The Evolution of the Always On, Always Connected PC

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The Evolution of the Always On, Always Connected PC

Last year Qualcomm provided the first true AOAC PC experience with partners HP, ASUS, and Lenovo with its Snapdragon 835 SoC. This fall will see the release of second-generation hardware based on the faster and more efficient Snapdragon 850 Mobile Compute Platform that includes new processing cores, improved graphics system, and a faster peak speed LTE modem. The first system released using this configuration is the Lenovo C630 WOS, a sleek and stylish design that provides a premium fit and finish.

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Defining the Always On, Always Connected PC

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Defining the Always On, Always Connected PC

The future of the notebook PC lies in merging the familiarity of Windows with experiences and capabilities that are unique to smartphones. This should include a renewed emphasis on battery life, targeting days rather than hours of real-world usage. Deep sleep and hibernate states that force portions of the system to be inaccessible for dynamic updating and that slow the ability for the user to interact with PC should be eliminated. Ubiquitous internet access through high speed, Gigabit-class LTE can provide uninterrupted data support without the hassle and reliability concerns of Wi-Fi and comes with a connected standby experience where your data is ready when you need it.

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Qualcomm movement into Broadcom markets is behind acquisition battle

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Qualcomm movement into Broadcom markets is behind acquisition battle

In the ongoing feud between Broadcom and Qualcomm and the former’s attempt to use a hostile takeover to acquire the latter, we have seen commentary, press releases, letters from the board, and countless TV interviews from leadership on both sides. But recent announcements and product reveals from the San Diego-based mobile chip giant continue to paint a picture that differs greatly from the one being presented by Broadcom and CEO Hock Tan.

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Qualcomm signs major carriers and retailers for Always Connected PC launch

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Qualcomm signs major carriers and retailers for Always Connected PC launch

With availability scheduled to begin next month, Qualcomm is prepping for its final push to prepare the market for what it believes is a revolutionary product category for the PC market. Just before the mobile media and analysts focus attention on Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week, Qualcomm hopes it has completed the final step in the launch of its “Windows 10 on Snapdragon” line. Partners like Amazon, the Microsoft Stores, Verizon, and AT&T will provide the cellular LTE connections to maintain an always-connected state and the retail and online locations to purchase them.

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Qualcomm server chips to power cloud-based Android gaming platform

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Qualcomm server chips to power cloud-based Android gaming platform

Qualcomm is finally talking about design wins surrounding its server chip platform called Centriq, unveiled this past November. Early excitement and technical interest in the company’s first attempt to bring a processor to the server space have been high, though without firm commitments from major system vendors or cloud service providers like Amazon and Microsoft, the markets have been hesitant to buy-in to this and similar Arm-based designs.

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Qualcomm pushes LTE forward again, up to 2 Gbps with Snapdragon X24 modem

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Qualcomm pushes LTE forward again, up to 2 Gbps with Snapdragon X24 modem

Hot on the heels of the 5G momentum that saw Qualcomm announce working with 18 different device OEMs and 18  different network providers to bring 5G hardware and carriers online for wide adoption in 2019, the mobile giant is launching another 4G LTE modem. The new Snapdragon X24 LTE modem will provide connectivity speeds as high as 2.0 Gbps (Cat 20) and happens to be the first chip officially announced to be built on a 7nm process technology. It will be shipping in products by the end of 2018.

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Broadcom’s meddling with Qualcomm could disrupt critical 5G transition

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Broadcom’s meddling with Qualcomm could disrupt critical 5G transition

Whether agreed to and approved through regulatory bodies or not, the current situation surrounding Broadcom attempting to purchase Qualcomm is creating instability in the market’s move to 5G cellular technology. This disruption will be substantially increased if a deal is agreed to or if the board of directors at Qualcomm is replaced, as the current Broadcom takeover plan calls for. During a sensitive time of transition like the one the mobile market finds itself, uncertainty and confusion about the leader in 5G technology could have a waterfall effect on the market.

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Qualcomm 5G devices coming in 2019, leaving Apple behind

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Qualcomm 5G devices coming in 2019, leaving Apple behind

With significant pressure to show the value and growth opportunities for the company with a looming hostile takeover bid from Broadcom, mobile chip design house Qualcomm is hoping that its position in the market of next-generation cellular radio technology will be a foundation of its future. The company revealed today partnerships with 18 global OEMs that will be launching 5G-ready devices in 2019 and 18 worldwide cellular carriers will be completing tests of Qualcomm 5G radios in 2018.

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Qualcomm agreement with Samsung weakens Apple in legal dispute

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Qualcomm agreement with Samsung weakens Apple in legal dispute

Lost in the shuffle of earnings releases last week was an announcement between Samsung and Qualcomm that the San Diego chip vendor hopes could have significant impact on its current battle with Apple and other vendors regarding licensing disputes. In a subtle, but potentially impactful agreement extension between it and Samsung, Qualcomm believes that it will be able to lay to rest the combative legal dispute with the Cupertino iPhone maker and bring along with it a boost in revenue through back-pay and future royalties.

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Security vulnerability creates Spectre over Intel, AMD, Apple, and others

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Security vulnerability creates Spectre over Intel, AMD, Apple, and others

2018 started off with a bang for chip vendors like Intel and AMD, as a new and potentially industry-shifting security vulnerability at the silicon level was announced. Along with it came concerns about consumer privacy, financial security, and even potential performance impacts on computers and servers that were patched to alleviate the vulnerability.

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Broadcom takeover makes little sense after aggressive Qualcomm announcements

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Broadcom takeover makes little sense after aggressive Qualcomm announcements

Qualcomm has found itself in another important battle over the last few weeks. Rather than a legal dispute with Apple, this fight comes from a potential takeover and buyout by tech-giant Broadcom. Broadcom already made one official offer to shareholders for the company, totaling around $103B, but it was unanimously rejected by Qualcomm’s board.

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Intel makes moves into 5G, potential partnership with Apple

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Intel makes moves into 5G, potential partnership with Apple

Intel this week made announcements surrounding its efforts and products in the mobile connectivity device segment. The Intel XMM 8000-series of 5G capable modems will bring the next-generation of wireless connectivity to PCs, smartphones, and infrastructure devices with a target consumer product launch in mid-2019. Intel also updated plans for a new 4G LTE modem that will offer speeds as high as 1.6 Gigabits-per-second, a substantial upgrade from current connectivity options on smartphones (peaking at 1.0 Gigabits-per-second), again with a 2019 target release.

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Apple shared modem tech illegally, claims Qualcomm

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Apple shared modem tech illegally, claims Qualcomm

The long standing legal battle between Apple and processor and connectivity provider Qualcomm has taken another surprising turn this week. Qualcomm has filed a complaint against Apple in San Diego court alleging that Apple has breached its contract by not allowing for a security audit stemming from apparent lack of intellectual property protection by the Cupertino giant.

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Qualcomm Partners with Bosch, OmniVision, and Ximmerse to Shore Up Mobile VR Sensors

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Qualcomm Partners with Bosch, OmniVision, and Ximmerse to Shore Up Mobile VR Sensors

Qualcomm has put forward steady work on creating the vibrant hardware ecosystem for mobile VR to facilitate broad adoption of wireless, dedicated head mounted displays. Though the value of Samsung’s Gear VR and Google’s Daydream View cannot but overstated in moving the perception of consumer VR forward, the need to utilize your smart phone in a slot-in style design has its limitations. It consumes battery that you may require for other purposes, it limits the kinds of sensors that the VR system can utilize, and creates a sub-optimal form factor in order to allow for simple user installation.

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The Windows Opportunity for Qualcomm

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The Windows Opportunity for Qualcomm

With both Microsoft and Qualcomm publicly discussing the re-emergence of mobile processors from Qualcomm running the Windows consumer desktop operating system, it seems as good a time as any to dissect what this might mean for the industry and the major players involved. Windows 10 running on Qualcomm processor platforms in tablets and notebook form factors brings with it some incredible opportunities for all involved, including the consumers they are targeting, with a focus on areas the Windows+Intel relationship has neglected for some time. But with that comes substantial risk and many avenues of potential conflict when these systems begin to hit the market the end of this year.

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