Qualcomm

Qualcomm's mobile processors usually follow clear lines. The 200 series on the very low end, followed by 400, 600, and then the 800 flagship platform. Things might get a bit hazy if and when the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 comes around. Although part of the lower mid-range line, the still unannounced processor supposedly shares more in common with the higher, though now somewhat outdated, Snapdragon 625, potentially giving birth to a new line of wallet-friendly smartphones that not only perform well but also last longer.

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The number of smart speakers looks set to grow exponentially, with Qualcomm cooking up a turnkey platform to speed up manufacturers getting the next Google Home or Amazon Echo to store shelves. Dubbed the Qualcomm Smart Audio Platform, it's a combination of a low-power Snapdragon processor, AllPlay music streaming, and wireless connectivity, all on one chipset. To that, Qualcomm bakes a "Far Field Voice" multi-microphone system.

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Samsung's Galaxy Note series has for years been the phone-maker's launch pad for brand new hardware, and on the Galaxy Note 8 that's rumored to include a new processor. The smartphone is expected to launch later in 2017 and hopefully put to rest the flammable reputation of its ill-fated predecessor. While we've seen rumored spec lists for it, now there's word that Samsung and Qualcomm might be working together on something particularly special.

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Apple's legal spat with Qualcomm might seem like background noise easily tuned out by iPhone users, but it could have a big impact on how well the iPhone 8 performs. The two companies are currently embroiled in a patent argument over cellular radio standards, with Apple threatening to withhold royalty payments that it claims are extortionate. Now, the new iPhone might end up less capable on next-generation networks as a result.

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Intel was never going to be pleased at Microsoft and Qualcomm's plans to run Windows 10 on Snapdragon processors, and now it's dropping heavy hints that it could all end up in court. The latest attempt to squeeze Windows on ARM into the mainstream, the announcement between the software giant and the mobile chipmaker will eventually see processors like the Snapdragon 835 running Windows 10 on models from ASUS, HP, Lenovo, and more. For consumers, that's only going to be a good thing. For Intel, not so much.

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Qualcomm is boosting its charging technology, unveiling Quick Charge 4+ for getting juice back into your phone's battery even faster. The technology, which launches today on the nubia Z17 Android smartphone but is likely to be featured on a number of flagships in the coming months, promises faster recharging but also greater safety while that happens. Given high-profile issues surrounding exploding batteries in phones like the Galaxy Note 7, that's likely to get some attention among increasingly safety-conscious users.

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This week Andy Rubin (co-founder of Android) and crew revealed the Essential Phone (with Android inside). They revealed the device with a few details early on in the day, then held a press conference later in the day with a few details on how and when the device would be made available. While the smartphone with Android and a Qualcomm processor under the hood can potentially work with most mobile carriers in the United States, the actual real-world situation is a bit more complicated.

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Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 processor already features in a few high-end smartphones - the Galaxy S8 and Xperia XZ Premium come to mind - but before long, it'll serve as the brains of Windows 10 PCs as well. Qualcomm announced today that it has partnered with three different PC manufacturers to bring the Snaprdragon 835 to their machines. It certainly sounds like the new Surface Pro is going to have some Snapdragon-flavored competition shortly.

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Routers may not be sexy but they can definitely be ambitious, with Qualcomm looking to replace your Echo, router, and smart home bridges with a single unit. The company unveiled its Mesh Networking Platform and Reference Design at Computex 2017 this week, an all-in-one that combines mesh networking, self-healing and -organizing configuration, voice agents like Alexa and Google Assistant, and all the radios to talk to your connected lights, locks, speakers, and more, in a single box.

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Today the cofounder of Android revealed a new device called Essential Phone - and we're running down the details. This device is a smartphone running Android, it has front and back-facing cameras, and it has a big touchscreen display. Outside of that, there's a bunch of details that are easy to get excited about, as they're aiming to be everything the average Android phone - or iPhone - really isn't.

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Some car makers are already announcing the death of diesel engines and their replacement by electric ones. As ideal as that might be from an economy and environment perspective, it's still an untenable future, mostly because of problems with the ubiquity and spread of charging stations. If all goes well with this new development, however, that may no longer be a problem at all. Renault, Qualcomm, and Vedecom have successfully demonstrated a Kangaroo Z.E. that was able to charge wirelessly up to 20 kw, even while traveling at speeds of or more than 100 kilometers per hour.

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To the surprise of no one, Samsung has just created a new division within it silicon business that will focus on contract chip manufacturers for companies outside of Samsung. While it was probably a long time coming, the move couldn't have come at a worse time for Qualcomm, who is now beset by lawsuits from all sides. With Qualcomm begins to show cracks in its armor, Samsung seems to be getting ready to snatch up whatever piece of the pie Qualcomm might drop.

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