Tag: Qualcomm

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Qualcomm, Trimble are introducing metre-level location tech for Android devices

If you’re terrible at directions, this technology will be able to help you out.

Newer Android phones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or 2021’s Snapdragon 888 processor will be able to measure location data within one metre by using Trimble’s RTX GNSS correction services.

Trimble, a partner of Qualcomm, will let Android OEMs, service providers and app developers get more accurate location information. Trimble says that it can improve Android location accuracy by five times compared to current services, and it will enable features like lane-level guidance for car navigation systems.

It’s currently unclear if this technology will work with older devices. However, it seems likely since it’s compatible with Snapdragon 888 devices.

It’s worth mentioning that location data within one metre seems like an invasion of privacy, but it can be beneficial in terms of getting lost.

This technology won’t be available until the second quarter of the year.

Source: Trimble

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Qualcomm details Snapdragon X70 modem, new Wi-Fi and Sound products at MWC

Qualcomm unveiled several new products at MWC Barcelona 2022 covering various connectivity categories. The San Diego, California-based semiconductor company detailed its new Snapdragon X70 Modem-RF platform, a new FastConnect 7800 subsystem, two new Snapdragon Sound platforms, and finally a new Snapdragon Connect badge for products.

There’s a lot to unpack, so we’re going to move pretty quick. You can find more details on Qualcomm’s website for the announcements below as well.

Starting with the Snapdragon X70, the new modem uses the ‘Qualcomm 5G AI Suite’ to leverage AI-powered optimizations for mmWave and Sub-6 5G. Qualcomm says it’s the world’s first 5G AI processor in a modem-RF system and notes several benefits brought by AI, including:

  • “AI-based network selection for superior mobility and link robustness”
  • “AI-based adaptive antenna tuning for up to 30% improved context detection for higher average speeds and coverage”
  • “World’s 1st AI-based mmWave beam management for superior mobility and coverage robustness”
  • “AI-based channel-state feedback and dynamic optimization”

Qualcomm claims the X70 can hit up to 10 Gigabit 5G downloads as well as improve upload speeds, latency, coverage and power efficiency. I can’t wait to see how the X70 performs in real-world tests.

Along with the X70, Qualcomm’s new FastConnect 7800 subsystem for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth boasts big performance gains and Wi-Fi 7 support. That latter feature is particularly interesting given it feels like Wi-Fi 6 and 6E still haven’t hit mass adoption.

Qualcomm says the FastConnect 7800 supports peak speeds of 5.8Gbps and latency below 2 milliseconds, Bluetooth 5.3, and more.

The FastConnect 7800 ties into Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound platform too — the company has two new ultra-low power wireless audio platforms dubbed Qualcomm S5 Sound (QCC517x) and Qualcomm S3 Sound (QCC307x). Both support Snapdragon Sound tech, enabling higher quality audio, reduced latency, lossless audio, and optimized Low Energy (LE) Audio experiences.

Since all that can be a bit hard to take in, Qualcomm also introduced its Snapdragon Connect badge. Devices with Snapdragon Connect “ship with best-in-class 5G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth technologies.” Snapdragon Connect will be available for various devices including smartphones, laptops, VR/AR headsets, and cars.

For more on Qualcomm’s latest announcements, check out the company’s website.

Header image credit: Shutterstock

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Qualcomm could support AV1 video codec in next flagship Snapdragon chip

Qualcomm may plan to support the open AV1 video codec in future Snapdragon chips.

According to Protocol (via 9to5Google), Qualcomm plans to add AV1 support to its upcoming flagship processor. Protocol learned the information from a source that saw the spec sheet for the chip, known as ‘SM8550.’ The current Qualcomm flagship, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, is the ‘SM8450,’ so that likely means the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (presumably the name based on Qualcomm’s new naming system) will have AV1 support.

AV1, or ‘AOMedia Video 1,’ is an open, royalty-free coding format designed for transmitting video over the internet. It was developed as a successor to VP9 and boasts significant;y higher data compression than other video codecs, making it ideal for streaming video without losing quality. Plus, the open and royalty-free nature makes it a popular choice.

Google has been a big proponent of AV1 for YouTube and streaming devices, while Netflix has started rolling out AV1 to select devices as well.

Qualcomm has been a hold-out for AV1 support so far. Samsung added AV1 support to its Exynos 2100 chip in 2021 and continued supporting it on this year’s Exynos 2200.

Hopefully, the move to adopt AV1 will help spur more platforms to use it. With the popularity of streaming video, any way to maintain video quality while reducing bandwidth use is a win in my books.

Image credit: Qualcomm

Source: Protocol Via: 9to5Google

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Qualcomm, Microsoft partner to develop custom chips for AR glasses

Qualcomm and Microsoft announced at CES 2022 that they would go beyond working on PC chips and partner on a series of augmented reality (AR) initiatives. That includes developing custom chips for AR glasses.

Qualcomm detailed the partnership in a blog post (via Engadget), although it didn’t share much about the chips or the end products. All we got was a promise of “lightweight” and energy-efficient glasses.

Aside from developing chips, there was also a focus on software. The collaboration will use Microsoft’s ‘Mesh‘ virtual collaboration tool and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Spaces XR development platform. The companies didn’t specify which platforms they would support, but chances are the support will include Windows and likely Android.

The Microsoft-Qualcomm team-up shouldn’t be much of a surprise. The two companies have partnered on things like ARM chips for PCs (although rumour has it that deal may end soon) and Microsoft uses custom Qualcomm chips in its Surface Pro X devices. Plus, Microsoft already has its HoloLens AR tech, and it has wanted to make that more accessible for a while.

Couple that with the ongoing hype about the metaverse and the push to AR technology to fuel meetings, and it seems like the right time for Microsoft and Qualcomm to partner on AR tech.

You can check out more news from CES 2022 here.

Source: Qualcomm Via: Engadget

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Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 gaming platform, Razer dev kit

Rounding out the big announcements at Qualcomm’s annual Tech Summit in Hawaii is its new Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 gaming chip. Alongside the chip, Qualcomm unveiled a developer kit created in partnership with Razer to show off what the G3x Gen 1 can do.

Dubbed the ‘Snapdragon G3x Handheld Gaming Developer Kit,’ the device leaked extensively ahead of the Tech Summit. Although it won’t be available to regular consumers, the developer kit offers a decent idea of what products will arrive with the G3x in the future.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 platform offers “cutting-edge performance” that the company says can run all Android games, play content from cloud gaming libraries, stream games from home consoles or PCs and more. The G3x Gen 1 runs on Qualcomm’s Adreno GPU, which the company claims runs games at 144fps and offers 10-bit HDR.

Beyond the GPU, the G3x Gen 1 includes Qualcomm’s FastConnect 6900 platform with support for Wi-Fi 6 and 6E for low-latency game streaming. Qualcomm indicated the G3x supported mmWave and Sub-6 5G but didn’t specify which modem it used.

The G3x platform also supports Snapdragon Sound tech, which offers optimizations to reduce latency while maintaining audio quality. There’s also ‘AKSys’ support for touch-to-controller mapping to use built-in controllers with touch games. Finally, Qualcomm notes that the G3x supports multi-screen experiences via USB-C tether.

As for the developer kit itself, it sports a 120Hz 6.65-inch OLED display with FHD+ resolution and 10-bit HDR with built-in controls. It also sports a 5-megapixel 1080p/60fps webcam with two microphones so players can capture themselves for live streaming their gameplay. However, these specs could likely differ on production units available to consumers, if and when those arrive.

Overall, the G3x Gen 1 and developer kit look like an interesting take on portable gaming. It remains to be seen how devices running on Qualcomm’s G3x platform stack up to competitors in the handheld market. Valve’s delayed Steam Deck, for example, runs on Linux and has access to a rapidly-growing catalogue of full-fat PC games. Nintendo’s Switch console, on the other hand, boasts a wide library of exclusive Nintendo titles not available anywhere else.

The G3x system strikes me as a potentially excellent option for game streaming since users would have access to various Android apps like Stadia and xCloud. However, I’m not convinced a G3x system would be a better option than just using your current Android phone and investing in a nice controller instead.

You can learn more about the G3x on Qualcomm’s website, and more about the developer kit on Razer’s website.

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Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 and 7c+ Gen 3 Compute platforms

Following up on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 announcement (and its creepy always-on camera capabilities), Qualcomm kicked off the second day of its annual Tech Summit in Hawaii by announcing two new Snapdragon Compute platforms for PCs.

First up, there’s the headliner Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 Compute Platform (what a mouthful) aimed at premium-tier PCs. There’s also the Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3 (also a mouthful) targeting more affordable devices.

Qualcomm touts the 8cx Gen 3 as the world’s first 5nm Windows PC platform, claiming it offers “best-in-class performance and efficiency.” Overall, Qualcomm says the 8cx Gen 3 offers up to 85 percent generational performance uplift and up to 60 percent greater performance-per-watt over “the competitive x86 platform.”

Digging into the fine print on this one, however, Qualcomm based the comparison on a GeekBench 5 multi-thread test comparing the company’s reference device to “commercial competitive devices.” Unfortunately, the company didn’t list which chips it compared to. Further, GeekBench tests alone don’t reveal much, and benchmarks seldom tell the whole story when it comes to performance. Many of these caveats apply to Qualcomm’s other performance claims, so it’s worth keeping them in mind and not putting too much stock in what Qualcomm says until reviewers can put the 8cx Gen 3 through its paces.

Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 boasts improved GPU performance

Onto the GPU, Qualcomm boasts a 60 percent performance increase from the Adreno GPU in the 8cx Gen 3 compared to the previous generation. Practically, the new platform supports gaming at full HD (FHD, which typically means 1080p) at up to 120fps. Qualcomm says it’s also optimized to allow people to game up to 50 percent longer “than certain competing platforms” — Qualcomm ran this test using Big Rumble Boxing.

The Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 sports Qualcomm’s ‘Spectra’ image signal processor (ISP) with support for up to 4K HDR camera quality, enabling faster camera start-up times and improved autofocus, auto white balance and auto exposure. There’s also Qualcomm’s Noise and Echo Cancellation tech, part of the Qualcomm Voice Suite, that leverages AI enhancements to improve voice quality on calls.

Finally, the 8cx Gen 3 brings improvements to AI performance, security and connectivity. That last part includes support for Snapdragon X55, X62 and X65 5G Modem-RF systems, which means manufacturers can offer devices with the chip and powerful 5G capabilities. Qualcomm’s FastConnect 6900 system is also present, enabling Wi-Fi 6 and 6E and better Bluetooth functionality.

Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3 offers performance improvements, integrated 5G

As for Qualcomm’s mid-level Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3, it boasts improved performance, AI capabilities and more.

Qualcomm says the 6nm 7c+ Gen 3 is “purpose-built” for Windows and Chromebook with 60 percent faster CPU and 70 percent faster GPU performance.

Aside from improved performance, the 7c+ Gen 3 also sports an integrated Snapdragon X53 5G Modem-RF system. The X53 supports mmWave and Sub-6 and boasts download speeds of up to 3.7Gbps. Moreover, Qualcomm’s FastConnect 6700 system offers Wi-Fi 6 and 6E support with speeds up to 2.9GBps.

Qualcomm says both chips are set to launch in the first have of 2022. You can learn more about the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 here or the 7c+ Gen 3 here.

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Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon chip supports always-on cameras

Qualcomm unveiled its new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip at its annual Tech Summit on November 30th. There’s a lot to be excited about with the new chip.

Unfortunately, there are a few things to be wary of too, like the always-on camera capability.

Qualcomm seems convinced that adding an image signal processor (ISP) dedicated to running the camera all the time is a good idea. In fact, when Qualcomm talked about the always-on camera during its four-hour Tech Summit live stream (it happens around hour three, and you can check it out here or below), it said its vision was to “enhance privacy and security” using the always-on camera.

If that sounds completely counterintuitive, you’re not wrong. Qualcomm’s pitch is that the always-on camera can constantly scan for your face and automatically lock your phone if you look away or enable privacy features if it detects you’re looking at your phone with someone else. One example the company shared was that the chip could temporarily hide notifications when it detects you’re showing your screen to someone else.

Except, that’s not really the main privacy concern people have with an always-on camera. I’m more worried about my phone always watching me than I am about the people around me getting a glimpse of my screen.

What’s worse is that this will exacerbate existing privacy and security concerns. We’ve got always-on microphones in our phones now and those have brought a host of problems. I am not looking forward to the can of worms that an always-on camera will open.

Qualcomm says users can disable the always-on camera, but that isn’t enough

All that said, The Verge reports that Qualcomm’s VP of product management, Ziad Asghar, said that users will be able to disable the always-on camera, or possibly even choose which always-on camera features they want to use.

Further, it’s worth considering that phone manufacturers may not use the feature. Qualcomm makes the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, but other companies make the phones that run on those chips. Samsung, OnePlus and others could skip the feature entirely.

There are other potential solutions to the always-on camera thing as well, although few are elegant. Android 12 includes the ability to disable the camera and microphone via a software toggle — that could be one way of temporarily disabling the always-on camera (assuming you get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 device running on Android 12). Phones could include a physical camera shutter, like what’s become popular on laptops. However, I doubt many manufacturers will want to integrate a physical shutter into their smartphone designs. Heck, maybe people will start sticking tape over their phone’s camera too.

Ultimately, there will likely be phones that don’t do any of that and ship with the always-on camera feature. Perhaps the worst part about the always-on camera in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is it could set a precedent that leads to other companies including the capability in a race to keep up. And if that happens, it’s only a matter of time until someone messes up and the always-on camera goes from privacy concern to privacy nightmare.

Image credit: Qualcomm

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Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip with improved camera, AI features

Qualcomm announced its newest flagship system-on-a-chip (SoC) at its annual Tech Summit event in Hawaii on November 30th. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 succeeds last year’s Snapdragon 888, ushering in new branding and higher performance.

Despite the new name, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 still focuses on 5G, AI, gaming and more. On the connectivity side, the 8 Gen 1 boasts the 4th gen Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF system, which Qualcomm says can hit 10-gigabit download speeds. Moreover, Qualcomm’s FastConnect 6900 system returns, offering support for Wi-Fi 6 and 6E with speeds up to 3.6Gbps.

Image processing is another important area this year, with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sight technology including the first 18-bit image signal processor (ISP) ever for mobile. Qualcomm says the ISP can capture over 4,000x more camera data than its predecessor for better dynamic range, colour and sharpness. Capture speeds can go as high as 3.2-gigapixels per second.

Qualcomm says the new Snapdragon Sight system is the first mobile platform capable of capturing 8K HDR video using the HDR10+ format. There’s a new ‘Bokeh Engine’ as well that can add soft backgrounds to video. The company compared the capability to portrait mode, but it sounds a lot like Apple’s new Cinematic Mode to me.

Finally, Qualcomm’s camera tech includes a fourth, separate ‘Always-On ISP’ that can run the camera at low power for faster face unlock features.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 boasts improved AI chops

On the artificial intelligence (AI) side, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 includes Qualcomm’s 7th gen AI Engine running on the high-performance Qualcomm Hexagon processor. Qualcomm says it features a two times faster tensor accelerator and two times larger shared memory than its predecessor. It also has integrated ‘Leica Leitz Look’ filters to improve image quality, particularly bokeh.

The AI Engine also includes language processing from ‘Hugging Face,’ which Qualcomm says can intelligently serve as users’ personal assistant by prioritizing and analyzing notifications. Qualcomm worked with Sonde Health to use on-device AI to accelerate models that analyze users’ vocal patterns to determine risk for health conditions like asthma, depression and COVID-19. Finally, the AI Engine includes Qualcomm’s 3rd gen Sensing Hub for always-on AI systems processed in a low-power environment.

As usual, Qualcomm made some bold claims about gaming on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. First, the SoC includes “over 50 Snapdragon Elite Gaming features” and delivers “desktop-level capabilities.” The most important thing here is the improved performance of the Adreno GPU in the 8 Gen 1. Qualcomm says it has a 30 percent boost in graphics rendering capabilities and a 25 percent improvement in power savings compared to the previous generation.

Other features include the ‘Adreno Frame Motion Engine,’ which Qualcomm says can generate twice as many frames while maintaining the same power consumption.  There’s also ‘Variable Rate Shading Pro’ and a volumetric rendering solution that Qualcomm claims brings “unrivalled realism” to game effects like fog, smoke and particle effects.

Better sound and improved security

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 will support Bluetooth 5.2 and Snapdragon Sound tech, including Qualcomm’s aptX Lossless tech and new low-energy (LE) audio features.

When it comes to security, Qualcomm described the new chip as “vault-like.” It’s the first Snapdragon platform to include a dedicated ‘Trust Management Engine’ for security and it supports ‘Android Ready SE’ for digital car keys, driver’s licenses and more.

As with any major new chip release, it’s important to manage expectations and wait for real-world tests. Qualcomm certainly makes the 8 Gen 1 sound like a major improvement over the Snapdragon 888. And while it likely is better, it remains to be seen just how much better it actually is.

You can learn more about the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 on Qualcomm’s website.

Images credit: Qualcomm

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Here’s our best look at Razer’s Qualcomm-powered Switch-like handheld yet

Qualcomm is working with gaming accessory maker Razer on a Nintendo Switch-like handheld video game console built on its Snapdragon G3X chip.

Leaked slides presumably set to be shown off during Qualcomm’s annual Tech Summit in Hawaii that VideoCardz obtained, show off a device called the ‘Snapdragon G3X Handheld Developer Kit.’ With the portable’s name in mind, Qualcomm and Razer could be trying to more directly target developers with this device.

Other notable features related to the handheld include a USB-C Port, DisplayPort support over USB-C, a 6,000mAh battery and a 1080p webcam. The portable’s screen is reportedly an HDR OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. The device also supports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 and 5G mmWave.

While Razer’s handheld console bears a striking resemblance to the Switch, it also looks a lot like Valve’s upcoming Linux-based Steam Deck. The Steam Deck’s release was recently pushed back to 2022 due to supply-chain issues.

It’s unclear if this will end up being a consumer product or is a proof-of-concept offering an example of how hardware makers could take advantage of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon G3X chip for portable gaming devices. For example, the chip maker adopted a similar approach a few years ago with a concept virtual reality headset.

VideoCardz also says that Qualcomm’s next flagship smartphone processor will be called the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.

With the Snapdragon Tech Summit currently underway, we likely won’t have to wait long for more details regarding Razer and Qualcomm’s handheld gaming project.

Image credit: VideoCardz

Souce: VideoCardz Via: The Verge

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Apple reportedly to have in-house 5G modem made by TSMC in 2023

Apple and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) are reportedly forging a closer partnership that will see the latter make 5G modems for the California-based tech giant.

It’s been long-rumoured that Apple would develop its own modems for iPhones to reduce reliance on Qualcomm. Apple and Qualcomm previously faced off in a legal battle over how the latter priced its modem chips and licensing fees, which Apple settled in 2019. Since then, Apple has gone back to using Qualcomm’s modems in iPhones, particularly its 5G models. Before that, Apple used Intel-made modems in iPhones — the company acquired Intel’s modem division in 2019 following the Qualcomm settlement.

According to a new report from Nikkei Asia, Apple plans to have TSMC produce 5G modems for the 2023 iPhone. Four people familiar with the matter told the publication that Apple would leverage TSMC’s 4nm chip production technology for the chip. Additionally, Apple will develop its own radio frequency and millimetre wave (mmWave) components to complement the modem chip. Finally, the iPhone-maker reportedly will develop its own power management chip specifically for the modem.

In current iPhones, Qualcomm provides all those components.

Aside from saving money on licensing fees to Qualcomm, Apple’s in-house 5G modem could bring several other benefits. For one, it would allow for deeper hardware integration between the modem and Apple’s A-series chip, which could yield performance boosts and more power efficiency. It could potentially be a space-saving measure too, compared to having two separate components to handle processing and modem functionality.

However, there are several potential difficulties that come with making an in-house modem. For one, Apple’s modem has to support not just 5G but also 4G, 3G and 2G technologies. Moreover, the modem has to do this without infringing on Qualcomm’s patents.

With all the in mind, it’ll be interesting to see how Apple’s modem ambitions play out. Given how Apple has handled major hardware transitions before — a recent example being the Intel x86 to ARM-based Apple Silicon switch — I think Apple might be able to pull off the modem move. However, that depends if the company can make a competitive 5G modem.

Source: Nikkei Asia Via: 9to5Mac