Here are a few more of the CES announcements I found interesting, and funny, and absurd. Spoiler alert: There is a $3000 dog door.
You can find my morning update here.
Intel Announces first 11th Gen Desktop and Mobile Workstation Processors
After some of the details leaked late last year, Intel has taken the wraps off of some of the new 11th Gen processors for desktops and mobile workstations.
The Mobile Workstation Processors are commonly found in laptops designed for gaming and content creation uses. These are more powerful than the processors usually found in thin and light laptops. However, while Intel’s mobile workstation processors usually come in at 45 Watts for their power rating, these first products launching are 35W parts. This means that even if the new processors are more powerful per watt compared to the older processors, they will likely be less powerful overall. The 35W parts do have the advantage of being able to be used in some thinner and lighter laptops, but most content creators and gamers would say they would rather have the extra power that a 45W processor provides. Intel did say that the 45W versions of these mobile workstation processors are coming later in Q1.
The information release for the desktop processors was far less detailed, with only the highest end Core i9 11900k detailed. This processor promises a 19% increase in instructions per clock (IPC) which does mean that each processor core should be faster than the older 10900k. However, while the 10900k had 10 processor cores, the 11900k will only have 8. So while this processor will have better single operation performance, the loss of two processor cores could mean the newer processor is actually slower in some workloads than the older one. This comes from Intel’s long inability to get from the 14nm process down to 10nm at scale. The company expects the 11900k to be available later in Q1.
New Pentium Silver and Celeron Processors Should give a Boost to Chromebooks
While those high end desktop and mobile processors offer the pinnacle of what Intel can produce today, the announcement that will be of more consequence to more people is on the entry level. The Pentium Silver and Celeron processors are found in many inexpensive computers, notably chromebooks, where sheer computing power is less important. However, those processors get improvements just like the newer ones, and Intel says the newer versions of these processors will offer up to 35% better performance. I would also expect battery life to improve as well. These parts will not blow anyones socks off, but they Intel will probably produce and sell many more of these parts than those high end parts.
https://www.engadget.com/intel-pentium-silver-celeron-10nm-cpus-213017859.html
Second Generation Fingerprint Sensor From Qualcomm is 50% Faster
Qualcomm has shown off its second generation fingerprint sensor designed to go under smartphone and tablet displays. The new sensor is much larger than the first generation, and significantly faster. This should allow a better experience for these fingerprint sensors. I’m interested to see if there is a re-emphasis on fingerprint sensors in 2021. Many android phones still had them, but had emphasized face unlock instead. With most of the world wearing masks through 2020 and 2021, I wonder if we will see a renewed focus on making good fingerprint sensors again.
Finally, MagSafe PopSockets
When Apple announced the iPhone 12 with its new MagSafe wireless charging systems, millions of PopSocket users wondered “how will I possibly use a PopSocket but also MagSafe?” Well, their question has now been answered. There are new MagSafe compatible PopSockets coming for the iPhone 12 lineup that connect to the phone via magnets instead of an adhesive. This will allow users to remove the PopSocket and attach a MagSafe charger at will.
In all seriousness, this is actually a good product idea. I’ve never used a PopSocket because I didn’t want to stick one permanently to my phone or case, this is a good solution that gets around that problem.
https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/11/22225701/popsockets-magsafe-accessory
There is a $3000 USD Automatic Dog Door Because it is CES
There is always one absurd product that gets the CES headlines. The early winner for that this year is a door from Chamberlain, makers of garage door openers. There are obviously several pet owners among the workforce that have been working from home for 10 months with dogs wanting to go in and out every 15 minutes, as dogs do. So, they have invented an automatic dog door. It works with a sensor you attach to a dog collar, and also works with google assistant and Amazon Alexa so you can yell at the sky computer to open the dog door. This extravagance only works with a specific custom made door, and the whole thing costs $3000 USD which translates to a little over $3800 in Canada. I love the dog, but not that much. She was not impressed when I said there would be no automatic dog door.
I don’t care how sad you look, you’re not getting a $3000 dog door.