AI

Qualcomm has arrived at the Las Vegas Convention Center to highlight the current and ongoing role of its Snapdragon Ride Platforms as prominent automotive processing solutions. This involves a debut for the inaugural Ride Flex SoC, a new way to put automated driving (AD) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) on the same chip. It is also to come pre-integrated with Snapdragon Ride Vision for potentially unified hardware- and software-based vehicular development.

Dell's Concept Nyx is an exploratory idea for future methods of connecting people for business, gaming, and more. The crux of Concept Nyx is the personalization of tools like mixed reality cameras and gaming controllers.

MediaTek has introduced a new addition to the Genio family of internet of things- (IoT) specific platform at CES 2023. The 700 is an octa-core chip rated to support FHD and 4K displays - both at the same time if necessary, in fact. It is also compatible with some of the most advanced interfaces typically available to IoT, and is touted to handle industrial-grade conditions with ease.

John Carmack has resigned from Meta and the development team behind the Meta Quest VR headset. Citing inefficiency problems that plague the company as a whole and VR development specifically, Carmack has quit Meta to work on his AI-focused startup.

OPPO's already action-packed Inno Day event has also introduced the OEM's latest augmented reality (AR) device. The second-gen Air Glass is touted as durable yet super-lightweight, and to come in various styles and support corrective lenses if necessary. They are rated for AR applications such as real-time captions and translation, head-mounted navigation and conferencing.

Xiaomi has prefaced its launch for its latest 13 series of flagship smartphones with an introduction to the new software the devices will run out of the box. MIUI 14 is based on Android 13, and is rated to bring improvements in terms of user privacy, UI layout and system resource usage with it. The new OS is also backed to improve control over connected devices throughout the home and the user's life.

Abarth has gone full electric with the latest version of its classic 500e. Nevertheless, the Fiat-owned brand asserts that the new battery-powered 2-door car beats its nearest gas-powered counterpart in certain areas of performance and acceleration. The new 500e is also rated for fast charging, advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features and a "Scorpionissima" theme to its design.

The Snapdragon 782G is the latest mobile processor to be announced from Qualcomm, although sharp-eyed tech fans will be strongly reminded of some pre-existing platforms on reading its main specs. Then again, the "new" SoC may still bring the best it can to the first smartphone to launch with it, thanks to up-to-date features such as Snapdragon Sound, Bluetooth 5.2 and support for up to 200MP camera sensors.

Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagship processor is projected to be on the market in the form of new smartphones by 2023. However, those who would like it in something more like a reference platform for purely AI applications are in luck. The OEM will also offer the SoC as part of a new Innovators Development Kit to academic and research entities.

Vivo's putative Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered X90 Pro Plus is now thought to launch alongside a vanilla counterpart with the OEM's exclusive combination of the MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC and a custom co-processor. It is touted to boost gaming and battery life on the upcoming premium mid-range Android smartphone. Both new devices are now said to debut before the end of November 22, 2022.

MediaTek has announced the addition of a new flagship variant for its Pentonic chipsets specifically for TVs. The Pentonic 1000 is pitched at the 4K/120Hz screens of the near future, and is rated for on-board support for broadcast standards worldwide as well as high-end TV features such as ALLM, VRR up to 144Hz and multi-split-screen views.

Huawei's Petal is its in-house alternative to Google or Apple Maps, developed for the first-party HarmonyOS UI. The OEM has just unveiled a new and "powerful" 3D real-world feature for the app, touted to confer hyper-realistic "digital world" based on a given location. It requires new GPU applications and techniques, as well as enough photos of the place in question.

EZVIZ has launched the DB1C as a new option for those interested in a teched-out doorbell. It is compatible with 2.4Ghz/5Ghz Wi-Fi, which can stream FHD video to a user's personal device. The new smart home component also has AI that can tell when there is a human in front of it, so as to avoid blowing the same device up with unnecessary or inaccurate alerts.

The Snapdragon Summit is officially on, and will take place from its traditional Hawai'i setting in 2022. However, it will also be livestreamed, starting with its Day 1 keynote. The event is widely projected to introduce the new top-end 8 Gen 2 mobile processor, although Qualcomm asserts that it will also debut its latest developments in the areas of extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI) as well as new dedicated solutions for audio and connectivity tech.

Huawei is now strongly hinting at an upcoming new feature for its latest top-end foldable smartphone, the Mate Xs 2, to be unveiled during the OEM's upcoming Developer Conference. The upgrade could put the premium device on par with the latest iPhone 14 series in terms of cutting-edge innovations - then again, it might have its limits.

The fifth-generation Sony alpha 7R (the alpha 7R V, or a7R V) has finally been unveiled as a new interchangeable-lens mirrorless unit with an updated build and the highest-res Exmor R image sensor available to it. However, the OEM also touts it as the first ever alpha-series camera with an "AI processing unit" rated to boost the camera's ability to identify and, thus, accurately track human and animal subjects in moving shots.

1MORE has introduced its latest wireless earphones as its first ever audio accessories with spatial audio. The OEM claims that this upgrade confers a "3D", "cinematic" and "immersive" experience on the Aeros. The TWS buds also support its brand's active noise cancelling (ANC) features with a new, algorithmically-enhanced 6-mic system for potentially clearer voice calls.

With its 4K/UHD resolution and form-factor, LG's new Smart Monitor 32SQ780S has clearly launched as a challenger to the Samsung M80B. The new external display combines features such as streaming app support, webOS-based UI and a "Magic" Remote with an orientation-switching ErgoStand and a USB type-C port with 65W charging. It has appeared on Amazon.com with one colorway and a competitive price.

Anker's eufy home-security brand has launched a third-gen outdoor camera kit powered by its OEM's new BionicMind AI. It can be "taught" to recognize specific faces as friendly, and can even learn to "perceive" certain human behaviors as potentially suspicious. The new features are touted to make camera activation, user notification and footage storage within the eufyCam 3 system more selective, powerful and effective than ever.

LG has unveiled the latest addition to its MAGNIT series of TVs for high-end home media rooms at CEDIA Expo 2022. This new 4K variant will add a 136-inch form-factor to its line of super-sized micro-LED panels, and is rated to pack the processing power and AI rated to tailor its output to the type or genre of media to be displayed, from movies to NFTs.

The C3W Pro is the latest security camera from EZVIZ, of the Wi-Fi-capable form-factor intended to be installed outside. As such, it packs the OEM's latest color night-vision features, including automatic activation in response to movement. Its 1080p resolution and 2MP streaming mode allow it to hit a potentially attractive price-point.

The Consumer Technology Assocation (CTA) has announced that it has a keynote speaker for its major CES 2023 event already: Lisa Su. AMD's chair and CEO is slated to hold forth on how her company's most cutting-edge and relevant computing technology helps solve the world's most pressing problems during the speech. This event is, as always, scheduled for early January 2023 and will take place live in Las Vegas.

1MORE touts its latest audio product as a world first, thanks to its combination of active noise cancellation and "LDAC Hi-Res Audio" in a wireless over-ear build. The SonoFlow headphones are rated for up to 70 hours of battery life (with their QuietMax noise-isolating mode turned off) and have debuted with early-bird and discount offers via platforms such as Amazon.

SoC.one and Imagination Technologies assert that RISC-V, the emerging alternative to ARM, is ideal for inclusion in the automotive industry and its spiraling need for advanced computing and networking. The two companies have agreed to collaborate on solutions to make RISC-V hardware compatible with the potential software demands of next-gen vehicles, their use of extended-reality, IoT and safety solutions included.

The White House is preparing to officialize the export ban of strategic processors and chip-making tools to China. The Commerce Department will soon publish a list codifying the restrictions on NVIDIA, and AMD AI processor as well as equipment for crafting sub-14nm processors.

Xiaomi's CEO, Lei Jun, is still backing his company to become as big in the automotive industry as it currently is in the consumer-tech space. It is now said to get started with a 4-door vehicle equipped with the OEM's very own autonomous driving technology. The potentially affordable car is to be made in an equally first-party factory in China.

NetDragon Websoft is now under the leadership of Ms. Tang Yu, one of the most advanced virtual humanoid robots powered by AI. Apart from the usual managerial responsibilities, CEO Tang Yu can act as a real-time data hub and analytical tool.

NVIDIA's monstrous Hopper N100 and A100 AI chips, as well as AMD's MI250 have gotten on the White House's export ban list on national security grounds. The loss of this particular Chinese server market may amount to a US$400 million lower revenue for NVIDIA.

SAIC is a Chinese state-owned manufacturer responsible for the vehicles sold under a plethora of brands in the country, Volkswagen, Audi, MG and Chevrolet included. The auto giant has announced that it plans to develop a universal connected-car experience that may allow any of its cars to pair to any user smartphone - as well as any smart device around, it for that matter. OPPO has been tapped as the software partner with the expertise to deliver on this futuristic dream.

ZTE has introduced the AX3000 Pro as its latest dual-band router that is available on Amazon. The device supports up to Wi-Fi 6 speeds over up to 160MHz channels thanks to a "winning" Qualcomm processor. Its new and award-winning design is touted to maximise its surface-area coverage and ability to form a house-wide mesh.

ColorOS 13 has launched as OPPO's latest mobile device UI that brings the major Android 13 upgrade and more besides. They include undeniable echoes of its cousin, OnePlus' OxygenOS, in its new tweaks and features, the Bitmoji and Spotify AOD modes included. Nevertheless, the OEM asserts that it also matches a commitment to productivity and digital health, thanks to Multi-Screen Connect, Large Folders, Meeting Assistant and more.

MediaTek's latest Pentonic chipset has debuted with an emphasis on remote group-watching and group-calling use-cases. It also features the up-to-date specs and features required to enjoy 4K gaming and content in general. The 700 is also touted as being Wi-Fi 7-ready and supporting "powerful AI enhancements".

Samsung is currently at the Flash Memory Summit 2022 event to show its latest developments in memory and storage solutions off. One of these is the announcement that it has started producing flash modules based on the latest UFS 4.0 standard. Therefore, they may be available to start one-upping the UFS 3.1 internal storage chips still found in the highest-end smartphones of today.

TEAMGROUP's latest PCIe M.2 SSD is pitched at high-performance, highly-demanding use-cases, yet is touted to stand out from this industrial crowd with a first-gen vapor chamber- (VC) equipped tube system. It incorporates in-house liquid cooling touted to keep the SSD running at full speed even in ambient temperatures as high as 85°C.

Arcfox has announced that it is finally ready to "deliver" its alphaS, the world's first car to ship with Huawei Inside, a full smart car solution from the eponymous hardware and software OEM. The solution is rated to run the vehicle's comprehensive array of sensors, and also involves a cabin that runs HarmonyOS. The car starts at around US$60,000 on the Chinese market.

Instead of adding autonomous driving software as a US$12,000 extra to your electric vehicle when ordered, Volkswagen wants it available as a metered service payable only for the time it's been in use. The add-on strategy is Tesla's with its Autopilot mode, while Volkswagen says you can set the car on self-driving for the next 50 miles and only pay for that stretch.

Leica has officially jumped ship to Xiaomi today (July 4, 2022) in terms of premium camera smartphone collaborations. Its former partner, Huawei, has responded by instituting something new called XMAGE, a spin-off of sorts from the OEM's Mobile Imaging division touted to keep its reputation for photography prowess going in the future.

Samsung has announced that it has successfully begun the process of manufacturing its inaugural chips of a 3 nanometer (3nm) architecture, projected to become the cutting edge of consumer processing power in 2023. The OEM already claims that its first-gen 3nm silicon is capable of performance that is over 20% improved compared to that of its 5nm predecessor, with a ~50% boost to power-efficiency on top of that.

ARM has made the Cortex-X3 official today. With its up-to-25% performance boost over the X2, It will probably be a marquee core for next-gen flagship mobile SoCs; however, the OEM asserts that the equally new A715 and refreshed A510 have their places right alongside it thanks to their complementary power-efficiency and scalable specs.

Toshiba has revealed new LiDAR technology in the form of a palm-sized projector, measuring 71 cm³ (~4.3-in³). The device can be used to increase the detection range of an autonomous vehicle to 300 m (~984 ft). The company claims that the system can accurately read road conditions for a safer driving experience.

TSMC has outlined its latest semiconductor technology during its 2022 North America Technology Symposium. N2 is in fact the next generation on from the "cutting-edge" N3 and N3E FINFLEX architecture, on which the highly-anticipated 3 nanometer (nm) processors rumored to dominate 2023 are to be based. However, TSMC claims that N2 will be even faster again with greater power efficiency.

Think Silicon's NEOX GPU is a scalable chip based on the RISC-V architecture that can integrate 4 to 64 cores and can be utilized in a wide array of devices including smartwatches, smart home IoT appliances, electric car dashboards, and even large data centers.

Amazfit has just officially announced the Bip 3 series as its latest new wearables. The 3 and 3 Pro have very similar specs, which include a 1.69-inch display, blood-oxygen measurements, 14 days of estimated battery life and ~60 workout modes. Then again, the Pro is the only one with GPS.

The latest Huawei Mate 50-series leak might cast aspersions on the possibility of an upgrade to the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus platform for these premium-tier phablets. In fact, the OEM is now tipped to try and detract from that contingency with an emphasis on cutting-edge software and computational photography during its next flagship launch event instead.

Samsung and Naver have partnered to present South Korea's first ever private 5G network. It exists to support a cloud that co-ordinates a new fleet of robots at the latter's new HQ. They are intended to move around the place by themselves, serving the company's employees with their meals, mail and coffee throughout the building.

We've all heard of deepfakes, search algorithms, and the AI-powered computational photography systems that enhance our cat photos, but those applications are just the tip of the iceberg. AI is becoming more and more present in industry nowadays, so let's have a look at some interesting applications of AI that we might not have seen coming.

The Honor Watch GS 3 is now officially slated to become available on the Indian market soon, thanks to a new Amazon.in preview page. The wearable is being teased in terms of its better attributes, its dual-frequency GNSS, new 8-channel PPG AI heart-rate monitor and 14-day battery life included.

NVIDIA has come to Computex 2022 to show the latest Studio-approved PCs off, as well as what they can do with creator app from this OEM and its partners. They include the latest updates to Omniverse, a facility for 3D art or development, DaVinci Resolve 18, and the freshly-updated Studio Driver.