Meta is partnering with Qualcomm to build custom chips for its Quest virtual reality devices, the companies announced at a consumer electronics conference in Berlin on Friday. The engineering and product teams of both companies will work together to produce the chips and they will run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platforms. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is investing heavily in virtual and augmented reality as part of its efforts to build the “metaverse”. It is expected to unveil a pair of AR (augmented reality) glasses in 2024.
According to a report by Reuters, Meta and Qualcomm have struck an agreement to produce custom chipsets for Quest virtual reality devices, which would be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platforms.
They will be optimised specifically for the Quest’s system specifications, the report adds, quoting Meta spokesperson Tyler Yee as saying. The agreement reportedly covers only virtual reality devices — Meta is designing its own custom silicon chips to power the next generation of its augmented and virtual reality devices, he added.
“There could be situations where we use off-the-shelf silicon or work with industry partners on customizations, while also exploring our own novel silicon solutions. There could also be scenarios where we use both partner and custom solutions in the same product,” Yee told Reuters.
Meta’s virtual reality devices, including the latest Quest 2 headsets, use Qualcomm’s chips. The firm’s metaverse push also includes augmented reality glasses and goggles. Codenamed Project Nazare, the first generation of Meta’s AR glasses are expected to arrive in 2024.
Qualcomm on Tuesday unveiled the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon W5 Gen 1, its latest platforms for wearables. Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon W5+ platform consumers 50 percent less power, while delivering 2X higher performance and richer features in a package 30 percent smaller than the previous generation. Moreover, the newly launched Snapdragon wearable platforms are based on a hybrid architecture. They are each comprised of a 4nm SoC and a 22nm highly integrated always-on co-processor. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 platforms also support the ultra-low-power Bluetooth 5.3 architecture.
Oppo and Mobivoi are the first companies to have announced new smartwatches that will be based on the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 platforms. The Oppo Watch 3 series, expected in August, will be the first model to launch. Mobvoi’s next-gen TicWatch flagship smartwatch will launch later this year. Oppo says it has developed the Watch 3 series in close collaboration with Qualcomm. According to Pankaj Kedia, Global Business Head, Smart Wearables at Qualcomm, 25 models across product segments are currently in the pipeline.
The Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 platforms for wearables are touted to be Qualcomm’s most advanced leap yet for the segment, addressing today’s consumer needs. They also support new Deep Sleep and Hibernate states, as well as low-power “islands” for Wi-Fi, positioning, and audio subsystems in order to prolong battery life.
Furthermore, Qualcomm Technologies also announced two reference designs from Compal and Pegatron, which showcase the capabilities of the platform and the collaboration of the company with ecosystem partners. Compal and Pegatron will also help customers develop products faster, as claimed by the company.
Qualcomm on Friday unveiled the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoCs as its latest mobile platforms. While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is an upgrade to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is the successor to the Snapdragon 778G SoC. Qualcomm claimed that the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is capable of delivering up to 10 percent faster CPU performance and 30 percent improved power efficiency over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, on the other hand, is touted to offer 20 percent faster graphics rendering over its predecessor. Alongside the new mobile platforms, the chipmaker unveiled its Wireless AR Smart Viewer reference design based on the Snapdragon XR2 platform.
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 availability timeline
However, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 will be available on phones from companies including Honor, Oppo, and Xiaomi in the second quarter.
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 specifications
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 can be clocked up to 3.2GHz that helps deliver as much as 10 percent faster CPU performance over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 that debuted in December. The new chip carries the same architecture of the existing flagship Snapdragon model, with the same Kryo CPU and Adreno GPU. However, it has a faster clock speed to offer better performance. The San Diego-based company also claims that the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is capable of giving up to 60 additional minutes of gameplay on a single charge.
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is based on the same architecture of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Photo Credit: Qualcomm
In terms of photography, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 has the latest Snapdragon Sight technologies that enable 8K HDR video recording as well as HDR+ support. There is the 18-bit triple ISP under the hood, which is claimed to offer up to 64-megapixel photos.
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 also has the fourth-generation Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System that brings 5G speeds of up to 10Gbps. There is also the Qualcomm FastConnect 6900 System that enables Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 6 support. There is also Bluetooth v5.3 connectivity.
Qualcomm has integrated its Snapdragon Sound Technology within the new platform that is claimed to help enable high-resolution music playback, clear voice calls, and superior audio experience while playing games and videos. The proprietary technology also includes Qualcomm apX Lossless sound and LE Audio. This is claimed to enable over 17 hours of longer audio playback.
For on-device artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 has the seventh-generation Qualcomm AI Engine that is touted to enable up to 20 percent better performance per watt than its predecessor. There is also Quick Charge 5 connectivity.
Based on 4nm process technology, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 brings support for LPDD5 RAM with up to 3200MHz frequency and of up to 16GB capacity. It also supports USB 3.1 Type-C connectivity as well as up to 4K display with 60Hz refresh rate or QHD+ screen with up to 144Hz refresh rate.
Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 specifications
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is designed with keeping mobile gaming in mind. The chip includes some of the premium Snapdragon Elite Gaming features, including Adreno Frame Motion Engine that is claimed to be capable of doubling the framerate to upscale content. There is also support for Quad HD+ display.
Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is designed to enhance mobile gaming experiences Photo Credit: Qualcomm
Qualcomm has integrated its Spectra triple ISP within the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 platform that brings support for up to three cameras as well as to take photos with up to 200-megapixel resolution. There is also the seventh-generation Qualcomm AI Engine that brings the Deep Learning Face Detect feature. This is touted to be based on 300 facial landmarks and helps provide accurate autofocus, even when wearing a mask.
The company claims that the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 has up to 30 percent improved AI performance over the Snapdragon 778G SoC that was launched in May last year.
The 4nm process-based Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is also the first model in the Snapdragon 7 series to carry a Dedicated Trust Management Engine and Android Ready SE to deliver enhanced user security. Further, there is the fourth-generation Snapdragon X62 5G Modem-RF System for faster 5G support. The platform also comes with FastConnect 6900 for Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth v5.3 connectivity. There is also the Snapdragon Sound integration for a jitter-free audio experience, the company said.
Qualcomm’s Wireless AR Smart Viewer
In addition to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, Qualcomm unveiled the Wireless AR Smart Viewer reference design to help equipment and design manufacturers bring new augmented reality (AR) glasses. The reference design is based on the Snapdragon XR2 platform and has a 40 percent thinner profile along with a more ergonomically balanced weight distribution over the earlier AR Smart Viewer design that was powered by the Snapdragon XR1 platform.
Qualcomm has brought its Wireless AR Smart Viewer reference design for manufacturers Photo Credit: Qualcomm
Developed by China’s Goertek, the hardware of the Wireless AR Smart Viewer includes dual micro-OLED binocular display that enables 1,920×1,080 resolution per eye and a frame rate of up to 90Hz. The glasses also have a no-motion-blur feature to offer a seamless AR experience, Qualcomm said.
The reference design also includes dual monochrome cameras and one RGB camera to enable six-degrees of freedom (6DoF) head tracking and hand tracking support, along with gesture recognition.
Qualcomm has integrated its FastConnect 6900 to offer Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth support. The reference design is also claimed to have less than three milliseconds of latency between the connected smartphone and its displays.
The design can be paired with Qualcomm’s FastConnect XR Software Suite to offer features including better control and preferential channel access for XR traffic and purpose-built power modes. It weighs 115 grams and has a frame thickness of 15.6mm. There is also a 650mAh battery.
Qualcomm has initially provided its Wireless AR Smart Viewer to select partners, though its wider availability is set to take place in the coming months.
The purpose of bringing the new solution is to bolster the development of AR devices. It will also help Qualcomm to attract manufacturers who are exploring ways to enter the growing metaverse space.
The reference design may also help smartphone vendors and other players in the market to build new devices that would compete against Apple’s rumoured AR glasses.
Poco C40 and Poco C40+ names have been confirmed by Poco in a community forum post. The smartphones are expected to join the smartphone brand’s affordable C-series lineup. In an official community forum post, Poco was seeking testers for its MIUI Global Stable ROM. The community post also highlighted the names of the smartphones for which the company is seeking testers. The names in the list included two of Poco’s M-series and C-series smartphones each and also smartphones from the X-series lineup. The Poco C40 was also recently spotted on the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) websites with the same name.
A Poco community forum post looking for testers for MIUI Global Stable ROM has confirmed the moniker of the two rumoured smartphones that are said to join the Poco’ C-series lineup. The post highlighted the names of the smartphones for which the testers are required. The list also included the name Poco C40 and Poco C40+. Other names in the list were Poco M4 5G, Poco M4 Pro, and Poco X4 Pro 5G.
Poco C40 series has officially been confirmed? Photo Credit: Poco Community
Previously, the Poco C40 has been spotted on multiple occasions with the same moniker and a model number. According to a recent report, Poco C40 was spotted on the NBTC Thailand and BIS websites under the C40 moniker and indicated that the new Poco smartphone can be expected to launch soon. As spotted, the NBTC Thailand has granted approval to the smartphone with model number 220333QPG.
To recall, the upcoming smartphone’s specifications have also been leaked in the past. Poco C40 is expected to sport a JR510 SoC instead of a Qualcomm, MediaTek, or a Unisoc SoC, according to a report. The smartphone is also expected to feature MIUI Go, a special version of the MIUI operating system.
The smartphone manufacturer is yet to confirm details about the release timeline, pricing, or availability in India and global markets.
Elon Musk’s decision to accept some foreign investors as part of his $44 billion (roughly Rs. 3,37,000 crore) buyout of Twitter runs the risk of inviting the kind of regulatory scrutiny over US national security that social media peer TikTok faced, legal experts say.
Musk disclosed on Thursday that Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund and Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange founded by Chinese native Changpeng Zhao, were part of a group of investors that will help him fund the acquisition of Twitter.
This could give the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) an opening to scrutinize the deal for potential national security risks, six regulatory lawyers not involved in the transaction and interviewed by Reuters said. CFIUS is a panel of government agencies and departments that reviews mergers and acquisitions for potential threats to US security.
“To the extent that Musk’s proposed acquisition of Twitter includes foreign investment, it very well could fall under CFIUS jurisdiction,” said Chris Griner, chair of law firm Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP’s national security practice.
A spokesperson for the US Treasury Department, which chairs CFIUS, declined to comment on whether the national security panel planned to scrutinize Musk’s Twitter deal.
Spokespeople for Musk, bin Talal, Qatar and Binance did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Former President Donald Trump’s administration turned to CFIUS in 2020 in a bid to force TikTok’s Chinese parent ByteDance to divest the short video app. His successor Joe Biden abandoned that effort after ByteDance agreed to changes on how the data of US users are stored and protected.
The regulatory lawyers interviewed by Reuters said the risk of CFIUS blocking Musk’s deal is small because he will control Twitter under the proposed takeover and the foreign investors are acquiring relatively small stakes.
They added that their assessment would change were Musk to give the foreign investors influence over the company, through a seat on its board or other means.
The risk is not negligible, however, given that the business of handling personal data by social media companies such as Twitter is typically viewed as critical infrastructure by CFIUS, the lawyers said.
“One of the items that’s considered sensitive personal data, is non-public electronic communications. So that would be email, messaging or chat communications between users. Twitter allows you to do that,” law firm Vinson & Elkins LLP partner Richard Sofield said.
One area of potential scrutiny for CFIUS, the lawyers said, could be Musk’s business dealings with foreign governments hostile to free speech or keen to overtake the United States technologically. Tesla, the electric car maker he leads, relies heavily on China, for example, to manufacture and sell its vehicles.
China blocked Twitter in 2009 but many Chinese officials have been active on the social media platform. Some of them have complained that the company’s efforts to restrict misinformation have targeted them unfairly.
“One of the considerations would be whether or not there will be an opportunity for China to leverage its business activity in order to achieve a desired outcome,” Sofield added.
BROADCOM PRECEDENT
There is precedent for CFIUS shooting down a deal based on the risk that an acquirer’s business ties could compromise them, the lawyers said. Trump blocked chip maker Broadcom $117 billion (roughly Rs. 8,99,595 crore) acquisition of US peer Qualcomm 2018 after CFIUS raised concerns about the deal.
Broadcom was a publicly listed company with US shareholders that was headquartered in Singapore, but the White House fretted that Broadcom’s relationship with “third-party foreign entities” would set the US back in its technology race with China.
Nevena Simidjiyska, a regulatory lawyer at law firm Fox Rothschild LLP, said it was possible CFIUS would look into whether Musk or other US investors in the Twitter deal can be influenced by foreign entities in a similar way.
“CFIUS may determine that even US investors in Twitter fall under CFIUS review if they are controlled by foreign parties,” Simidjiyska said.
Musk’s Twitter deal does not face the most common type of regulatory risk seen in mergers and acquisitions — pushback from antitrust regulators. The world’s richest man has no media holdings, and regulatory experts have said they do not expect the deal to face significant antitrust scrutiny.
Security flaws in an audio codec have been uncovered by security researchers, putting millions of Android phones and other Android devices powered by chipsets from MediaTek and Qualcomm at risk of being compromised by hackers. Stemming from an codec created by Apple several years ago, the vulnerabilities were left unpatched since the company open-sourced the codec 11 years ago, for inclusion on non-Apple devices. By leveraging the security flaws, an attacker could remotely get access to an Android phone’s media and audio conversations, according to the researchers.
According to a report by researchers at Check Point Research, a flaw in the Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) from Apple allows an attacker to perform a remote code execution (RCE) attack on a target smartphone, after sending a malformed audio file. An RCE attack can allow the attacker to gain control of multimedia on the handset, including streaming video from the cameras, accessing media and user conversations.
The security flaws were discovered in Apple’s ALAC codec, which was open-sourced by the company in 2011 — allowing non-Apple devices to stream music in ‘lossless’ quality using Apple’s previously proprietary codec. However, while Apple patched the proprietary version of the ALAC codec, the open-source version remained unpatched, according to the researchers.
As a result, Qualcomm and MediaTek, chipset manufacturers who ported the vulnerable ALAC codec to their audio decoders, resulting in over two thirds of all smartphones sold in 2021 being vulnerable to the security flaws, dubbed “ALHACK”, according to the researchers. The vulnerabilities were responsibly disclosed to Qualcomm and MediaTek, who both acknowledged the issues and assigned Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) for the flaws. MediaTek assigned CVE-2021-0674 and CVE-2021-0675 (with ‘Medium’ and ‘High’ ratings, respectively), while Qualcomm assigned CVE-2021-30351 (with a ‘Critical’ rating of 9.8 out of 10) for the ALAC flaws, before patching them.
According to the researchers, both companies have issued patches for the flaws included in the December 2021 Android security bulletin, which means that users with smartphones that received the December security patches should be safe from the vulnerabilities. However, this leaves out millions of users running outdated software, or users who receive erratic security updates — putting them at risk of being compromised by attackers.
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