Snapdragon Summit Archives

Winsage

September 25, 2025

Google and Qualcomm are prepping ‘desktop’ Android to enable ‘mobile and PC’ in one device, but should Windows and x86 be afraid?

Qualcomm and Google announced a collaboration at the Snapdragon Summit 2025 to develop a desktop version of Google's Android operating system, traditionally used on smartphones. The initiative aims to create a device powered by an Arm chip, moving away from the x86 architecture prevalent in PCs. This development aligns with Google's plan to base ChromeOS on Android, allowing Android apps to run natively on laptops and desktops. The anticipated benefits of the new device include affordability, exceptional battery life due to Arm CPUs, and a seamless web browsing experience. However, challenges remain for the gaming sector, as evidenced by Valve's decision to stop plans for Steam on Chromebooks. The collaboration may indicate a significant shift towards Arm architecture in the PC market.

Winsage

September 24, 2025

Google says more on desktop Android, Qualcomm ‘incredibly excited’

At the Snapdragon Summit 2025, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon and Google’s Rick Osterloh discussed the collaboration between the two companies on the evolving landscape of desktop Android. Google announced in 2024 that ChromeOS would transition to a foundation built on Android, aiming to merge ChromeOS and Android into a cohesive platform. This initiative intends to enhance the ChromeOS experience by leveraging Android's technology and create a common technical foundation for products on PCs and desktop computing systems. The project aims to accelerate AI innovation within ChromeOS, streamline engineering efforts, and improve interoperability among devices. Qualcomm is expected to benefit from a new operating system for its PC-class chips, although specifics about the development of a desktop Android-first offering remain unclear.

Winsage

September 24, 2025

Google just teased its Android-powered PC project, Qualcomm CEO says he’s seen it

Google is collaborating with Qualcomm to unify the technical foundations of Android and PC systems, aiming to blur the distinctions between mobile and desktop computing. Rick Osterloh, Google's Senior Vice President of Devices and Services, emphasized the potential for integrating Google's AI capabilities into PCs. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon expressed enthusiasm for this convergence initiative. Additionally, Google is reportedly working on a multi-year project to merge Chrome OS and Android into a cohesive operating system for various devices. Enhancements to Android for larger screens are already being implemented, suggesting future Chromebooks and possibly a new Pixel Laptop may run on Android instead of Chrome OS.

Winsage

September 24, 2025

Google’s Android for PC: ‘I’ve seen it, it is incredible’

Qualcomm's CEO, Cristiano Amon, expressed enthusiasm for Google's anticipated merger of Android and ChromeOS during a keynote at Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit. He previewed the new software and highlighted collaborative efforts between Qualcomm and Google to bridge mobile and desktop computing. Google's head of platforms and devices, Rick Osterloh, noted the aim to create a common technical foundation for PCs and smartphones, integrating Gemini AI and the complete Android stack. Amon described the software as incredible and aligned with the vision of convergence between mobile and PC. The last update from Google on this initiative was in July, confirming their commitment to merging ChromeOS and Android into a unified platform.

Winsage

September 24, 2025

Google reveals its Android for PC is coming next year

Qualcomm announced at the Snapdragon Summit that Google plans to merge its Android and ChromeOS platforms to create a new operating system for computers. Sameer Samat from Google expressed excitement about this integration, which aims to enhance the laptop experience by incorporating AI advancements from Android. Qualcomm also introduced new PC chips, the Snapdragon X2 Elite and Elite Extreme, which may support this initiative.

Winsage

September 24, 2025

Google Teases Android for PC to Converge Mobile and Desktop Experiences

Qualcomm's 10th annual Snapdragon Summit featured discussions on Google's re-entry into the PC ecosystem through the Android for PC initiative, which aims to unify mobile and desktop experiences. Google plans to merge its ChromeOS and Android for PC projects into a single platform, leveraging advanced AI technologies like Gemini. Qualcomm's CEO expressed excitement about the convergence of mobile and PC technologies. Additionally, Google launched the Google App for Windows desktop PCs, allowing users to search across various sources on their devices, marking an effort to expand its presence in the desktop application market.

Winsage

March 25, 2025

Windows-on-Arm woes: Amazon warns customers about Surface laptop returns

Qualcomm and Microsoft are enhancing the Windows-on-Arm ecosystem, highlighted during the Microsoft Build event in May 2024. The Surface brand laptops with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processors received positive feedback for performance and battery life. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition) has been flagged by Amazon as a "frequently returned item," prompting buyers to check reviews. Customer feedback indicates that app compatibility issues are a primary reason for the returns. Intel's interim Co-CEO suggested that devices with Snapdragon chips are returned at higher rates due to unmet functionality expectations. Despite this, the market for Windows-on-Arm systems remains strong, with major manufacturers adopting Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors. Other Snapdragon-powered devices, like the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, have not faced similar return warnings. The Surface Laptop may have higher return rates due to its popularity and specific shortcomings noted in reviews, such as display quality and keyboard comfort. Microsoft also offers Intel versions of the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, which may confuse consumers. Qualcomm and Microsoft are working with developers to improve software support for Windows-on-Arm, with notable applications like DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Photoshop now available. Challenges remain, including Qualcomm's discontinuation of its Snapdragon Developer Kit for Windows and limited native support for some applications. Users with specialized needs may prefer traditional x86 Windows versions. Qualcomm plans to unveil its second generation of Snapdragon X processors in late 2025.

Winsage

November 13, 2024

DirectML unlocks new silicon for AI experiences across Windows Copilot+ PCs

October saw the introduction of various applications utilizing the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) on Copilot+ PCs, enhancing AI innovations on the Windows platform. Adobe Premiere Pro became the first Adobe application to leverage NPU capabilities, integrating features like the Audio Category Tagger, which automatically tags audio clips. Capture One announced two AI-powered features, Match Look and AI Crop, for Copilot+ PCs, utilizing Qualcomm's NPU. Affinity Photo 2 introduced AI-enhanced Object Selection capabilities, automating the creation of layer masks using machine learning with Qualcomm's Hexagon NPU. DirectML facilitates compatibility across hardware architectures, supporting these advancements in AI applications on Windows.

Winsage

October 26, 2024

AI in Windows 11 is finally getting (kind of) interesting

Microsoft is rolling out updates for Copilot+ PCs, including a new AI feature called Super Resolution in the Photos app for Windows 11 version 24H2 on Snapdragon X PCs. This feature enhances image size and resolution. Upcoming capabilities like Click To Do and the Recall feature are expected to be released to Insiders this month. Windows 11 version 24H2 has improved the update process, making updates up to 45% faster to install, with restart times improving by nearly 40% and consuming up to 25% less CPU resources. Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit highlighted the second-generation Oryon CPUs, which offer enhanced single-core performance while consuming 57% less power compared to the first generation. There is anticipation for the next generation of Snapdragon X processors, but there is a need for software developers to optimize for Arm architecture.

Winsage

October 24, 2024

Microsoft is making Windows great for musicians and other audio professionals

Microsoft is introducing significant updates to Windows aimed at musicians and audio professionals, including MIDI 2.0 support, which will be backward compatible with MIDI 1.0. Collaborations with Qualcomm and Yamaha have resulted in a new USB Audio Class 2 Driver for Windows. These enhancements are initially targeted at Windows on Arm PCs, with plans to extend them to Intel and AMD x86-64 devices. Upcoming musician software for Arm64 includes Steinberg Cubase and Nuendo in preview this week, Cockos Reaper currently in preview, and Reason Studios Reason set for preview in early 2025. Audio hardware updates include a vendor-specific USB Audio/ASIO driver preview from Focusrite and Steinberg/Yamaha in 2025. In-box support for ASIO and low-latency USB Audio Class 2 drivers is expected by mid-2025, with MIDI 2.0 previews available in Windows Insider builds this November and retail availability expected early next year.