5G connectivity Archives

Winsage

December 7, 2024

Exclusive report: What’s next for Surface in 2025, including a possible 11-inch mini Surface Laptop?

Surface introduced the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 in March, featuring Intel Core Ultra processors and anti-reflective screens. Microsoft later announced the Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 with Qualcomm Snapdragon X SoCs. New iterations of the Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, and Surface Laptop Studio are expected, including a Surface Laptop with an Intel Lunar Lake processor and a potential new 11-inch device powered by a Snapdragon X Plus SoC. The upcoming Surface devices may include features like a card reader and 5G connectivity. Copilot+ features are anticipated to extend to the Surface Laptop Studio, requiring a neural processing unit (NPU) with 40+ TOPS. A new Surface Dock is also expected, with details yet to be revealed. The new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop are likely to launch in the first quarter of 2025, with additional products potentially released from spring to fall.

Winsage

November 15, 2024

Qualcomm’s x86 challenges with Windows on Arm

Qualcomm is working to establish Arm-based Windows laptops as a viable alternative in computing, utilizing Snapdragon processors that offer extended battery life, fanless designs, and integrated 5G connectivity. The company aims to address the software compatibility challenges faced by users of traditional x86 machines by relying on Microsoft's x86-64 emulation, which allows Arm devices to run x86 applications. However, this emulation often leads to performance issues and increased battery drain, particularly with demanding applications like Adobe Creative Cloud and AutoCAD. Qualcomm's strategy suggests a need for investment in native Windows on Arm software and a push for Microsoft to optimize Windows for Arm architecture. The company should also consider positioning Arm laptops as secondary devices for light tasks rather than direct competitors to x86 machines.

Winsage

November 8, 2024

Qualcomm triples Windows on Arm OEM design wins since May

Qualcomm's CEO Cristiano R. Amon announced a significant increase in design wins for the Snapdragon X Plus eight-core platform, rising from 20 to 58 in six months. This reflects growing interest among OEMs in Arm-based Windows laptops. However, Qualcomm faces challenges in converting these design wins into consumer sales due to compatibility issues and performance concerns. Intel and AMD continue to dominate the market with hundreds of design wins annually. Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus platform offers AI capabilities, 5G connectivity, and improved battery life, but software compatibility remains a challenge. In Q4 2024, Qualcomm reported revenue of .2 billion, a 19% year-on-year increase, and a net income of .92 billion, a 96% rise. Over the fiscal year, revenue increased 9% to .9 billion, and net profit surged 40% to .14 billion.

BetaBeacon

October 30, 2024

Meta’s leaked ‘Avalanche’ could bring back Oculus Rift games, but I want more

Meta is actively working on bringing cloud VR gaming to Meta Quest, with a leaked app called Avalanche appearing briefly on the Quest Store. The company intends to launch cloud streaming on Quest when it's consumer-ready, enabling higher graphics than the Snapdragon XR2 on the Quest 3 and Quest 3S can natively handle. The challenges ahead include dealing with latency and high ping that comes with cloud streaming. The author dreams of a partnership between Meta and Microsoft to stream VR ports of popular first-person titles on Quest, such as Minecraft, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Forza, and Halo.

AppWizard

June 26, 2024

All UK and US Android owners warned of ‘Medusa’ attack that raids bank accounts

- A new variant of the Medusa banking attack targeting Android users has been detected - The malware is capable of reading sensitive text messages, recording phone calls, and displaying a full-screen overlay to mask malicious activities - The attack has targeted users in the UK, US, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, and Turkey - The latest variant requests fewer but more essential permissions to evade detection - Medusa is often spread through phishing tricks and dropper apps downloaded from untrusted sources outside of the Google Play Store

Winsage

June 18, 2024

Best Copilot+ PC in 2024

- Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is a convertible Copilot+ PC with a bright OLED display.

Winsage

April 22, 2024

Do you need 5G in a laptop?

- 5G in laptops is a significant advancement for connectivity, offering faster data transfer speeds and lower latency. - 5G laptops provide constant connectivity similar to mobile phones, with superior coverage compared to Wi-Fi or LAN. - 5G laptops offer improved security and privacy compared to public Wi-Fi networks. - Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processor is leading the way for the future of Windows on Arm with integrated 5G capabilities. - Manufacturers like Microsoft, Lenovo, HP, and Dell are offering 5G laptops, with business-oriented laptops more likely to feature this technology.