’s future, with numerous sites pulling Switch 2 clues out of the context of the interview.

Starlink for RV has been renamed as Starlink Roam, as SpaceX now offers truly global satellite Internet subscription option at US$200/month. The one-time equipment fee is US$599, while subscribers who plan to use Starlink Internet on the go will have to go with the US$2,500 dish and the regional option only.

In new developments to the Microsoft-Activision merger drama, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) President and CEO Jim Ryan had apparently told the EU antitrust chief that he is no mood for a new Call of Duty deal but wants to block the US$69 billion merger from getting regulatory approval. Despite repeated assurances, Sony does not appear to be convinced by Microsoft's terms and feels that PlayStation gamers will get a sub-par Call of Duty experience should the deal go through.

Available since last March, the Dell UltraSharp U3223QE is a 31.5-inch IPS monitor with a generous resolution of 3840 X 2160 pixels, 100% Rec 709 and sRGB color gamut, as well as a rich set of connectivity options. The ongoing 27% Amazon discount takes this US$1,149.99 piece of hardware down to US$835.79.

With a list price of US$1,099, the MSI Prestige 14 Evo professional laptop with Intel Core i5-1135G7 and Iris Xe graphics alongside 16/512GB memory/NVMe SSD has been around since mid-October 2020. Now, a generous 32% Amazon discount brings the A11M-221 model of this lightweight machine down to US$750.

Gigabyte Aero-series laptops are back in OLED form for 2023, rated to combine their Pantone-validated 16:10 displays with the latest 13th-gen Intel and RTX 40-series platforms in "featherweight" 14- or 16-inch builds. They are ready to inspire potential buyers via channels such as Amazon from now.

Analytics firm Canalys has now released its report on the state of the TWS earbuds market for Q4 2022. While the market saw a significant decline overall, Apple continues to dominate, in no small part due to the massive success of its US$249 AirPods Pro 2.

The spacious OLED Innocn monitor should appeal to professional artists who want the display quality of an Apple Studio Display without needing to pay the "Apple tax".

Salcomp is an electronics manufacturer associated with the 5W power brick that once shipped with every new iPhone. Now, the company has announced that it is moving into alternative areas, including the supply of components for solar- and hydro-powered electricity generation, as well as chargers for electric cars. To that end, it will reportedly aim to double its India-based manufacturing workforce by 2026.