Satya regrets killing Windows Phone now!

Summary

This week's tech roundup covers Apple's price hikes for its services, Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip with impressive AI capabilities, and the potential revolution in camera lenses with Canon's meta lenses. Additionally, we hear about Microsoft's regret over Windows Phone, and a sneak peek at Insta360's AI-powered, motorized webcam that offers high-quality video calls with built-in tracking.

Takeaways

• 📈 Apple has increased the prices of its services including Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and the Apple One bundle.
• 🎉 Apple is planning an event around Halloween, likely to feature the M3 series of chips.
• 🤖 Qualcomm revealed the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip with a unique CPU core structure and improved AI capabilities, targeting leadership in the AI performance market.
• 📱 Xiaomi has launched the first phones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, the Xiaomi 14 and 14 Pro, earlier than usual.
• 📷 Canon is pioneering the development of meta lenses, thin and flat lenses that use nanostructures to bend light, potentially revolutionizing camera technology.
• 🔮 Meta lenses could eliminate the need for traditional curved optics, enabling extremely thin camera lenses for various applications.
• 💡 Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, admitted that giving up on Windows Phone was a mistake, echoing previous sentiments from other Microsoft executives.
• 🚗 California has ordered GM's Cruise to stop testing its driverless cars, citing safety concerns and misrepresentation of technology safety.
• 🛍️ Insta360 is offering a 15% discount and a free tripod for their AI-powered, motorized webcam, the Insta360 Link, through a special link provided in the video description.
• 🎥 The Insta360 Link webcam features built-in AI tracking, a large 1/2" 4K sensor, and high-quality microphones, enhancing video call experiences.
• 🔄 The Insta360 Link also offers advanced features like wideboard mode and view mode, and it can be easily set up with a single USB-C cable.

Q & A

Why did Apple increase the prices of its services?

Apple has joined other companies in making their own round of price hikes. Apple TV plus has gone from $6.99 to $9.99, and Apple arcade, Apple news plus, and the Apple One bundle are all also going up in price.

What is the significance of the Snapdragon 8 gen 3 chip for Android phones?

The Snapdragon 8 gen 3 chip has an unusual 5+2 CPU core structure and is built on TSMC's N4P process. It might have fixed audio dropouts with earbuds and can keep earbuds playing music across Wi-Fi, not just Bluetooth. It also shows significant gains in CPU and GPU performance, potentially eating into Apple's lead in the market.

What is the unusual feature of the new Snapdragon 8 gen 3 chip's CPU core structure?

The Snapdragon 8 gen 3 chip features an unusual array of five medium-powered cores, which is a departure from the typical big.LITTLE architecture commonly used in mobile processors.

What is the significance of the new meta lenses technology developed by Canon?

Meta lenses are thin and flat lenses that use an array of titanium dioxide nanofins to shape light waves, potentially revolutionizing camera lenses by eliminating the need for traditional curved glass optics and enabling extremely thin lens designs.

Why did Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, say that giving up on Windows phone was a mistake?

Satya Nadella expressed regret over the decision to exit the mobile phone market, suggesting that there could have been ways to make it work by reinventing the category of computing between PCs, tablets, and phones.

What is the Insta360 Link and how does it enhance video calls?

The Insta360 Link is a motorized webcam with built-in AI tracking and a large 1/2 inch 4K sensor. It enhances video calls by providing high-quality footage and automatically keeping the user in frame, even when they move.

What is the special feature of the Insta360 Link that allows it to follow a person around physically during a video call?

The Insta360 Link has a built-in AI tracking feature that allows it to automatically follow and keep the user in frame during a video call.

Why did Microsoft's previous CEOs also express regret over the handling of the Windows phone?

Both Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer have previously expressed regret over Microsoft's approach to the mobile phone market, with Gates calling it his greatest mistake and Ballmer reflecting on the company's focus on Windows Vista that may have detracted from their efforts in mobile.

What is the potential impact of the new wave of ARM-based CPUs for Windows PCs on the PC form factor?

The introduction of ARM-based CPUs from companies like Qualcomm, Nvidia, AMD, and MediaTek could lead to an unprecedented time for the PC form factor, potentially allowing for new and innovative designs and capabilities.

What is the significance of the report suggesting that Nvidia and AMD are making ARM-based CPUs for Windows PCs?

The report indicates a shift in the CPU market, with major players like Nvidia and AMD expanding their offerings to include ARM-based CPUs for Windows PCs, which could increase competition and drive innovation in the industry.

What is the potential application of the new meta lenses technology in the smartphone industry?

The meta lenses technology could eliminate the need for the camera bump on smartphones, allowing for thinner and more aesthetically pleasing designs, as well as potentially enabling new camera capabilities.