Categoria: HardwareSoftware

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HardwareSoftware

Intel Readies New NUCs Based on Kaby Lake and Apollo Lake SoCs

As one might expect, Intel is working on a new generation of its NUC small-form-factor systems based on the company’s upcoming Kaby Lake and Apollo Lake microprocessors. The writers over at FanlessTech have published what appears to be an exclusive of a set of Intel slides regarding the next generation of NUCs, and we are in the process of double verifying the details. Until then, here’s our analysis of the news.

The new systems are expected to hit the market in late 2016 and early 2017 and bring a number of new technologies, which are absent from today’s SFF PCs. In particular, the new systems will support Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1 (10 Gbps), HDMI 2.0 and the new processors.

The upcoming Intel NUC systems are code-named Baby Canyon and Arches Canyon, according to the slides published by FanlessTech. The Baby Canyon PCs will be powered by Intel’s upcoming Kaby Lake-U SoCs, whereas the Arches Canyon will feature the company’s Apollo Lake chips. The new systems will complement and then eventually replace current-gen NUCs running Broadwell, Braswell and Skylake processors. Meanwhile, Intel’s top-of-the-range code-named Skull Canyon NUCfeaturing the high-end Core i7-6700HQ processor (quad-core with Hyper-Threading, 6 MB LLC, Intel Iris Pro Graphics 580 with 72 EUs and eDRAM, etc.) will not be replaced at least until late 2017.

Baby Canyon with Kaby Lake-U SoCs

Intel’s Baby Canyon NUCs will be the positioned as Intel’s mainstream SFF PCs for users, who would like to have Core-based CPUs powered by the company’s high-performance microarchitecture (Kaby Lake in this case). Thanks to microarchitectural enhancements, the new systems promise to be faster than existing mainstream NUCs, but at this point we have no idea what to expect from Kaby Lake in general, except natural enhancements of iGPU as well as improvements to media playback capabilities.

All of the Baby Canyon PCs will support up to 32 GB of DDR4-2133 memory, HDMI 2.0, an M.2-2280 socket for PCIe 3.0 x4 SSDs, a MicroSDXC card-reader as well as a soldered-down Intel Wireless-AC 8265 controller. The Core i7 and i5 Baby Canyon systems will also come equipped with a Thunderbolt 3 controller, which will automatically bring support for USB 3.1 running at up to 10 Gbps, whereas NUCs featuring Core i3 CPUs will continue to rely on USB 3.1 Gen 1 implementation with 5 Gbps transfer-rate. Given all the hubbub surrounding Type-C audio, Intel decided to keep the good-old 3.5 mm audio jack but did not implement support for USB-C Audio into the Baby Canyon, at least, according to the published slides.

Intel Baby Canyon NUC PCs
  NUC7i7BNH NUC7i5BNH NUC7i5BNK NUC7i3BNH NUC7i3BNK
CPU Core i7-7000U
Two Cores
28 W TDP		 Core i5-7000U
Two Cores
15 W TDP		 Core i3-7000U
Two Cores
15 W TDP
Graphics Iris Graphics HD Graphics
PCH Intel’s next-generation PCH located in CPU package
Memory Two SO-DIMM slots, up to 32 GB of DDR4-2133
2.5″ bay One 2.5″/9.5 mm bay, SATA3 None 1 x SATA3 None
M.2 Slot Up to M.2-2280 SSD with SATA3 or PCIe 3.0 x4 interface
Wi-Fi/BT Soldered-down Intel Wireless-AC 8265 (802.11ac 2×2 + BT 4.2) with WiDi support
Ethernet Intel I219V Gigabit Ethernet controller
Display Outputs DisplayPort 1.2 via USB-C connector
HDMI 2.0
Audio 3.5 mm TRRS audio jack
7.1 channel audio output via HDMI or DP
Thunderbolt One Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps) None
USB-C 1 x USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) 1 x USB 3.0 (5 Gbps)
USB 4 USB 3.0 Type-A (5 Gbps), one with charging
Other I/O MicroSDXC card reader with UHS-I support
One infrared receiver
Size (mm) 115 × 111 × 51 115 × 111 × 31 115 × 111 × 51 115 × 111 × 31
PSU External, 65 W
OS Compatible with Windows 7/8.1/10

The Baby Canyon family of NUCs is projected to arrive in early 2017, around the same time we expect Intel to start discussing its Kaby Lake-U processors with HDMI 2.0 support. Keep in mind that Intel has not announced Kaby Lake chips officially, hence, all the plans are subject change.

Arches Canyon NUCs with Apollo Lake SoCs

The Arches Canyon NUCs will be Intel’s new entry-level SFF systems running Apollo Lake SoCs branded as Celeron J-series processors. The chips will feature all new Goldmont x86 microarchitecture, Intel’s ninth-generation graphics architecture (Gen9) as well as improved media playback (due to hardware-accelerated playback of 4K video encoded using HEVC and VP9 codecs). Since the new SoCs are rated for 10 W TDP, it is logical to expect higher clock speeds than previous Atom-based NUCs, even though at this point this is a speculation.

Intel reportedly plans to offer two versions of its Arches Canyon NUCs: the NUC6CAYS with 2 GB of DDR3L-1866 memory, 32 GB eMMC storage and pre-installed Windows 10 Home x64 OS; as well as the NUC6CAYH, which will come as a barebone PC. Both systems will still support up to 8 GB of DDR3L memory, one 2.5”/9.5 mm SSD/HDD, a 1×1 wireless module supporting IEEE 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2, an HDMI 2.0 display output, USB Type-A ports, an SDXC card reader and so on. Intel decided to place a D-Sub connector on the back to enable connectivity with cheap displays.

Intel Arches Canyon NUC PCs
  NUC6CAYS NUC6CAYH
CPU Intel Celeron J-series
Four Cores
10 W TDP
Graphics HD Graphics
PCH Integrated into CPU
Memory 2 GB DDR3L-1866 pre-installed
Two SO-DIMM slots,
up to 8 GB of DDR3L-1866		 –
Two SO-DIMM slots,
up to 8 GB of DDR3L-1866
On-Board Storage 32 GB eMMC None
2.5″ bay One 2.5″/9.5 mm bay, SATA3
M.2 Slot None
Wi-Fi/BT Intel Wireless-AC 316x (802.11ac 1×1 + BT 4.2) M.2-2230 card with WiDi support
Ethernet Intel Gigabit Ethernet controller
Display Outputs D-Sub
HDMI 2.0
Audio 3.5 mm TRRS audio jack
TOSLINK
7.1 channel audio output via HDMI
Thunderbolt None
USB 4 USB 3.0 Type-A (5 Gbps), one with charging
Other I/O SDXC card reader with UHS-I support
Dimensions 115 × 111 × 51 mm
PSU External, 65 W
OS Pre-installed Microsoft Windows 10 Home x64 with Intel Remote Keyboard Compatible with Windows 7/8.1/10

Based on the documents published by FanlessTech, the fully-populated NUC6CAYS will hit the market ahead of the barebone NUC6CAYH sometimes in the fourth quarter of this year.

Please keep in mind that all the information regarding Intel’s new generations of NUCs is completely unofficial and many details may change by the time the systems hit the market. Intel responded to requests for confirmation and responded with ‘Intel does not comment on unreleased products’, which is the expected response. As mentioned at the top of this news, we are in the process of double verifying the information in the slides, but for anyone who follows Intel’s NUC lines, these hardware specifications are not far fetched at all and make sense for the markets they are entering. 

Gallery: Intel Readies New NUCs Based on Kaby Lake and Apollo Lake SoCs

Autore: AnandTech

Categorie
HardwareSoftware

Qualcomm sues Meizu

Other players might also face the wrath of its mighty briefs

Qualcomm has sued the Chinese smartphone vendor Meizu for infringing its patents and reports from China suggest that Oppo and Vivo might also be dragged into court.

Qualcomm used to demand China-based smartphone vendors pay a licensing fee equal to 5 per cent of each smartphone’s selling price per unit and provide free reverse patent licensing. However the Chinese authorities thought that was a bit unfair and made Qualcomm pay an anti-trust fine.

Qualcomm and China’s National Development and Reform Commission reached an agreement that Qualcomm is not allowed to demand reverse patent licensing and has recalculated its patent licensing fees based on 65 per cent of a smartphone’s selling price.

Most China-based smartphone vendors have already re-signed patent licensing contracts using the new rules, but a few vendors such as Meizu, Vivo and Oppo were not happy with the terms and refused to sign. As a result, Qualcomm has decided to file suit to resolve the issues.

At a recent press conference, Meizu complained about Qualcomm’s actions and claimed that the licensing fees are causing smartphone prices to rise.

Autore: Fudzilla.com – Home

Categorie
HardwareSoftware

Apple potrebbe voler acquistare la Formula 1

Non è un mistero che Apple abbia a disposizione una liquidità di ingenti dimensioni che potrebbe decidere di spendere per acquistare business di primissimo livello, anche l’intera Formula 1. Secondo recenti indiscrezioni, infatti, la Cvc, la società finanziaria britannica che detiene la maggioranza della Fom (Formula One Management) sarebbe interessata a disfarsi del pacchetto di maggioranza della Formula 1.

Formula 1

AppleInsider ha raccolto interessanti suggestioni secondo le quali Apple potrebbe voler comprare la Formula 1 per usarla come volano per il suo business Apple Car, più volte al centro di speculazioni ma mai concretizzato ufficialmente dai dirigenti di Cupertino. Lo stesso Elon Musk tempo fa ha definito “segreto di Pulcinella” l’impegno di Apple nel settore automotive.

Qualche altra indiscrezione, forse maggiormente orientata alla concretezza, vede invece un’opportunità per la Mela di stringere accordi più solidi con i produttori di automobili, non tanto in ottica Apple Car, quanto più per la diffusione della piattaforma di car automation/infotainment Car Play.

Secondo altre ricostruzioni Apple sarebbe interessata anche al potere mediatico della Formula 1, con l’acquisto che rientrerebbe in questo caso nella strategia di promozione di Apple TV, che verrebbe così usata come piattaforma esclusiva per la diffusione dei contenuti di Formula 1. Ma sarebbe anche interessata ad entrare nel Consiglio Mondiale della FIA per promuovere e sviluppare le componenti elettriche delle moderne auto di F1, spingendo verso vetture sempre più elettriche.

All’ultimo conteggio dichiarato la liquidità netta accumulata da Apple ammonta a circa 200 miliardi di dollari, mentre secondo alcune ricostruzioni il valore della Formula 1 potrebbe aggirarsi su circa la metà di quella cifra.

Autore: Le news di Hardware Upgrade

Categorie
HardwareSoftware

Wells Fargo puts Nvidia on last stage

AMD and Intel about to rough them up a little and run them out of town

Nvidia is not going to come out of new competition from AMD and Intel that well, according to analysts Well Fargo.

The analysts have added up some numbers and divided by their shoe size and come to the conclusion that Nvidia’s growth days are numbered and it could face some serious problems from AMD in graphics and Intel in co-processors.

The report said that renewed competition from AMD in graphics and Intel in coprocessors could create headwinds to growth and possibly limit Nvidia’s ability to beat expectations in the near term.

While the analysts expected Nvidia to continue to grow its coprocessor business in the future rising competition from Intel will also stuff up its momentum.

“The Knights Landing family might help Intel regain some share in the HPC coprocessor market, though Nvidia has also introduced a new coprocessor family this year, its Tesla P100.”

At the moment Nvidia shares are probably worth a “significantly” less than its valuation range of $ 30-36.

We expect that the analysts who wrote this will be having to get their stagecoach moving fast if they want to evade the tribe of Nvidia fanboys who will want to put arrows in their hats.

cap 0591

Autore: Fudzilla.com – Home

Categorie
HardwareSoftware

Masterpass di Mastercard ora per i pagamenti mobile anche nei negozi sul territorio

MasterCard vuole spingere la diffusione dei pagamenti mobile presso i negozi sul territorio, portando sempre più persone ad acquistare beni e servizi semplicemente sfiorando il terminale di pagamento con il proprio smartphone. La società ha infatti annunciato l’ampliamento del servizio Masterpass, grazie ad una collaborazione con numerosi istituti bancari.

La soluzione di pagamento è stata potenziata per permettere ai consumatori di fare riferimento completamente alla propria banca o emittente di fiducia per effettuare pagamenti digitali veloci, semplici e sicuri da tutti i device e canali, ovunque vogliano effettuare un acquisto: on-line, tramite App, e da oggi anche nei punti vendita fisici attraverso la tecnologia contactless.

Masterpass è infatti attualmente disponibile a livello globale, presso centinaia di migliaia di esercenti online o integrato in App. In Italia le principali banche hanno integrato Masterpass e il 90% dei retailer online attivi nel nostro Paese l’accetta per i pagamenti online, annoverando aziende quali Trenitalia, Alitalia, Italo, Media World, Vodafone, Aruba.it, Ibs.it, Monclick e 3 Italia, attualmente classificati nella top 10.

I consumatori saranno ora in grado di utilizzare Masterpass presso più di cinque milioni di negozi in 77 paesi nel mondo che accettano pagamenti contactless. La possibilità di pagare con Masterpass usando la tecnologia contactless sarà inizialmente disponibile per i proprietari di dispositivi Android provvisti di chip NFC.

Masterpass è l’unica soluzione che consente ai partner emittenti di fornire una soluzione di pagamento digitale completamente brandizzata dalla banca e utilizzabile su tutti i canali. Più di 80 milioni di account verranno automaticamente attivati tramite i partner emittenti a livello globale. La funzionalità di pagamento digitale potenziata aiuta gli emittenti a differenziare i prodotti esistenti, incluse le App di mobile banking, integrando funzionalità di pagamento digitale con nuovi servizi come gli alert per gli acquisti e pagamento attraverso punti fedeltà. Collegando servizi come la tokenizzazione con l’identificazione e la verifica dei titolari di carta compiuta dall’emittente, Masterpass utilizza i metodi di sicurezza più avanzati per proteggere i consumatori dalle frodi.

Il lancio prenderà il via negli Stati Uniti a fine luglio 2016. L’Europa e il Medio Oriente / Africa saranno invece i mercati in cui il nuovo servizio di Masterpass sarà lanciato successivamente e entro la fine del 2016. Ulteriori implementazioni sono previste in Nord America, Europa, America Latina e Caraibi, Medio Oriente e Africa e Asia Pacifico nel 2016 e nel 2017.

“Con miliardi di titolari di carta in tutto il mondo, stiamo lavorando con gli emittenti ed esercenti per garantire soluzioni per i pagamenti digitali che vengano incontro alle esigenze dei consumatori di pagare in modo semplice e sicuro, adesso e in futuro”, ha commentato Craig Vosburg, Presidente di Mastercard, Nord America. “L’espansione di Masterpass rappresenta un’importante evoluzione del nostro business. Stiamo raccogliendo dati e insight generati dalle soluzioni di pagamento digitali per arricchire le esperienze dei consumatori ed esercenti”.

Autore: Le news di Hardware Upgrade