Technology wouldn’t be the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to the Olympics. However, the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games promises not only to be a spectacle of athletic prowess but also one which showcases technological innovation. One of the companies at the forefront of bringing technological innovation to the Olympics is Alibaba Cloud. The digital technology backbone of Alibaba Group is collaborating with Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) to introduce an AI-powered multi-camera replay service. This cutting-edge technology, piloted successfully at the recent Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai, aims to revolutionize how audiences experience the Games.
Alibaba Cloud’s solution outperforms traditional multi-camera replays, offering a true 3D viewing experience. Leveraging machine learning and deep neural networks, the system processes video footage captured from strategically placed cameras around the venue. This data is then transformed into cloud-based 3D models with high-quality textures. The magic lies in the ability to generate virtual frames from entirely new viewpoints, enabling smooth and realistic rotations. Imagine viewing a game-winning goal from behind the net, or a breathtaking diving catch from the athlete’s perspective. This 3D reconstruction promises to immerse viewers in the heart of the action.
Alibaba Cloud’s robust cloud infrastructure serves as the backbone for this innovative service. Powerful computing architecture ensures near real-time processing of high-precision 3D reconstruction and video rendering. This facilitates seamless integration with OBS’s production system, making the multi-angle video content readily available to global Media Rights Holders. As a result, audiences worldwide will be treated to dynamic and lifelike replays, enriching their Olympic viewing experience.
The multi-camera replay system isn’t entirely new. A version was successfully implemented for select events at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. However, the Paris 2024 iteration boasts additional AI features and expanded deployment across twelve competition venues, encompassing sports like beach volleyball, tennis, judo, and rugby.
The popular emulator, Delta, has undergone a sudden logo change, leaving some users scratching their heads. This unexpected update comes after the emulator received a legal threat from software giant Adobe.
Developed by Riley Testut, Delta has become a go-to option for iOS users seeking to relive classic video games from consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Game Boy Advance (GBA). The emulator has made its way to Apple devices following a change in Apple’s App Store policies that allowed for emulators. Delta, in particular, allows users to play these games on their iPhones and iPads, offering a taste of retro gaming nostalgia on the go.
The recent logo change stems from a dispute with Adobe. According to reports, Adobe’s legal team contacted Testut, claiming the Delta logo bore a resemblance to its own logo, potentially causing confusion among consumers. While Delta’s logo represented a stylized Greek letter delta (Δ), Adobe argued the similarity could mislead users into believing the apps were connected.
Faced with the potential for legal action, Delta opted to avoid a lengthy battle and promptly changed its logo. The new logo, described as a “broken triangle,” is a clear departure from the previous design. While some users expressed amusement at the somewhat unconventional new icon, the change ensures Delta remains available on the App Store.
The Delta logo dispute is one of the more trivial issues that have been haunting the video game emulation space. There are bigger concerns when it comes to the legality of emulation as a whole when it comes to copyright, particularly because the game files (ROMs) are used to play the games on the emulator. Typically, users are responsible for acquiring these ROMs legally, often by dumping them from their own physical game cartridges.
The landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) has witnessed a significant leap forward with the recent launch of OpenAI’s GPT-4o. This next-generation large language model (LLM) transcends the capabilities of its predecessors, boasting significant advancements in text, audio, and vision processing.
Going Beyond Text
While previous iterations of GPT excelled at text generation and manipulation, GPT-4o pushes the boundaries further. This multimodal LLM incorporates audio and visual inputs into its repertoire, allowing for a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the world around it. Imagine seamlessly interacting with a language model that can not only understand your written instructions but can also interpret visual cues on your screen or respond in real time to your voice commands.
OpenAI claims that GPT-4o maintains its predecessor’s exceptional text processing capabilities, even demonstrating improvements in non-English languages. This refined performance in text generation, translation, and code writing paves the way for more efficient communication and collaboration across diverse linguistic backgrounds.
OpenAI showcased the versatility of GPT-4o during its launch demo. The model’s ability to respond to audio inputs with a human-like response time opens doors for innovative voice assistant applications. Furthermore, GPT-4o demonstrated the potential to generate short videos based on textual descriptions, hinting at its ability to participate in creative storytelling processes.
Taking It Into High Gear with More Integrations
The launch of GPT-4o intensifies the ongoing competition within the AI research community. With Google’s LaMDA remaining a prominent contender, the race to develop the most advanced and versatile LLM continues. This competitive landscape serves as a catalyst for rapid innovation, ultimately benefitting the field of AI as a whole.
Reports suggest that GPT-4o might possess the capability to analyze visual information displayed on a user’s screen. While the full extent of this feature remains unclear, it opens doors for a variety of potential applications. Imagine a language model that can not only understand written instructions but can also adapt its responses based on the visual context on your screen. This level of integration could revolutionize the way we interact with computers and leverage AI for tasks requiring a deeper understanding of the user’s intent.
The implications of GPT-4o extend far beyond the realm of technical specifications. This multimodal LLM has the potential to redefine the way we interact with technology. Imagine AI assistants that understand not just our words but also our nonverbal cues, or creative tools that can collaborate with humans on artistic endeavors. While the full impact of GPT-4o remains to be seen, its launch signifies a significant step forward on the path towards more natural and intuitive interactions between humans and machines.
The ongoing tech war between the United States and China has intensified with the recent revocation of export licenses for chip sales to Huawei. This move by the US Department of Commerce restricts American companies like Intel and Qualcomm from supplying certain chips to the Chinese telecommunications giant.
The US government cites national security concerns as the primary motivation behind this decision. Specifically, they allege that Huawei’s close ties to the Chinese government pose potential risks, as the technology could be used for espionage purposes. Huawei has vehemently denied these accusations.
This move by the US government could significantly disrupt Huawei’s supply chain. The company heavily relies on American-made chips for its smartphones and other electronic devices. Limited access to these crucial components could hinder Huawei’s ability to manufacture new products and maintain its market competitiveness. Up until now, Huawei has had very restricted access to chips for its product lineups. Even with access, the components have left the Chinese company at a handicap without key technologies like 5G. However, given Huawei’s recent progress in creating its own 5G chips with the Kirin 9010 leaves the impact of the restrictions questionable at best.
The implications of this decision extend beyond Huawei. The uncertainty surrounding chip sales to China could create ripples throughout the global tech industry. Other Chinese tech companies might face similar restrictions, potentially impacting international collaborations and innovation in the semiconductor sector.
The future path of this conflict remains unclear. The possibility of further US restrictions on Chinese tech companies exists, while the potential for negotiations and a resolution cannot be ruled out. For now, the global tech industry grapples with the immediate consequences of this decision and the potential long-term ramifications.
Malaysians are increasingly turning to digital rewards programs for savings and convenience, as revealed by data from the Senheng App. This trend highlights a shift in consumer behaviour, with Malaysians seeking to maximize their purchasing power in a challenging economic climate.
Senheng App Goes Beyond Electronics
The Senheng App is evolving beyond simply bridging the gap between its physical stores and customers. It’s transforming into a powerful competitor to established e-commerce platforms like Lazada and Shopee. While electronics remain a core focus, the app now offers a wider product range, including groceries and movie tickets, catering to a broader range of everyday needs.
Data from the Senheng App paints a clear picture: App downloads have more than doubled between Q1 2023 and Q1 2024, and Senheng PlusOne Membership registrations have tripled in the same period. This growth signifies a strong consumer desire for online convenience and rewarding experiences. Furthermore, the continued app adoption and membership growth despite economic uncertainties showcase loyalty programs’ enduring appeal.
S-Coin: Fueling Your Savings
Looking closer at the data, it’s evident that S-Coin adoption goes beyond mere transactions. Malaysians are using S-Coin, a digital rewards currency exclusive to Senheng’s PlusOne members, as a way to enrich their lives – from groceries to gadgets, they’re leveraging this program to stretch their dollar and enjoy greater convenience.
The 23% increase in S-Coin collection through the Senheng App from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024 demonstrates a clear preference for loyalty programs that help offset rising costs. The 60% increase in active S-Coin users during the same period further emphasizes the program’s growing value in daily life for Malaysian households.
How S-Coin Works
Earned through eligible purchases via the Senheng App, Senheng stores, and partner platforms, S-Coin can be redeemed for discounts on a wide variety of products and services within the Senheng ecosystem. In a world where financial prudence is essential, the rise of digital rewards programs like S-Coin offers a valuable tool for Malaysians. By embracing loyalty programs, consumers can take control of their finances and unlock a more rewarding lifestyle.
Empowering Malaysians Through Savings and Convenience
“At Senheng, we’re committed to empowering Malaysians to make the most of their hard-earned money,” said Lew Wai Hoong, General Manager of Senheng App. “The surge in S-Coin adoption reflects a broader shift towards digital rewards and convenience. The Senheng App is not just a shopping platform; it’s a tool that allows Malaysians to make every ringgit count, ultimately enhancing their lifestyles.”
Apple Silicon has made waves when it comes to SoCs (Systems on a Chip). It has created a standard for power efficiency and performance that the industry lacked. Now, with its fourth generation, the Apple M4 is looking to create an even larger gap with improved GPU architecture and the fastest Neural Engine in the company’s repertoire.
The Apple M4 chip is built using the company’s second generation 3nm architecture. It comes with a 10-core CPU, a 10-core GPU and the fastest Neural engine that Apple has created yet. The M4 consists of 28 billion transistors built with 3nm technology that allows for better power efficiency.
The 10-core CPU consists of four performance cores and six efficiency cores that help forge a delicate balance between performance and power efficiency. These cores are able to process higher workloads and better predict branches and have a wider decode and execution engines. Also featured on both cores are next-generation Machine Learning (ML) accelerators. Thanks to this, the M4 is able to deliver 1.5x the performance of the M2.
The M4’s 10-core GPU is built on the next-generation graphics architecture that was first featured in the M3. This architecture gives a significant boost to performance through Dynamic Caching. This process allocates memory dynamically in hardware and in real time resulting in an substantial increase in GPU utilisation. The new GPU also enables hardware-accelerated ray tracing, a first on the iPad line up. This enables more realistic shadows and reflections in games like Diablo Immortal as well as other graphically rich experiences. The GPU is also able to better process and reproduce graphically intense scene and workloads thank to hardware-accelerated mesh shading. The performance of the GPU is increased by up to four times on apps like Octane.
The Neural Engine on the Apple M4 is able to process 38 trillion operations a second. That’s 60 times faster than the A11 Bionic which featured the first generation Neural Engine. This combined with the ML accelerators, the CPU and the GPU make this processor Apple’s best processor for AI workloads. This is utilised in iPadOS with features like Live Captions which can generate captions in real time or visual look up that help identify items in videos or pictures.
The M4 also brings hardware acceleration for Apple’s AV1 code to the iPad for the first time. The media engine of the M4 also supports codecs like H.264, HEVC and ProRes.
Malaysia is poised for a digital revolution, and at the forefront of this transformation is a powerful combination: a world-leading 5G network and a collaborative program designed to unlock its potential for businesses.
Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) and Ericsson have joined forces to launch a groundbreaking initiative that will catalyze the digitalization of enterprises across Malaysia. This program, formalized through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with industry leaders like eMooVit Technology, Scania, SKF Malaysia, and Intel, paves the way for advanced technologies to empower businesses of all sizes.
Leveraging World-class Infrastructure with Wide Coverage
Malaysia boasts one of the most impressive 5G networks globally, with over 80% population coverage and exceptional performance. This robust infrastructure, as Datuk Ahmad Zaki Zahid, DNB’s Chief Strategy Officer, highlights, positions Malaysia uniquely to accelerate its digital journey.
“The network already covers more than 80% of the population and has one of the best experiential and consistent performances in the world,” says Zahid. “To further drive the adoption of 5G amongst enterprises, DNB and Ericsson have initiated this program.”
Creating “Lighthouses” to Propel Digitization and Adoption
This program focuses on establishing “lighthouse” projects across key industries. These projects will showcase the transformative potential of 5G integration, acting as catalysts to inspire and guide widespread digitalization efforts.
Intel, a leading technology provider, brings its expertise to the table as a partner in this initiative. Ms. AK Chong, VP of Foundry Manufacturing & Supply Chain and Intel Malaysia MD, emphasizes the crucial role of 5G in driving industry transformation.
“As 5G becomes a catalyst for industry transformation,” says Chong, “Intel’s technology is at the heart of this change, catalyzing AI at the edge and breaking down barriers in the 5G core space.”
The program focuses on developing customized solutions for various industries. Here are some exciting collaborations already underway:
eMooVit Technology: This collaboration will explore the use of 5G for autonomous vehicles, a technology with the potential to revolutionize urban transportation. Dr. Hairi Zamzuri, CEO of eMooVit, highlights the significance of this partnership: “This exciting collaboration with Ericsson will be key to bringing these solutions to life through enterprise adoption, and in the long-term, revolutionize urban transportation together.”
Scania: With Scania, the focus is on optimizing assembly lines and fleet management systems using 5G’s Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) capabilities. As Ms. Heba Eltarifi, Managing Director of Scania Southeast Asia, explains: “With 5G technology, Scania Malaysia aims to explore further optimizing our assembly and our fleet management system to deliver greater efficiency and effectiveness to our customers.”
SKF Malaysia: This collaboration will leverage 5G to enable wireless digitalization on the manufacturing shop floor. This will allow for real-time data collection and analysis, leading to increased efficiency and innovation. Mr. Vignesh Sakthinathan, Managing Director of SKF Malaysia, expresses his enthusiasm: “We are thrilled to embark on this journey… As the world’s leader in Bearing, Seals, Lubrication systems and technologies, SKF Malaysia’s manufacturing arm is committed to embracing digitalization to drive innovation and deliver value to our customers.”
This initiative by DNB and Ericsson, along with their industry partners, presents a significant leap forward for Malaysia’s digital transformation. By harnessing the power of 5G, businesses across the nation can unlock new levels of efficiency, productivity, and innovation. As David Hägerbro, Head of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, concludes: “The digitalization of industries in Malaysia will enable the country to leapfrog as a Digital Nation. But they need to begin planning and investing in their digital journey now.”
Lenovo and Austral Techsmith, a leading provider of 5G smart pole technology, have announced a strategic partnership to empower Malaysian cities with next-generation video analytics capabilities. This collaboration integrates Lenovo’s ThinkEdge AI solution with Austral Techsmith’s 5G smart poles, marking a significant leap forward in smart city development.
Enhancing Smart Cities with Video Analytics with Lenovo’s ThinkEdge
Austral Techsmith’s 5G smart poles will now incorporate the robust ThinkEdge technology, equipping city authorities with unparalleled AI-powered video analytics. Designed for intelligent edge computing, the ThinkEdge SE50 is powered by the Intel® Core™ i7 vPro® processor, making it the ideal choice for advanced video analytics. This powerful combination delivers cutting-edge features and exceptional data processing performance.
Varinderjit Singh, Lenovo Malaysia’s General Manager, said, “We are excited to embark on this transformative journey with Austral Techsmith, as mobility is an essential part of the smart city blueprint for Malaysia. Together, we look forward to paving the way towards smarter and safer cities, by harnessing the power of AI video analytics.”
As Malaysia progresses towards a smarter and more connected future, video analytics technology plays a crucial role in addressing urban challenges. This solution analyzes vast amounts of video footage with precision, enabling efficient searches and the development of intelligent transportation systems for safer and more streamlined traffic management.
Real-Time Traffic Management: Reducing Congestion and Boosting Efficiency
Urbanization often leads to increased traffic congestion. The ThinkEdge SE50, equipped with mounting kits for lamp posts, facilitates traffic monitoring at congestion hotspots. This data allows for dynamic adjustments to traffic light control systems, ultimately reducing accidents and traffic jams.
Furthermore, the ThinkEdge SE50 boasts flexible IO ports, including four NICs on embedded compute nodes, for enhanced connectivity. This translates to superior real-time data collection, empowering informed decision-making and automation to streamline traffic flow and improve urban mobility.
Enhanced Safety Measures: Prompt Intervention and Evidence Collection
Engineered for minimal latency, the ThinkEdge SE50 brings increased processing power, storage, and networking capabilities directly to where data is generated. The system can detect dangerous situations in real-time, including unauthorized vehicles, wrong-way driving, erratic behavior, and accidents. This enables prompt intervention, accident prevention, and efficient evidence collection, fostering safer city environments.
“Austral Techsmith has been a key player in Malaysia’s ambitious 5G infrastructure expansion since 2022,” said Azfar Zubri, The Chief Executive Officer of Austral Techsmith. “Through our innovative ELAB solutions and comprehensive engineering services, we’ve significantly contributed to the nationwide telecommunications infrastructure. Our partnerships with Lenovo’s ThinkEdge devices integrated into our 5G smart pole solutions represent an instrumental collaboration in propelling the country’s 5G capabilities forward.”
Aligned with its commitment to social impact through innovation, Lenovo offers Austral Techsmith and its customers an attractive Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) option for ThinkEdge. This solution eliminates upfront costs, making cutting-edge technology more accessible and cost-effective for city councils and organizations looking to implement AI video analytics.
Lenovo works together with Austral Techsmith to innovate when it comes to smart cities and also video analytics thanks to the powerful Lenovo ThinkEdge SE50. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to AI powered solutions from Lenovo. To further explore the company’s offerings, visit the Lenovo ThinkEdge website or contact the Lenovo Malaysia Marketing Team Representative, Nicole Lim at hlim4@lenovo.com
HPE Aruba Networking is looking to set the bar higher for enterprise Wi-Fi with the launch of its new Wi-Fi 7 access points (APs). These next-generation solutions deliver up to 30% more capacity compared to competitors, ensuring seamless connectivity for demanding applications like AI and the ever-growing Internet of Things (IoT) landscape.
HPE Aruba Networking’s 730 series APs leverage the company’s proven track record as an industry leader proven by its 18-time Gartner Magic Quadrant leadership position. These new APs leverage patented ultra tri-band (UTB) hardware technology unlocking exceptional performance by optimizing both 5GHz and 6GHz bands. This helps eliminate channel interference for smoother data flow.
“As businesses embrace data-driven modernization, reliable, secure, and high-performance connectivity is crucial,” says Mark Ablett, Vice President of Asia Pacific and Japan at HPE Aruba Networking. “Our Wi-Fi 7 APs, managed by HPE Aruba Networking Central, empower organizations to achieve optimal network capabilities, bolster operational efficiency, and safeguard their digital environment.”
AI-ready IoT Integration
The HPE Aruba Networking 730 Series eliminates the need for separate IoT network overlays. Built-in support for a wide range of IoT protocols like Zigbee and Bluetooth, alongside dual USB interfaces, provides a secure and versatile platform for connecting an expanding array of devices at the network edge.
The surge in IoT devices presents a rich data source for AI training and analysis. HPE’s extensive ecosystem of over 350 technology partners empowers organizations to capture, secure, and leverage this data to generate real-time business insights and build robust AI data lakes. These insights can be used to fuel predictive maintenance, digital twin implementations, and personalized customer experiences.
“Today’s enterprises require optimized connectivity and smart investments in their wireless infrastructure,” says Chris DePuy, principal analyst at 650 Group. “Wi-Fi 7 delivers the processing power, flexibility, speed, reliability, and capacity organizations need to navigate the explosion of IoT devices, ubiquitous security demands, and backward compatibility with legacy equipment.”
Feature Rich, Secure and Sustainable
HPE Aruba Networking 730 Series APs bring more than just new technology to the table. It builds on the secure, reliable framework which has been a hallmark of HPE Aruba’s portfolio since its inception. The new 730 series promises enhanced performance with UTB filtering that eliminates channel interference for maximized performance and capacity. It also enables simultaneous utilization of both 5GHz and 6GHz bands.
Aside from this, the new routers come with advanced security. This allows admins tobetter manage access through policy-based access controls and Layer 7 application firewalls that build upon a robust security foundation. New features include link-level encryption (MACsec) for wired-level data protection on the AP and a personal wireless network mode for secure user device onboarding.
The new APs utilize HPE Aruba Networking Central’s IoT Operations dashboard. This simplifies device onboarding and removes the need for high-overhead vendor-specific overlays. The APs function as connectors and local processing elements for direct communication with third-party IoT services. They also come with dual dedicated Bluetooth and Zigbee radios that cater to high-density IoT environments. The built-in dual USB ports offer robust connectivity for diverse IoT devices using proprietary protocols. Integrated, non-permanent external antennas also optimize performance in challenging RF environments.
HPE Aruba’s 730 series APs come with Increased SDRAM and Flash memory compared to previous models. This allows application-specific containers to run on the APs themselves, streamlining data transmissions and enabling local processing for faster response to real-time conditions.
The 730 Series leverages the new Wi-Fi location standard for improved location-aware services with one-meter precision, ideal for real-time, immersive, and industrial use cases. It also supports the IEEE 802.11az standard and facilitates self-location networks. Additional features include a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, a barometric sensor for floor-level mapping, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.4 for bi-directional IoT location data to enhance user engagement and asset tracking.
The 730 series is built with sustainability in mind. The outlined features are further enhanced by an AI-powered dynamic power save mode. This allows organizations to be sustainability-oriented by reducing energy consumption.
Availability and Management
The HPE Aruba Networking 730 Series Access Points will be generally available globally in July 2024 and come with a limited lifetime warranty. Management is facilitated through HPE Aruba Networking Central, offered as a subscription, either as a standalone SaaS solution or included as part of an HPE GreenLake (NaaS) subscription via the HPE GreenLake edge-to-cloud platform.
Samsung just kicked off its 2024 Southeast Asia Tech Seminar in Bangkok, Thailand, showcasing its latest and greatest TVs that are packed with cutting-edge AI features. This isn’t your average “turn the TV on” situation – we’re talking smarter pictures, sharper sound, and even some cool lifestyle features you won’t find anywhere else.
Building on their 18-year reign as the go-to TV brand, Samsung is all about bringing that “Screens Everywhere, Screens for All” vision to life. Remember those amazing TVs it showed off in Frankfurt back in February? Well, the company showed them off along with some new lifestyle products that are sure to turn heads.
So, what exactly is all this AI buzz about? Let’s dive into the highlights:
Neo QLED 8K Gets a Brainy Boost: Brace yourselves for mind-blowing visuals! The 2024 Neo QLED 8K boasts the all-new NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor. Imagine this: 512 neural networks (that’s eight times more than the previous version!) working together to deliver the most vivid and precise picture you’ve ever seen. Plus, features like 8K AI Upscaling Pro and AI Motion Enhancer Pro take things a step further, ensuring everything you watch looks smoother and sharper than ever before.
OLED Gets Glare-Free: Samsung’s 2024 OLED TV upscales content to a stunning 4K resolution, powered by the NQ4 AI Gen2 Processor. But here’s the real kicker: they’ve also introduced OLED Glare Free technology. Certified by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), this innovative tech cuts down on-screen reflection, letting you enjoy your favourite shows and movies without any annoying distractions.
Music Frame: Your Frame, Your Speaker: This one’s pretty cool. Imagine a picture frame that doubles as a speaker. That’s the Music Frame! Pop in a photo you love, hang it on the wall and enjoy high-quality sound that blends seamlessly with your décor. Plus, you can even pair it with another Music Frame for a true stereo experience.
Security Matters: Samsung hasn’t forgotten about security. Their Knox technology, now applied to Samsung TVs, has achieved a “Common Criteria” certification recognized by 31 countries. This means your TV is even more secure in terms of software and hardware, keeping your information safe and sound.
“We’re thrilled to showcase these cutting-edge AI TV technologies at the Tech Seminar,” said Yongjae Kim, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “It’s not just about the tech – it’s about giving our customers the best possible viewing experience and making sure their information is always protected.”
So, whether you’re a die-hard movie buff or just looking for a smarter way to watch your favourite shows, Samsung’s latest AI-powered TVs are definitely worth checking out. Keep an eye out for more details on these innovative new products!