Your Tech Story

Athulya

Being a cinephile with a love for all things outdoorsy, Athulya never misses a chance to chase inspiring stories or poke fun at things, even when the subject is herself. Currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, she is someone innately interested in technical and scientific research. Music reviews and op-eds define her as they allow her to explore different perspectives. Though sometimes she thinks she makes more sense playing the guitar than she does while writing.

Huawei Chinese Company

US Lawmakers to Back Bid to Replace Chinese Telecom Equipment as Huawei and ZTE Fear Bans

Leave a Comment / News, Tech News / By

Chinese companies have been having a hard time in recent months due to several geopolitical reasons. The swam of negativity doesn’t seem to be getting better any time soon. Recently, US lawmakers said they would support a bid to ban Chinese telecom providers and opt instead for local carriers. The deal, which will be worth around $1.9 billion, or INR 14,000 crore will enable America to remove telecom equipment created by Chinese companies. In this article, we will take a look at why the government is going ahead with this, and what it means to these companies.

Huawei Chinese Company
Image Source: irishtimes.com

Ban of Chinese Equipment

The primary aim of this program is to remove all the network equipment provided by Chinese companies. The American government believes that such telecom network equipment poses a threat to national security. Sources close to the government mentioned on Sunday that this bill would be a part of the COVID relief bill. Additionally, lawmakers will also back another program worth over $3.2 billion to provide broadband services for low-income Americans. This emergency network connectivity plan will help a large section of America’s population and was first reported by Reuters.

COVID Relief Bill

The relief bill planned to mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is worth around $7 billion. This INR 51,600 crore bill will offer several health and connectivity-related benefits to people. Nancy Pelosi, who serves as the House Speaker, confirmed that it would also help improve people’s access to broadband. This claim was also supported by Chuck Schumer, who serves as the Democratic Leader of the Senate. Through a joint statement, the pair noted that such a bill would help millions of families afford internet services during these trying times.

FCC to Halt Chinese Telecom Operations

The Federal Communications Commission noted in June that it was issuing threats to Chinese companies. Both ZTE and Huawei were treated as potential threats for national security. Hence, the FCC declaration bans American firms from buying equipment from these service providers. In early December, the FCC finalized the guidelines regarding how broadband carriers will treat such operators. They advised companies to rip and replace equipment bought from ZTE and Huawei. However, the companies are still awaiting funds from Congress to make the transition to local products. 

Reactions from Operators

Huawei released a statement shortly afterwards stating its disappointment with the FCC’s decision. Forcing the removal of their hardware from telecommunication networks will come as a big blow to the Chinese company. Additionally, the company said that such a move would put millions of Americans in underdeveloped rural areas at risk. The pandemic has increased the value of reliable communications, and Huawei believes that this decision by the FCC will endanger access to such communication.

However, the FCC has stressed on how it will enact a Bill that will provide better services to underprivileged Americans. The emergency broadband program will help millions of people who no longer have access to the internet due to the COVID-9 pandemic. Qualifying households will also receive a $50 monthly subsidy to help them set up and establish Internet connections.

Further Details About the Bill

As per the bill, the rip-and-replace order will apply to all service providers who have less than 10 million subscribers. However, the program will prioritise companies that have less than 2 million subscribers as per a draft fact sheet. It will also provide roughly $285 million to establish an office for minority initiatives with the National Telecommunication and Information Administration. This office will help with connecting minority communities and ensuring they remain connected to the internet.

The office will also support educational institutions and businesses that help minorities or are owned by them. The bill also includes an additional $250 million to support tele health and roughly $1 billion for a tribal connectivity program. Additionally, it features a $300 million grant program to promote rural broadband expansion programs and roughly $65 Million to help build better broadband maps.

Qualcomm

Qualcomm Launches Snapdragon 678 Processor for Mid-Range Devices

Leave a Comment / News, Tech News / By

Apple Inc recently announced that it was in the process of developing its chipsets for Apple devices. With the American tech giant on its way to usurping Qualcomm as the largest chipset manufacturer in the world, Qualcomm has come back with a new processor of its own. The company just announced and launched its newest Snapdragon 678 processor. The processor uses the 11nm process, and the company believes that the chip will be an even larger success than the Snapdragon 675. Read on to learn more about the Snapdragon 678, its features and what this means for the smartphone industry.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 Faster, and Reliable

When compared to the hugely popular Snapdragon 675, the 678 offers several prominent performance upgrades. It allows for complicated and advanced photo and video capture and enables high-speed connections. Additionally, the chipset can also revolutionize the art of gaming by enabling immersive entertainment experiences. If that wasn’t all, the chip also supports longer-lasting battery life and more reliable connections. The Kyro 460 CPU powers the chipset, allowing it to clock speeds as high as 2.2 GHz. 

Similar to the 675, the new chip also comes with an Adreno 612 GPU, allowing it to support dynamic videography and photographic capabilities. The new processor comes equipped with Qualcomm’s Spectra 250L ISP technology, enabling the capture of images at share-worthy detail and colour. The processor supports cameras up to 48MP on the back and 16MP dual ones on the front. Additionally, the processor’s capabilities also back video recording at 4K, along with other features such as slow-mo, portrait mode, and five-time optical zoom.

Qualcomm
Image Source: 9to5google.com

Other Features

  1. The Snapdragon 678 supports faster graphics rendering, drops fewer frames and can capture sharp visuals at very high framerates.
  2. Most of these features are a result of the combination of both the Kryo 460 CPU cores and Adreno 612 GPU. 
  3. Qualcomm has also worked on the processors used by top game engines, such as Unreal Engine 4, Messiah, Unity and NeoX.
  4. Along with the process comes the Snapdragon X12 LTE modem, which supports download speeds as high as 600Mbps. The modem is also good enough to power upload speeds as high as 150Mbps. 
  5. Additionally, Qualcomm’s newest modem integrates well with all major cellular modes and also supports Licensed Assisted Access.
  6. The modem’s engineering allows it to power fast connections even in areas that are congested and busy.
  7. The Snapdragon 678 SoC is an upgrade on the 675 that powers mid-range phones such as the Redmi Note 7 Pro and Vivo U20. With the new chipset, Qualcomm aims to recapture the market it lost to the Helio G chips made by MediaTek in 2020.

Changes and Upgrades

Since the Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 also relies on the ARM Cortex-A76 and A-55 cores much like the 675, experts believe that the processor would have the same IPC rate. Hence, there might not be a massive jump in overall performance when compared to the 675. However, the newer processor does offer users more space and smoothness in operations. Both chips use the 11nm process, but the 678 features a 2.2GHz Kryo CPU whereas the 675 features a 2.0 GHz CPU. Hence, users can expect a smoother interface and better speeds while using apps. However, both chips utilise the same ISP and Modem, and both feature Quick Charge 4+ capabilities. The Spectra ISP enables the 678 to support Multi-Frame Noise Reduction features on its 48MP camera.  It also powers Zero Shutter Lag on either a single 25MP camera or split between two 16MP cameras.

The processor can capture 4K video at 1080p at 30FPS. Additionally, it also supports the HEVC format and can take videos at slow-motion mode at 120 FPS. The maximum resolution supported will be 2520×1080, with a 10-bit depth of colour. While smartphones in the range the chipset wishes to target seldom comes with 10-bit displays, it is comforting to know that the processor supports such a feature.

The Snapdragon 678 also supports Qualcomm’s 3rd-gen AI Engine with the help of the Hexagon 685 DSP. Hence, it is safe to say that the 678 will create small ripples in the mid-range category in 2021, if not massive shockwaves. Primarily, the new chip might help Qualcomm gain the consumers it lost to MediaTek this year.

Apple

Apple Faces Stern Chip Challenge in Replacing Qualcomm Modems

Leave a Comment / apple, News, Tech News / By

Apple Inc is one of the world’s largest technology companies with investments in various sectors and fields. Recently, the company made a foray into the world of semiconductors and chipsets. The switch has helped make Apple a powerhouse within the semiconductor industry in the past decade or so. The move impacted several major manufacturers who earlier used to supply chips to the American tech-giant. However, the iPhone maker will soon face their sternest test in the coming years. The biggest and toughest challenge that Apple will face will be Qualcomm. In this article, we will take a look at what Apple needs to do to replace Qualcomm’s cellular modems with its unique design.

Can Apple Succeed?

On Friday, Qualcomm slumped to its steepest decline since mid-June when it fell by over 7% to $144.28. Bloomberg was the first to report in June that Apple was entering the modem industry by kicking off development on its unique design. However, this reaction severely undermines the challenges that Apple will have to face to make it in this industry. According to analysts and experts, Apple will b confronted by the primary task of replacing Qualcomm in the coming years. Many also questioned whether the California-based tech giant had bitten off more than what it could chew. With doubts swirling around the industry, Apple will have to come back strong with a design that is both unique and highly functional.

Apple

Questions Raised

A representative of Raymond James, Chris Caso mentioned that the most significant questions that experts have are when and if Apple will be successful. Many experts believe that there are no assurances that Apple will be highly successful in developing a high-end and cutting-edge modem. However, modems are one of the most vital elements that make up an iPhone. It is the part that is responsible for connecting the phone to various cellular networks. Without this device, people could no longer browse the internet, message their friends over the internet, or make phone calls. Hence, ensuring that this component works smoothly and seamlessly is vital to ensuring the mobile in itself is successful. However, designing and crafting a modem requires specialized engineering and critical and broad industry knowledge and know-how. Both of these might take significant time to acquire, which Apple does not possess.

Other options and issues

Meanwhile, wireless carriers work differently as the networks built to support them use distinct radio frequencies. But, in that case, the equipment required to capture these waves are also very different and must conform to various stringent local government rules. As a result, modems have to integrate seamlessly with different technologies and fit into older systems as well with ease. The ever-growing need for cellular data and technical prowess makes this divide and the need for complexity even more considerable. Hence, field testing will be an integral part of the research and development process. 

What Qualcomm Does Right

To facilitate such testing, Qualcomm has labs that work towards replicating the varying environments that mobile phones will face. These labs accurately predict and run scenarios that phones will experience around the world. Additionally, engineers spent decades working with various carriers to fine-tune their technology and integrate it seamlessly over the years. It is this experience and knowledge that has helped Qualcomm rule the semiconductor and modem industry all this time. It is also precisely these qualities that served as a barrier to other tech companies that wished to work their way into the lucrative semiconductor industry.

Expert Opinion

Analysts at Bernstein Research mentioned that while Apple has a history of immaculate expertise in semiconductor design. However, even with all that expertise, modems are very challenging to design and get right. The company took around five to ten years to come up with a sustainable and viable processor for the personal computer system. Experts believe that modems pose an even more significant challenge than PC processors, making this a difficult journey for the American giant.

Also, Qualcomm enjoys another vital advantage when compared to Apple. It regularly collaborates with players in the wireless industry and helps in the development of cellular standards. As a result, most of their chips are the first to market when it comes to functionality and features. This has been one of the things that have helped Qualcomm maintain its lead over its competitors.

However, it is foolish to write Apple off since it has in the past taken on influential industry players and won. The company started designing PC processors to displace Intel from being used in Macs. Since 2010, Apple has been using its own processors in the iPhone and iPad. The company has also been successful in developing wireless and power-management chips for the Apple Watch. While the challenge might be harder this time around, users will have to wait and see if it can meet this stern challenge.

Google Pixel

A Quick Look at the New Features Coming to Android Devices Like Google Pixel

Leave a Comment / Google, News, Tech News / By

Google recently announced its December update for its Pixel devices. Several updates and features that have been added to this roll-out will also be available for other Android devices, such as the Pixel 3. However, some of the features have been introduced exclusively for the Pixel 4a and Pixel 5. Since Indians have access only to the Pixel 4a, enthusiasts have been patiently awaiting this announcement to see what new features they will be gaining next year. Let us now take a look at all the new features announced and what value it adds to smartphone users in India.

Google Pixel Features Galore

Some of the new features that have been added to the Android devices include Extreme Battery Saver, Contextual translation, and Home Screen Customisation. All these features will be available on the Pixel 4, Pixel 3a, and Pixel 3, all of which are sold in India. Let us now take a closer look at all the features announced by Google.

Google Pixel
Image Source: robertschlatter.com

Extreme Battery Saver: Helps by limiting the usage of battery to only a few handfuls of essential apps. The feature will enable the device’s battery to last longer than ever imagined before helping users who always run out of power mid-meeting.

Duo Screen Share: This feature is an absolute necessity during this COVID-19 pandemic, wherein people are conducting all business meetings online. It allows users to share their screens and windows while taking Duo calls, helping make meetings a lot more organized and coordinated.

Enhanced Google Lens: The Google Lens update allows it to help users by translating to their native language if needed. All users have to do is take a screenshot of whatever they need to translate by swing up to the recent app’s overview, making traveling a lot easier than ever before.

Playlist Export: This interesting new feature will allow you to store the tracks you listen to while driving or waiting in line in the supermarket. Since Google Music will soon become obsolete, the device will allow users to export their Now Playing playlist to YouTube music, helping make all our lives easier.

Home Screen Customisation: A prominent Android feature, such high levels of customization allow users to make their device a true expression of themselves. The new update enables users to change their icon shapes, app shapes, and grid views. It also introduces new wallpapers through Google Arts and Culture. Pixel devices will also have a slew of new and original Mandalorian wallpapers which all Star Wars fans will appreciate and truly enjoy.

Hold for Me

The new Hold for Me feature allows users to enable the Google Assistant to stay on the line when they are busy with other calls. The Assistant stays on the line patiently and informs the other person when someone is ready to take the call and talk. This feature can be quite useful to entrepreneurs who have to take hundreds of business calls every day. However, this feature will be limited to devices sold and used in the USA.

Android Updates to Watch Out For

Some of the other features that all Android users will be able to enjoy after the December update are as follows;

  1. The Emoji Kitchen is getting a major revamp and will now feature over 14,000 unique designs. Users will now have the option of tapping on two emojis and creating a slew of different combinations. The Gboard will display suggestions of combinations or extreme versions when users either tag or double-tap a particular emoji. This feature will be available on all devices that have Android 6 or higher and unique holiday season stickers will soon go live on Google Play.
  2. To assist the differently-abled, the Voice Access will feature new commands. Some of the new actions include ones to open Photos, start a Search, or open your Map among others. The feature is expected to help make navigation more comfortable than ever before and will run on all devices that have Android 6 or higher.
  3. Google Maps will now allow users to pin their favorite destinations and routes with the new Go tab. Hence, all users can now receive real-time Estimated Time of Arrivals to their favorite coffee shop or office at all times. The feature will extend to public transport services and will feature multiple routes to all destinations, and will also be available on iOS devices.

Additionally, the Nearby Share feature will allow users to share their apps with devices without Wi-Fi or cellular data. All users have to do is click on Share Apps via My Apps and Games and then choose the apps they wish to share. Once the receiver taps on Accept, they will receive all the apps selected. Most of these features will be available to most Pixel models including;

  1. Pixel 3
  2. Pixel 3 XL
  3. Pixel 3a
  4. Pixel 3a XL
  5. Pixel 4
  6. Pixel 4 XL
  7. Pixel 4a
  8. Pixel 4a 5G
  9. Pixel 5

It will be interesting to see when these new features will drop, and how fans will rate them based on functionality and ease of use.

bumble

Bumble and OkCupid Have a Flaw Putting User Data of Millions at Risk

Leave a Comment / Google, News, Tech News / By

Data security has been gaining prominence in recent years thanks to data activists and experts. As more and more people have started asking questions regarding their user data, companies have also started to become more stringent. User data becomes quite sensitive, especially when used to find suitable matches on popular dating websites and apps. A recent allegation regarding a significant flaw in apps such as OkCupid, Bumble, and Grindr have left millions worried about their personal data. Here’s a quick look at what the flaw is, how it can impact people, and what the experts are doing about it.

Bumble Putting User Data of Millions at Risk

Apps such as OkCupid, Grindr, Bumble, Yango Pro, PowerDirector, and several others are vulnerable to a flaw in the Play Core library. This defect puts the user data of millions of people at risk as per a report by Check Point. The research firm believes that though Google patched this flaw in April, app developers are yet to make the required changes. For the fix to work, the developers have to install the new Play Core library to neutralize the threat. However, all the apps mentioned above still make use of the old library, putting them at risk. Apps such as Booking and Viber were some of the few that updated their Play Core library and mitigated the risk.

bumble
Image Source: pcmag.com

What is the flaw?

The security experts at Check Point noted that Bumble, Grindr, and OkCupid are vulnerable to the CVE-2020-8913. While Google released a new patch in April, for the flaw rooted in the widely used Play Core library, failure to update the library leaves these apps at risk. The Play Core library is responsible for notifying users of in-app updates and feature modules for their phones. The CVE-2020-8913 allows threat actors to siphon off user data through these vulnerable apps. As a result, the flaw could lead to millions of people losing their private information. The leaked data will include critical information, including financial details, email passwords, and login credentials. The CVE-2020-8913 flaw allows hackers to add their executable modules to apps that use the Play Core library. Hence, arbitrary codes can be compromised to execute with malicious intent

Google’s Response

Google acknowledged that the bug was serious and gave it a severity rating of 8.8 out of 10. They responded quickly by releasing a patch that remedied the problem, way back in April. However, app developers have not been careful enough, and are yet to install the new update putting millions at risk of a data breach. Experts at Check Point note that over 13% of all Google Play apps they analyzed in September leveraged the Google Play Core library. Unfortunately, over 8% of these apps still used the vulnerable version, with only a few making the switch to the safer version. Even ones like Viber and Booking only updated after the experts at Check Point brought the matter to their attention.

Potential Danger

Aviran Hazum, who serves as the Manager of Research on Mobiles at Check Point, believes that hundreds of millions of users now face a security risk. Since CVE-2020-8913 is highly dangerous, the developers not installing the new patch is highly risky. In case any malicious application finds its way into this vulnerability, it can compromise several popular applications and gain the same access as the app. For instance, the vulnerability allows for the stealing of the two-factor authentication codes or even that of banking application credentials.

A threat actor could also manipulate social media apps to spy on others and grab messages from people, leading to a large number of attack possibilities. Hence, all users who have such apps on their phones are putting their data at risk. Experts are therefore recommending users to uninstall these apps until developers install the new patch and mitigate the risk of a breach. Since the security firm has notified the apps regarding the vulnerability, an update is expected son from their side. Following such an update, users can reinstall the apps and continue to use them as they did before.

QoQ Growth

Global Production of Smartphones Surges Ahead with Highest QoQ Growth

Leave a Comment / apple, Google, News, Tech News / By

The global smartphone industry had taken quite a hit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the industry seems to be back on its feet, owing to new releases and a surge in demand. The global production of smartphones has shown a marked increase of 20% on quarter-on-quarter growth. The increase takes the production to 336 million units in 2020’s third quarter as per market research done by TrendForce. In this article, we will take a closer look at this report and what it means for smartphone users around the world.

QoQ Growth

The report highlights how this is the highest QoQ reported in recent years, despite the slowdown caused by the global pandemic. TrendForce also noted that the comparisons of various QoQ clearly outline a recovery from the plummet in demand caused by COVID-19. However, even with such a surge in production, only Xiaomi and Samsung were able to increase their market share this quarter out of the top six.

Companies Moving Ahead

As per TrendForce’s data, Samsung experienced a QoQ growth of 42% producing 78 million units last quarter. This massive growth helped the smartphone giant retain its global top spot. However, the research predicts that Samsung will drop its production to 62 million, indicating a drop of 16 million units by the end of the holiday season. As the company faces stiff competition from the Apple iPhone 12 series, after the holiday stockpiling in Europe and North America, there will be a reduction in production.

Coming in second is Oppo, with a 64% QoQ increase that saw the company produce 45 million units in the third quarter. However, this figure also includes devices from the Realme, OnePlus, and Oppo lines, leading to a higher number. Following close behind was Xiaomi which experienced a 51% QoQ boost leading to the production of 44.5 million units. Due to the comparative figures, TrendForce recorded that both Xiaomi and Oppo shares the second spot.

Other Companies in the Mix

Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi have all benefitted from Huawei’s loss of market share. Huawei has had to deal with American sanctions that have severely impacted its production and demand. Both Oppo and Xiaomi are planning to boost their production in the fourth quarter. Estimated production volumes for Oppo and Xiaomi include 47 million and 46 million units respectively. 

QoQ Growth
Image Source: nextbigbrand.in

Meanwhile, Apple dropped to the fourth position on the chart due to a QoQ growth of a meager 2%. The American giant produced only 42 million units in the third quarter, and this drop is attributed to the delay in launching the iPhone 12. Researchers believe that the launch of the 12 series will reinstate Apple’s high position on global charts, with production volume estimates being as high as 74 million units in the fourth quarter.

Bottom End of the Chart

Mirroring Apple’s position was Huawei, which produced 42 million units in the third quarter, on par with Apple. However, the company witnessed a QoQ decline as large as 19%, which experts believe will fall to a whopping 30% by the end of the fourth quarter. As a result, their production volume is expected to shrink to 30 million units. Vivo came in sixth with a QoQ increase of 13%, producing 30 million units in the third quarter. However, experts believe that the company will expand production to 35 million units in the fourth quarter, indicating a higher QoQ in the future.

Political Tensions

TrendForce’s experts noted that the ongoing India-China border dispute will put even more pressure on companies like Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo. As Indians take a more patriotic and nationalist approach to production and purchase, these companies will face hurdles in their sales efforts. India remains a primary foreign market for all these manufacturers, and they may experience a loss of market share if these sentiments are to continue. The trio of brands enjoy a robust local supply chain in India and have a strong brand identity. However, if the dispute drags on Indian buyers might gravitate towards their competitors, marking a decline in sales for them.

TrendForce also noted that the global production of smartphones for 2020, experienced a YoY drop of 11%. This year, the total production volume touched 1.25 billion units, and this is expected to grow to 1.36 billion units in 2021. Therefore, smartphone manufacturers can expect a surge in demand in the coming year, helping them recover fully from the lull caused by the COVID-19 pandemic this year.