Tag: Qualcomm

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Microsoft, Qualcomm reportedly have Windows on ARM exclusivity deal — it’s ending soon

If you’ve paid much attention to the Windows on ARM space, you may have noticed that it’s a rather limited space at the moment. Only a few Windows on ARM devices are available, and all of them run Qualcomm chips (for better and worse). Apparently, there’s a reason for that: Qualcomm and Microsoft have an exclusivity deal.

As reported by XDA Developers, people “familiar” with the matter claim the deal between Microsoft and Qualcomm is set to end soon. It’s not clear how long the deal’s been in place or when, exactly, it will end. But if the report is accurate, it could mean we’ll see a lot more ARM chips for Windows devices soon.

For example, Samsung could want to get into Windows on ARM. The company already makes Windows laptops and recently partnered with AMD on graphics for Exynos chips. A logicial next step could be bringing Exynos to its laptop line. Similarly, MediaTek announced last week that it plans to start building a chipset for Windows on ARM.

That could also clear the way for running ARM-based Windows on Apple’s M-series chips. Previously, Apple’s vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, said it was up to Microsoft to get Windows on ARM onto the new Mac computers. Specifically, Federighi said it was a licensing issue, with Microsoft only licensing Windows on ARM to manufacturers to pre-install on devices, not to consumers. That said, Apple also didn’t support Boot Camp — its software to allow users to boot Windows on their Mac devices — on M-series chips, leaving Parallels and other virtualization tech as one of the few ways to get Windows onto Apple Silicon Macs.

The most important takeaway from the Qualcomm report is that it could finally open up Windows on ARM to some sorely-needed competition and innovation. Windows on ARM has a lot of problems, but if there were more ARM chips for Windows devices, and more Windows on ARM devices in general, it could help spur developers to improve the Windows ARM experience faster. It could also push manufacturers to create better chips to get an edge over the competition.

To be fair, Windows on ARM has come a long way, but in most cases, it still feels underpowered compared to Windows on x86 chips from Intel or AMD.

Source: XDA Developers

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Mobile Syrup

Qualcomm aims to take on Apple’s M-series chips with next-gen chips in 2023

At its investor day event this week, Qualcomm shared plans to release new ARM-based systems-on-a-chip (SoCs) that would power Windows PCs and go head-to-head with Apple’s M-series chips.

It’s a fairly bold claim, especially given the current state of Windows on ARM and the PC industry, which still largely relies on x86 chips from Intel and AMD for intensive workloads. ARM chips for Windows can work well for light applications or situations where battery life is important (like laptops). Apple’s M-series chips, however, can handle intensive workloads and are frankly impressive, especially when using software properly optimized for the chips.

All this is to say that if Qualcomm wants Apple-level chips by 2023, as it indicated at the investor day event, it’s got a lot of work ahead of it. However, a recent acquisition will help

Qualcomm revealed during the event that Nuvia would design its new chip. Nuvia, as a reminder, was a company founded in 2019 by a trio of former Apple employees who had previously worked on the company’s A-series chips for iPhones and iPads. Qualcomm acquired Nuvia in early 2021 and Qualcomm’s CEO previously said the company could beat Apple’s chips with Nuvia.

Aside from offering competition to Apple’s M-series chips, Qualcomm also said that it aimed to have its new chips lead the field in “sustained performance and battery life.” Alongside this, Qualcomm plans to scale up its Adreno GPUs to offer desktop-class gaming performance.

These are bold ambitions, but if Qualcomm can make it happen, these chips might help shift the PC industry in a big way. Even if Qualcomm’s 2023 chips don’t match up to Apple’s 2023 M-series offering, if Nuvia helps Qualcomm’s PC SoCs leap ahead in performance, it could shake up Intel’s and AMD’s grip on the CPU market, particularly in mobile computing like laptops, tablets and 2-in-1s.

Source: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Qualcomm aims to take on Apple’s M-series chips with next-gen chips in 2023

At its investor day event this week, Qualcomm shared plans to release new ARM-based systems-on-a-chip (SoCs) that would power Windows PCs and go head-to-head with Apple’s M-series chips.

It’s a fairly bold claim, especially given the current state of Windows on ARM and the PC industry, which still largely relies on x86 chips from Intel and AMD for intensive workloads. ARM chips for Windows can work well for light applications or situations where battery life is important (like laptops). Apple’s M-series chips, however, can handle intensive workloads and are frankly impressive, especially when using software properly optimized for the chips.

All this is to say that if Qualcomm wants Apple-level chips by 2023, as it indicated at the investor day event, it’s got a lot of work ahead of it. However, a recent acquisition will help

Qualcomm revealed during the event that Nuvia would design its new chip. Nuvia, as a reminder, was a company founded in 2019 by a trio of former Apple employees who had previously worked on the company’s A-series chips for iPhones and iPads. Qualcomm acquired Nuvia in early 2021 and Qualcomm’s CEO previously said the company could beat Apple’s chips with Nuvia.

Aside from offering competition to Apple’s M-series chips, Qualcomm also said that it aimed to have its new chips lead the field in “sustained performance and battery life.” Alongside this, Qualcomm plans to scale up its Adreno GPUs to offer desktop-class gaming performance.

These are bold ambitions, but if Qualcomm can make it happen, these chips might help shift the PC industry in a big way. Even if Qualcomm’s 2023 chips don’t match up to Apple’s 2023 M-series offering, if Nuvia helps Qualcomm’s PC SoCs leap ahead in performance, it could shake up Intel’s and AMD’s grip on the CPU market, particularly in mobile computing like laptops, tablets and 2-in-1s.

Source: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Qualcomm tweets shade at Google’s upcoming Pixel 6

I don’t really understand this red flag meme, but it reportedly means something is a deal-breaker or is a warning sign for dating.

Now, it seems like the tech world has caught wind of the trend, with Qualcomm’s official Snapdragon Twitter account throwing a bit of shade at Google.

Next week Google will unveil its Pixel 6 series that features its own Tensor chip. While this tweet from Qualcomm is definitely aimed at the Mountain View, California tech giant, to be fair, Google isn’t the only Android manufacturer creating its own chip.

For example, Samsung devices feature its own Exynos chipset in Europe. That said, in North America, Samsung’s smartphones utilize Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips.

Google officially reveal the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro on October 19th. 

Source: Qualcomm

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Mobile Syrup

Carl Pei’s Nothing announces partnership with Qualcomm

London-based Nothing, a technology company created by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, announced that it has acquired $50 million in funding from strategic and private investors and is collaborating with chipmaker Qualcomm for future projects.

A collaboration with Qualcomm, whose chips are found in everything from automobiles to phones, would help Nothing develop better future products.

Further, Nothing states that the $50 million investment from strategic and private investors will be used for research & development and preparation for Nothing’s entry into a new series of product categories as it plans to expand its product ecosystem.

“Seamless connectivity is paramount to achieving our vision of a future without barriers between people and technology,” said Pei in Nothing’s press release. “We look forward to working alongside Qualcomm Technologies and our strategic investors to achieve Nothing’s next phase of growth.”

The company has said that it has shipped over 100,000 of its Nothing Ear (1) earphones worldwide within two months of release.

Additionally, Qualcomm recently announced its AptX Lossless Bluetooth audio codec, which will most likely be supported in the next generation of Nothing earbuds.

However, the collaboration might hold more significant intentions, as it can allow Nothing to enter the smartphone market, and given Pei’s experience with OnePlus, Nothing’s smartphones might take the market by storm.

Source: Nothing