News
Qualcomm launches the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Better AI, better everything
It’s that time of the year again. Chipmakers have started to reveal what their latest offerings are, powering the next wave of flagships. Finally, it’s Qualcomm’s turn. During the Snapdragon Summit 2022, the company unveiled the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
Last year, Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, a major revamp to the company’s lineup of premium chipsets. Powered by an improved processor, the chipset introduced a vast variety of applications including advancements in 5G connectivity and AI capabilities. The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 pushes this even further.
With an upgraded Hexagon processor, the chipset features 4.35 times faster AI performance compared to the previous generation. It is also the first to use INT4, an AI precision format. Also, with an advanced Sensing Hub and AI Stack, smartphones can now support custom wake words and more AI-ready tools.
Further, with an AI-capable Cognitive ISP, the chipset can detect individual elements in a photo, improving on each one using software. Samsung’s ISOCELL HP3, the first 200-megapixel sensor optimized for the chipset, will take brilliant shots, and can shoot 8K HDR at 60fps.
Using a better Adreno GPU and Kryo CPU, the chipset can play games up to 25 percent faster and 40 percent more efficiently. It also supports the Unreal Engine 5 Metahuman Framework and hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
For entertainment, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 supports Snapdragon Sound technology, supporting spatial audio and 48kHz lossless streaming. Additionally, the chipset’s Snapdragon X70 5G modem and FastConnect 7800 connectivity system can support 5G and Wi-Fi 7 connections. Finally, it will keep users secure with an improved Snapdragon Secure system, offering the best in cryptography and key isolation.
Qualcomm promises that devices will come by the end of the year through ASUS, HONOR, OnePlus, OPPO, Sony, vivo, Xiaomi, and ZTE.
Entertainment
UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony hits Makati in October
Determination arrives in October.
For so small of a game, UNDERTALE quickly made it into the gaming world’s hall of fame. Despite being only a decade old, the small title has had a major influence for modern-day gamers because of its unique gameplay, its lo-fi art, and, of course, its catchy soundtrack. If you’re a fan of UNDERTALE’s soundtrack, a unique concert experience is headed your way.
On October 17, Film Concerts PH, in partnership with SOHO Live, is hosting UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony at the Proscenium Theater in Rockwell, Makati.
The concert will be performed by the Filharmonika Orchestra and conducted by Thanapol Setabrahmana. Personally curated by creator Toby Fox and developed by Lambert Jackson with Materia Music, the concert experience showcases the game’s most recognizable tunes laid over gameplay footage playing simultaneously. Plus, for the world tour, the experience will have expanded scoring.
In the game, you play as a small child stuck in the mysterious Underground filled with interesting characters and monsters. Unlike traditional RPGs, UNDERTALE asks players to choose between building relationships and chasing after wins. It’s a unique experience that’s defined by whether you chose to make friends or fought your way to the top. It teaches players to value different ways to solve problems, all while showering them with its one-of-a-kind humor.
Pre-sales for the concert, exclusively for members of the Film Concerts PH community, start on August 4. Public sales, however, will start on August 11 via Ticketmelon.
SEE ALSO: The hunt begins: The Witcher in Concert hits Manila with surprises in tow
The price of technology isn’t fun these days. Because of the ongoing RAM shortage wrought by AI, companies across the industry are raising the prices of their products. Some, however, are still willing to shoulder the burden for their customers. Unfortunately, Qualcomm is soon leaving that list.
As reported by Bloomberg, Qualcomm will raise the prices of its products starting in September. Though the exact figure is unknown, the company did confirm that it’s in the double digits, percentage-wise. According to them, they can no longer shoulder the costs for its customers.
If you’re just a regular user, Qualcomm’s prices might not mean much for you. After all, the chipmaker doesn’t make phones of its own.
That said, Qualcomm is still one of the biggest suppliers for smartphone chipsets, including those that Samsung uses. Pushing the burden from chipsets to phone manufacturers reduces one more buffer against costs being ultimately pushed to consumers.
All things considered, Samsung managed to keep its prices hikes relatively low with the latest batch of foldables. However, with chips getting more price increases, it’s still within the realm of possibility that Samsung will also increase the price of its smartphones. The same can be said for any Qualcomm-powered smartphone available today.
News
Apple is reportedly delaying its smart glasses due to privacy concerns
The brand wants to squash malicious recording.
Smart glasses are in a weird place right now. While early adopters are celebrating the ability to record everything, a growing group of critics are decrying the loss of privacy. Formerly at full throttle, Apple, in response to these controversies, will reportedly delay its version of smart glasses to next year.
According to Bloomberg, Apple is heading back to the drawing board to further emphasize the unreleased wearable’s privacy protections, which includes “hardware and software-related privacy features not available on current products.” The report, however, doesn’t enumerate what these features are.
If anything, these features will likely prevent malicious recording. Most smart glasses today have a light that tells passersby that the device is actively recording video. However, users have discovered ways to tamper and disable this light, so their devices can start recording without alerting others. Apple will likely introduce better measure to prevent such tampering.
Additionally, it’s also possible that Apple introduces a version of the smart glasses without a camera attached.
Because of these new initiatives, the brand will delay the launch of the wearable to sometime next year. Previously, there was heavy speculation that the smart glasses will launch later this year.
On the bright side, there’s still substantial reason to believe that Apple is launching its first ever foldable device later this year.
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