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Intel reveals architecture roadmap, welcomes Qualcomm as new customer

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In its greatest attempt to reclaim its chipmaking crown, Intel announced on Monday its new architecture roadmap during the company’s Accelerated webcast, unveiling the manufacturer’s strategy to refresh innovative naming schemes for future nodes. 

Intel’s CEO Pat Gelsinger announced during the company’s Accelerated livestream webcast how the semiconductor company is planning to switch its branding plan to push for more semiconductor innovations. 

The revelation incorporated broad strokes of its next-half decade of Intel’s processor roadmap, advanced chip and packaging technologies, and Intel’s goal leading to reclaiming leadership in the processor space by 2025.  

With the release of the forthcoming 12th Gen Alder Lake chips – which will be released later this year – future Intel products will no longer be centered around the nanometer-based node nomenclature. 

Nanometer-based node nomenclature is the technology node – which includes process nodes, process technology, or simply nodes – is the specific semiconductor manufacturing process alongside its design rules.  

Some of today’s recent technology nodes comprises of 22nm, 16nm, 14nm, and 10nm – 10nm is purely used in a specific generation of chips made in a unique technology.   

It is worth mentioning that nanometer-based node nomenclature is the process node currently adopted by the company itself, and the remainder of the chip manufacturing industry around the globe.  

By rebranding its node naming, Intel will acquire full control over the release of its new chip renovation. New third-generation 10nm chips will be addressed to as “Intel 7,” substituting its previous 10nm-based name, such as 10nm SuperFin chips.  

As much as this sounds like another marketing tactic embraced by the tech company to give it a competitive appearance against Advance Micro Devices’s (AMD) 7nm nodes and Apple’s 5nm M1 chips, chip names don’t necessarily have a major implementation on the chip’s size.  

Most of the big chip manufacturing companies share parallel production technologies and provide clients with similar transistor density, such as Samsung Electronics, Micron Technology, Qualcomm, Toshiba, and many more. 

Intel’s nodes’ rebranding makes it more difficult to deconstruct bigger node change attempts taking place alongside new nomenclature. Some of the company’s new node branding includes 10nm SuperFin, Intel 7, Intel 4, Intel 3, and Intel 20A.  

Intel 7 is the successor of Intel’s 10nm SuperFin – the company’s second generation 10nm chips. This latest chip provides between 10 to 15 percent in performance-per-watt enhancement in comparison to previous generations, which will increase power efficiency and battery life.  

With the previously introduced Alder Lake chips, which will be released by the end of 2021, the first Intel 7-based products will be revealed as soon as possible.  

Previously referred to as 7nm process, Intel 4 is the chip manufacturer’s next biggest leap into extremely ultraviolet (EUV) technology, even though it utilizes similar broad FinFET transistor architecture that Intel’s been relying on since 2011.  

In the semiconductor industry, EUV refers to extreme ultraviolet lithography. With this technology, systems can perform the required photolithography steps by employing a light source with an “extreme ultraviolet” wavelength.  

Finer circuits enable integration of a higher number of components inside a chip and by default raise and build faster energy efficiency.  

Due to all the implemented adjustments, Intel 4 is anticipated to showcase a transistor density of about 200-250 million transistors per mm2. It will extend its performance to 20 percent in performance-per-watt, and Granite Rapids – Sapphire Rapids successor – compute tile for data center.  

Intel 3 will witness more power and area improvements, and is set for manufacturing in the second half of 2023. Similar to Intel 4, Intel 3 is still considered a FinFET product.  

The chip manufacturing company announced that Intel 3 will offer extra optimizations and use EUV for an 18 percent rise in performance-per-watts. However, no release date has been announced for Intel 3 chips, but as far as the company stated it won’t be available for public use until 2024. 

Under the next generation of Intel technology, Intel 20A follows the old scheme, and it follows the former 7nm node. This chip will lead the angstrom era of semiconductors with breakthrough innovations in 1H in 2024.  

The Intel 20A will score a vital new transition in technology with better density and smaller sizes, which will lead the way in introducing “Power Via.” Power Via is an innovative technology that permits wafers – a thin slice of semiconductor – to be driven from the back of the chip, instead of the front. 

While the chip manufacturing company announced its plans to take back the chip market in its latest roadmap news, two major updates will be included in the company’s upcoming plans.  

Foveros chip-stacking packing technologies will witness its most prominent updates till this day. 

This packing technology piles together five CPU cores to assist the hardware to focus on more than one task at a time, an integrated GPU built into the same core as the CPU, and a Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM) stacked to save internal space compared to traditional design.  

Foveros Omni update will provide a wider variety in stacked chips by easing up its mix-and-match tiles despite its size. On the other hand, Foveros Direct will provide a copper-to-copper bonding between the chip’s components which will minimize resistance.  

Production for both Foveros technologies is planned for 2023. 

From its part, Intel revealed its first leading customer for its latest Intel Foundry Services business, Qualcomm. The semiconductor software company will begin manufacturing its chips with Intel in its future productions by adopting Intel’s upcoming 20A node. 

However, no specific date has been released concerning the primal Intel-made Qualcomm chips, or which of Qualcomm’s products Intel will create. 

Qualcomm, the wireless and innovation technology company, specializes in creating semiconductors software and services related to wireless technology. The company owns critical rights to the 5G and 4G mobile communications standards and mostly famous for designing Snapdragon chips that powers most Android phones.  

Following the company’s year of drawbacks, Intel’s revelation for its roadmap proves that the semiconductor company is anticipating a full comeback with its Intel 20A in 2024, pursued by Intel 18A in 2025.  

Daryn is a technical writer with thorough history and experience in both academic and digital writing fields.

Technology

What are the Ethical Issues in Biometrics?

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Ethical Issues in Biometrics

What is biometric identification? It is the process through which unique biological characteristics are used in biometric identification to recognize and validate a person. These characteristics can be found in facial traits, eye structures, DNA, fingerprint patterns, and even handwriting. All this data that can be gathered on an individual inevitably brings up the ethical issues in biometrics that need to be addressed.

Facial recognition and fingerprint scans were previously the domain of security, and they were utilized for identification and law enforcement. However, increasingly more business and civil applications are using biometrics authentication. Due to this increased use, it is crucial to address the moral and ethical issues in biometrics when used in the creation of new application and technology.

Applied biometrics and corporate ethics have received little empirical study despite the widespread use of biometric technologies. As a result, there is plenty of room for future study to help us better comprehend the moral consequences of adopting this technology.

This article examines the ethical concerns associated with the use of biometric technology on the use of biometrics for non-security applications as well as the moral ramifications for business.

Ethical Issues in Biometrics and Privacy

Biometric data takes privacy concerns to a whole new level that typical data gathering only touches on. Digital identities can be forged, and anonymity on the web can be maintained to a degree if you know how. Also, digital data can be deleted – if we forget that Meta (Facebook) has been revealed to store deleted data, which is an ethical concern in itself.

The problem with biometric data is that it is unforgeable, unconcealable, and permanent, You can’t change your eye structure, your fingerprint, or your facial features. Big tech companies already have your face, fingerprints, and your voice recorded and stored via current biometric authentication systems – mainly used for unlocking your phone. That data will be there forever, and there is little that people can do about it besides avoid it In the first place.

While many companies still give users the option of using a good old fashion passcode to unlock their phones, as technology as a whole tends to do, the biometric alternative is slowly gaining more traction, and will one day become the norm, as it is hard to argue its convenience and security. You can’t accidentally leave your eyeball at home or forget your fingerprint. But in the same sense, you can’t change it. If your childish curiosity while browsing the web put a black spot on your record, there’s no changing that.

Therein lies the question of who if anyone should have access to such data. Today’s tech giants have all our data in their hands, that won’t change with the spread of biometric verification methods. Indeed, it will only increase targeting capabilities.

While the collection of biometric data on its own does not necessarily mean it will be shared, monetized, or abused in any way, it never the less requires clear and strict guidelines and regulations to be implemented around it. There are too many things that can be abused by the wrong party when the ethical issues in biometrics are not taken seriously, and if such limitations are not applied stringently.


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Oppo Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro: Specs and Comparison   

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Oppo Reno 8

The Reno line of smartphones has always had a fantastic camera and an attractive design. The Reno 8 and 8 Pro include a 120Hz AMOLED display, the newest Dimensity chipsets, 80W fast charging, a 32-megapixel front camera, and triple 50-megapixel back cameras, among other notable features that make the Oppo Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro high-quality yet affordable option for anyone. 

Here we compare the two latest Oppo phone series iterations and see what to expect from the flagship Oppo smartphone, and how the Oppo Reno 8 and the Oppo Reno Pro stack up against each other. 

Oppo Reno 8 Specifications 

The Oppo Reno 8 has a smaller 6.43-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,080 by 2,400 pixels, a 90Hz refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It also runs Android 12 with ColorOS 12.1 on top. Additionally, the display has an 800 nits maximum brightness and a 20:09 aspect ratio. An octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC, up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM, and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage are all found within the Oppo smartphone. 

The Reno 8 has a triple back camera configuration for pictures and movies, with a 50-megapixel main sensor and an f/1.8 lens as its focal point. Additionally, there is a 2-megapixel macro camera with a 112-degree field of view and an 8-megapixel sensor coupled with an f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens. 

The Reno 8 offers 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.3, GPS/A-GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C connector as connection options. An accelerometer, light, gyroscope, magnetometer, and a proximity sensor are among the sensors on board. For biometric verification, the phone also has a fingerprint sensor hidden behind the display. A 4,500mAh battery inside the Oppo Reno 8 supports 80W Super Flash Charge quick charging. The phone weighs 179 grams and has dimensions of 160 x 73.4 x 7.67mm. 

Oppo Reno 8 Pro Specifications 

A 6.7-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,412) AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection is included with the Oppo Reno 8 Pro. Running on top of Android 12 is ColorOS 12.1. Additionally, the display supports HDR10+ and is certified by Netflix HD, Amazon HDR, SGS Low Motion Blur, and SGS Low Blue Light. The MediaTek Dimensity 8100-Max SoC, which has eight cores, and up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM power the smartphone. Storage on the Oppo Reno 8 Pro is UFS 3.1 capable of up to 256GB. 

The Oppo Reno 8 Pro boasts a triple rear camera arrangement with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 main sensor and an f/1.8 lens, an 8-megapixel sensor and an ultra-wide lens with an f/2.2 aperture and a 112-degree field of view, and a 2-megapixel macro camera with an f/2.4 aperture. Along with the MariSilicon X NPU, the phone’s camera will offer generally better performance in both bright and dim light. It has a 32-megapixel front-facing camera sensor with an f/2.4 lens for taking selfies and making video calls. 

The phone has 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.3, GPS/A-GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C connector as connectivity options. An accelerometer, a light meter, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, and a proximity sensor are among the sensors built into the phone. For biometric authentication, the phone also contains a fingerprint sensor underneath the touchscreen. The smartphone has a 4,500mAh battery that supports rapid charging at 80W Super Flash Charge. The phone weighs 183 grams and has dimensions of 161 x 74.2 x 7.34mm. 

Both the Oppo Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro are prime smartphones that can fit any user’s preferences and can be considered premium smartphones on the cheaper side. If you like photography, you will be satisfied with the level of quality overall, but keep in mind that neither phone is particularly water resistant, so be careful where you take it.  


Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all aspects of the tech industry. Keep an eye on our Technology sections to stay informed and up-to-date with our daily articles. 

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Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: How do They Compare Today

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Electric Cars vs Gas Cars

Many prefer the rumbling ‘vroom’ of a gasoline car to the soft hum of an electric vehicle, while others would rather just be satisfied in the knowledge that they are lessening their carbon footprint. Let’s look at the cold hard facts however, and compare electric cars vs gas cars

Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: Components

The amount of moving components is an important distinction between electric and gasoline-powered automobiles. While a gasoline-powered car contains hundreds of moving components, an electric vehicle just has one, the motor. Another significant distinction is that the electric car has fewer moving components. The electric car is more dependable and needs less routine maintenance. The maintenance needed for a gasoline-powered car ranges from routine oil changes, filter replacements, tune-ups, and exhaust system repairs to less frequent component replacements including water and fuel pumps, alternators, and so on.

Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: Maintenance

The expenses associated with maintaining an electric car are reduced since there are less maintenance requirements. The shaft, the only moving component of the electric motor, is extremely dependable and needs little to no maintenance. The controller and charger are electrical devices that require minimal to no maintenance because they have no moving components. Modern sealed lead acid batteries are maintenance free and utilized in electric cars nowadays. However, these batteries have a finite lifespan and will eventually need to be replaced. New batteries are being developed to increase the range of electric cars as well as the battery pack’s lifespan, perhaps eliminating the need to replace the battery pack throughout the course of the vehicle’s lifespan.

Electric Cars vs Gas Cars: Efficiency

In addition to being simpler and less expensive to repair than gasoline-powered vehicles, electric vehicles are also more cost-effective to run. The electric car will drive roughly 43 miles for $1 based on the efficiency of 3 miles/kwhr and the cost of power at 7 cents per kwhr. The gasoline-powered car will go roughly 18 miles based on the average gas mileage of 22 miles per gallon and the price of gasoline at $1.25 per gallon. As a result, an electric car may drive more than twice as far on a dollar’s worth of petrol.

Where Electric Falls Behind

There are still a number of difficulties for the owner of an electric car despite the fact that it will be less expensive to operate and maintain.

The primary issue is the restricted range offered by existing battery technology. The amount of driving distance possible utilizing the current batteries is between 50 and 150 miles. These ranges are being extended by new battery technologies, and prototypes of these batteries have shown ranges of up to 200 miles between recharging. Solar powered charging stations are being implemented in numerous places to decrease range anxiety towards electric vehicles

The lack of qualified service professionals to repair and maintain electric cars is another issue that faces their owners. A two-year associate degree program has been developed to train high school graduates to become proficient electric vehicle technicians, and training programs are being developed and made available to upgrade the conventional automotive technician with the skills needed to maintain an electric vehicle.

Infrastructure to recharge the batteries is also required. The most important component of the infrastructure for recharging already exists: electric power is accessible practically everywhere. To support the electric car, it is still necessary to guarantee that charging stations with the right sorts of service (i.e., maximum voltage and current) are placed in important areas. Plans must also be made.


Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all aspects of the tech industry. Keep an eye on our Technology sections to stay informed and up-to-date with our daily articles.

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