Unpacking the scrutiny on Apple’s App Store and Apple Pay business practices that have caught the ire of regulators, lawmakers, and other tech companies on both sides of the Atlantic. Of note, a third vulnerability for Apple, and an angle that US courts will be perhaps more eager to tackle than the previous two, is whether or not Apple’s business practices can be shown to have led to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers. This is a core litmus test for antitrust cases in the US, and this point should have Apple attorneys at least a little worried.
ICYMI: Qualcomm’s New Snapdragon Wear 4100+ Brings Significant Performance Improvements to Android Smartwatches
Performance improvements aside, I can’t help but sense that the android smartwatch ecosystem is being somewhat hamstrung by a lack of interest, perhaps from Google, to really focus on beating Apple at its own game.
ICYMI: 3GPP’s 5G NR Release 16’s 9 Most Critical Improvements to 5G
What we see with Release 16, in addition to improvements to previous fundamental standards, is a shift towards the next market for 5G technologies: industrial networks and applications. That is why, MIMO and IAB improvements aside, private networks, unlicensed spectrum, multi-TRP architecture, high-precision device positioning, efficient new power-saving protocols, and even multicasting between vehicles, constitute the lion’s share of projects in this release.
If Intel Lost Apple As A Customer, It Would Be Good News
Intel would be better off without Apple’s CPU chip business. Even in just a year, we’ll look back on this and say it actually was good for Intel, much like its 5G modem exit last year has proven to be.
Qualcomm’s Robotics RB5 Platform Brings Powerful AI-enabled 5G Connectivity to Industrial Robots, Drones, and the IIOT
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., (NASDAQ: QCOM) just announced its first-of-a-kind 5G Robotics RB5 platform. The natural successor to the successful (4G-based) Qualcomm® Robotics RB3 platform. As Qualcomm puts it, the Robotics RB5 platform aims to “empower developers and manufacturers to create the next generation of high-compute, low-power robots and drones for the consumer, enterprise, defense, industrial and professional service sectors.”
Qualcomm’s New Snapdragon 690 to Bring 5G Connectivity to Budget-friendly Phones
Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 690 expands Qualcomm’s 5G mobile SOC footprint into mid-to-lower-priced tiers and comes on the heels of the high-tier Snapdragon 768G unveiled in May, as well as the Snapdragon 765/765G and premium-tier Snapdragon 865 unveiled back in December.
Qualcomm’s New 212 LTE IoT Modem Brings Extreme Power Efficiency for Narrow Band IoT Applications
Qualcomm’s new 212 LTE IoT modem brings extreme power efficiency for narrow-band IoT applications. This modem fleshes out Qualcomm’s IoT modem portfolio and I expect that Qualcomm’s IoT footprint may get a noticeable boost when the 212 becomes commercially available later this year.
Qualcomm’s Real-time Translation During a Phone Call: From Science Fiction to Fact
Qualcomm’s real-time translation during a phone call moves this functionality from science fiction to fact. Oh, I know cloud-based transcription functionality exists, but this is different. When the real-time translation function can happen on your phone, or on the device you’re using as your communication interface (i.e. laptop, tablet), it’s a game-changer. And that’s where Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 comes in.
Qualcomm’s New Bluetooth Audio SoCs Represent Quiet Evolution
Qualcomm is introducing two new Bluetooth audio SoCs that are small enough to fit into earbuds and designed to elevate what the company calls the “truly wireless” consumer experience. While this news is admittedly exciting, it is not Qualcomm’s first foray into earbud-sized Bluetooth audio System-on-Chip (SOCs). The San Diego chipmaker has been semi-quietly partnering with major consumer brands to bring high quality truly wireless audio to consumers for some time now, and this latest generation of Bluetooth audio SoCs is merely the natural evolution of the Qualcomm QCC5100 series and the Qualcomm QCC302x series. That aside, I see even more exciting things ahead for Qualcomm in the Bluetooth audio earbud market. Here’s why.
Qualcomm’s Tiered SOC Diversification Pays Off, Expands Footprint
The potential move away from Qualcomm’s premium 5G Snapdragon 865 SOC as reported would signal that Google and LG might be leaving Apple and Samsung to fight for the top spot in the premium tier handset category. This move would allow Google and LG to focus instead on more budget-friendly high-end phones for consumers who enjoy premium features but don’t need all of the bells and whistles of a $1,200+ phone. The decision to select Qualcomm’s 765G mobile platform over the superior 865 mobile platform may initially seem like a setback for Qualcomm’s flagship 5G SOC, but I don’t think that’s the case at all. Here’s why.