AMD’s upcoming Vega-based graphics cards will be called Radeon RX Vega

Why it matters to you

AMD’s press event revealed what’s to come from the company’s upcoming Radeon RX Vega graphics cards in the PC gaming and VR space.

During AMD’s Capsaicin & Cream press event, AMD’s Radeon Technologies Group boss Raja Koduri revealed the official brand for the upcoming graphics cards based on the new Vega architecture: Radeon RX Vega. He said that the Vega name has become so popular that the team decided to incorporate the code name into the official brand.

The press event didn’t reveal anything new on the hardware level, but did showcase several upcoming VR games, and announced a collaboration between AMD and Bethesda. Game streaming service LiquidSky also said it plans to stock up its data centers with Vega-based graphics cards, meaning subscribers will be playing PC games running on Vega-based virtual PCs when the cards go retail.

More: Upcoming AMD Ryzen 7 1800X CPU achieves new Cinebench world record

On the Bethesda front, Arkane Studios’ Raphael Colantonio said that the company teamed up with AMD to optimize the entire Bethesda library for eight-core Ryzen processors and Vega-based graphics. Even more, AMD is working with the Prey team to optimize the game’s rendering on Vega GPUs. That means the upcoming shooter will be ready for AMD’s new hardware on May 5.

On a whole, the press event showcased three features of the Vega GPU architecture: High Bandwidth Cache Controller (HBCC), Rapid Packed Math, and Radeon Virtualized Encode. According to Koduri, a big chunk of a graphics card purchase is the on-board memory, which most of the time isn’t fully utilized. HBCC supposedly provides full access to the entire memory amount, providing better performance than a graphics card without this feature.

In a demonstration, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided showcased double the minimum framerate performance with HBCC turned on, and 1.5 times average framerates. Ultimately, because HBCC provides full access to the total memory capacity, the amount of physical memory on the card can be reduced. Thus, if only half of a card’s 8GB GDDR5 memory was used before HBCC, the card can be sold with only 4GB and HBCC turned on.

As for Rapid Packed Math, this will increase the calculations on Vega-based graphics chips. As an example, a Radeon card with Rapid Packed Math turned off can render around 550,000 strands of hair per second. With the feature turned on, it can render around 1,200,000 strands of hair per second.

Finally, Koduri talked about Radeon Virtualized Encode. This is where LiquidSky came in to reveal its collaboration with AMD to provide virtual machines based on Radeon RX Vega GPUs. The Radeon Virtualized Encode feature will be what enables LiquidSky users to stream Battlefield 1 and other PC games in real time at a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution on any device.

The show also revealed AMD’s embrace of forward rendering, a technique used to beef up the graphics in virtual reality without sacrificing frame rates. This isn’t new technology, and essentially makes the graphics chip render a frame before the user’s actual input. Asynchronous reprojection is coming to the HTC Vive, too, which fills in holes when the hardware can’t maintain the necessary 90 frames-per-second rate.

Android One is back with General Mobile’s GM 6: Our first take

Why it matters to you

The GM 6, an Android One smartphone, offers a fast and secure Android experience at an incredibly low price.

If you thought Android One was next on Google’s kill switch, think again. General Mobile just announced the GM 6, an Android One smartphone made in partnership with Google, and it underscores the need for the program to exist.

Google launched the Android One program a few years ago to push its Android mobile operating system onto low-cost phones — but what differentiates devices under this program from other budget Android phones is how they run stock Android with a promise of updates straight from Google. The release of Android One devices have slowed to a crawl, but General Mobile has consistently partnered with Google to release Android One devices for the past few years.

Familiar design

The 5-inch GM 6 feels compact in the hand, and the metal frame around it gives off a premium feel. The resemblance to Apple’s iPhone, however, is uncanny. That’s not a bad thing, though. The frame comes in rose gold-, gold-, and space gray-accented colors.

More: Google’s ‘Android Global Village’ at MWC is all-out crazy this year

There’s a home button on the front that doubles as a fingerprint sensor, which General Mobile said unlocks in 0.2 milliseconds. The power button is on the right, while the volume rocker is on the left. There’s a headphone jack on top of the device.

The textured back is made of a rubber-like material, which offers a firm grip.

Solid specs

The GM 6 has a 720p display, but it doesn’t look bad at all — largely due to the fact that it’s 5 inches. Some manufacturers use HD resolution on devices bigger than 5 inches and pixels start to become easily visible.

It’s powered by MediaTek’s MT6737T processor with 3GB of RAM, and in our brief test it ran incredibly smoothly. Apps launched instantly, and there was no lag when moving through them. It’s likely because the GM 6 runs the latest version of Android — 7.0 Nougat. As it is a part of the Android One program, the device will get timely Android version and security updates straight from Google.

The device has 32GB of internal storage, but there’s a MicroSD card that allows you to expand it up to 128GB. There doesn’t seem to be an NFC sensor, but there’s also no Android Pay in many of the countries the GM 6 will launch in to make much use of it.

There’s a massive 3,000mAh removable battery keeping the GM 6 on, and it should make the device last for quite some time due to the lower-resolution screen.

Camera

There’s a 13-megapixel camera on the rear, and an 8-megapixel front camera, both of which have flash. We encountered an issue with the camera in live-view mode as it seemed to strip color away from the image, but once you snap a photo,the photographs seem pretty decent.

You’ll encounter slight shutter lag and the interface overall feels a little buggy, but the end result is still better than what we’ve seen on a lot of other budget cameras.

Pricing and availability

Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s unlikely the device will cost more than $250. General Mobile said it will be released May to 22 emerging markets.

Highs

• Big battery
• Solid build quality
• Performance seems fast
• Will get timely security and version updates straight from Google

Lows

• Camera app seems buggy

DT Daily MWC 2017: A 20-minute phone charge, Gear VR controller, Android One phone

Mobile World Congress continued today, and while the major announcements have all been made, there’s lots of exciting new tech to discover out on the show floor. Here’s what we found on day two of MWC 2017.

Meizu Super mCharge

Even the fastest mobile phone charging systems still take at least 80 minutes to fully charge a battery, but Chinese smartphone brand Meizu has the cure for the impatient, power-hungry person. It’s called Super mCharge, and it’s a new battery charging technology that can take a 3,000mAh battery from zero to fully charged in just under 20 minutes. It’s clever, too, and generates little heat, ensuring it remains safe. Meizu intends to incorporate the tech into a phone later this year.

Gear VR Controller

Google’s Daydream VR has its own remote, and it’s great, so now Samsung has come up with its own remote for the popular Gear VR headset. It’s shaped to fit in your hand and mimic the d-pad controller on the Gear VR. It comes with a trigger button, a back button, and a volume control. It uses Bluetooth to connect the to phone and several sensors to navigate around in virtual reality. We’re still waiting for a price and a release date, but it’s coming soon.

Elliptic Labs

Using speakers and a microphone, Elliptic Labs Inner Peace technology uses ultrasonics to detect presence. This means if it’s used in a space like a living room, it could spot unexpected movements like those of an intruder. It can also monitor elderly relatives in case of a fall. Inner Peace will be integrated into smart home products next year.

General Mobile GM 6

The latest Android One phone, the General Mobile GM 6, is destined for launch in 22 markets around the world, where it introduces people to the joy of low-cost Android smartphone ownership. Like other Android One phones, it comes with Android 7.0 Nougat installed, and gets all the updates in a timely manner. The GM 6, which is coming out in May, has a 5-inch screen, a 3,000mAh battery, an 8-megapixel selfie cam, and a 13-megapixel rear camera.

We’ll be back again tomorrow with more show-floor finds from Mobile World Congress 2017.

Google adds Keep to G Suite with Docs integration

Keep joins the G Suite and integration into Docs.

Google announced today that it has added its notekeeping app Google Keep to its cloud-based G Suite. If you’ve got a G Suite-enabled account, you’ll now find Keep alongside your other G Suite apps in the G Suite menu. What’s more, Google has also added Keep integration right into Google Docs, so you can quickly consult and add note from Keep right into your Google Doc.

This is a smart move by Google, as it fills a void in the G Suite offering which was lacking a quick place for jotting down reference notes, reminders, and images during brainstorming process and beyond. Having the ability to recall those notes right alongside a Google Doc just makes life that much easier.

While not everyone uses notekeeping apps, it’s important for Google to continue to expand its cloud-based offerings a growing and competitive space, with Dropbox encroaching with Paper, its version of web-based collaborative docs, and Microsoft’s OneNote offering a similar experience for Office 365 users.

Google-branded laptops, including future Chromebook Pixels, have been shelved

In a roundtable interview with journalists at MWC, Google’s hardware chief revealed the company won’t revive its premium Chrome OS laptops of the past.

The few generations of Chromebook Pixels that you’ve grown to love over the past few years? They’re the last of its kind. If you’ve got one, might as well put it into storage for preservation.

Google’s Rick Osterloh told TechCrunch and other journalists at Mobile World Congress that the Pixel laptop — the first-ever-of-its-kind premium Chromebook — has officially reached the end of its life.

When asked if Google had plans to make more Pixel laptops, Osterloh replied that the company had none at the moment, nor did it have plans to make more of the previous Pixel laptops that had sold out in August.

Chrome OS is still fine, though. “Chrome OS is a huge initiative in the company,” Osterloh reassured. And then he added: “Google hasn’t backed away from laptops. We have the number two market share in the U.S. and U.K. — but we have no plans for Google-branded laptops.”

In the meantime, Asus and Samsung make some pretty convincing Chromebook alternatives. And if you’re still aching for something that’s Pixel-branded, but more mobile, there’s still the Pixel C and Pixel smartphone for sale.

Chromebooks

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• Google Play is coming to Chromebooks
• Acer Chromebook 14 review
• Join our Chromebook forums

New Raspberry Pi Zero W is just £9 and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-loaded

The latest Raspberry Pi costs just $10 (£9). And it comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability.

It’s called Pi Zero W, and it’s an updated version of the $5 Pi Zero that released in November 2015 for $5/£4. Raspberry Pi is a series of small single-board computers developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, and the new Pi Zero W is the newest member of the Pi product line.

It is smaller and cheaper than the flagship Pi. It’s also identical to the original Zero, but it’s double the price and adds a wireless chip to support 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 4.0 (a feature also found in the $35 Pi 3 from 2016). Elsewhere, Pi Zero W features a single-core 1GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM, and because it connects to the internet or wireless peripherals, it’s suited for all sort of projects.

Raspberry Pi Foundation

Until now, if you wanted to get online with Pi, you had to get a full-sized model. Here are a few other Pi Zero W specs:

• Mini-HDMI and USB On-The-Go ports
• Micro-USB power
• HAT-compatible 40-pin header
• Composite video and reset headers
• CSI camera connector
• 2.6 x1.2x 0.2-inch dimensions

Pi Zero W is available now through the foundation’s distributors, like ModMyPi in the UK. It costs £9.60 including VAT.

Vizio’s new entry-level 4K TVs make HDR accessible

Vizio’s higher-priced HDR-capable TVs aren’t exactly pricey, but you now have some truly low-cost options if you’re just looking for the basics. The company has launched its 2017 E-Series line, and the emphasis this time is on making high dynamic range video accessible to many more people. As long as you buy a 55-inch set or larger, you’re getting both 4K and HDR — not bad when that means paying as little as $550. While you aren’t going to get the best HDR compatibility or visual quality (no Dolby Vision HDR or quantum dots here), you at least won’t have to pay a premium to see what the fuss is about.

This is also your chance at getting a very large Vizio set without paying as much as you might expect, as the E-Series now includes 75-inch and 80-inch models. While we’d say the $3,400 price of the 80-inch set is a bit excessive, the $2,000 you’ll pay for the 75-inch set might hit the sweet spot if you want a gigantic picture at a semi-reasonable price.

All of the new sets have Chromecast support built-in, including Google Home integration if you have the smart speaker. The 75- and 80-inch sets are available now, and the rest of the line shouldn’t be far behind. The biggest dilemma may be deciding whether or not to forgive Vizio for its recent privacy issues.

Source: Vizio

Intel meets some of its key diversity goals

Intel’s diversity push still looks to be largely on track, and it’s now hitting some of its most important milestones. The chip maker’s newly published 2016 Diversity & Inclusion report reveals that Intel has met all of its pay and promotion equality goals in the US — both women and underrepresented minority should have the same incomes and chances of advancement as anyone else. Intel also says it met its broader diverse retention goal, keeping a better-than-parity number of those underrepresented workers.

The company also says it beat its own hiring target for the year (45.1 percent diverse), and notes that representation for women is up to 25.8 percent, or 2.3 points more than in 2014. Other progress? Intel now has a more diverse roster of vice presidents (41 percent) and decision-making Fellows, and it’s spending more money with diverse suppliers.

As happy as Intel is, it’s quick to admit that not everything is going smoothly. The ratio of underrepresented minorities has barely moved, growing just 0.2 points to 12.5 percent. Minorities in technical roles even slid a bit — there’s a lower ratio of Hispanic tech workers than there was in the 2015 report. Intel’s hiring approach may do well for women and non-technical positions, then, but it still leaves something to be desired.

The findings are leading Intel to switch its focus for 2017. It’s going to focus more on improving minority representation, and will start to think about intersectionality between these groups. For example, it’s making sure that non-white women will have more opportunities for promotion. Also, every manager will go through training to help them create and run more inclusive teams. Intel isn’t certain to hit its 2020 diversity targets by any means, but it at least has an idea as to what needs the most work.

Source: Intel (1), (2)

Ford concept uses drones and self-driving vans for deliveries

Ford has a vision for the future, and it’s apparently one where an army of autonomous vans and drones deliver things to your doorstep. The company used VR to put visitors at Mobile World Congress in the shoes of a dinner party host missing key ingredients. Using a service called “Autolivery,” the woman places an order from an app. Her package is loaded into an self-driving van, and a drone flies it up to a landing pad on the balcony on her 30th floor apartment.

Autolivery was developed by Shanghai-based Ford designers Euishik Bang, James Kuo and Chelsia Lau for the company’s Last Mile Mobility Challenge. Automating the final stretch of the goods delivery process, from curb to door, is difficult, and many companies are working to solve the problem. Ford believes the pressure to develop mobility solutions in urban areas will grow in the near future due to the rise in local deliveries from online sales. Ideas like Autolivery can potentially reduce gridlock and air pollution, and allow people to move about more easily.

“It’s all about making life in the city easier. The possibility of harnessing autonomous and electric vehicle technology with drones to quickly and easily send and deliver parcels could help to make life better for everyone,” said Bang.

Autolivery is part of Ford’s attempt to adapt to a future where fewer people buy cars. It recently invested $1 billion in a relatively unknown self-driving technology startup called Argo AI. Argo’s software will be used to pilot fully autonomous delivery vehicles like Autolivery, as well as ride sharing and ride hailing vehicles. Ford plans to have its fleet on the road shuttling packages and people in 2021.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from MWC 2017.

Source: Ford

Uber CEO argues with a driver over dropping income

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick hasn’t been earning many brownie points with the public lately, and that trend isn’t about to stop any time soon. Bloomberg has obtained video of the hard-driving executive getting into an argument with long-serving Uber Black driver Fawzi Kamel over dropping ridesharing fares. When Kamel complains that the overall price is going down and ruining his finances, Kalanick defends cuts as necessary to fend off rivals like Lyft. He disputes that prices on Black in particular are dropping, and quickly gets mad — he claims that people like like Kamel “don’t like to take responsibility for their own shit” and are trying to blame others for their own problems.

The company declined to comment about the video to Bloomberg.

While it’s hard to know just how much Uber affected Kamel’s bottom line, there is some evidence to back up his claims. Uber drivers have complained that fare cuts are making the job unsustainable, and the company recently paid $20 million to resolve complaints that it exaggerated drivers’ potential income. At least for some workers, then, Uber isn’t nearly as alluring as it was in previous years.

Kalanick’s behavior isn’t unexpected, but calling this bad timing would be an understatement. Many have already accused him of being tone deaf to social issues, whether it’s sexism among his staff or his initial reluctance to leave President Trump’s advisory council despite widespread anger. While there are hints of a more receptive approach (Kalanick recently met with women at Uber to listen to their issues), the video suggests there’s still room for improvement. He’s not exactly reassuring drivers worried that they’re merely serving as placeholders until self-driving cars can take over.

Source: Bloomberg