Microsoft Introduces Copilot+ PCs Signaling a Significant Change in Personal Computing for Windows PCs

May 22, 2024 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

The personal computer landscape is on the edge of a revolution. Microsoft has just introduced Copilot+ PCs. These PCs are powered by next-generation ARM processors which signifies a bold leap forward in AI-powered computing experiences.

Pivoting to ARM’s x64 Architecture for Both Power and Efficiency

For decades, x86 processors have dominated the PC market. However, ARM processors, known for their superior power efficiency in mobile devices, are finally making significant inroads into the PC realm. It also marks a shift to x64-based programs which are able to perform more efficiently. This shift paves the way for lighter, fanless designs and significantly longer battery life – features highly sought after by mobile professionals and everyday users alike.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X series chips powering Copilot+ PCs boast over 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS). This immense processing power isn’t just about raw speed; it fuels the next wave of AI applications directly on the device.

Copilot+ PCs – Microsoft’s Big Shift in Human-PC Interactions

Copilot+ PCs aren’t merely hardware upgrades. They are a shift in both performance and efficiency but, more than that, these laptops seem to be Microsoft’s way of changing the way we interact with our PCs.

Recall instantly with Recall on Copilot+ PC

A key feature is “Recall,” a revolutionary AI assistant that functions as a virtual memory bank. Recall leverages the power of the NPU (Neural Processing Unit) to continuously record and analyze user activity. This allows users to effortlessly search through past browsing history, voice chats, documents, and even specific on-screen moments. Imagine presenting and needing to reference a specific point you saw in a research paper two weeks ago – Recall can instantly surface that information, making research and presentations a breeze. Students can revisit key points from lectures, writers can effortlessly find inspiration from past notes, and the possibilities extend to countless other scenarios.

Recall is just the tip of the iceberg. Copilot+ PCs offer a broader array of AI-powered features designed to enhance productivity and creativity. Imagine a virtual language coach providing real-time feedback during presentations, highlighting areas for improvement and suggesting alternative phrasing. Creatives can leverage AI-powered tools for tasks like content creation, video editing, and graphic design, with the system intelligently adapting to their workflow and suggesting improvements.

Turn ideas into art with Cocreator on Copilot+ PC

Microsoft has meticulously reimagined Windows 11 to seamlessly integrate with ARM processors and unlock the full potential of AI features. Features like “Cocreator” allow for real-time collaboration on creative projects, with AI assisting in brainstorming and suggesting ideas. “Windows Studio Effects” leverages AI to enhance video calls, automatically adjusting lighting, background noise, and even eye contact to create a more professional and engaging experience. These features, combined with the power of the NPU, promise to transform the way we work, create, and connect.

Security remains a paramount concern in today’s digital world. Copilot+ PCs are built with security in mind, featuring the latest security features from Microsoft and Qualcomm. All Copilot+ PCs are “Secure Core” PCs, with additional hardware and software protections built-in to safeguard user data and privacy. This comprehensive approach to security ensures a worry-free experience for users who can focus on their tasks without compromising their digital safety.

Bridging the Gap with Prism

The transition to ARM processors and the integration of advanced AI features like Recall represent a turning point for Microsoft and the PC industry as a whole. While some existing software may require adaptation, the potential benefits are undeniable. With longer battery life, superior performance, and groundbreaking AI features, Copilot+ PCs promise to usher in a new era of intelligent and user-centric computing. Microsoft is committed to working closely with developers to ensure a smooth transition and unlock the full potential of the ARM ecosystem.

Microsoft is committed to working closely with developers to ensure a smooth transition and unlock the full potential of the ARM ecosystem. A key component of this strategy is “Prism,” a translation layer that acts as a bridge between ARM processors and existing x86 applications. Similar to Rosetta on Macs, Prism allows users to run x86 applications seamlessly on their ARM-based Copilot+ PCs, ensuring compatibility with a vast library of existing software. It is reported that Prism can even improve the performance of some x86 applications on ARM hardware.

Unanswered Questions and the Road Ahead

While Copilot+ PCs represent a significant leap forward, some questions linger. The compatibility of existing software with ARM architecture needs to be addressed, and the long-term impact on software developers requires careful consideration. However, Microsoft’s commitment to developer tools and emulation solutions suggests a proactive approach to these challenges. That said, the company’s track record with Windows on ARM has not been the most reassuring.

Surface Laptop and Surface Pro Hero 1536x864 webp

Be that as it may, the arrival of Copilot+ PCs marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of personal computing. Not only is this the first time we have had multiple OEMs jump on the Windows on ARM bandwagon, but it’s also the first time that they’ve done it with some of their most successful laptop lineups. .

PR Newswire

TCL Middle East & Africa showcases their latest line-up of products in Istanbul

May 22, 2024 TechENT Syndication Leave a comment

ISTANBUL, May 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — TCL Electronics (1070.HK), the world’s Top 2 TV brand and Top 1 98-inch TV brand, recently held its highly anticipated MEA Product Launch 2024 at the prestigious Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus. This esteemed gathering provided an ideal platform for TCL to unveil its latest line of QD-Mini LED TVs, including TCL 115″ X955 Max, the world’s largest QD-Mini LED TV, and domestic appliances, inviting attendees to immerse themselves in a hands-on experience with each cutting-edge product.

The event welcomed over 600 distinguished guests, comprising executives, partners, and industry insiders, for an exclusive preview of the ground-breaking technological advancements developed for the MEA region. Alongside immersive demonstrations, TCL showcased its newest products and solutions in a dedicated area, underscoring its unwavering commitment to crafting bespoke innovations tailored to enrich the lifestyles of its discerning customers.

Ms. Sunny Yang, General Manager of TCL Industries Middle East & Africa, said, “Our products are a testament to our commitment to enhancing the lives of our customers. Each home entertainment product is imbued with practical innovations aimed at enriching the lives of our customers. This aligns with our overarching goal of fostering a better quality of life by elevating everyone’s entertainment experience and enhancing the aesthetics of their homes.”

A notable feature of the exhibition was TCL’s diverse range of home entertainment products, encompassing their XL Collection of televisions in sizes of 98″, 85″, 75″, and various gaming models. Furthermore, the 2024 product line-up was enhanced by TCL’s ultra-premium 115″ X955 Max QD-Mini LED TV.

“TCL’s product emphasis lies in large-screen televisions, which serve as pivotal display devices in every home, often becoming the focal point of entertainment. The allure of super-sized screens—not only ideal for movies but also for gaming, sports, and a myriad of entertainment activities. They immerse you fully in the action, providing the ultimate immersive experience.” Ms. Sunny added.

Experience the future of television with the World’s largest, TCL 115″ X955 Max QD-Mini LED TV, where every detail is crafted to perfection.

The launch event showcased the remarkable capabilities of the 115″ X955 Max QD-Mini LED TV, the world’s largest, providing viewers with a cinematic experience right in their living rooms. With a peak brightness of 5,000 nits (unit of measurement for brightness) and over 20,000+ local dimming zones, this TV offers precise lighting and impressive contrast, ensuring crisper and sharper visuals even on such a large scale. Equipped with QLED PRO, a 144 Hz VRR and an ONKYO 6.2.2 Hi-Fi system, the TV delivers exceptional image quality and pulse-pounding audio with an ultra-slim design.

Experience the pinnacle of home entertainment with TCL’s QD-Mini LED TVs, where cutting-edge technology meets unparalleled visual excellence.

All QD-Mini LED TVs, C855, C755 and C655 PRO, boast dynamic HDR performance, with the TCL C855 Premium QD-Mini LED TV reaching up to 3500 nits. The TVs feature QLED PRO technology, enriching colours and providing vivid contrast from the brightest whites to the deepest blacks. The low reflection feature minimizes glare, ensuring an immersive viewing experience in any environment. Audiophiles can indulge in the premium home theater sound quality of the integrated ONKYO Hi-Fi audio system. Enhanced by the AiPQ PRO Processor and a 144Hz high refresh rate with VRR, these TVs deliver seamless, crisp visuals suitable for cinematic experiences and gaming adventures alike.

Home solutions to empower consumers to embrace and healthier and more convenient lifestyle.

TCL also presented a range of new products designed to enrich and simplify daily life. Updates were shared on the Air Conditioners line-up, which featured the innovative FreshIN 3.0 and BreezeIN, renowned for their sleek, minimalist design and easy-to-maintain build. Additionally, TCL introduced its latest Free built-in series for refrigerator and washing machine models, including the TCL C2110WDG and C67110WDG Front Load Wash & Dry, empowering consumers to embrace healthier and more convenient lifestyles.

About TCL Electronics

TCL Electronics (1070.HK) is a leading consumer electronics brand and leader in the global television industry. TCL now operates in more than 160 markets around the world. The company specializes in the research, development, and manufacturing of consumer electronics products ranging from TVs, audio, home appliances, mobile devices, smart glasses, commercial displays, and more. Visit the TCL website at https://www.tcl.com.

PR Newswire

ThroughPut.AI and Inteligistics Announce Strategic Partnership to Transform Agriculture and Fresh Produce Supply Chains

May 21, 2024 TechENT Syndication Leave a comment

The Partnership focuses on driving maximum optimization of both the supply chain and interwoven cold chain to improve sales, profit margins, output, safety, and traceability.

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ThroughPut Inc., the industrial AI supply chain Decision Intelligence pioneer, and Inteligistics, the leading digital visibility solutions provider for perishable supply chains, today announced a strategic technology alliance to accelerate profitability for the sales of perishable goods. This area is typically plagued by volatile prices and volumes, poor predictions, limited supply chain visibility, and excessive product spoilage. This leads to high rejection and discount rates, and avoidable lost margins. ThroughPut.AI, in collaboration with Inteligistics, will enable growers, suppliers, carriers, distributors, and retailers to significantly improve the efficiency of their supply and cold chain operations, thus ensuring that all fresh products – ranging from berries and vegetables to fish and meat – is sold profitably on-time and in-full for faster, fresher and safer delivery with full supply chain visibility.

Mutual customers introduced ThroughPut.AI and Inteligistics as complementary partners due to ThroughPut.AI’s patented, Gartner-ranked comprehensive Supply Chain Analytics & Decision Intelligence software, with Inteligistics’ industry-leading expertise in supply chain performance, productivity, and sustainability, where both have yielded high-value outcomes for customers, their consumers, and owner-investors across the globe. The two companies also share a common goal of minimizing waste, shrink, unfilled orders, and lost sales.

“We’re delighted to partner with Inteligistics as we look to expand our capabilities for our clients in the critical Food and Agricultural industry. Food and AG supply chains suffer from siloed legacy point solutions that don’t address today’s supply chain networks’ complexity and volatility. To overcome these modern Food and AG supply chain challenges, already existing but disparate data must be tapped into, stitched together, analyzed, visualized, and optimized with Industrial-grade AI for actionable recommendations and better results,” explained Seth Page, COO and Head of Strategic Partnerships of ThroughPut Inc. “By partnering with Inteligistics, we can provide customers with our unprecedented supply chain visibility, actionability, predictions and recommendations into customers’ cold chain operations as part of their larger end-to-end supply chain networks. This allows customers to leverage data at every step of the way to make the right produce available at the right place, at the right time, to the right customer, at the best price, in the correct quantities, and in the safest traceable manner possible.”

“Our partnership with ThroughPut.AI will empower agricultural producers, and buyers to leverage data for timely, intelligent decision-making, while accelerating margins,” said Rao Mandava, CEO and Chairman at Inteligistics. “Our customers will now have a unified common operating picture for a single source of truth for all their perishable inventory, enabling them to reduce risk, increase safety, and unlock new growth opportunities. The data is also available for our recently unveiled 1-Click FSMA 204 Traceability reporting solutions. All our supply and cold chain solutions work with data from a company’s legacy data platforms, including ERP, WMS and procurement systems, eliminating the major operational disruption associated with platform replacement.”

Joint Capabilities

Bringing together ThroughPut’s patented and award-winning AI-powered Supply Chain Advanced Analytics and Decision Intelligence solution with Inteligistics’ innovative supply and cold chain performance improvement capabilities will empower their customers to drive additional value in many key areas including the following:

Fill Rate: The joint solution will provide customers with an innovative fill rate model that will enable them to:
- Dynamically allocate products when farm and producer outputs vary, thus ensuring timely demand fulfillment.
- Proactively forecast customer demand, pricing, and volumes, as well as leveraging advanced analytics to balance supply with demand on a real-time basis.
- Tailor fill-rates based on customer segmentation, helping customers to prioritize higher contribution margin product mixes with the best on-time and in-full (OTIF) rates to maximize returns.

Scheduling: The combined solution will empower suppliers and buyers to optimize loading facility and cross-docking queuing, slotting, scheduling, loading and usage via:
- Data-driven recommendations for ideal order fulfillment time-slots based on customer segmentation, available inventory, and priority-based delivery of in-demand products across the supply chain.
- Ensure necessary labor, docks and slots are available for loading on time to further enhance operational efficiency, greater throughput, higher output, and additional revenue and profit generation.
- Streamline the scheduling process and maximize order fulfillment while minimizing delays, idle time, and site traffic.

Rejection and Discount Rates: Leveraging data inputs from Inteligistics and ThroughPut.AI will deliver fresh Food & Agriculture specific capabilities, including:
- Actionable insights and recommendations to optimize end-to-end supply chain operations while maintaining traceable product quality and food safety, for a greater bottom-line with enhanced regulatory compliance.
- Minimize rejection factors by analyzing data on product temperatures, sales history, and movements across supply chain networks to predict the likelihood of rejection or discounts, while reducing rejection rates and discounts in shipments that are fully traceable and quantifiable.
- Minimize waste and discounts to consumers by managing the inventory from DCs to stores using predictive shelf life and First Expire/First Out distribution.

PR Contact

Tina Jacobs

pr@throughput.ai

About ThroughPut:

ThroughPut.AI is a Silicon Valley-based Supply Chain AI leader that puts Industrial material flows on Autopilot by leveraging existing Enterprise Data to achieve superior Business, Operations, Financial and Sustainability Results. ThroughPut.AI’s patented, Gartner-recognized AI-powered Supply Chain Analytics and Decision Intelligence software platform predicts Demand, reorients Production Capacity, reassigns Warehouse Space, and reorders Materials optimally, so businesses minimize overpromising and under-delivering, and maximize for their desired outcomes. As a rapid diagnostic platform, ThroughPut.AI both improves material flow and free-cash-flow across the entire end-to-end value chain far faster than leading contemporary and legacy solutions could ever imagine. The founding team is led by seasoned serial entrepreneurs with real-world AI, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Transportation and Operations experience, from the shopfloor to the top-floor, at leading Fortune 500 Industrial Companies & pioneering Enterprise Technology companies that have impacted the world.

To learn more about ThroughPut Inc, visit our website today.

Additional Resources:

About Inteligistics:

Inteligistics is uniquely placed in perishables industries using Silicon Valley technology and process improvements to bring digital transformation, turn Big Data into clear actions through AI/ML, and deliver high value improvements to supply chain and cold chain performance for perishable commodities. The resulting increase in productivity and reduction in critical cut-to-cool times, resources help meet sustainability goals. Using IoT, off-the-shelf wireless hardware, and proprietary cloud-based applications, Inteligistics develops custom solutions and provides an end-to-end integrated supply chain platform and standalone applications that improve quality, throughput, increase profits and deliver high ROI on the critical process of moving product from field to consumer. Visit inteligistics.com and linkedin.com/company/inteligistics.

Source: ThroughPut Inc.

Accessories, Entertainment, Lifestyle, News

The Sonos Ace Brings The Best from Sonos in a Portable, Personalized Package

May 21, 2024 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Sonos is taking its offerings to the next level. Having already had decades of experience in the home theatre and home audio arena, the company is taking its know-how and making it more personal. The Sonos Ace is the first over-ear headphone set from Sonos and it’s ready to take on the big guns.

Intentionally Designed For Comfort & Simplicity

The Sonos Ace continues the company’s ethos of having aesthetically pleasing, minimalist design. The new headphones bring together premium design and materials with premium audio quality. It has a slim profile accented by the signature Sonos matte finish. Its main body and headband are made of high-quality, durable plastic. The adjustable arms are lightweight metal with a Chrome finish for that touch of elegance. More importantly, the Sonos Ace is made for comfort. It’s lightweight and feels nearly weightless when worn. The ear cups are made of memory foam wrapped in vegan leather that conforms to the contours of your head.

The design of the Sonos Ace is intentional. The subtle cues like the Sonos logo being only on the right earpiece are intentionally placed to make it so wearing them is effortless. Similarly, the insides of the earcups are coloured differently to signal their orientation subtly.

Interacting with the Sonos Ace is simple and intuitive. For the most part, you’ll be interacting solely with a single, tactile button. This metallic button is located on the right earcup. Pushing it down turn the headphones on, pushing it up or down adjusts the volume and double-pushing pauses and plays your media. There is another button that blends seamlessly into the Sonos Ace’s design. This button is used to control the Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) feature on the Ace. It will also allow you to connect to your Sonos Arc for a personalised theatre experience.

Custom-made for that Signature Sonos Audio

The Ace’s sleek design and slim silhouette are just the tip of the iceberg. Sonos has custom-designed the drivers in the Sonos Ace. These drivers are designed to deliver high-fidelity audio to your earholes. It’s calibrated to deliver live-like audio quality delivering the full range of sounds from the rumbling lows to reverberating highs. Sonos hasn’t shared any information about the technical setup of the headphones.

The Sonos Ace also plays well with your preexisting Sonos setup. The ANC button mentioned earlier allows you to connect to the Sonos Arc with a simple holding of the ANC button down. This feature allows you to have the full theatrical experience of your movie even when the kids are sleeping. This feature also brings next-level immersion with head tracking.

The Ace also comes with Active Noise Cancellation allowing you to tune out the world as you immerse yourself in your favourite albums. It also comes with a pass-through mode (Aware Mode) that allows you to interact with the world around you (should you want to). It comes with 30 hours of use on a single charge. A quick 3-minute charge will get you an additional 3 hours. It also comes with a USB-C cable in the box.

Pricing & Availability

The Sonos Ace will be available in Black and White. It will retail for RM2,299 in Malaysia and USD$449 worldwide.

The Sonos Ace is available for pre-order starting today, 21 May 2024 from the Sonos Concept Store or online via TC Acoustic website in Malaysia and Singapore.

News

Acer’s First Copilot+ PC is the Acer the Swift 14 AI

May 21, 2024 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC branding is making waves with a stampede of laptops coming from a number of OEMs including Acer. However, Acer isn’t fooling around with their introduction of Copilot+ PCs. Its first Copilot+ PC is part of its Swift lineup. The Acer Swift lineup has always been the company’s flagship for premium thin and light devices. The latest stable of Swift laptops has brought ample performance with the latest and greatest processors and GPUs.

The Swift 14 AI will be available with both the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus. The new ARM64-based systems on a chip (SoCs) will be powering the unique AI features that set the Swift 14 AI apart from its brethren. But before we delve into Copilot features, let’s talk about the specs. The Snapdragon X SoCs will;l be paired with up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of memory.

It will come with a 14.5-inch WQXGA IPS display with a resolution of 2560×1600 pixels and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The screen comes with TUV Rheinland Eyesafe 2.0 certification and covers 100% of the sRGB gamut. The Swift 14 AI will also be available with a touchscreen option. It will also feature a QHD IR camera with a physical privacy shutter and a triple mic setup. The camera will also support Windows Hello.

The Acer Swift 14 AI will come with a dual speaker setup with DTS X Audio. It will also feature two USB Type-C ports with support for charging and DisplayPort. In addition, there will be two USD 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports and an audio combo jack. The laptop will also support WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. A 75Wh battery will power this laptop. Best part? It only weighs 1.36 kg.

Of course, as Microsoft mentioned during its announcement, the hallmark of any Copilot+ PC will be the inclusion of extended Copilot features. The first of which is the inclusion of a dedicated Copilot key. In addition, the laptop will be shipped with a key for Copilot+. This will unlock features like Recall which allows you to search for documents with descriptions or keywords; Cocreator which will allow you to create AI images with Copilot and Auto Super Resolution which automatically upscales graphics and images for the best performance.

Pricing & Availability

The Acer Swift 14 AI will be priced from USD$1,099 (RM5,157.67) in North America. It will be available starting in July.

The laptop will be priced from EUR€1,499 (RM7,646.46) in the EMEA region and will be available starting in June.

Computers, News

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Debut with over 20 Copilot+ Laptops to take on Apple Silicon

May 21, 2024 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

The new Copilot+ PCs are running Qualcomm’s latest made-for-pc system on a chip (SoC). The Snapdragon X SoCs were announced together with Microsoft’s new Copilot+ PC standard. So far, Microsoft itself has used the SoC on the latest Surface Laptop and Surface Pro. Other OEMs have also introduced laptops carrying the same chipset under the Copilot+ PC program.

The new Snapdragon X SoCs are fabricated using a 4nm process and come with Qualcomm’s Oryon CPU, Adreno GPU and Hexagon NPU (Neural Processing unit). The combination of the three empowers higher performance and better battery life. Qualcomm boasts that Snapdragon X Elite delivers current peak PC CPU performance at 60% less power.

There are two variants of the Snapdragon X SoC: the Snapdragon X Elite and the Snapdragon X Plus. The Elite features a 12-core Oryon CPU clocked at 4.2 GHz with a 5% dual-core boost, an Adreno GPU capable of up to 4.6 TFLOPs performance and a Hexagon NPU capable of 45 TOPS performance. The Plus features a 10-core Oryon CPU with dual-core boost, an Adreno GPU with up to 3.8TFLOPs performance and the same Hexagon NPU.

Qualcomm boasts that the Snapdragon X chips are built for AI. This is primarily due to the inclusion of the Hexagon NPU which is the cornerstone of the SoC. AI tasks are primarily run using the NPU and offload complex, energy-draining processes from the CPU. This results in better power efficiency and an overall boost in performance. The chip also supports 5G connectivity and WiFi 7.

According to Qualcomm’s internal benchmarking, the Snapdragon X Elite is able to perform better than currently available chips from AMD and Intel with 60% better power efficiency, 52% better CPU performance and 36% better GPU performance. Wins across the board. The company is boasting a 2.6x improvement on Apple’s M3 processor and 5.4x improvement over Intel’s Core Ultra 7 processor.

Snapdragon X Series Powers the PC Revolution with Copilot Devices Available Now CA1

We will have to wait to see how performance is with the first wave of Copilot+ laptops set to be released soon. Over 20 laptops are coming from various OEMs including Dell, Acer, ASUS, HP and Samsung that will be using the Snapdragon X SoCs.

Computers, News

ASUS Announces First Copilot+ PC: The ASUS Vivobook S 15 with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite

May 21, 2024 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Asus has just announced its first Snapdragon X Elite laptop: the Asus Vivobook S 15. The announcement comes on the heels of Microsoft’s announcement ahead of its BUILD conference kicking off today. The announcement underscores a shift in Microsoft’s strategy for Windows to focus on Copilot integration but more significantly to adopt the ARM-based x64 architecture which could impact both AMD and Intel.

The new laptop complements ASUS’s current Vivobook lineup which champions both performance and affordability. The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is also the first laptop from ASUS to run Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite. The new System on a Chip (SoC) brings a brand new paradigm to Windows unlocking performance a lot of us have been looking for from a thin and light laptop. The new Snapdragon X Elite is the first made-for-PC chipset from Qualcomm to be widely adopted in the new Copilot+ PC label from Microsoft. The SoC is optimised for performance and battery life which includes heavy graphics work and even some gaming.

Qualcomm’s SoC comes with its Oryon CPU and Adreno GPU. More significantly it comes with the company’s Hexagon neural processing unit (NPU) that will enable a number of AI features from both Microsoft’s Copilot and ASUS. The SoC will be complemented by up to 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD Memory.

Vivobook S 15 OLED Product photo 2S Cool Silver

The Vivobook S 15 is replacing the previous model that ran on Intel’s Core processors. The new laptop will be equipped with a 15.6-inch, 3K ASUS Lumina OLED display with a resolution of 2880×1620 pixels. The display is also colour-calibrated to cover 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and is certified with DisplayHDR True Black600 with an average Delta-E of less than 1 and 600 nits peak brightness.

It will also come with an FHD IR camera for Windows Hello. This camera will also come with ASUS AiSense with Windows Studio Effect, ASUS Adaptive dimming and ASUS Adaptive lock. The Viviobook S 15 is also equipped with WiFi 7 paired with Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. Like all ASUS laptops, it will also have the ASUS ErgoSense touchpad that comes with smart gestures and silent touchpad technology. The ErgoSense keyboard also comes with single-zone RGB backlighting.

The Vivobook S 15 is also coming with a full array of ports including an Audio jack and HDMI 2.1 port and a microSD card reader. It will also have two USB 4.0 ports and two USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports. All of these will be powered by a 70wH battery that is touted to deliver 18 hours of battery life. It will charge with a 90W AC adapter.

Vivobook S 15 OLED Product Photo Cool Silver

Together with all this hardware, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 will also feature a lot of Copilot integration including a dedicated Copilot key. Features like Co-Create and Recall will be available on the laptop together with either Microsoft Windows 11 Home or Pro.

Pricing & Availability

The ASUS Vivobook S 15 will be available soon worldwide. Pre-orders were announced for the US during the live stream. The retail pricing will start at USD$1,299 (RM6,096.40).

ASUS Malaysia indicates that the Vivobook S 15 will be available in Malaysia starting Q3 2024. That would mean sometime between July to September 2024.

PR Newswire

GEEKOM A8 AI PC is now available for $749 and up.

May 21, 2024 TechENT Syndication Leave a comment

TAIPEI, May 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The GEEKOM A8, a highly anticipated Next-Gen AI mini PC with an AMD HawkPoint Ryzen 8040 processor, is now available.

The A8 employs a metal housing with rounded corners and anodized matte finish, giving it a gorgeous and stylish look. Having a footprint smaller than the palm of a hand, the mini PC will conveniently fit in all types of desktop arrangement and instantly elevate the aesthetics of any workspace.

There are two variants of the GEEKOM A8, users have the option to choose between two processors from the same AMD HawkPoint family: Ryzen 7 8845HS and Ryzen 9 8945HS. Both chips feature 8 Zen 4 CPU cores, 16 threads, 16MB L3 cache, an AMD Radeon 780M integrated GPU as well as a Ryzen AI Engine NPU, but the Ryzen 9 8945HS is designed to offer slightly better performance, thanks to its higher CPU and GPU frequencies.

With a greatly enhanced NPU, the A8 can execute 60% more AI workloads than mini PCs with last-generation Ryzen 7040 chips, allowing for an embrace a new era of AI computing. For average consumers, the A8 will quickly find answers to all questions and turn texts into images and videos. For business users, the A8 will automatically summarize notes, transcribe calls, and take meeting minutes. For professional content creators, the A8 will bring much faster AI-powered photo editing, quicker video output, and speedier multi-tasking, helping bring the most ambitious ideas to life. With the new IceBlast 1.5 cooling technology, the A8 can stay cool and stable even when tasks are loaded.

Besides its powerful performance, the A8 also offers a wide array of ports, including four USB-A (including three USB3.2 Gen2), two HDMI2.0, a 40Gbps USB4, a multi-function Type-C, an SDXC slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The mini PC allows for connection to an eGPU, ultra high-speed portable storage, or up to four 4K displays.

The A8 is now available on Amazon and GEEKOM’s independent website. The 8845HS and 8945HS variants are priced at $749 and $899 respectively. Regardless of the CPU option, each unit is preinstalled with 32GB dual-channel SO-DIMM DDR5-5600 RAM, a fast 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe4.0*4 SSD, a wireless card that supports WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, and a licensed copy of Windows 11 operating system.

News

Infinaxis and Velo Technologies Partner for Data Centre Expansions

May 20, 2024 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

Malaysia’s digital transformation, fueled by the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the digitalization focus of Budget 2024, is gaining momentum. The data centre market itself is anticipated to experience explosive growth, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.92% between 2023 and 2029. By 2029, the market is expected to reach a staggering US$3.97 billion.

Capitalizing on this surge, prominent data centre facility provider Infinaxis has joined forces with Velo Technologies (TelcoHubX), a leading end-to-end data centre and managed service provider. This strategic partnership marks a significant initial commitment of 2 megawatts (MW) capacity. With a projected value creation of RM100 million, the collaboration empowers Velo Technologies to expand its data centre footprint in Cyberjaya and cater to the ever-growing needs of its clients.

Zahri Mirza CEO of Infinaxis X Ben Chin CEO of Velo Technologies — Zahri Mirza, CEO of Infinaxis and Ben Chin, CEO of Velo Technologies showcase the signed Partnership Agreement

Velo Technologies plans to leverage this partnership by extending its established 24/7 support structure and robust policies to Infinaxis’s clients. Additionally, clients will benefit from a wider range of enhanced interconnectivity options, drawing upon TelcoHubX’s well-established ecosystem. Velo Technologies is further bolstering its service portfolio to include a comprehensive suite of solutions, encompassing:

A dedicated 24/7 Proactive Monitoring Center
Complete IT outsourcing services
Enterprise network and security solutions
Cutting-edge cybersecurity and hybrid cloud solutions
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Backup as a Service (BaaS)

Furthermore, the partnership aims to strengthen the reliability and redundancy of Velo Technologies’ data centre operations, guaranteeing exceptional uptime for its clients.

Strategically located in Cyberjaya, the data centre is on track to be operational by the second quarter of 2025. Designed to handle demanding data processing and storage needs, the facility boasts a robust 12MW IT load capacity and a floor loading capacity of 20kN/m2. With seven floors and five designated data centre halls, each housing two individual halls, the facility is meticulously planned to accommodate business growth, ensuring scalability and adaptability.

The data centre’s carrier-neutral status provides unparalleled flexibility for clients when selecting network providers, fostering seamless interconnection with multiple telecommunication carriers. Recognizing the growing importance of AI applications, the facility is specifically tailored to meet their high power density requirements. Each rack boasts an average power ranging from 8kW to 15kW, catering specifically to the needs of mid-tier enterprises with moderate IT requirements, striking a perfect balance between affordability and performance.

“We are thrilled about our partnership with Velo Technologies,” says Zahri Mirza, CEO of Infinaxis. “This expansion will allow us to work in tandem to offer a wider range of Malaysian businesses a truly comprehensive suite of data centre solutions.” This powerful partnership signifies a significant leap forward in Malaysia’s digital infrastructure, propelling the nation’s communication capabilities and overall progress. By creating data centre hubs through strategic alliances, Malaysia is well-positioned to solidify its place as a leader in the digital age.

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Monthly Archives: May 2024

Microsoft Introduces Copilot+ PCs Signaling a Significant Change in Personal Computing for Windows PCs

Pivoting to ARM’s x64 Architecture for Both Power and Efficiency

Copilot+ PCs – Microsoft’s Big Shift in Human-PC Interactions

Bridging the Gap with Prism

Unanswered Questions and the Road Ahead

TCL Middle East & Africa showcases their latest line-up of products in Istanbul

ThroughPut.AI and Inteligistics Announce Strategic Partnership to Transform Agriculture and Fresh Produce Supply Chains

The Sonos Ace Brings The Best from Sonos in a Portable, Personalized Package

Intentionally Designed For Comfort & Simplicity

Custom-made for that Signature Sonos Audio

Pricing & Availability

Acer’s First Copilot+ PC is the Acer the Swift 14 AI

Pricing & Availability

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Debut with over 20 Copilot+ Laptops to take on Apple Silicon

ASUS Announces First Copilot+ PC: The ASUS Vivobook S 15 with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite

Pricing & Availability

GEEKOM A8 AI PC is now available for $749 and up.

Infinaxis and Velo Technologies Partner for Data Centre Expansions

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