Pocketnow Daily: iPhone 13 Notch LEAKED: Uhhh.. (video)

Posted on by Samuel Martinez

Samsung Galaxy S21+ starting at $100, iPad Pros and more also on sale 

Apple’s M1 MacBook Air, gaming laptops and more are on sale today

Apple Watch Series 6, iPhone 11 Pro and more devices are on sale today 

Apple’s latest 10.2-inch iPad and Jabra headphones are on sale right now 

As expected, the news today begin with deals, and I gotta hand it to Samsung cause the company continues to be aggressive about them. They’re currently running a “Discover Spring Event” which brings some good deals for their smartphones but of course, you need to have a device to trade-in. Starting with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra which is available for 750 bucks, along with 50 dollars in instant credit. Now, probably the best deal is that the Galaxy S21 and the S21+ are both available for 100 bucks and you will also get the 100 dollars in instant credit for add-ons. If you’re looking for the Ultra, that one is available for 299 and you also get the credit. Finally, if you’re looking for a foldable, the Z Fold 2 is available for 1449 and again, all of these prices are if you have an eligible device to trade-in. Moving on from Sammy, You can grab the iPhone 11 Pro for 120 dollars off on Woot, leaving it at 880. Finally, the Google Pixel 4 is available for 317 dollars off its original price leaving it at 482. We have more deals on MacBooks, headphones, the Apple Watch and more.

    M1 MacBook Air

    10.2-inch iPad

    iPad Air

    Jabra Elite 85t Earbuds

    Jabra Elite 75t Earbuds

    Jabra Elite 85h

    Jabra Evolve2 85 MS

    iPhone 11 Pro

    Apple Watch Series 6

    Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+

    Google Pixel 4

    Samsung Galaxy S21 Series

    Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Series

    Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

Intel aims to sell ARM chips to Apple days after anti-Mac ad campaign

More evidence of next iPad Pro chip being based on Apple M1 surfaces

Let’s move on to Intel just for a quick second as it looks like their marketing team doesn’t talk to their other teams. If you remember, last week they launched those ads with Justin Long, aka the Mac himself, on how PCs are better since they’re still powered by Intel. Well, now their CEO just went on to basically say that they want to become a major provider of products that include x86 and ARM chips, with one of the companies they want to serve being Apple. I know, hilarious considering that they sold their ARM business years ago, and about Apple we know why. But alright, speaking of Apple and chips, let’s talk about the upcoming iPad Pros. The guys over at 9to5Mac have found references of an A14X chip in the iOS 14.5 Source Code which we are still waiting on. And apparently, the report mentions that the A14X is based on the T8103, which is the codename for the M1 Chip. This goes along with a previous Bloomberg report where they claimed we could expect an updated and faster processor that was on par with the M1. So yeah, we should be getting close to those iPad Pros with better processors, mini-LED displays and more, hopefully some time in April. If only they ran macOS..

LG might shutter its phone division after failing to find a buyer

Let’s move the spotlight on to some rather sad news, when it comes to LG. Last week some reports came out that LG’s Rollable was back in play, even with the rumors that LG might sell their smartphone business. Well, now we have a new report from a Korean news agency that claims that LG’s plans to sell their phone business have fallen through, for real this time. Apparently local sources claim that LG is now planning to shutter their smartphone division altogether after their negotiations didn’t work out. So apparently, not only the plans for the Rollable but for other phones like the LG “Rainbow” concept have been put on Ice at the moment. So of course, these are just reports but nothing to not be worried about given the amount of innovation LG meant to the market. We have heard from previous reports that the employees would be shifted on to other positions within LG, we hope that’s true but of course, we should wait until we get official statements.

Qualcomm is working on a Nintendo Switch-like console that runs Android 12: Report

Now, let’s talk about Qualcomm and the Nintendo Switch.. Yeah, completely unrelated since the Switch runs on NVIDIA, but you’ll get where I’m going. According to a new report from Android Police, Qualcomm is taking a Snapdragon chip and putting it into an Android-powered game console that has detachable controllers and the ability to connect to televisions. So yeah it’s not really a Nintendo Switch but.. Qualcomm wants to do a Switch. The report claims that the core of the device would be thicker and bulkier than a smartphone. And we could expect this chip to be the next generation of Snapdragon Silicon which should be released some time in Q1 of 2022, meaning it’s most likely the 888s successor. It would also bring a 6,000 mAh battery with Quick Charge, 5G, dual-zone haptics, an SD card Slot, Bluetooth and more with the controllers being sourced by a third party. Now, this console would be running a “customized launcher” of Android 12, and besides the Play Store, it could also brings the Epic Games store pre-installed which makes it pretty interesting considering their catalog. The target price is reportedly set at 300 dollars but, we don’t know exactly what that will get you. We’ll see how the reports evolve as, well we already saw the NVIDIA Shield flop.. That said, it may have been ahead of its time as Android games are far better now.

Story of the day:

iPhone 13 tipped to use 120Hz LTPO displays from Samsung

Alleged image of iPhone 13 series front glass shows a smaller notch

But finally, for the hottest news today let’s talk iPhone 13 as, the reports have kinda slowed down but it looks like they’re picking up again. Over the past couple of months, most of the iPhone 13 reports have kept mentioning 2 things: 120Hz refresh rate and a shorter notch. Well, now we have a new report and even some hands on leaks for these 2 things. Starting with a new report from the Elec which says that Samsung Display will convert their OLED line-up dedicated to Apple into LTPO Displays within the first half of 2021 as, we’re expecting both Pro models to feature this technology that also allows them to run at 120Hz. But, moving on to hotter leaks, we have some new images recovered by MacRumors that show the front glass cover for 3 of the iPhone 13 variants. You can see the significantly smaller notch, and they do show how apple has rearranged Face ID and slimmed down some of the components to achieve this smaller notch. Another thing to notice is how the ear piece on this notch would be next to the phone’s frame, pretty much the design Android Phones have followed for about two years. We will apparently have this for a year as Ming Chi Kuo claims that we could be seeing some punch holes next year.  

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The post Pocketnow Daily: iPhone 13 Notch LEAKED: Uhhh.. (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.

HP ENVY 17 and x360 15 laptops debut with 11th Gen Intel and AMD Ryzen 5000 CPU

Posted on by Nadeem Sarwar

HP has today launched a fresh line-up of premium laptops that includes the HP ENVY x360 15 convertible and the HP ENVY 17. The two laptops offer a sleek build that employs recycled aluminum and ocean-bound plastics. The new HP offerings also come with some neat features such as a physical webcam shutter, a wireless file transfer feature called HP QuickDrop to move data between your phone and laptop over Wi-Fi or LTE, and the ability to turn the display into a lighting source for selfies.

HP Envy x360 15

hp envy x360 15 front

Coming to the internals, you can equip the HP Envy x360 15 with either an 11th Gen Intel Core processor or an AMD Ryzen 5000 series chip. You get a 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) display with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass NBT on top. However, buyers can go all the way up to a 4K OLED panel as well.

The AMD version of HP ENVY x360 15 starts at $749.99

Your processor options include AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, AMD Ryzen 5700U, 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7, and Intel Core i7-1165G7. You can equip the machine with up to 12GB of DDR4 RAM and 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD. There’s also support for Gigabit-class Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5, fast charge support that can juice up the battery from 0-50% in just half an hour, and a fingerprint scanner as well. 

hp envy x360 15 front

The Intel-powered variant of the HP ENVY x360 15 comes in silver color, while the AMD-driven version is up for grabs in a Nightfall Black color. The AMD version of HP ENVY x360 15 starts at  $749.99, while the Intel model will set you back by $899.99. Both of them are now up for grabs via Best Buy.

View HP ENVY x30 15 AMD at Best Buy
 View HP ENVY x30 15 Intel at Best Buy

HP ENVY 17

hp envy 17

Coming to the HP Envy 17, it ditches the 360-degree hinge design and opts for a full-size keyboard with number keys on the right side. This one features a 17.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) display with Gorilla Glass NBT for protection. But you can configure it with a 4K UHD OLED panel as well. The screen-to-body ratio stands at an impressive 86.3%, while the touchpad is 19% larger this time around. 

HP will let you configure the ENVY 17 with 4K OLED panel as well

The device is powered by the 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor ticking alongside up to 12 gigs of RAM, 32GB of Intel Optane memory, and 512GB of NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD. The company is touting up to 9 hours and 45 minutes of battery life with mixed usage for the HP ENVY 17. The machine also offers a Thunderbolt 4 port and comes in silver color. You can pick this one up starting at $999.99 from Best Buy. 

View HP ENVY 17 at Best Buy

hp envy 17 back

The post HP ENVY 17 and x360 15 laptops debut with 11th Gen Intel and AMD Ryzen 5000 CPU appeared first on Pocketnow.

Intel-powered MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pros are also on sale right now

Posted on by Samuel Martinez
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We saw the latest M1 powered 13-inch MacBook Pro getting a $100 discount earlier today, but that doesn’t mean that the Intel-powered version isn’t getting some love. We kept on looking for deals, and we found that you can get a $200 discount on the 13-inch MacBook Pro with an Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB RAM, and 1TB storage. However, things don’t end there, as you will also see an extra $49 discount at checkout, meaning that you can get your new laptop for $1,750. The 512GB storage option is also getting a nice discount, as you can get one for $1,699 with $199 savings.

Now, there’s another option for those looking to save some bucks on a laptop. If you’re OK with getting a refurbished device, you can save up to $220 off the 13.3-inch MacBook Air with Retina Display. An Intel Core i5 processor powers it, and you get 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD storage to complete the package.

    13-inch MacBook Pro with Intel Processor

    refurb MacBook Air with Intel Core i5

Now, you can also check out other deals that will make your Mac-life a bit more convenient. First, you must consider a stand for your laptop, as it will help to raise your display to a more comfortable viewing angle. The Twelve South HiRise for MacBook stand can be yours for $56 with $24 savings or grab a more affordable stand for $11, as the SOQOOL Computer Stand Riser is getting a $29 discount, that’s 73 percent off its regular $40 price tag.

While you’re checking those out, you will also have to consider getting yourself a new dock for your laptop. The Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro features Dual 4K @60Hz, 40Gbps transfer speeds, 85W upstream charging for $290, or get the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core that features Dual 4K @60Hz, 40Gbps transfer speeds, 60W charging, and the best part, a $30.46 discount that leaves it available for $139.53. However, the best option for those looking to spend less is the Twelve South StayGo that’s selling for $73.45 with $26 savings.

    Twelve South HiRise for MacBook

    Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro

    Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core

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Intel launches Iris Xe discrete GPUs for desktops

Posted on by Nadeem Sarwar

Following the debut of Iris Xe MAX discrete GPU for laptops back in October last year, the company is bringing its in-house Xe graphics processing microarchitecture to the desktop segment as well. Intel has today announced the Iris Xe discrete GPUs for desktops. The cards will likely not be sold as standalone component directly to consumers, as Intel mentions in its press release that the discrete Iris Xe graphics card for desktops will be offered to system integrators who will sell it as part of pre-built systems. Among the first partners to bring the new Intel graphics solution to the market is Asus.

Iris Xe discrete GPU will be sold as part of pre-built systems by the likes of Asus

“The new cards offer a compelling upgrade to existing options in the market segment. They feature three display outputs; hardware video decode and encode acceleration, including AV1 decode support; Adaptive Sync; Display HDR support and artificial intelligence capabilities thanks to DP4a deep-learning inference acceleration,” adds the company. The desktop-class Iris Xe graphics card comes equipped with 4 gigs of VRAM and 80 execution units.

Talking more about its capability, the Iris Xe discrete GPU can handle up to three 4K HDR displays and supports the new AV1 codec to provide a reliable and low-bandwidth video calling experience. For video content creators, the new Intel offering brings HEVC, AVC, VP9, and SCC transcode capabilities to the table, while editing is said to receive a boost with DP4a AI workloads.

They're not targeted at gaming, but geared towards productivity tasks

And just in case you’re wondering, no, the new Intel Iris Xe discrete GPU for desktops is not made for gaming, neither are they going head-to-head against what NVIDIA and AMD have to offer in the world of discrete graphics cards. Instead, they are just meant to accelerate the regular tasks that you perform on your PC, but at a much faster pace when compared to integrated graphics solutions offered by Intel itself or AMD with its own Radeon family.

The post Intel launches Iris Xe discrete GPUs for desktops appeared first on Pocketnow.

Pocketnow Daily: NEW Galaxy S21 Teaser & Exynos Updates: YES and NO! (video)

Posted on by Samuel Martinez

Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones are on sale today

Apple’s latest M1 13-inch MacBook Pro, Razer Blade 15 and more laptops are on sale today

Headphones from Sony, Samsung, Apple and more are also on sale today

You already know, the official news today begin with deals, and again there’s no better time to buy Samsung products both old and new. You can still reserve a Galaxy S21 model and get up to $700 in trade-in and up to $60 in credit for accessories once you do, so make sure you check the first link in the description if you want a Galaxy S21. Sticking to Samsung and trade-in deals, the Z Flip is still a crazy $100, yes $100. The Z Fold 2 is still $1000 and you can get the Galaxy S20 Ultra for $600. We also have deals on the Note but again, you need an eligible device for trade-in. If you don’t have a device to trade-in we also have discounts for all of these on Amazon if you’re still looking for a great deal. Moving on, you can get a Google Pixel 4 for $295 off its original price tag, leaving it at $504 shipped. The M1 MacBook Pro is still $60 off, leaving the 256GB of SSD model for $1239. The Razer Blade 15 is also $300 off, this is the Intel Core i7, RTX 2060 model, leaving it at $1500. We have a ton of more deals on other laptops, AirPods, Sony Earbuds and headphones and more, in the links in the description.

Samsung Galaxy S21
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Series
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
Google Pixel 4
Google Pixel 3a
16-inch MacBook Pro
13-inch MacBook Pro M1
Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go
Sony WHCH710 Noise Cancelling Headphones
Sony WHXB900N Noise Cancelling Headphones
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
 

Intel announces 11th Gen Core H-series mobile processors for gaming laptops

Qualcomm’s second-gen ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is bigger and 50% faster

Fossil Gen 5 LTE costs $349 and let will let you take calls directly on the smartwatch

Jabra Elite 85t gets four new color options at CES 2021

Yes, CES is still happening but before we get into more specific launches, let’s talk about some of our favorite single out announcements. Beginning with Qualcomm as the company just launched the second generation to their ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. This new sensor is 77% larger than its predecessor and it works 50% faster, this improved sensor will reportedly debut with the S21, if history repeats itself. Intel just announced their 11th Gen Core H Series of mobile chips which power gaming laptops based on a 10nm process, supporting up to 5GHz clock speeds, PCIe Gen 4, Thunderbolt 4 and more features. But, 10nm huh Intel? The Jabra Elite 85Ts which are some of my favorite earbuds just got 4 new colorways, including Gold, Copper, Black and Grey in case you were waiting for some variety. Fossil just announced the Gen 5 LTE which brings a 45mm sleek design and it now allows you to take calls directly on the smartwatch which is pretty nice for $349. And guys, there’s so much more CES 2021 coverage on Pocketnow.com but, we have specific articles for each of these products and their details, in the links in the description.

AMD unleashes Zen 3-based Ryzen 5000 series mobile processors

NVIDIA unveils RTX 30 series laptop GPUs and GeForce RTX 3060 desktop graphics

Let’s keep talking about CES, we know that a lot of you guys like when we cover PC parts and well Nvidia and AMD are back at it again. Starting with AMD, they just unveiled their Ryzen 5000 Series of mobile processors, these are divided into 2 families, the H and the U Series. The H Series is targeted at gaming enthusiasts in both 6 and 8 core variants with peak clock speeds of 4.8GHz, interesting considering Intel is pushing 5GHz. When it comes to the U Series, these are aimed at ultra-books and the rest of mass market laptops, these range from 4 to 8 cores, with pretty much the same base specs as some of the H Series but only pushing up to 4.4GHz. AMD is looking at 23% higher single threaded performances and up to a 17% increase in multi-threaded performances. Moving on to Nvidia, the company just revealed the RTX 30 Series laptop GPUs and a RTX 3060 desktop GPU. These are based on their 3rd Gen Max Q technology, offering up to 2x ray tracing output, and the new tensor cores are claimed to be 2x more capable. Overall Nvidia is aiming at higher efficiency, better performance and refined acoustics here. Over 70 laptops with the RTX 30 Series will debut this month alone, so you can check out all of the specifics in the links below. For a minute there I was like – are we sure about that number or is it 7? But nope, 70 laptops.

HONOR announces MagicBook Pro, HONOR Band 6

Sticking to CES, let’s move on to Honor as, we know that the company went independent form Huawei a couple of months ago and they just announced their upcoming flagship products. First off we got the Honor MagicBook Pro which brings a 16.1in display with a 90% screen-to-body ratio. It’s powered by a 10th Gen Intel processor, along with 16GB of dual channel DDR4 RAM, and 512GB of PCIe NVMe SSD, when it comes to cooling it brings dual fans and dual heat pipes. It includes Bluetooth 5.0, an HDMI port, 3 USB A ports and a USB C port, as well as a headphone jack and a fingerprint sensor. It apparently charges up to 50% in just 30 minutes. Now, moving on to wearables we also got the Honor Band 6 which features a 1.47in AMOLED Display, supporting 10 workout modes and 14 days of battery life. It brings 5 ATM water resistance and it brings a heart rate monitor, oxygen monitor, sleep and stress monitor and even a female cycle tracker. It comes in three color variants including Meteorite Black, Sandstone Grey and Coral Pink. Sadly we didn’t get word on price tags yet but it should be on global markets very soon.

Is this the new design of the 2021 iPad Pro refresh?

Now let’s talk about Apple and particularly iPads as it does seem that Cupertino is planning an aggressive push here. Lately there’s been a ton of rumors on the upcoming iPads as, we’re expecting a refresh to the regular iPad and we’re supposed to get mini-LED displays on the Pros very soon. Now, we have some new CAD renders of both iPad Pro models coming from 91Mobiles and MySmartPrice. Starting with the bigger model, it looks like it’s bringing pretty much the same design language as the current model with the boxy design and the single USB-C port as well as the smart connector for the keyboard. The camera is still a dual module along with the LiDAR sensor. When it comes to the 11in version, it also looks like its predecessor which we got back in 2020 but, apparently it’s going to be a couple of millimeters thinner and shorter. The CAD renders also show that we might be getting a Touch ID sensor similar to the one on the iPad Air, and you can also notice it on the renders for the 12.9in iPad. We’re expecting these iPads some time this year, running on a variant of the A13 or A14 Bionic, along with a mini-LED display. It clearly seems that iPad sales are up given the pandemic if Apple plans to make a broader push and even bring a more aggressive price tag.

Story of the day:

Samsung Galaxy S21 retail box leak confirms the absence of a charger

Samsung unveils the 5nm-based Exynos 2100 flagship SoC that will power the Galaxy S21

And finally for the hottest news today, you guessed it. We’re literally a couple of days away from Samsung’s Unpacked but, there’s still a ton of leaks and information to Unpack here.. Let’s start with something official as Samsung just posted the full teaser for the S21 Series which is captioned “Welcome to the Everyday Epic”. It teases a lot of camera capabilities, mainly video, low light and zoom. It shows the silhouette of the device and some software tricks as well. Sticking to what’s official, the company just announced the Exynos 2100 which will power the S21 depending on your region. It is a 5G-ready chip based on a 5nm process and a tri-cluster core design allowing for a 30% increase in multi-core performance and 40% boost in graphics performance. It allows some crazy tricks like handling 6 cameras and 200MP resolution output, as well as handling 4K panels at up to 120Hz, or QHD+ at 144Hz but, we won’t bore you with specifics, we’ll have a specific link for this in the description. Back to the S21, we have some new posters showing off the design yet again, as well as teasing the 5G capabilities, the storage tiers and the camera. Now, the poster getting the most headlines is the one showing off the box and as you can see, it’s very thin. Meaning it’s pretty much official that we won’t be getting a charger or headphones this year. Go Green! And remember, you can already register for the S21 and get some perks, in the first link in the description. So yeah, with that teaser and all of the other posters, seriously what’s left?

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The post Pocketnow Daily: NEW Galaxy S21 Teaser & Exynos Updates: YES and NO! (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.

Apple’s latest M1 13-inch MacBook Pro, Razer Blade 15 and more laptops are on sale today

Posted on by Samuel Martinez

We keep on getting new deals, and this time we will focus on laptops, as there are several options where to choose from. If you’re an Apple fan, you may want to take a look at the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro, which is currently $299 off, meaning you can get one with 16GB RAM and 1TB of storage space for $2,549. This powerful laptop comes with a 2.3GHz Intel Core i9 processor, ready to give life to your upcoming projects. Of course, you can also grab the previous 13-inch model, as it’s now selling for $1,249 with $250 savings. Just remember that this version comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 512GB storage space. Still, you can grab the most recent version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s M1 processor, and you will also get 8GB RAM, but only 256GB storage space for $1,239 with $50 savings.

    16-inch Apple MacBook Pro
      Apple’s largest MacBook Pro comes with a ninth-generation 8-Core Intel Core i9 processor, a stunning 16-inch Retina Display with True Tone technology, as well as a convenient Touch Bar and Touch ID.
      13-inch Apple MacBook Pro
        Apple’s previous-generation 13-inch MacBook Pro is still one of the most powerful laptops in the market with its Intel Core i5 processor under the hood. It also features a brilliant Retina display with True Tone technology.
        M1 13-inch MacBook Pro
          The latest M1 powered 13-inch MacBook Pro comes with a faster CPU and GPU than its predecessor, and it also offers up to 20 hours of battery life.

        We now shift our attention to Windows laptops, where we find some interesting gaming laptops, such as the Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming laptop in its 2020 version. It comes powered by an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and 512GB storage space. You also get the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 and a 15.6-inch FHD 1080p display with 144Hz refresh rates for just $1,500 with $300 savings. Suppose you want a gaming laptop for less, the ASUS TUF gaming laptop that’s currently available for $770 after a $130 discount. Upon purchase, you will get a laptop with a 15.6-inch FHD IPS-Type display with 144Hz refresh rates, an Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB RAM, 512GB storage space, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card.

          Razer Blade 15 Base Gaming Laptop 2020
            The Razer Blade 15 comes with a thin and compact design made with a CNC aluminum unibody frame that houses incredible performance in the most compact footprint possible.

            ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop
              It features an RGB backlit keyboard rated for 20-million keystroke durability, dual fans with anti-dust technology, and more than enough power to run your favorite games.

            There are other non-gaming alternatives, where we find the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go for $649 with almost $51 savings in its Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, and 128GB storage configuration, with two color options to choose from, and the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is also on sale, as you can currently get one for $380 after $120 savings, and you get 4GB RAM and 32GB storage space.

              Microsoft Surface Laptop Go
                Sleek design and standout value. At just 2.44 pounds, it’s light, portable, and easy to keep by your side throughout the day.
                Samsung Chromebook Plus V2
                  It features a lightweight 2-in1 design, weighing just under 3 pounds, and it also comes equipped with q built-in pen that makes it ready to write, sketch, and more.

                The post Apple’s latest M1 13-inch MacBook Pro, Razer Blade 15 and more laptops are on sale today appeared first on Pocketnow.

                Intel announces Core vPro processors for business consumers

                Posted on by Prakhar Khanna

                Intel took the virtual stage at CES 2021 to announce a new range of processors including the 11th Gen Core H-series mobile processors for gaming laptops, which is based on the 10nm process. The three new 11th Gen H-series mobile processors announced at CES 2021 include the Core i7-11375H Special Edition, Core i7-11370H and the Core i5-11300H. All of these pack four cores. The company also announced 11th Gen Core vPro processors based on Intel’s 10nm SuperFin transistors. These are designed for laptops. It launched the Core vPro platform and Intel Evo vPro platform, both with a focus on hardware-based security.

                Intel is focusing on making [the PC] the best tool for people to stay connected, and do the things that matter most to them. The result is more than 500 new designs for laptops and desktops that will come to market in 2021. Performance matters, not just when plugged in. But when unplugged and on battery.

                Intel VP Josh Newman

                Intel says it is focusing on “what matters most to business users.” They are looking at performance and experience on the applications that matter most to them, which include productivity, collaboration, and creation. The Intel Evo vPRo is a laptop-based platform for business users. The new chips are also said to be 23% faster compared to their competition when using apps like Microsoft Office 365. These are also said to have 50% faster office productivity while on a video conference call. 

                The company says more than 60 new laptops from top manufacturers will be available this year. They will combine the security and manageability of vPro and the mobility of the Intel Evo. Intel also announced Intel Evo Chromebooks. These processors will be powered by Intel Iris Xe graphics and will sport integrated Intel Wi-Fi 6/6E.

                The Evo vPro platform includes features such as Intel Hardware Shield for security, Intel Stable IT Platform Program for long-term stability, Intel Active Management Technology for remote management and more.

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                Intel announces 11th Gen Core H-series mobile processors for gaming laptops

                Posted on by Nadeem Sarwar

                Intel has made a slew of announcements today its CES 2021 keynote, but one of the biggest revelations was the debut of a new line of processors. Yes, Intel today lifted the covers from its 11th Gen Tiger Lake H-series processors that will power the next wave of slim gaming laptops in 2021. Intel has announced two new H-series processors – three actually – if you consider the special edition model thrown into the mix, all of which are based on the 10nm process. 

                10nm process, up to 5GHz clock speed, PCIe Gen 4 and Thunderbolt 4 support

                The three new 11th Gen H-series mobile processors announced today include the Core i7-11375H Special Edition, Core i7-11370H and the Core i5-11300H, all of which pack four cores. Intel is labeling them H35, likely because their TDP peaks at a rather low 35W, and not in the 40W range you would expect for gaming-centric Intel silicon. Here’s a quick breakdown of the three new Intel mobile processors: 

                Tap to view full-sized image in a new tab (Image: Intel)

                It is worth noting here that the Core i7-11375H touches a boost clock speed of 5GHz, which is unheard of in the world of mobile CPUs. Intel is touting it to be the ‘fastest single threaded laptop performance’ and that the machines powered by it offer the ‘best balance of mobility and enthusiast level gaming.’ The new 11th Gen Intel H-series processors support the PCIe Gen 4 standard and bring Killer Wi-Fi 6/6E compatibility to the table as well.

                Only 4 cores, but a 15% boost in single-thread performance gen-over-gen

                The new Intel offerings bring support for 3200MHz DDR4 memory (4266MHz for LPDDR4x), Thunderbolt 4 support, a 15% boost in single-thread performance compared to 10th Gen solutions, and a 40% jump in multi-thread performance compared to the 15W 11th Gen Intel mobile processors. Intel claims that its 11th Gen H-series mobile processors will provide enough power for playing games at 4K, while popular titles such as Valorant, Destiny 2 will clock at 1080p resolution with over 70FPS frame rate.

                Tap to view full-sized image in a new tab (Image: Intel)

                Intel will launch an 8-core 11th Gen H-series mobile processor soon

                As per the company, its new mobile processors will appear in over 40 designs in the first half of 2021, with Acer, Asus, and MSI being the brands whose laptops will soon debut armed with the new Intel silicon. The new chips don’t support CPU, memory or graphics overlocking though. And if you’re not satisfied with the core count, Intel has promised to launch an 8-core 11th Gen H-series processor with up to 5GHz multi-core frequency later this year. 

                The post Intel announces 11th Gen Core H-series mobile processors for gaming laptops appeared first on Pocketnow.

                A perfect moment to grab an Intel powered MacBook Air

                Posted on by Samuel Martinez

                It’s safe to say that Intel-powered MacBook Air models will soon be hard to come across. However, that doesn’t mean that they are bad notebooks. In fact, they are still some of the best laptops you can get in the market, and even more so when they come with a discount.

                We currently find tons of deals on the previous generation MacBook Air over at B&H Photo Video, where it seems they want to clear them out from inventory. This means great news, as well as great savings for you. For example, you can currently get the Early 2020 Air with a 13.3-inch Retina Display, a 1.1GHz tenth generation Intel Core i3 Dual-Core processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD, and integrated Intel Iris Plus Graphics for $899 after a $100 discount. The next step features a 1.1GHz Intel Core i5 Quad-Core processor for $929 with $170 savings.

                  MacBook Air Listing
                    Full list of Apple’s Intel-powered MacBook Air and MacBook Pro deals

                  However, the best choice may be the one that lets you save $300, as you can get a new MacBook with a 1.1GHz tenth generation Intel Core i5 Quad-Core processor with 512GB storage space and 8GB RAM. This leaves this model up for grabs at just $999, down from its regular $1,299 price tag. The maxed-out version is also available for $1,599, and it gives you an Intel Core i7 processor, 1TB storage, and 16GB RAM with a $250 discount. You may also want to take a look at some Type C hubs that will give you the necessary extra ports.

                    MacBook Air Best Deal
                      Currently the best deal in the previous generation MacBook Air models
                      Type C Docks
                        A must-have accessory for anyone who needs more ports in their new MacBooks

                      You can also find deals on the new 21.5-inch Apple iMac with Retina 4K Display. This powerful desktop is currently getting a $120 discount, which leaves it at $1,379, and you get 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and a 3.0GHz Intel Core i5 processor to power the show. It also features AMD Radeon Pro 560X graphics, two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, and more.

                        21.5-inch Apple iMac with Retina 4K Display
                          A powerful desktop from Apple, for those who don't like to work on the go

                        21.5-inch Apple iMac with Retina 4K Display

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                        Microsoft reportedly working on self-designed chips for Surface PCs and servers

                        Posted on by Nadeem Sarwar

                        In what can be called the precursor for a major industrial shift, Microsoft is reportedly designing its own custom chips that will be used for its upcoming Surface family of PCs as well as cloud servers. As per a Bloomberg report, Microsoft is relying on chip designs from ARM to come up with a custom chip that will power the server computers which are a part of the company’s Azure cloud computing system. The report also adds that Microsoft is ‘also exploring using another chip that would power some of its Surface line of personal computers.’

                        Is Microsoft walking in Apple's footsteps?

                        Now, Microsoft is not entirely new to this game. The company has already worked with Qualcomm in the past to design the SQ1 and SQ2 processors that power the first-gen and second-gen Surface Pro X respectively. Additionally, the company also joined hands with AMD to equip the Surface Laptop 3 with a processor it calls the AMD Ryzen 5 / Ryzen 7 Microsoft Surface Edition. However, the Bloomberg report signals something entirely different for Microsoft, but a move that sounds similar to what Apple did with its in-house M1 chip for Macs.

                        At this point, details are slim regarding Microsoft’s self-designed ARM-based processors for its server computers and future Surface hardware. However, it won’t be surprising at all. With Apple already catalyzing the trend of having more control over hardware and software to maximize the performance of its computing machines, it seems only natural that Microsoft would want to replicate the same formula with a reasonable amount of success.

                        A tough road ahead for Microsoft

                        While Apple’s switch from Intel to in-house silicon has reaped handsome benefits in terms of massive performance gain, the main victory was an almost seamless transition from x86-based software ecosystem to ARM-based apps, thanks to the robust Rosetta 2 emulation layer. However, Microsoft has failed to replicate the same success with the Windows on ARM platform, something that kept an excellent machine like the Surface Pro X from truly shining, primarily due to sub-par performance of apps running in emulation and total lack of 64-bit apps. It was only last week that Microsoft finally launched x64 emulation – that too in preview for now – to fill that app gap.

                        Intel stands to lose the most

                        Microsoft’s success with a custom-designed chip for Surface PCs will only materialize in the presence of truly robust apps that doesn’t lack in performance if they are running in emulation, of if they have been compiled (or recompiled) natively based on ARM instructions. However, Intel appears to be the party that will lose the most, with the companies behind two of the world’s most dominant operating systems moving away from Intel processors to their own ARM-based silicon. Plus, the meteoric rise of AMD and the emergence of always-on PCs powered by Qualcomm silicon are not making things for Intel either.

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                        Intel sells its NAND memory business to SK Hynix for a cool $9 billion

                        Posted on by Nadeem Sarwar

                        South Korean semiconductor giant and memory chipmaker SK Hynix has today announced that that it is acquiring Intel’s NAND business for a sum of $9 billion. The acquisition will give SK Hynix ownership of Intel’s NAND SSD business, the NAND component and wafer business, as well as the Dalian manufacturing facility in China. Intel, on the other hand, will retain the Optane business alongside the memory trademark and will continue to work on it. Both the companies will seek regulatory approval for the deal next year, following which the acquisition will take another four year years to complete in 2025. 

                        Intel will retain its Optane memory business

                        Once SK Hynix gets the approval, it will pay Intel an initial sum of $7 billion to acquire its NAND business, which includes the transfer of NAND SSD-associated intellectual properties and employees in that division, as well as the Dalian facility. The ownership of the remaining assets – which include IP related to manufacturing and designing of NAND flash wafers, R&D employees, and the Dalian facility’s entire workforce – will be transferred in 2025 subject to payment of the remaining $2 billion. 

                        The deal will see completion in 2025

                        This will also mark the deal’s completion. But until then, Intel will keep manufacturing NAND wafers at the Dalian facility, and will also retain all the NAND flash-associated design and production IPs. SK Hynix mentions in its press release that the deal will help sharpen the competitive edge of its storage solutions with a special focus on the domain of enterprise SSDs. The South Korean company aims to leverage Intel’s technology to strengthen its portfolio of 3D NAND solutions. 

                        Both companies are currently awaiting regulatory approval

                        “I am proud of the NAND memory business we have built and believe this combination with SK Hynix will grow the memory ecosystem for the benefit of customers, partners and employees.” Intel CEO Bob Swan was quoted as saying regarding the deal. “By taking each other`s strengths and technologies, SK hynix will proactively respond to various needs from customers and optimize our business structure, expanding our innovative portfolio in the NAND flash market segment, which will be comparable with what we achieved in DRAM,” said SK Hynix CEO Seok-Hee Lee about the acquisition. 

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                        Intel’s 11th Gen Rocket Lake desktop processors arrive in Q1 2021

                        Posted on by Nadeem Sarwar

                        Barely a few weeks after the first wave of laptops powered by Intel’s 11th Gen Tiger Lake Core processors started hitting the market, the company is now moving towards it next avenue – desktops. Intel has so far been silent about its plans regarding 11th Gen desktop-class processors, but has finally made a brief announcement that acts more like a teaser for a bigger reveal to come. In a Medium post , John Bonini – Intel’s VP and GM of Client Computing Group Desktop, Workstations and Gaming – revealed that 11th Gen Intel Core desktop processors falling under the Rocket Lake family will arrive in the first quarter of 2021. 

                        While Bonini didn’t delve into details such as performance improvements or new capabilities, he did mention that Intel’s 11th Gen Rocket Lake processors will offer support for the new PCIe 4.0 standard. “It’ll be another fantastic processor for gaming, and we’re excited to disclose more details in the near future.,” he added. Right now, official details are slim, but there are few leaks floating around that give us an idea of what to expect. 

                        As per a VideoCardz report, the Rocket Lake-S family will reportedly be the last lineup of processors based on the 14nm process and will reportedly debut in March next year. However, don’t expect a huge jump after that, as Intel has reportedly pushed back its 7nm plans to 2022. Also, the Rocket Lake-S processors will reportedly employ the Cypress Cove architecture and will come with the Intel Xe graphics akin to the Tiger Lake processors. The series will reportedly peak at 8 cores (16 threads) with a maximum TDP of 125W. 

                        As per an alleged Geekbench listing (via Twitter / @_rogame), one of the upcoming Rocket Lake processors will offer a peak clock speed of up to 4.8GHz. Other rumored upgrades include Thunderbolt 4 support, attached Intel optane memory, increased DDR4 speeds, Wi-Fi 6 and HDMI 2.0 compatibility. The upcoming 11th Gen Intel Rocket Lake processors will reportedly go against AMD’s Zen 3-based family that is rumored to go official in the next few weeks. 

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                        Huawei to continue working with Intel, and Qualcomm could be next

                        Posted on by Samuel Martinez

                        It seems that Huawei may finally be getting a break from the US. The company has been deeply affected by the US – China trade war and the ongoing pandemic, but new rumors suggest that things can start to improve.

                        According to a recent report by Reuters, Huawei may keep on working with Intel Corp, as one of the company’s spokesmen said that it had received the necessary licenses from the US authorities to continue supplying products to the Chinese tech giant. This information was also released by the China Securities Journal, which mentions other companies waiting to get the US government’s permission to work with Huawei.

                        Other companies such as China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix, MediaTek have confirmed to have applied for a US license. However, we also get information that Qualcomm has also applied for a permit to sell its chips to Huawei.

                        Huawei’s rotating chairman, Guo Ping, said that:
                        “Qualcomm has always been a very important partner of Huawei. Over the past decade and more, Huawei has been procuring chipsets from Qualcomm. I’ve noticed Qualcomm has applied for a license to export products to Huawei from the US government, and if they get the license, we are willing to continue to procure from them and use their chipsets in our smartphones.”

                        He also confirmed some issues that could delay the launch of the Huawei Mate 40 series and the Mate X2, the problems the company is having with some of the necessary components for its devices, and more.
                        “The US has been continuously attacking us … and that has posed great challenges to our production and our operation.”
                        “We got the last batch of chipsets in the middle of September; we are still evaluating more details.”

                        Let’s remember that US sanctions got worse on September 15, when the company lost several business partners, such as Samsung, LG, and the TSMC, which is, or was, the company in charge of manufacturing Kirin chipsets found in Huawei devices. Now, we will have to wait and see which companies are allowed to work with Huawei, according to the US government’s judgment.

                        Source GSM Arena

                        Via CNBC

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                        Intel unveils 11th Gen Tiger Lake processors with new integrated Xe graphics for laptops

                        Posted on by Nadeem Sarwar

                        Intel has today lifted the wraps from its 11th Gen Tiger Lake mobile processors for thin and light laptops, featuring the new Xe graphics. The chipmaker is launching a total of nine SKUs across the Core i3, Core i5, and the Core i7 range, all of which will appear in laptops from Samsung, Acer, Dell, Asus, and Lenovo among other brands in the holiday season.

                        The processors employ Intel’s 10nm SuperFin process and also serve as the launch platform the new Willow Cove architecture. The company is touting over 20% improvement in CPU performance and twice the graphics prowess, thanks to the new integrated Xe graphics architecture. Additionally, Intel says users can expect 5x better AI performance with new DP4a instructions on the GPU. Talking about raw figures, Intel says the new mobile processors will reach a clock speed of up to 4.8GHz.

                        Other upgrades introduced by the new 11th gen Tiger Lake mobile processors include support for Thunderbolt 4 standard with USB 4.0 compliance and Wi-Fi 6 that promises 3x faster connectivity. Intel says the new silicon is also the first mobile processor with PCIe Gen 4 enabling direct SSD attached with up with 32 Gbps output and display support for up to four 4K monitors.

                        More notably, Intel is highlighting the gaming prowess of its Xe graphics, marking the first time that the company’s integrated solution is going head-to-head against AMD in that department. Intel says that an 11th Gen processor with integrated Xe GPU performs better than a 10th gen Intel processor with a discrete NVIDIA MX-series graphics and those from AMD. Here are some of the comparisons Intel showcased:

                        tgl live blog 043
                        GRID game comparison
                        tgl live blog 045
                        Gear Tactics game comparison

                        Intel has also introduced the Intel Evo certification platform and here’s how the company defines it:
                        “Intel introduces the Intel Evo platform brand for laptop designs verified to the second-edition specification and key experiences of the Project Athena innovation program on Sept. 2, 2020. All Intel Evo platform designs are powered by 11th Gen Intel Core i7 or i5 processors with Intel Iris Xe graphics, feature best-in-class wireless and wired connectivity with Thunderbolt 4 and Intel Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+), and deliver exceptional audio and display to make each experience premium.”

                        Source: Intel

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                        MediaTek to bring 5G to more Intel PCs by early 2021

                        Posted on by Prakhar Khanna

                        MediaTek has announced advances in its collaboration with Intel to bring 5G experiences to next-generation PCs with the successful development and certification of its 5G modem data card.

                        MediaTek’s T700 5G modem has completed 5G standalone (SA) calls in real-world test scenarios. It will be used to bring 5G connectivity to Intel-powered PCs. Moreover, Intel has progressed on system integration, validation, and developing platform optimizations for a superior user experience.

                        The MediaTek T700 modem supports non-standalone and standalone Sub-6 5G network architectures. It will help deliver consistently faster speeds and more reliable connectivity. It is also claimed to be highly power efficient. MediaTek is rolling out its advanced 5G technology across the PC, mobile, home, auto and IoT segments. The first laptops enabled by the MediaTek and Intel 5G modem solution are expected in early 2021.

                        “Our partnership with Intel is a natural extension of our growing 5G mobile business, and is an incredible market opportunity for MediaTek to move into the PC market,” said MediaTek President Joe Chen. “With Intel’s deep expertise in the PC space and our groundbreaking 5G modem technology, we will redefine the laptop experience and bring consumers the best 5G experiences.”

                        “A successful partnership is measured by execution, and we’re excited to see the rapid progress we are making with MediaTek on our 5G modem solution with customer sampling starting later this quarter. Building on our 4G/LTE leadership in PCs, 5G is poised to further transform the way we connect, compute and communicate.  Intel is committed to enhancing those capabilities on the world’s best PCs,” said Chris Walker, Intel corporate vice president, and general manager of Mobile Client Platforms.

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