Latest news with #Amon
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Qualcomm gambled on repeating its own ads at Computex, but did it pay off?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. As predicted, Qualcomm's Computex Keynote focused more on AI and AI-powered features on the Windows on Arm ecosystem rather than new announcements. Qualcomm is turning 40 this year, but as CEO Cristiano Amon stated, "it's a new Qualcomm," thanks to the company's investment in computing. Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon X series at Computex last year, but despite that timeline, Qualcomm's Computex presence did not revolve around chip announcements. Essentially: Qualcomm spent the entire 60 minute keynote dodging around the rumors of the second Snapdragon X Series chip generation to instead focus on their often-repeated performance claims, new systems, and Windows on Arm ecosystem updates. At a rather slim Computex for computing news, this could have been a moment for Qualcomm to shine with the second gen of it's Arm chips. Instead the company chose to gamble and focus on its partnerships with various manufacturers including Microsoft. But, did Qualcomm's gamble pay off? Qualcomm now has 1,400 games optimized for Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite. The company showed footage of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II on a Snapdragon X Elite system, though its uncertain whether the game will play smoothly across all of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series. Qualcomm showcased a lot of early gaming performance on the Snapdragon X Elite chipset on custom hardware, running on 80W systems that were never released to the public. Considering that history, it's hard to take Qualcomm's announcements at face value. Qualcomm and Epic Games will also be bringing Fortnite to Windows on Arm, which makes sense considering Qualcomm announced Snapdragon support for Epic Games Online Easy Anti-Cheat back in March. Qualcomm has reached 9% market share in the laptop market, thanks to a large portfolio of devices, including newly launched computes like the new Acer Aspire 14 and 16 AI, HP OmniBook 5, and new Microsoft Surface Pro 11-inch and Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch. Amon also shared statistics on Snapdragon's performance compared to Intel's Core Ultra 7 processor. But this is a skewed comparison from the jump. Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite is a 12-core chipset while the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V is a mid-range 8-core CPU. And some of the comparisons were calculated on specific workloads like DaVinci Resolve's SuperScale FHD to 4K upscaling technology. Amon also repeated the claim that Snapdragon has "leading performance on an SoC in the laptop ecosystem." While this was true during the Snapdragon X Elite launch cycle, it has been overturned by recent launches from AMD, Apple, and Intel. Qualcomm has also expanded its portfolio of applications to include the top 200 most-used Windows apps into the Windows on Arm ecosystem. Part of this is thanks to Microsoft's new Prism emulation software which helps alleviate the key pain-point of Windows on Arm. However, there are still limits to Prism emulation and the Windows on Arm ecosystem. After all, what are those 200 applications? And are they actually the most-used apps? Qualcomm makes this claim based on data from Microsoft that was collected by snapshots of aggregated app usage data as of August 2024 on Copilot+ PCs. Of course, the problem with that data is that in August 2024, only Snapdragon X systems were in the Copilot+ ecosystem. AMD and Intel's AI PC chips didn't get rolled into Copilot+ until the end of 2024. So it's a bit of a skewed sample set. As always with Qualcomm's claims, Amon's claims are technically correct, but the real context is always in the details Qualcomm doesn't share. That said, Qualcomm has put in some serious work to fill out the Windows on Arm ecosystem. Just over a year ago, the Windows on Arm software ecosystem was almost unusably bare. That is no longer the case. But if you need a highly specialized application, it may not run on Windows on Arm, even emulated. Some key examples are the Autodesk suite, Parsec, and Adobe DreamWeaver and Substance 3DStager. In fact, despite Qualcomm's partnership with Adobe, the only applications that run natively on Snapdragon are Photoshop and Photoshop Lightroom. Other applications like Illustrator and After Effects are expected to make it onto Snapdragon platforms, but are still not available through emulation yet. Qualcomm deserves recognition for the work done to build up an ecosystem. But it will still be years before Windows on Arm can even come close to the level of app-support you find on x86 systems. Cristiano took questions during the keynote from audience submissions and had them spoken aloud by a Snapdragon AI PC. So these questions ranged from AI for business to a hybrid future that combines computing, AI, automotive, and mobile ecosystems. Because these questions were collected from the whole keynote audience including Qualcomm staff, guests, OEM partners, and Computex industry attendees, many fed straight into Qualcomm's usual marketing stance about Snapdragon X Series performance and Qualcomm's view of a hybrid future. The most interesting statement from Amon during this segment was "I'm very bullish about smart glasses" and the future of AR and how it will evolve with AI PCs and better smartphones to augment our lives. Amon also took questions from press and analysts after the keynote to expand on Qualcomm's portfolio from data center to DragonWing to robotics. 'Robotics is natural to Qualcomm,' Amon said. Claiming robotics will be a big market for Qualcomm similar to the automotive market. As robots require a high degree of performance and strong battery life, and 'that's our DNA.' As for the future of the Oryon CPU cores behind the Snapdragon X Series processors, Amon would only enthuse 'the CPU team is very busy,' and that those interested in the future of Qualcomm's computing portfolio should 'come to Snapdragon Summit, you're going to like what you're going to see.' Qualcomm sees the future of computing as a hybrid environment between computers and smartphones, where one is an extension of the other. This view of the future colors everything Amon and Qualcomm's OEM partners discussed at Computex. However, is it an accurate view of the future? You can already access your smartphone data on your laptop in the Windows and macOS ecosystems. While there are differences in functionality, with some combinations working better than others. But phone to computer communication has been in the works for years now. In fact, I distinctly remember crashing my 2010 MacBook Pro by adding macOS X Mavericks on it to control my iPhone from my laptop back in 2013. While Amon is also bullish about on-device AI features with Snapdragon, Apple, AMD, Nvidia, and Intel are also pushing the same development. So it's hardly a unique feature to Snapdragon systems. To support this dream, Qualcomm is entering the commercial and data center spaces in the future. As for the highly anticipated Snapdragon X Elite Gen 2, it seems Qualcomm is holding all details on that chip for Snapdragon Summit in the fall. "It's not because we don't love GeForce, GeForce got us here": Nvidia brings the power of RTX 5060 to budget-friendly gaming laptops Apple REALLY doesn't want you playing Fortnite on iPhone Trump warns Apple over India: what it means for the next iPhone
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How to Watch Qualcomm's Keynote at Computex 2025
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. Stand aside, Intel and AMD: Qualcomm is once again heading to Computex with big ambitions to reshape the PC market with its own Arm-based chips. CEO Cristiano Amon is scheduled to deliver a keynote at the annual trade show, and we expect plenty of announcements, including new chips and more details about Qualcomm's strategy around AI PCs. But you'll need to stay up late if you plan on watching the keynote from the US. The event — which will be live streamed on YouTube from Taipei, Taiwan— is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, at 11 p.m. PT / Monday, May 19 at 2 a.m. ET (video embedded above). It's been almost a year since Qualcomm began selling Windows Copilot+ laptops built with Snapdragon X processors. So it'll be interested to hear what the company has learned since then, and how it plans on bolstering its Windows offerings when competition in the PC chip space is intensifying amid rumors Nvidia might expand into the market. Qualcomm's PC processors stand out for using Arm architecture, a sharp contrast to the long-dominant x86 processors from Intel and AMD. Although Arm chips can lack software compatibility, the processors can offer impressive performance, including for AI workloads and GPU tasks. Qualcomm has even boasted that its Snapdragon X chips outperform rival processors from Intel, which has caused some bickering. But the company's foray into PCs also highlights growing adoption of Arm chips. Apple famously dumped Intel-based processors to pursue its own Arm-based chips for MacBooks, which have received rave reviews for their high performance and long battery life. On top of all this, reports suggest Nvidia might introduce its own Arm-based chips for Windows PCs at Computex. All of this sets the stage for Qualcomm's keynote to highlight the escalating rivalry between Arm and x86 in the PC market. Viewers can also expect plenty of talk about generative AI. In a press release, Qualcomm noted that Amon will 'share insights on how AI is transforming PC experiences for consumers, enterprises, and in industrial sectors.' This includes demonstrating 'how on-device AI is poised to significantly enhance productivity, creativity, and much more.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Everything Qualcomm Announced at Its Computex 2025 Keynote in 19 Minutes
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. Qualcomm may be best known for powering smartphones, but at the Computex trade show in Taiwan, the US chip vendor came to talk about Windows PCs and its play for a market that's long been dominated by Intel and AMD. 'We're going to be in the PC market forever,' said Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon. In a keynote, Amon detailed the company's progress over the past year since it made a major push to sell Snapdragon X-powered Windows laptops. 'We've very happy with the traction so far,' he said. 'We have now over 85 plus [PC] designs that have launched or are in development." The goal is to release 100+ product models by next year, giving consumers more choice for their next laptop purchases. In a shot at Intel and AMD, Amon also said Qualcomm entered the Windows PC business after Microsoft came to the company with a 'desire to restore the performance and innovation leadership to the Windows ecosystem.' One of Amon's major announcements was that Qualcomm plans on expanding its Windows laptop focus to businesses and enterprises. He's also betting that artificial intelligence, including on-device AI, will become so important to users that the technology will act like an operating system, rather than merely as a software tool or application. Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips were designed to outperform rival silicon from Intel, AMD, and even Apple in terms of both performance, on-device AI workloads, and battery life. Still, one key challenge facing Arm-based laptops is software compatibility since existing Windows programs were built for x86 chips from Intel and AMD, rather than Qualcomm processors. But in his keynote, Amon highlighted the surge in native Windows apps built for Arm-based chips. 'We have 1,400 games that are running and optimized on Snapdragon. And we're working with all the top global gaming studios,' he said, adding that Fortnite is on the way too. Amon also noted: '93% of the users' time using those devices are now on native experiences.' The remaining time is spent using an emulator to run x86 Windows apps. Qualcomm and its partners plan on showing off some of their upcoming Snapdragon Windows laptops at Computex. So stay tuned for our coverage.
CNBC
19-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Qualcomm to launch data center processors that link to Nvidia chips
Qualcomm on Monday said it plans to launch processors designed for data centers to power artificial intelligence, which will link to Nvidia's chips. Nvidia's graphics processing units (GPUs) have become a critical component in data centers used to train huge AI models that power applications like chatbots. They are often paired with a central processing unit (CPU) — a market dominated by Intel and AMD. Qualcomm said it is planning to launch a custom CPU for the data center that can connect to Nvidia's GPUs and software. A link to Nvidia's infrastructure is key for any player hoping to crack into the data center given the relevance of the U.S. chip giant's semiconductors for AI. The announcement actually marks a re-entry into the data center market for Qualcomm after previous efforts last decade bore little fruit. In 2021, Qualcomm acquired Nuvia, which designs processors based on Arm designs and has been key to the U.S. tech titan's efforts with data center CPUs. The data center CPU market remains highly competitive. Big cloud computing players like Amazon and Microsoft already design and deploy their own custom CPUs. AMD and Intel also have a strong presence. Last week, Qualcomm signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi-based AI frim Humain to develop data centers, joining a slew of U.S. tech companies making deals in the region. Humain will operate under Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Getting into the data center is part of a broader strategy from Qualcomm to diversify its business, which has traditionally been dominated by sales of processors and modems for smartphones. Under CEO Cristiano Amon, Qualcomm has moved into chips for cars as well as PCs — a market historically dominated by Intel. Amon said on Monday that there are now more than 85 PC designs that are on sale or in development with Snapdragon X Series chips, which were first announced in 2023. Qualcomm is pitching its chips as power efficient and capable of running AI processes on a device, rather than in the cloud, where they are typically done now. Some of the touted advantages of on-device AI include faster AI apps and more security, since data doesn't need to leave a piece of hardware.
Epoch Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Ex-Liberal MP Arrested, Accused of Breaching Bail
A former Liberal MP accused of sexually assaulting a teenager is back in police custody after being accused of breaching his bail conditions. Rory Amon, 35, has pleaded not guilty to five charges of sexual intercourse with a person aged 10 to 14. But Amon was arrested on the night of May 14 after police alleged he breached his bail conditions. He will front the Downing Centre Local Court later on May 15. The former NSW MP was arrested at the Day Street police station, in Sydney's CBD, about 10 p.m. on May 14. Police declined to detail the nature of his bail breach. Amon had been on bail awaiting a trial set down for February 2026. Related Stories 10/20/2024 10/19/2024 He is accused of presenting as a 17-year-old after matching with a boy on a website in mid-2017. Prosecutors allege the boy, then 13, said he was 15 and later agreed to meet in person. Amon insisted on meeting in a private place and led the 13-year-old to a bathroom in a car park where the sexual assaults occurred on two separate occasions, prosecutors allege. At the time, Amon was a local councillor and later rose to win the safe Liberal seat of Pittwater on Sydney's northern beaches. When he faced court in April, prosecutors said further material from Snapchat, where Amon and the boy communicated, was expected to be served within the next three months. The complainant, now aged in his 20s, alleges Amon continued to send him explicit images until he was charged over the alleged child sex abuse in August 2024. Amon was elected to the NSW parliament in March 2023 and was the opposition spokesman on youth issues at the time of his arrest. He resigned soon after, with a subsequent by-election taking the seat out of Liberal hands for the first time in 50 years. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
