Photo by Matt Wojtaś on Unsplash
Qualcomm Launches New Powerful Chip For Android Smartphones
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Qualcomm revealed its new mobile chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which brings PC capabilities to smartphones
- Snapdragon 8 Elite will allow smartphones to run multi-modal AI apps and features
- The technology is compatible with Android makers like Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor, ASUS, and more
The American semiconductor company Qualcomm announced a new mobile chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, that brings PC capabilities to Android smartphones this Monday during the Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii.
According to the press release , the new technology is “the most powerful and world’s fastest mobile system-on-a-chip ever,” and will allow smartphones to run multi-modal generative AI applications powered by the company’s processor Oryon.
According to Reuters , Qualcomm—the world’s largest seller of mobile chips—hired ex-Apple engineers in 2021 to design new AI-friendly laptop chips, sold earlier this year. The new computing technology was named Oryon and has now been adapted for mobile devices in the Snapdragon lineup.
“Today, our second generation of the Qualcomm Oryon CPU debuts in our flagship Mobile Platform – it’s a major leap forward and we expect consumers to be thrilled with the new experiences enabled by our CPU technology,” said Chris Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile handsets at Qualcomm. “It revolutionizes mobile experiences by offering personalized, multi-modal generative AI directly on the device enabling the understanding of speech, context, and images to enhance everything from productivity to creativity tasks while prioritizing user privacy.”
Qualcomm assures the new Snapdragon 8 chip will enhance the mobile’s performance saving power, working faster, and connecting better to higher internet speeds using less energy than previous models. The company explained the new technology will be compatible with multiple smartphone brands including Honor—which recently l aunched the world’s thinnest foldable phone —, ASUS, Xiaomi, Samsung, and more.
The next generation of mobile experiences is here. #Snapdragon 8 Elite features the fastest mobile CPU in the world thanks to the @Qualcomm Oryon CPU, paired with the most powerful on-device #AI ever for a smartphone. pic.twitter.com/OwLlB7oNM4 — Snapdragon (@Snapdragon) October 21, 2024
A few weeks ago, Qualcomm also announced a new partnership with Google and Samsung to develop new smart glasses.
Image by Zarateman, from Wikimedia Commons
FitGirl-Repacks Named As Key Piracy Threat In ESA’s 2024 Report
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- FitGirl-Repacks saw 22 million visits in July 2024 despite domain blocks.
- The ESA’s report omits mentions of malware, cryptocurrencies, and Scene release groups.
- Rightsholders still haven’t identified the operators behind FitGirl-Repacks.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has recently submitted its updated list of “Notorious Markets” to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, naming FitGirl-Repacks as a prominent new piracy threat, the story was first reported by TorrentFreak (TF).
The ESA, which represents major gaming companies such as Microsoft, Sony, and Ubisoft, compiles this list to shape U.S. government copyright enforcement priorities.
FitGirl-Repacks has long been a major player in game piracy, known for distributing compressed versions of video games, making it easier for users to download pirated content.
The site itself does not host pirated material directly, but provides links to third-party platforms offering unauthorized game copies. The platform’s mascot—a likeness borrowed from the French film Amélie—has become a symbol associated with piracy, as noted by TF.
Despite its massive audience, FitGirl remains a relatively elusive entity. The person or group behind FitGirl-Repacks has not been publicly identified, although the site has been active for more than a decade, as noted by TF.
The site’s operators have managed to evade legal repercussions, though its domains have been blocked in certain countries, such as Italy and Spain, reported TF. These blocks have had limited success in curbing the site’s traffic, as users can often access FitGirl through alternative domains or mirror sites.
While the ESA’s list continues to highlight torrent sites and hosting platforms, its omission of previously noted issues like malware, cryptocurrencies, and Scene release groups stands out, reported TF.
In contrast to last year’s concerns about emerging threats, the focus has shifted entirely to platforms like FitGirl and its smaller counterpart, Dodi-Repacks, which has also been flagged for distributing pirated games, noted TF.
The report underscores the ongoing difficulty in combating piracy. Though new tactics like domain blocks have been employed, these piracy sites continue to thrive globally, frustrating game developers and publishers, as noted by TF.
While the ESA’s recent report now officially acknowledges FitGirl as a significant piracy threat, the site’s continued resilience demonstrates the challenges copyright enforcers face in cracking down on such platforms.
