Dell

The Linux-based Developer Edition is pre-loaded with Ubuntu 20.04LTS and Dell is targeting a maximum battery life of nearly 19 hours. It also boasts an updated, InfinityEdge FHD+ display. Dell hasn’t revealed pricing as yet.

The devices will be available in the US and Canada starting on September 30th, with an exception for one variant. Dell will launch an XPS 13 model with a frost machined aluminum finish and an arctic white woven glass palm rest at a later date. The company will start selling all three laptops in some European and Asian countries within the next few weeks.

The last time Intel swapped its logo for a new one, Engadget was less than two years old. Now the company once again has a new look and later this year it will get a “modernized” new sound. The updated iconography comes alongside the launch of its 11th generation Tiger Lake CPUs and Project Evo initiative.

Intel Corporation

The company is changing things around at an interesting time, as it’s recently struggled to make key transitions on time and Apple dumped Intel’s Core CPUs in favor of building its own ARM-based CPUs. Still, it’s held off rivals since dropping Intel Inside back in 2006, so it will still come down to performance while the company works out its 7nm issues.

Acer

A pair of new Swift 3 laptops should hit the market at around the same time. They’ll both support WiFi 6 and have Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, along with a backlit keyboard, SSD storage and support for up to 16GB of LPDDR4X memory.

The SF313-53 has a 13.5-inch display that boasts 2K resolution, a 3:2 ratio and a 400-nit brightness rating. It’s designed for portability as well — it’s just 0.63 inches thick and weighs 2.62 lbs. That model has a battery life of up to 18 hours and it starts at $800.

The SF314-59 is the same thickness and weighs just slightly more at 2.65 lbs. It has a 14-inch Full HD, 16:9 display, and the base model $700. Both laptops should be available in November.

As we explained last month, Intel is using a refined “SuperFin” FinFET transistor process in Tiger Lake, which allows the processors to reach far higher clock speeds than the previous generation. Notably, Intel says these CPUs are its biggest speed improvement within a single generation (in this case, its 10nm architecture). So sure, it would be nice to see some 7nm Intel CPUs eventually, but the company is still managing to eke out gains with its existing technology.

You’ll be able to find the new Tiger Lake CPUs in the latest notebooks from ASUS, Dell, Acer and other manufacturers later this year. I’m most interested in seeing how PC makers adapt to the Intel Evo standard. ASUS’ first Evo machine, the ZenBook Flip S, looks like a truly intriguing thin and light convertible. And I’m sure we’ll see plenty of other notebooks this year pushing the boundaries of what’s capable with super thin machines.

Engadget

Kicking your coffee habit probably isn’t enough to get you out of financial straits, prepaying your year’s worth of Hulu just might. The streaming service announced last week that it will begin allowing customers to purchase a 12 months of service for the price of 10, a whole $12 savings. You’ll still have to sit through ads though, as this deal doesn’t apply to the service’s upper-tier offerings.

Engadget

Audi’s first all-electric SUV, the E-Tron is receiving a price cut for the upcoming model year. Savvy buyers will get a nearly five-figure discount in 2021 when the vehicle’s price drops from $74,800 to $65,900. Though, if you’ve got the scratch to be seriously considering a luxury vehicle purchase in this economy, what’s an extra nine grand?

Engadget

You know your product is in trouble when you have to give it away for free.

Engadget

Disney on the other hand can apparently charge whatever the heck it wants (see: Mulan) and people will still scream, “shut up and take my money.”

More than 20GB worth of Intel internal documents has been uploaded on Mega, and according to ZDNet, the chipmaker is now trying to ascertain how the files were leaked. A Swiss software engineer named Till Kottmann published the documents, most of which are marked “confidential.” He said he got it from a source who claims to have hacked the company sometime around May this year. Kottmann has history publishing data from major tech companies that was leaked online through various avenues, such as misconfigured Git repositories.

Intel exconfidential Lake Platform Release

This is the first 20gb release in a series of large Intel leaks.

Most of the things here have NOT been published ANYWHERE before and are classified as confidential, under NDA or Intel Restricted Secret. pic.twitter.com/KE708HCIqu

— Tillie 1312 Kottmann #BLM (@deletescape) August 6, 2020

ZDNet looked through the files and found internal design information and source codes for various chipsets. They include BIOS reference codes and sample codes for Kaby Lake, as well as schematics, tools and firmware for the company’s upcoming Tiger Lake processors. Thankfully, the data dump doesn’t seem to include sensitive data about Intel customers and employees.

Intel might not be building 5G modems on its own anymore, but its partnership with MediaTek is starting to bear fruit. The two companies have unveiled MediaTek’s T700 5G modem that’s designed to be used with next-generation Intel-powered laptops. For its part, Intel said it has been working on “system integration, validation and developing platform optimizations” for the 5G chip, as well as providing assistance for OEM partners.

MediaTek’s T700 modem supports Sub-6 5G tech, and the company said it has tested 5G standalone calls that don’t depend on a 4G LTE network. At the same time, however, the chipset also supports non-standalone Sub-6 5G networks that rely on a 4G network backup. MediaTek also promised that it’s “highly power efficient” so that it won’t drain your laptop if you’re surfing 5G or making calls.

Last week Intel revealed that yields for CPUs manufactured on a 7nm process were running a year behind schedule, which will slow its transition to the technology that lets it build more efficient processors. Now the chipmaker has reshuffled executives in charge, with chief engineering officer Dr. Murthy Renduchintala, who had been leading its Technology, Systems Architecture and Client Group (TSCG), leaving the company.

Now the push for 7nm and 5nm processes is lead by Dr. Ann Kelleher, as the group is being split up under different people who will all report directly to the CEO. Another key change is Keyvan Esfarjani taking over Kelleher’s former responsibility of manufacturing and operations, where he will “lead global manufacturing operations and continue Kelleher’s work driving product ramp and the build-out of new fab capacity.”

According to Intel, “the i9-10850K is based on immediate feedback we’ve received from customers, including to further expand options and different price points.” Critics, however, have said that it’s possible that Intel is having trouble with chips that can’t quite reach the 10900K’s clock speeds, and is thus selling them in this slower, cheaper model. 

The company has had troubles elsewhere too. Recently, it announced that its plans for 7nm chips have fallen behind by another six months, and there’s even a possibility that production could be delayed until 2022 due to a “defect mode” in the process. Until then, it will have to rely on 10nm processes for now, which has its own issues with delays and production.

Intel is accelerating its transition to 10nm products this year with increasing volumes and strong demand for an expanding line up. This includes a growing portfolio of 10nm-based Intel Core processors with “Tiger Lake” launching soon, and the first 10nm-based server CPU “Ice Lake,” which remains planned for the end of this year.

In the second half of 2021, Intel expects to deliver a new line of client CPU’s (code-named “Alder Lake”), which will include its first 10nm-based desktop CPU, and a new 10nm-based server CPU (code-named “Sapphire Rapids”). The company’s 7nm-based CPU product timing is shifting approximately six months relative to prior expectations. The primary driver is the yield of Intel’s 7nm process, which based on recent data, is now trending approximately twelve months behind the company’s internal target.

Tom’s Hardware notes that on a call following the release, execs including CEO Bob Swan cited a “defect mode” in the process and said it may rely on third-party foundries for chip production. That means pushing 7nm production back to late 2022 or early 2023. Further updates are apparently incoming at the company’s Architecture Day, as it tries to catch up with the competition.