14 MARCH2020|COMPUTER SHOPPER|ISSUE
WHENCHRISTMAS2020comesaround, there’s a
goodchance that anext-generation Xbox might be
on manypeople’s list. That’s because the XboxSeries
Xwill have been released by then, ushering in anew
console generation forMicrosoft’s gaming division.
Formerly known as Project Scarlett, Microsoft
revealedasmall handful of details on its next-
generation Xbox at E3 2019 in LosAngeles back
in June.But before 2019 came to aclose,the firm
took thecoversoffnot onlythe console’s name,
but alsoits design.
Forthoseexpecting something akin to aslick bit
of industrial design, prepare to be disappointed, as
the XboxSeries Xresembles something of ablack
rectangular boxorarather dull smartspeaker.It’s
hardly pushing the boundaries of tech aesthetics, but
then neither did theXbox One or Xbox One X.
But there’s logic behind thisblock-like design.
To keep theconsolecool but also quiet, it uses asingle
fanthateffectively vents theheat outofalarge grilleon
the sideofthe console,depending onhow it’sorientated.
If such adesign sounds familiar,that’s because it is,aswe’ve seen
something similar with the trendy dustbin-likeprevious-generation Mac
Pro computer, which expelled its heat outofacentralfunnel-cum-vent.
oling will be needed, as the XboxSeries X
obe apowerful console.Microsoft’shead of
Spencer,claimedthat the console will deliver
svisuals’, and willtarget4Kresolution in
ning at 60 frames per second (fps), and in
scould hit 120fps andeven an 8K resolution.
Series Xwill be our fastest, mostpowerful
er, and setanew barfor performance,speed
tibility,allowing you to bring your gaming
usands of games from three generations and
eforward with you,”Spencersaid.
We already know that the XboxSeries X
willuse an AMD-based chipset with aZen 2
Ryzenprocessor and RDNAarchitecture-
based graphics accelerator. However,
Spencer said it willalso come with some
other next-generation features.
eminimising latency by leveraging technology
Low Latency Mode,and giving developers
mic Latency Input to make Xbox Series Xthe
mostresponsive console ever,” he explained.
“Xbox Series Xisalso designed forafuture in the cloud,with unique
capabilities built into the hardware and software to makeitaseasyas
possible to bringgreat games to bothconsole and elsewhere.”
SAYWHAT?
Microsoft unveils new PC-like Xbox Series Xconsole
INTELNOTONLYmakes processors,italso makes
components such as mobile modem semiconductors for
the likes of Apple to use in its smartphones.
But in December,Intel quitmakingmobilemodem
chips, selling that side of its business to Apple for$1bn.
The reasoning fordoing so wasplaced firmly at the door
of Qualcomm, which is amajor provider of modem chips
formobile gadgets alongside its Snapdragon chipsets.
“Intel suffered thebrunt of Qualcomm’s anti-
competitive behaviour,was deniedopportunities in
the modem market, wasprevented from makingsales
to customers, and was forcedtosell at prices artificially
skewed by Qualcomm,”accordingtoIntel’s vice-president and general
counsel Steven Rogers.
“The victims were Qualcomm’s owncustomers (original equipment
manufacturers, or OEMs), the long list of competitors it forced out of the
modem chip market, includingIntel, and ultimately consumers.”
Rogers said Intel “fought fornearly adecade to build aprofitable
modem chip business” with its modem chips finding their wayinto
“industry-leading”iPhones, the latest being the iPhone 11.
“But when all wassaid anddone,Intel could not overcome theartificial
and insurmountablebarriers to fair competition createdbyQualcomm’s
scheme,and was forced to exit themarket,”headded.
This maysound likesour grapes, but it’snot alldoom
and gloom: Intel has nowturned its focus to making 5G
modem chips. Or to be more correct,itwill workonthe
design,certification and integration of the chips, whileits
partner,fellow chip-maker MediaTek, will make the chips.
Gregory Bryant, Intel executivevice-president and
general manager of the company’s clientcomputing
group,was unsurprisinglypretty upbeat about 5G and
the partnership’s potential.
“5G is poised to unleash anew levelofcomputing
and connectivity that will transform theway we
interact with theworld,”Bryantsaid.
“This partnership with MediaTek bringstogether industry leaderswith
deep engineering, systemintegration and connectivityexpertisetodeliver
5G experiences on thenext generation of the world’s best PCs.”
Those 5G modem chips are slated to pop up in 2020 in laptops from
the likes of Dell andHP, which should allow such machines to tap into
5G networksastheir rollout increases across the UK, hopefully ushering
in anew decade of fast mobileconnectivity.
Thisispromisingnews, as laptops that come equipped with 5G
modems could spell the endoftrying to connect to Wi-Fihotspots with
patchy connectivity or alack of propersecurity,making lifethatbit
easier when trying to get stuff done on the move.
Intel quits mobile modem market to focus on 5G
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