Apple buys the 'majority' of Intel's smartphone modem business

-text c-gray-1" >The rumors were (mostly) true -- Apple is buying the "majority" of Intel's smartphone modem business for $1 billion. The deal will see Apple take on 2,200 Intel workers as well as equipment, intellectual property and leases. Apple expects the deal to close in the fourth quarter of 2019 so long as regulators approve the handover.

Galaxy a10 antutu score aol.com/aol/https:%5C/%5C/jamonline.ph%5C/wp-content%5C/uploads%5C/2018%5C/04%5C/Screenshot_20180417-083949.jpg" alt="Huawei P20 Lite Review \u2022 Jam Online | Philippines Tech ..." style="max-width:410px;float:left;padding:10px 10px 10px 0px;border:0px;">The arrangement still gives Intel the ability to develop modems for computers, Internet of Things devices and self-driving cars. It's not completely out of the cellular chipset business, then, it's just scaling back. This will let the chip designer focus on 5G in spaces where it " Galaxy A50 Antutu Score most closely aligns" with what its customers want. Its phone modems weren't that popular beyond Apple, to put it another way, and this gives it a chance to refocus.

Apple wasn't shy about its plans for the acquisition. The move would fuel its "growing Antutu Ranking cellular galaxy a80 antutu Huawei P20 Pro Antutu Score p smart z antutu benchmark score technologies group" and help "expedite" the creation of future products that stand out from the pack. The tech giant has repeatedly hinted at designing its own cellular hardware to obtain more control over its fate, and it has been aggressively recruiting staff to make that happen.

Intel might not have had much choice but to sell. When Apple and Qualcomm settled their patent dispute and signed a multi-year chipset deal, that effectively negated the need for Intel modems in Apple devices. It's no coincidence that Intel cancelled plans for 5G phone modems within hours of the patent truce becoming public. The company either had to persuade Android device makers to embrace its modems (a difficult prospect given Qualcomm's dominance) or halt much of its work.

This doesn't mean that you'll see a legion of iPhones and iPads with Apple-badged Intel modems. This is more about acquiring talent and ideas. Think of it as you might Apple's purchase of PA Semiconductor -- it's a long-term bet that the newly-acquired knowhow will translate to not just higher performance, but greater independence.

It's time to take Google's Pixel phones more seriously

Galaxy a10 Samsung Galax Samsung Galax a40 antutu score antutu score Samsung Galaxy A20e Antutu Score Revealed antutu score -text c-gray-1" >Google got a lot right with the Pixel 3a. It has excellent cameras, reliable performance, respectable battery life and clever software. Best of all, at $400, the Pixel 3a costs half the original price of the flagship Pixel 3. And this formula of compelling features at a relatively lower price has proven successful. Google said Pixel sales for this quarter are double what they were a year ago.

Of course, that can't all be attributed to the Pixel 3a and Google hasn't broken down what exactly pushed this growth. The pricier Pixel 3s have gone on sale a few times since their launch, which could have helped drive numbers up. But it's almost a no-brainer: the company is selling more units, simply by offering more options and at a lower price. It's not just about the affordability, though. The Pixel 3a doesn't compromise too much for the reduced price, which might have helped it shake off some of the stigma that comes with cheaper phones.

The 3a has a smaller, lower-res OLED screen and slower processor than the 3, and is missing water resistance and a second front camera. But compare that to the iPhone XR, which is fatter and has a less-sharp LCD panel compared to the XS' Retina OLED. The XR also loses the second rear camera from its flagship sibling. It's not a big step down, but the XR's $750 price makes its tradeoffs harder to take.



Google is by no means the first to offer quality midrange handsets for lower prices, but its approach has been unique. To make up for less-advanced hardware like a slower processor and a lack of the Pixel Visual Core, the company optimized its software to make the Pixel 3a's UI and camera app feel about as fast as the Pixel 3. Other phone makers have tried similar techniques, but Google has proven it is the undisputed champ in this arena. Just look at Assistant features like Duplex and Call Screening, or what the Pixel 3's camera can capture with a single lens. Some of Google's most ambitious features like a super-fast Assistant or AR directions in Maps, come to Pixels first, too. Software is the muscle Google can keep flexing and deservedly so.

Methods that other "affordable premium" phone makers have tried include marketing directly to consumers instead of splurging on expensive advertising campaigns. Google's focused on closing potential performance gaps with advanced software makes the Pixel 3a a powerful signal of the company's unique ability to rise above the limits of hardware.

With the cheaper phone, Google was also able to prove that it can deliver a mostly smooth product launch. Since Android Pie had been available publicly for months by the time the Pixel 3a launched, the device saw fewer problems related to the OS upgrade compared to the bug-plagued arrival of its flagship sibling.

In an industry that has settled on what smartphone hardware looks like and is now looking at foldables, the Pixel 3a is a reminder there is more to be done with the standard slab-like phone. Sure, things like the samsung galaxy A50 antutu Fold and Huawei Mate X are shiny and new, but their inherent shortcomings, inevitable bugs and exorbitant pricing means a widespread rollout won't be smooth for years. Meanwhile, Google is proving it can give market leaders like Samsung Galaxy A20 Antutu and Apple some serious competition with its clever software. And with the teased camera hardware improvements in store for the Pixel 4, Google's rivals should be very scared.