HeyWhatsNew: Qualcomm Announces New Chipset and Mercedes-Benz Trucks’ First Electric Vehicle
What’s up HeyUppers. Welcome to HeyWhatsNew – Your roundup of the latest developments impacting the world of tech for the week beginning 09/10/2023
Adobe Releases 3 New AI Enhanced Firefly Models
Adobe has unveiled the latest version of Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes over 100 new features in tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro. These enhancements aim to offer more creative possibilities within the designer's everyday workflow, with a larger model capacity for faster and better image generation.
The updates include exciting new AI features powered by three new Adobe Firefly models, designed for images, vectors, and design. The new Firefly models, known as Next-Gen Firefly, bring higher quality, control, and seamless integration into creative processes.
Mercedes Benz Unveils Its Premier Electric Truck
Mercedes-Benz Trucks has introduced the final version of their first long-haul electric truck, called the Mercedes-Benz eActros 600. This groundbreaking vehicle was unveiled in a global premiere near Hamburg, offering an impressive 500-kilometer range without the need for mid-route charging.
The eActros 600 aims to set a new industry benchmark in technology, sustainability, design, and profitability. Daimler Truck also reports that Mercedes is expected to gradually replace most diesel trucks in its category in the long run with electric battery trucks, citing the possibility of 80 percent CO2 savings compared to diesel-trucks over an entire life cycle.
The SEC May Finally Succeed in Bringing Elon Musk Before the Court
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is taking legal action against Elon Musk for the third time, this time regarding his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter. The SEC requested a federal court to compel Musk to testify as part of its investigation. In the past, the SEC sued Musk over a tweet about taking Tesla private, with the 2018 case leading to a settlement that required legal review of Musk's tweets. However, the SEC's attempt to enforce this agreement in 2019 was unsuccessful.
This new case is distinct as it involves enforcing a subpoena, and experts believe the SEC is on firm legal ground in this matter. While the stakes may not be as high this time, it continues the ongoing conflict between the world's wealthiest individual and the powerful securities regulator, which has long struggled to rein in Musk.
Oneplus Open Leaked
OnePlus is expected to release their first foldable later this month, on the 19th. Ahead of the official launch, information about the phone’s specs, first look, and expected retail price have been leaked. The images that were leaked show that the device may be available in black and green.
The Verge reports that the phone will come with 16GB of RAM, 120Hz screen refresh rate, two 48 MP cameras, and be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. When the OnePlus Open is officially released, the device will join Samsung and Google in the growing niche market of foldables available in the US.
IMAX has opened one of the world’s biggest cinemas in Australia
News.com reports that IMAX has just opened their second cinema in Australia, and it’s reportedly the world’s fourth biggest IMAX cinema, featuring a massive 29 x 24 meter screen housed within a six storey building.
The cinema also features a self-service kiosk for snacks, drinks and even alcohol, and cinema goers will have the option to choose from standard seating, full recliner seats, couple’s seats, and one of two private boxes which each seat four people. The first films that will be shown at IMAX Sydney include Top Gun: Maverick, and Avatar: The Way of Water.
Google Assistant with Bard First Look
Earlier this year, Google announced its new generative AI bot Bard, which is currently in competition with other bots like ChatGPT and Bing Chat. Bard is currently being integrated into the Google Assistant platform, hoping to deliver more natural interactions, thoughtful answers, and new capabilities, according to Android Police.
It’s reported that the integration may come with all the features that are available on the desktop version of the AI chatbot, including the ability to take pictures and upload images, as well as submit queries all within the app. Bard may also become more easily integrated with other Google Apps like Gmail and Calendar.
Qualcomm Announces New Snapdragon X Series
This week, Qualcomm announced its plans to revolutionize the next generation of PC experiences with a new line of computing platforms that will be known as Snapdragon X. According to NotebookCheck, the company will be letting go of the Snapdragon 8cx Series, which got its last update in 2021. One of the new chipsets will reportedly be very similar to the Apple M2 Max chipset found in the MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16.
Aside from the name of the new PC chipset and the confirmation that Snapdragon X will be released in 2024, Qualcomm hasn’t released any further information about the new platform. More information is expected at the annual Snapdragon Summit that will take place in Hawaii this month between the 24th and the 26th.
That’s a wrap of this week's edition of HeyWhatsNew – your source for the latest tech news and insights that have shaped the world of technology for the week. Tune in again next week for more intriguing updates.
