Category Archives: TechNews

Comes Next, Computer Chips, TechNews

Snapdragon 7s Gen 3

[Image credit: Qualcomm ( Snapdragon 7s Gen 3)]

Qualcomm Unveils Snapdragon 7s Gen 3: Mid-Tier Upgrade with Cortex-A720

Qualcomm has launched the its latest SoC for mid-range smartphones. This new chip aims to offer improved performance and power efficiency for budget-friendly devices. Positioned as the entry-level chip in the Snapdragon 7 series, the 7s Gen 3 stands out with significant upgrades.

Upgraded CPU Performance

The new Snapdragon adopts Arm’s latest Armv9 CPU cores, using a 1+3+4 configuration. This setup includes one prime Cortex-A720 core clocked up to 2.5GHz. Additionally, it features three Cortex-A720 performance cores running at up to 2.4GHz. Four efficiency cores, based on Arm’s A520 design, support lighter tasks and can boost to 1.8GHz. This new architecture replaces the older A78/A55 cores from the previous generation, resulting in a 20% improvement in CPU performance.

Enhanced GPU and AI Capabilities

Qualcomm’s Adreno GPU powers the graphics in the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. While Qualcomm has not disclosed specific GPU details, they claim a 40% improvement in GPU performance over the 7s Gen 2. This will make gaming and multimedia experiences much smoother.

The chip also features an updated Hexagon NPU for AI tasks. This NPU supports INT4 for low precision inference, enhancing local AI processing. Users can expect a 30% boost in AI performance compared to the previous generation.

Improved Connectivity and Camera Features

The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 supports both LPDDR4X and LPDDR5 memory. This flexibility allows manufacturers to choose based on the device’s price and performance requirements. The camera system uses a trio of 12-bit Spectra ISPs, supporting a maximum of 64MP resolution with zero shutter lag.

On the connectivity side, Qualcomm has integrated a 5G modem that supports Sub-6 and mmWave bands, with speeds reaching up to 2.9Gbps. The Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module, now branded as FastConnect, supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4, providing stable and fast wireless connections.

Efficient Design and Future Devices

Qualcomm has built the new Snapdragon on TSMC’s N4P process. This shift has enhanced power efficiency by 12%, ensuring longer battery life for smartphones. Xiaomi will be the first brand to use this chip in their new phones, with Realme, Sharp, and Samsung expected to follow soon.

The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 offers an attractive upgrade for mid-range smartphones. It combines enhanced CPU and GPU performance with efficient AI support, making it a strong contender in the mid-tier market.

Comes Next, Computer Chips, TechNews

AMD Ryzen World Record

[Image by TeX9.net]
New World Record: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X Outshines the Competition

Before even hitting the market, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has shattered records, solidifying its position as a powerhouse among processors worldwide and sets new world record. Chinese overclocker Tony Yu pushed this 16-core giant to new heights in Cinebench R23, achieving an astonishing 55,327 multicore points, surpassing the previous record held by its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X has already claimed its first title, even though it’s not yet officially on sale. Chinese overclocker Tony Yu set new records for a 16-core processor in Cinebench R23 with this chip.

After its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X, led the charts for nearly two years, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X now tops the Cinebench benchmark rankings. Tech influencer Tony Yu achieved an impressive 55,327 multicore points with the processor. AMD’s internal overclocking team had previously reached similar, albeit slightly lower, scores.

The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X typically operates at 4.3 GHz. For the record, Tony Yu naturally boosted the frequency, first to 5 GHz, then to 6 GHz, and finally to 6.5 GHz. He managed to break the predecessor’s record at the middle setting.

Such performance is not achievable with standard means. To elevate the CPU to this level, he had to use liquid nitrogen for cooling. This method is common in extreme overclocking attempts, temporarily lowering temperatures to -165 degrees Celsius.

The new Ryzen processors will hit the market soon. Sales start in August with the Ryzen 5 9600X and the Ryzen 7 9700X. A week later, the Ryzen 9 9900X and the aforementioned Ryzen 9 9950X will follow. The computer processors were originally scheduled for an earlier release but had to be delayed due to a typographical error.

Business, Financial, TechNews

Apple Dethroned

[Image by TeX9.net]
Samsung Takes the Lead in Smartphone Market. Apple Dethroned.

Samsung reclaimed the top spot in the smartphone market and dethroned Apple last quarter, according to market researchers. The South Korean company accounted for nearly 21% of global device sales, IDC reported. Apple’s iPhones held a 17.3% market share. The biggest surge came from Transsion, primarily active in Africa, which saw sales jump by about 85%, capturing roughly one-tenth of the global market and moving up to fourth place.

2023 marked the first time Apple surpassed the long-standing market leader over an entire calendar year. In recent months, Samsung launched its new flagship model, the Galaxy S24, on its usual annual schedule. Sales dipped slightly by 0.7% year-over-year to 60.1 million devices, according to IDC. Apple sold about 50.1 million iPhones, down 9.6%. There were also delivery delays for the more powerful iPhone 14 Pro models due to COVID-19 lockdowns in China. The iPhone remains Apple’s most crucial product by far. The overall smartphone market grew by 7.8% to 289.4 million devices, IDC calculated. The firm is one of several market research companies that regularly estimate electronics sales, as manufacturers no longer provide these figures. IDC ranks the Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi in third place, which increased its sales by over a third to about 14% market share.

Samsung Receives Billions in Support for U.S. Chip Plant

The U.S. is taking the next step to bring more chip production from Asia to its shores. The South Korean Samsung Group will build new development and manufacturing sites in Texas with up to $6.4 billion in government support, as announced by the U.S. government on Monday. These facilities will produce chips using cutting-edge two-nanometer technology. A portion of this has already been allocated. Intel secured $8.5 billion, and TSMC was recently awarded $6.6 billion. This support is crucial, as the Taiwanese company is the top provider of the most powerful chips. Industry pioneer Intel has fallen behind TSMC in manufacturing techniques but aims to catch up.

Samsung plans to invest over $40 billion in total. A plant in Texas, under construction since 2022, is set to start in 2026 with more modern production processes. A second factory will begin manufacturing the following year. Samsung also plans to open a site there for bundling processors and memory chips. The South Korean company is a leading memory Producer. Samsung’s stock ultimately fell 1.79% to 82.2 won in South Korea. Meanwhile, Apple’s stock temporarily dropped 1.10% to 174.61 USD on NASDAQ.

Business, Comes Next, Security, TechNews

Google’s Titan security keys

Image: The new Titan security keys in USB-A and USB-C versions (Screenshot Google)

Ready for a world without passwords. Google has introduced a new version of its Titan security keys. The new keys are compatible with Passkeys technology, which is intended to make passwords unnecessary in the long term. What is the best way to protect passwords? By abolishing them. Google, like Apple and Microsoft, has been pursuing this strategy with passkeys for some time. In simple terms, this process allows users to identify themselves on their device. This creates a string as a key that you can then use to log in to web services or accounts.

The Titan security keys intends to make passwords superfluous

Now Google has introduced new Titan security keys that can store up to 250 passkeys. The new security key replaces the previous model from 2018, which was based on the two-stage verification system. The new Titan security keys are already listed in the Google Store . It is available in two versions, for the USB-A and USB-C standards. Both versions are also NFC compatible, meaning they can be connected to a smartphone or computer without contact.

Passkeys technology for everyone

Passkeys normally work without a physical carrier medium, but are activated directly during authentication via smartphone. But: “Some people need a solution that does not depend on smartphones, or use devices that do not support passkeys,” writes Google in a blog post. The company wants to give these user groups access to secure passkey technology with the Titan security key. Passwords and two-step authentication measures should be replaced by passkeys in the long term. But Google itself knows that this is still a thing of the future. In the store, the passkey-compatible keys are therefore advertised as additional protection in addition to passwords.

Google wants to distribute 100,000 keys for free

In order to make the passkey standard even more widespread, Google is taking an unusual measure. Next year, the group wants to distribute 100,000 security keys free of charge to partners in the industry who have particularly high security needs. Google clearly wants to use its initiative to help make the presidential election in the USA safer. This is intended to protect political campaigns from being compromised. So it’s about more than just avoiding fiddling with passwords.

AI, Science, TechNews

AI beats drone champion

Image: Artificial Intelligence, AI (Inteligencia artificial), via: pixabay, by: geralt.

AI beats drone world champion. The AI drone has defeated the human opponents and beat their best times by far. The AI ​​could only be beaten under changing conditions.

Who flies faster: humans or artificial intelligence (AI)? A team from the University of Zurich (UZH) and Intel has developed an AI that can control drones. Among other things, she had to compete with the world champion in the drone race and in shows: AI beats world champion.

Swift is the name of the AI ​​system. A AI system that the UZH team used to compete against the world’s best drone pilots: Alex Vanover, 2019 Drone Racing League Champion, Thomas Bitmatta, who became the MultiGP Drone Racing Champion in the same year, and Marvin Schaepper, three-time Swiss champion . At speeds of more than 100 km/h.

Thy flew a total of 25 races. The result was clear: Swift drone AI beats word champion challenger 15 times. The best time of the AI ​​pilot was half a second below that of the best human pilot. The team describes the results in the journal Nature.

AI beats world champion but humans are more adaptable

As long as the conditions stayed the way Swift had trained them, the AI ​​system had the edge. However, if the conditions changed, for example if it was too bright, then people could adapt better to the changed situation.

In complex games like chess or Go, AI has long been superior to humans. “Physical sports are more challenging for AI because they are less predictable than board or video games , ” said Davide Scaramuzza , head of the robotics and cognition group at UZH.

However, the drone races were not an end in themselves: Swift is intended to pilot drones in research or disaster missions, for example, where speed is important. “Drones have limited battery capacity; they use most of their energy to stay aloft. If we fly faster, we increase their usefulness ,” said Scaramuzza. “In applications such as forest surveillance or space exploration, this is important to cover large areas in a short time. In the film industry, fast autonomous drones could be used to capture action scenes. Last but not least, a high flight speed can make a crucial difference in rescue operations – for example with drones that are sent into a burning building.