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Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 chip is big on photography and VR
Qualcomm hinted that its Snapdragon 835 processor would be something special, and it's ready to show all its cards now that it's at CES, according to a leaked blog post. Battery life is one of the chip's strongest selling points, as you may know (we'll recap that later), but Qualcomm has also revealed that the 835 also carries a ton of upgrades that reflect a rapidly changing mobile landscape. Take virtual reality, for example. On top of 25 percent faster Adreno 540 graphics, it improves positional audio and reduces the lag between motion tracking and what you see on-screen. You won't be as likely to feel seasick or turn the wrong way, in other words.
Windows 10 is coming to Qualcomm's Snapdragon mobile chips
Microsoft's first attempt at bringing Windows to ARM-powered machines was, shall we say, not a good idea. But perhaps the second time's the charm. Microsoft and Qualcomm just announced that Windows 10 is coming to the next generation of Snapdragon mobile processors. And to be clear, they're referring to the full version of the OS, with support for legacy Win32 software and universal Windows apps. It won't be a stripped-down affair like Windows RT.
Qualcomm dives deeper into IoT with two new Snapdragon chips
Snapdragon processors have long been a staple in Android mobile devices but they will soon spread to more than just smartphones. Qualcomm Incorporated announced on Wednesday morning that it is not only producing a pair of new chips, the 410E and 600E, designed specifically for embedded and IoT devices. It is also teaming with Arrow Electronics to make these stand-alone processors available to small and medium-size manufacturers.
Qualcomm chip security holes affect most Android phones
If you own vaguely recent Android smartphone, there's a good chance that at least one of Qualcomm's many chips powers it... and if so, you might be at risk. Check Point has revealed four vulnerabilities, bundled under the QuadRooter nickname, that take advantage of problems with Qualcomm driver software (for elements such as graphics, memory and routing) to get root-level access and install malware that could hijack your device. All an attacker needs to do is load a seemingly innocuous, permissions-free app to deliver the payload.
Qualcomm is selling more chips for high-end smartphones
Qualcomm shipped more Snapdragon chips this quarter than even it expected, and for that reason (and others), made more money. It reported sales of 201 million high-end chips, beating its estimates by at least 6 million. As a result, it raked in sales of $6.04 billion, up 3.6 percent from last year. Not coincidentally, Samsung also reported a very good quarter earlier this month, selling 15 million Galaxy S7/S7 Edge models. The company is, of course, back to using Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chips (which it actually builds itself), after it stopped with the Galaxy S6.
Google and Qualcomm are making Snapdragon chips Tango ready
Manufacturers can make their devices Tango compatible simply by equipping them with Qualcomm's new and upcoming Snapdragon 800 and 600 SoCs. According to Ars Technica, the chipmaker has been working with Google for the past year-and-a-half to make its products ready for the tech titan's augmented reality technology. See, when the big G showed off its Project Tango (as it was called back then) prototype, it had an extra computer vision chip. But the first Tango phone, Lenovo's Phab2 Pro, doesn't have one at all.
Qualcomm's X16 modem could help gigabit LTE work in more places
While our wireless carriers bicker over who offers the fastest service, Qualcomm went and pulled back the curtain on the Snapdragon X16 modem, a dry sounding bit of networking tech with huge implications. With it comes the promise of insanely fast gigabit LTE download speeds... but shouldn't hold your breath waiting see your Ookla Speedtest results shoot through the roof.
Qualcomm's new chips will power up smartwatches, mid-range phones
Look inside just about any Android Wear smartwatch (plus a few running alternative OSes, no less) and you'll find one of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 400-series chips thrumming away inside. The company's stranglehold on wearable gadget processors is pretty damned thorough, and it just might stay that way thanks to a new chip — the Snapdragon Wear 2100 — that was announced earlier today.
Microsoft won't support old Windows versions on new processors
Were you hoping to get a new Windows PC in the office this year without having to move to Windows 10 in the process? You might not have much of a choice, unfortunately. Microsoft has revealed that, from now on, newer processors from AMD, Intel and Qualcomm will require the current version of Windows to get enterprise support. Don't expect that Kaby Lake-based workstation to run Windows 7 properly... or more likely, at all.
Samsung is making Qualcomm's latest mobile chip
Samsung says it's making new Exynos processors with low-power 14nm chips -- which is no surprise. What is, however, is that the company is also in charge of building Qualcomm's (maker of Snapdragon) latest chips with the same process. Samsung's FinFET 3D structures bump up both performance and reduce power use, which is what makes it ideal for the tiny processors embedded in smartphones. Samsung adds that its second-generation chips improve processor speed by up to 15 percent, and reduce power use by the same amount. Both its homemade Exynos, as well as Qualcomm's chips, have made appearances in Galaxy S phones, but this is the first time Samsung has announced that it would also be making its rivals' chip -- specifically the Snapdragon 820 that's being baked into smartphones now.
Meet the world's first phone with a Snapdragon 820 chipset
Just a few years ago, we might have scoffed at the idea of buying a smartphone from a Chinese OEM. Now, with companies like Huawei and ZTE showing us that smartphone pedigree matters less than ambition and execution, things are totally different. That's exactly the opening China's LeTV is trying to capitalize on with its new Le Max Pro. Not only is it the world's first phone to run Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset, it's also the company's first attempt to break into the absolutely insane US market.
Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 is twice as friendly to your battery
Qualcomm is clearly bent on drumming up hype for its Snapdragon 820 chip by drip-feeding facts, but its latest revelation is a big one. The company has revealed that the Kryo CPU at the heart of the chip is up to twice as power-efficient as the Snapdragon 810, even though it's up to two times faster. While that doesn't necessarily translate to twice the battery life, it does promise significantly better performance without a hit to your phone's longevity.
Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 specs leak: 35 percent faster than 810
The cat appears to be out of the bag for Qualcomm's next major mobile chip, the Snapdragon 820. Analyst Pan Jiutang posted some slides on Weibo detailing pretty much all of the important information about the new processor, ahead of Qualcomm's expected launch later this month. First, the big stuff: The 820's newer Hydra CPU is apparently 35 percent faster than the 810, Qualcomm's current high-end processor, and its Adreno 530 graphics processor is 40 percent faster while also being 30 percent more power efficient. Additionally, the chip's 14 nanometer manufacturing process should also make it more efficient than the 20nm 810. The 820s' improvements are all fairly standard, and quite honestly most people won't even see the performance differences with its predecessors. But it should open the door for even more complex games on smartphones and tablets, as well as more apps that might need more horsepower than today's chips.
Qualcomm 'realignment' includes job cuts and a possible split
The rumors of Qualcomm planning a huge reorganization were true -- and unfortunately, that means a lot of people are about to lose their jobs. The mobile chip maker has announced a "strategic realignment" plan that will see the company slash 15 percent of its full-time jobs (the company has about 30,000 total employees) as part of a bid to cut $1.4 billion in costs. It's also considering the possibility of splitting into separate businesses. That may well happen, since a hedge fund calling for the split just got spots for two of its nominees on Qualcomm's board of directors. You'll hear about the company's direction by the end of the year.
OnePlus says its next flagship won't overheat, despite what you heard
"Today, I am proud to share with you that our eagerly-awaited OnePlus 2 will come loaded with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1," starts the blog post from OnePlus. Color us not surprised that the sequel to one of the most sought-after Android phones will come with, well, the processor you expected it to (bar those pesky overheating rumors). What's more interesting is that ".1" hanging off the end of the processor's version number. OnePlus goes on to explain that it worked directly with Qualcomm to create an "improved" version of the CPU. One the phone-maker claims won't get hot like reports suggest.
Fairphone's next 'ethical smartphone' is modular for easy repair
Smartphones are great, but oftentimes it's not so much fun for the people who have to source the raw materials and build the hardware. That's why Fairphone exists: It's an "ethical" smartphone that promises that its devices have been made with the utmost respect for both the environment and human rights. Now, the company is showcasing its second-generation handset that boasts a modular design, enabling would-be owners to easily swap out older components without having to buy a new phone. See? Ethical and thrifty.
Samsung's Galaxy S6 Edge will be in short supply
Samsung mobile head J.K. Shin has warned that supply constraints could hamper sales of its Galaxy S6 Edge smartphone. According to Reuters, Shin revealed production yields of the phone's unique curved display are low, meaning that the company may not be able to keep up with demand. Samsung is "working hard to resolve the difficulty in supply," but yields could be low "for a while." The issue will not affect the vanilla Galaxy S6, which has a more conventional flat display.
Cyanogen's custom Android OS gets boost from big Qualcomm deal
Many people know Cyanogen for delivering Android updates for phones that have long been ignored by their manufacturers. However, over the past two years, its creators have worked hard to turn it into a legitimate entity by forming a company, taking on millions of dollars in funding and embedding its open version of Android on big name devices like the OnePlus One. That particular collaboration may have cooled, but that isn't stopping Cyanogen from seeking new partners, especially with companies like Qualcomm. Today, the chip maker confirmed that it will install select features and UI elements from Cyanogen OS on its upcoming Reference Design products coming next month.
Qualcomm's next chips will help smartphones think for themselves
Qualcomm teased the prospect of smartphones that learn a couple of years ago, and it's now much closer to making them a practical reality. The chip designer has revealed its next big mobile processor, the Snapdragon 820, will be one of the first that can handle its Zeroth cognitive computing platform. In short, it'll let your phone learn about you (and the world around you) to take action on its own. You should see photo apps that detect whole scenes, security tools that protect against unknown viruses and interfaces that depend more on expressions and head movement than button taps. It gets more ambitious than that, though. Zeroth allows for always-on sensors that detect your surroundings (such as through motion or sound) and help your phone anticipate what you want.
Qualcomm brings a slew of high-end tech to its mid-range chips
You might have a hard time distinguishing Qualcomm's newest Snapdragon 400 and 600-series chips from its more powerful brethren. As is usually the case, plenty of higher end features are trickling down through the chip giant's product line. That leads to things like octa-core CPUs in the upcoming Snapdragon 425 and 415 (a first for that line), as well as 4K video recording and playback appearing in the new Snapdragon 620 and 618 chips. The new processors won't really get in the way of Qualcomm's ultra-powerful 810 chip, which will likely power most of this year's high-end smartphones (although perhaps not Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S6). Instead, they're yet another reminder of just how fast the mobile hardware world is innovating.
