chip

It took Apple to put the iPhone chip in a computer so that we know that the iPhone is as powerful as a computer

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He MacBook Neo It is surprising analysts and buyers with its good performance. And the question should be: why? It is the first time that Apple has made a move of this caliber to make one of its star products cheaper: putting the processor of an iPhone inside a Mac. We consumers have so internalized that “a cell phone is a cell phone” and that “a PC is a PC” that, usually, we do not pay attention to what we usually have in our pockets. It took Apple to put the processor of an iPhone in a PC to realize that, precisely, what we have in our pocket is a PC. “Move up to 4k videos”. X is filled with analysts thoroughly testing the MacBook Neo, and hallucinating that it is capable of doing… what any other MacBook can do. The 8 GB of RAM is a limitation, as it was in the first generations of Macs with M1 chip. But, far from that “use for office, basic and browser”, the Neo is surprising for being capable of what is expected of a Mac: do more than that. The main limitation is given by the 8 GB of RAM, which is few even for a Mac, but not by the chip. It’s normal. A Mac with a mobile chip. It sounds like a crazy idea. But if we look (not even in depth) at A18 Prowe understand perfectly what is happening. No matter how much Apple mounts the A18 Pro in a mobile phone, it is a chip that far exceeds the capabilities that even a desktop or laptop would need for “basic use.” In fact, the A18 Pro scores above an M1 in Single-Core, it is not far behind in graphical performance and is much more advanced at the manufacturing level (number of transistors, instructions, frequencies). In fact, it’s not just an Apple thing: a Snapdragon 8 Elite sweeps an M1 in multi-core and reaches a M2 in single. We weren’t realizing. We have been saying for years that the power of mobile phones is completely excessive. A certain part is necessary for the highest-end mobile phones to be able to record in 8K, process images in real time and operate at the rate they work, but 90% we are driving at 30 km/h in a supercar that exceeds 300. This is not something new. In fact, for years Apple’s A processors were outperforming Intel’s, back in the days when M chips didn’t exist. As told John Gruberthe A9 CPU of the iPhone 6s In 2015 (it has rained) it was already comparable to MacBooks from 2013. In 2017, as he says Antonio Sabanthe iPad Pro was already faster than the MacBook Pro with the I7 chip. Just what was needed. Macs have historically been characterized as a perfect mobility solution for designers, musicians, video editors and other creators. But there was an even bigger niche: people who don’t do any of that and want a computer for “normal” use. While MacBook Airs are not over-the-top Macs, they offer much more than any average user needs. In fact, I myself bought an Air M4 and not a Pro because, even as a video editor, I don’t need much else. Apple has found in the Neo more than possibly the “e” phenomenona formula that we will see year after year if we achieve commercial success. Image | Apple In Xataka | Apple has only found one option to make a cheap laptop: make it a mobile

the cheapest laptop in Apple history with iPhone chip

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It was expected like May water by fans of the firm with the bitten apple and, last week, Apple finally cleared up the rumors and presented the MacBook Neothe cheapest laptop in its entire history. Now, you can buy from 699 euros. This is the price for the 13-inch model with 256 GB, although the 512 GB variant with touch ID is available for 100 euros more: 799 euros. Apple MacBook Neo 13-Inch with A18 Pro Chip, 256 GB The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Apple MacBook Neo 13 Inch with A18 Pro Chip 512 GB and Touch ID The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A cheap Apple laptop perfect for less demanding users It is true that for an Apple laptop, the MacBook Neo It is modest in specifications, but it is true that it presents a excellent value for moneyideal for those who want a computer from the firm of the bitten apple without having to pay 1,000 euros for the base model. The MacBook Neo is perfect for those who want enter the Apple ecosystem without paying more. This is a move in which Apple has been trying to succeed for a long time with the launch of cheaper devices such as the iPhone 17e or the Apple Watch SE 3. This MacBook Neo is designed for everyday use, with more than enough features for a standard user. Its screen is type 13 inch IPS LCDwith a resolution of 2,408 x 1,506 pixels and a brightness of 500 nits. The surprise of this laptop is that, unlike all other Apple models, it mounts the chip Apple A18 Prothe same as the iPhone 16 Pro and that is more than enough for browsing, checking email, editing an image and everyday work tasks. Its light weight 1.2kgmakes it an inseparable companion for those who have to carry the office on their backs every day. In addition, it stands out for its battery that, according to company data, lasts up to 16 hours, so you can forget about charging it while you work. Of course, despite some advantages, it is true that there is an unwritten agreement by which you assume that by buying a MacBook for 699 euros you have to give up some things. For example, The keyboard does not have a backlight nor does it come with a wall charger. In terms of connectivity, it only has two ports USB-CWiFi 6E, Bluetooth 6.0 and 3.5 mm headphone jack. Finally, one of the things that is also striking about this cheap Apple laptop is that you can buy it in four different colors. ⚡ IN SUMMARY: macbook neo laptop ✅ THE BEST The price: It is the first Apple MacBook for which you have to pay less than 700 euros at launch. Very light and portable: Weighing only 1.2 kg, it is a perfect laptop to take with you every day to the office or university. ❌ THE WORST Oh, the RAM… 8 GB of RAM may be a bit short for intense multitasking and the worst thing is that it cannot be expanded. Yesand they miss some things… With no backlit mouse, no wall charger and only two USB-C ports, these are some of the things you have to sacrifice if you want to pay little for a MacBook. 💡 BUY IT IF… You want a cheap Mac for studying, browsing, watching videos or even everyday work. ⛔ DON’T BUY IT IF… You are a person who wants a laptop to edit video, program many apps or who wants a device that will last for many years. Some accessories that may interest you for this MacBook Neo BENFEI Laptop Stand with Docking Station USB C 6 in 1 The price could vary. We earn commission from these links tomtoc 360° Case for 13 Inch The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Pedro Aznar (Applesfera) and Apple In Xataka | MacBook Air M4 vs MackBook Air M3: these are the main differences between the two models In Xataka | MacBook Air Vs MacBook Pro: we explain which one to choose

Chip War is Xataka Xtra’s newsletter about the technological battle of our time: semiconductors

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‘Chip War’ is one of the newsletters exclusives included in Xataka Xtrathe Xataka subscription plan. We send it every Monday and it is part of a benefits plan that includes access to other newsletters, a consultation with editors and raffles and discounts exclusive for subscribers. The first draw, a 75″ TV. The semiconductor industry is not just technology. It is geopolitics, economics and industrial strategy condensed into objects of a few nanometers. The decisions made today by TSMC, Intel, ASML, Samsung or SK Hynix (or the governments that support them) will determine which countries lead the next decade and under what conditions. Every Monday we analyze what is happening in that race: the conflicts between the United States and China, the movements of large factories, the subsidies that are changing the geography of production or the technological bets that can change who is in charge in the sector. Without rush and with context. The goal is not to tell you the news, but to help you understand why it matters. Why does it matter so much? Do you want an example? In our Substack we share the first edition for free. Other Xataka Xtra newsletters Next X (biweekly, every other Thursday): analysis of the trends in technology and science that are changing the present and will define the future: AI, quantum computing, biotechnology, space exploration. Context and perspective on where we are going and why it matters. B-sides (weekly, every Saturday): five curious and fascinating readings each week. Strange, counterintuitive or unexpected stories that we find on the Internet and that deserve your attention. From industrial accidents that changed the world to surprising scientific research or absurdities of late capitalism. Featured image | Xataka

So a MacBook with an iPhone chip can have macOS. But an iPad with an M4 chip, no

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Neo. It is the surname that gives life to the new cheap macbook. 699 euros for a Mac with a good panel, a promising speaker system, a design that makes you fall in love at first sight and that, for all those looking for a simple laptop for office purposes, is considered one of the best options on the market. The small detail is that, with its launch, Apple has admitted that running macOS It is not particularly demanding at the hardware level. So much so that we find ourselves faced with the paradox of having a processor of iPhone 16 Pro running macOS and iPads worth thousands of euros with M4 chip running… iPadOS (iOS with some modifications). A movement with meaning. My colleague Javier Lacort told it, the only option that Apple has found to make a cheap laptop has been to give it the heart of a mobile. It is thus manifested, indirectly, that a A18 Pro It is more than enough for the majority of potential consumers of this laptop. But there is a key that can hurt users of latest generation iPads: right now there is a laptop with an A18 Pro moving PC programs, while a iPad with an M4 chip moves completely layered apps. The point is not just macOS, the point is the apps. Apple has been implementing M chips in its iPads for years. We all agree that a Mac is a Mac and an iPad is an iPad but… selling a iPad with an M4 chip and phone applications is to sell a horse tied by the legs. It is an inexplicable paradox, one in which a MacBook with an A18 Pro can run desktop programs like Davinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere or Lightroom CC, while a much more powerful iPad has layered versions closer to those of a mobile phone. I don’t want a touch Macbook, I want an iPad according to its hardware. In my particular case, I am the perfect potential buyer of an iPad capable of running desktop apps. I work 90% of my day in front of the PC, but mobility is very important to me. And the iPad + keyboard format sweeps any Mac, no matter how small. But I have been forced to buy a MacBook Air M4 because, with an iPad, it is simply impossible to do my work. The apps are not up to par with the processor, and for professional uses it is of little use to have one of the best processors on the market if the operating system is nailed to that of my iPhone. It’s not going to happen. Dreaming of an iPad with macOS or, at least, capable of running some desktop applications, is still a dream. Apple is clear about its product categories and, although it sells the iPad M as productivity tools, they are still products limited to the use that Apple wants us to give them. Be that as it may, reality is inevitable: the iPad falls short of iPadOS. It is a platform that, in its day, made sense as a version of iOS for tablets. Today, the iPad is more powerful than most computers on the market and, at the very least, deserves software on its level. Image | Apple In Xataka | I’ve tried replacing my MacBook Pro with the new iPad Pro. iPadOS is still a stumbling block

Scientists have connected 200,000 human neurons to a chip. And he made them play ‘Doom’

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If they tell us that human neurons are playing ‘Doom’, the first thing we would think of is science fiction. However, that is exactly what the Australian company Cortical Labs has shown with your CL1 system: about 200,000 live neurons grown on an array of electrodes on a chip, capable of receiving information from the game and responding through electrical patterns. We are not talking about conventional artificial intelligence, but rather biological tissue interacting with software through an interface designed for that purpose. Human neurons and ‘Doom’. The demo isn’t just launching the game and letting something random happen. In the material shared by Cortical Labs, those responsible explain that the system receives signals from the video game environment and generates electrical patterns that translate into the character’s actions. This is a form of learning in which the system modifies its response depending on the result obtained. The key here is not skill, but the ability to adapt, which, according to the company, they are managing to train and mold in real time. How the interaction loop is established. For the experiment to work, it is not enough to display images on a screen. According to CTO David Hogan, an independent developer managed to convert the game’s visual signal into “electrical stimulation patterns” that are applied directly to the cell culture. These stimuli provoke electrical responses in neurons, and certain firing patterns translate into specific actions within ‘Doom’. In this way, the system creates a closed loop in real time in which each decision has an immediate effect on the virtual environment. look back. In 2021, the same company managed to make a system based on more than 800,000 neurons play ‘Pong’an experiment that required years of scientific work and specific training. That precedent laid the foundations for what would later become the CL1, the equipment presented at the Mobile World Congress in 2025 as the world’s first commercial biological computer. As we explained at the time, the system combines neurons grown on silicon with software called biOS, responsible for exchanging electrical information with living tissue. It is advisable to adjust expectations. The system, it should be noted, falls far short of advanced human performance. Brett Kagan of Cortical Labs emphasizes that the experiment is not intended to replicate a miniature brain, and rejects the direct comparison: “Yes, it is alive, and yes, it is biological, but it is actually used as a material that can process information in very special ways that we cannot recreate in silicon.” The emphasis, therefore, is not on skill, but on the type of processing that this biological substrate allows. Starting point. In the video, the team encourages researchers and developers to interact with the CL1 open API. Cortical Labs hopes to address progressively more demanding tasks than a classic video game, although the video itself also recognizes that there is room to fine-tune the feedback of successes and errors. For now, what we have is a proof of concept that shows potential, but whose path will depend on what others manage to build on this platform. Images | Cortical Labs In Xataka | Sam Altman has spent his entire life saying one thing and doing exactly the opposite. And this time it didn’t even take 48 hours.

A Japanese toilet company has been manufacturing key parts in the chip industry for years. And now it is going to be key in AI

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Toto, world famous for their toilets with a trickle that we usually miss so much when we return from Japan, has been quietly manufacturing key components for the semiconductor industry for decades. Just like account Financial Times, an activist fund has focused on that part of its business, and the market is starting to pay attention. What has happened. Palliser Capital, a UK-based activist fund, has sent a letter to Toto’s board of directors arguing that the advanced ceramics the company works on are being ignored and underestimated by the market. The fund, which owns a stake among the 20 largest in the company, according to share from FT, calls Toto “the most underrated and overlooked AI memory beneficiary.” What is important. Toto is not just a bathroom company. Since 1988 it has been manufacturing the so-called ‘electrostatic chucks’ in series.‘ (electrostatic jaws), high-precision ceramic components used in the manufacture of NAND memory chips to hold silicon wafers during the production process, controlling temperature and avoiding contamination. This business, which they fit within their “advanced ceramics” division, already represents around 42% of the company’s total operating profit, according to data from Bloomberg. The connection with AI. He data center boom for artificial intelligence has skyrocketed the demand for memory chips. Companies like Meta, Amazon or large memory manufacturers (SK Hynix, Samsung, Kioxia) are accelerating their production to face a widespread shortage. That translates into more demand for the components that Toto manufactures. The company’s ceramic technology is also specially adapted for cryogenic etching, a process that is expected to gain popularity as memory chips become more complex and layered. Business tips. According to share The fund also criticizes that Toto is not explaining well to investors the importance of this segment and that the allocation of internal capital is not prioritizing this lucrative sector. The fund proposes that the company expand its ceramics business, sell cross-stakes in other companies and make better use of its 76 billion yen in cash (about $496 million). If Toto did all that, Palliser estimates the stock could rise more than 55%. The market had already started to move. Toto shares have accumulated a revaluation of more than 60% in the last year. Just like share Bloomberg, at the end of January, after the support of Goldman Sachs, which raised the value to buy pointing to the memory shortage as a tailwind, the stock rose 11% in a single day, its biggest rise in five years. Be careful with the warnings. The idea that Toto would have that competitive advantage before other competitors can be at that level comes from Palliser himself, who has an obvious interest in making that narrative credible. Tom’s Hardware points out that while electrostatic jaws play a real role in advanced manufacturing processes, whether that translates into sustained growth still depends in part on large memory manufacturers committing to expanding production and, for now, they are being cautious faced with the risk of oversupply if the AI ​​market cools. The phenomenon is not exclusive to Toto. Japan has a long history in chip production, which has led companies with very different profiles to develop businesses related to semiconductors almost without anyone noticing. Just like share Bloomberg, Ajinomoto, known for its broths and its mastery of umami, makes insulating films for chips based on its expertise with amino acids. Kao, a cosmetics company, has a silicon wafer cleaning business. The AI ​​business is revaluing companies that, a priori, had nothing to do with it. And Toto is the latest example of this. Cover image | Taylor Vick and Upgraded Points In Xataka | What future awaits artists with the rise of AI? In Ireland they see it so black that they are already preparing a basic income

The US chip industry is being forged in Silicon Valley. Curiously, the hammer is held by South Korea

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The United States has embarked on a journey of technological sovereignty. It has some of the largest and most cutting-edge technology companiesbut they depend on foreign companies. That’s why, Appield Materials has put 5 billion dollars on the table seeking US technological hegemony. And, in this ambitious project, it is not an American who has slipped in as founding partner of the EPIC Center. It’s Samsung. EPIC. It’s a “modest” name for a $5 billion facility that will be in the heart of Silicon Valley. The name comes from Equipment and Process Innovation and Commercialization and is the spearhead of American investment in research and development of advanced semiconductor equipment. Its objective is to accelerate the development of equipment and processes to create advanced memory chips, shortening traditional cycles when developing cutting-edge chips. The installation is imposingwith more than 16,700 m² of clean room and is expected to come into operation this spring. Samsung. And, in that ambitious objective, is the South Korean company. The alliance is to address one of the semiconductor industry’s most important challenges: the long time required to bring new chip technologies to market. from research to production. The EPIC Center is not a competition for the European ASMLbut something complementary to shorten those processes that can take between 10 and 15 years. And Samsung will be there as one of the founding partners. Samsung Electronics CEO Young Hyun Jun commented that the collaboration will allow “advance in cutting-edge semiconductor equipment technologies.” The EPIC Center Expansion. Samsung is one of the most important foundries in the world and, in the era of artificial intelligence, it is consolidating itself as a pillar by being the first that will supply NVIDIA of the new HBM4 memories. Its presence at the EPIC Center seems like a key strategic move, but it is not the only advance that the company has recently made on American soil. In that pursuit of creating high-bandwidth memory and advanced systems, Samsung has a facility in TaylorTexas, to advance the production of 2 nanometer chips. Foreign industrial fabric. One of Donald Trump’s goals was to recover the American industrial fabric with American companies and American labor. That’s why he ‘rescued’ Intel a few months ago with the aim that the company was his great foundry. And it is having its fruits: Intel has risen from the ashes with new advanced processors and is positioning itself to supply both NVIDIA and Apple. However, what is also arriving is foreign muscle like Samsung and something more serious: TSMC. The Taiwanese giant is the company on which the entire semiconductor and device industry pivots, and it is increasingly becoming making more land in the United States to manufacture in the country and continue with a diversification project which includes Europe. That is to say, the United States is reindustrializing and is taking steps to have an authoritative voice in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, but much of that muscle belongs to the same old foreign companies… that will simply now also produce in the United States. HBM4. Meanwhile, Samsung continues to do its thing. Not only are they at full production HBM4 memoriesbut also investigating the possible replacement for that technology: DRAM memories in which Intel and SoftBank are also taking steps. And in addition to their own Exynos for their mobiles, there are sources who claim that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is developing its own chip for artificial intelligence and is in talks with Samsung for it to be manufactured. Images | Applied Materials (edited) In Xataka | China’s future in the chip industry is in the hands of a single, almost unknown company: SiCarrier

In the midst of the RAM crisis, Intel counterattacks with ZAM. It is the chip to break South Korean hegemony

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Few would have guessed not so many years ago the Intel transformation. The company that will dominate consumer processors and servers for generations has been through a real ordeal through the desert under the rule of AMD. However, they have returned for their rights and not only –rescue through– have positioned themselves to be the great American foundry, but are looking to take a bite out of the gigantic South Korean RAM memory industry thanks to its new memory: ZAM memory. And its weapon is three-dimensionality. Z for ‘zolution’. Do you remember when, in math class, you drew the first cube? The X axis is east-west. The Y axis is north-south. What the square needed to become a cube is the Z axis, the one up and down. That’s what engineers SAIMEMORYthe company resulting from the collaboration between the Japanese SoftBank and Intel, have applied traditional DRAM memory with a single objective: to assault the enormous market for high-bandwidth memory, or HBMwhich dominates data centers. Puff pastry. A few months ago we told you that the two companies They had embarked on a joint path to stand up to the dominance of Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron in the creation of high-performance memory. lHBM memory is preferred for data centers because it has a beastly bandwidth that allows a greater number of simultaneous operations. It’s like a huge highway. However, it has limitations: it is expensive to produce, requires a lot of energy, and gets hot enough to require expensive dissipation systems. Conventional DRAM memory was not an alternative, but Intel and SoftBank began to ‘play around’ with stacked DRAM memory. It is like a puff of RAM memory (simplifying things a lot), whose main limitation came when connecting each of those thin layers of memory so that the final product had the same capabilities as that highway that is HBM memory. ZAM. After a few months of research, a few days ago at the Intel Connection in Japan, SAIMEMORY and Intel presented the ZAM prototype. According to the companiesa ZAM module can have a capacity of up to 512 GB, it is easy to produce because it consists of designing vertically stacked chips and most importantly: it can reduce energy consumption by 40% to 50% compared to conventional HBMs. If HBMs are expensive and take time to produce, ZAMs are cheaper, can be the solution to alleviate restrictions in the supply chain and, in addition, would lower the energy consumption of data centers (which is one of the problems they have), and are also easier to cool. At the moment, the company’s research points to a theoretical limit of 20 layers, but current designs move around 16 layers, so performance may be better if this current limitation can be overcome. Real alternative. Intel’s ambition is total, since they point out that their DRAM module joining technology allows them to offer two to three times the capacity of HBM modules while being up to 60% cheaper to produce. It all seems like a plus and doesn’t seem like bad technology when established giants in HBM memory creation like Samsung are also researching how to overcome the limitations of connections in stacked DRAM memory. The prototype | Photo by PCWatch Ambition. And, almost as important as the presentation of the ZAM prototype, is the alliance itself. Intel has been away from the memory market for many years. He tried it in the 80s and, again, years later with his Optane technology -that died miserably without making the slightest gap in the market. On the other hand, SoftBank represents a Japan that had the lead in this sector in the 1980s, but was overshadowed by emerging South Korean companies. In fact, Intel’s memories were eaten by the Japanese… and the Japanese by the South Koreans. SAIMEMORY has behind it not only those sharks, but other Japanese companies such as Fujitsu, Shinko Electric Industries, PowerChip Semiconductor Manufacturing or the University of Tokyo. And if ZAM memory works on a commercial level, it will not only be good news to alleviate the memory production chains (perhaps this will also alleviate the domestic market totally destroyed for the data center needs), but will mark the birth of a new and ambitious player who seeks to break the hegemony of the trident he currently leads. We will see it, of course, in a few years, since SAIMEMORY plans complete prototypes in fiscal year 2027 and begin commercialization in 2029. Image | Samsung, Maxence Pira In Xataka | The CEO of Nothing is clear that we do not need a high-end mobile phone every year. A mix of RAM crisis and common sense

one that leads you to create your own AI chip

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ByteDance is developing its own artificial intelligence chip and is already negotiating with Samsung Electronics to manufacture it. It is at least what they point out two sources close to the project, which would make the Chinese company an even fiercer competitor in the segment that wants to revolutionize our world. TikTok doesn’t matter anymore (that much). TikTok has turned ByteDance into an empire within the social media segment, but the Chinese company has not stopped there. In fact, it has completely immersed itself in the world of generative AI and already has truly exceptional models like Doubao (GPT-5 or Gemini competitor) or Seedream. The only thing it was missing is its own AI chip, but pay attention, because that may have a solution in the short term. what has happened. Sources close to the company’s plans have indicated that ByteDance is working on the design and development of its own new AI chip, which they have named Seedchip, in line with its Seedream generative image and video AI models. Said chip could be manufactured by Samsung Electronics, with which the Chinese company is holding talks. A spokesperson for ByteDance assures that these plans for its own chip are imprecise, but it does not detail why. They go at full speed. The project appears to be moving forward at high speed and ByteDance aims to receive the first samples of that chip by the end of March. The company intends to manufacture at least 100,000 units of the chip, which would also be especially focused on the inference of its AI models and not on training. One of the sources consulted indicates that ByteDance hopes to later increase production to 350,000 units, but the time frame for that objective is not specified. Inference is increasingly important. Focusing on inference chips makes a lot of economic sense. Training models like Doubao requires the brute force of NVIDIA chips and that part is well covered. However, making its AI work for millions of simultaneous users is one area where ByteDance can save billions by having its own chip optimized for its code. Why partner with Samsung. Taking into account that China tries to avoid dependencies on foreign companies, this alliance with Samsung is striking. However, there may be a compelling reason for making that decision: negotiations with Samsung apparently include access to the supply of memory chips that are currently practically out of stock. And above all, to some very special chips: the HBM. A delicate alliance. The clear alternative to this association with Samsung would be to manufacture, for example with SMIC or even opt for Huawei, which is becoming the “Chinese NVIDIA” and it already has truly remarkable AI chips. Choosing Samsung seems to send a compromising message: that Chinese-made technology continues to lag behind that of manufacturers like Samsung. ByteDance already tried it. In June 2024, data already appeared suggesting that ByteDance had allied with Broadcom to develop an advanced AI chip. At that time, the partner chosen to manufacture these chips was TSMC, but it seems that this project has ended up fading. Everyone wants to have their own chip. ByteDance’s ambition follows the general market trend: almost all major technology companies have decided to create their own advanced AI chips. Google has your TPUsMicrosoft their Maiaand Amazon their Trainium to reduce your dependence on NVIDIA. And of course ByteDance’s main Chinese rivals, Alibaba (with his Zhenwu) and Baidu —which has its Kunlunxin division working on it—they have their own designs. But they continue to bet on NVIDIA. This effort aims to transform its short video businesses and cloud infrastructure services, but even if confirmed and successful, it will take time to make it a true reference. ByteDance plans to invest $22 billion in the AI ​​space, with the majority of that budget going toward purchasing NVIDA chips including the H200. Image | Xataka with FreePik

There is an invisible chip in every USB-C cable that decides whether your phone charges fast or slow: almost no one knows it exists

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There is a small and notable chip in our USB-C cables. This is the so-called “e-Marker”, which is especially important. The reason is simple: when we connect a cable to a device, it is responsible for indicating to those devices whether the cable supports more or less transmission or charging speed, for example. USB-C chaos is a little less chaos. USB-C connectors completely dominate the market, especially after European regulations that require them to be used to charge mobile phones and other devices. Although they have become the Swiss army knife for connecting all types of devices and peripherals, it is not easy to know what we can do with a cable when we connect it to our mobile phone or laptop, for example. And that’s where the e-Marker chip (Electronically Marked ID chip) comes in, a fundamental yet invisible component of the connectivity of our devices. In Xataka We criticize the EU a lot with its obsession with regulating Big Tech. There are at least two examples that justify this obsession A chip to identify everything. The official specification of the USB-C standard clearly indicates the mission of this chip, which is responsible for showing what capabilities the cable in question has. The document that talks about this chip is the one dedicated to USB Power Delivery, the power delivery function through these cables. Specifically, the identification data includes: Manufacturer and model of the cable. Signaling protocol: that indicates the maximum transmission speedthat is, if it is a cable with USB 2.0 support, or USB 3.2 of one generation or another (Gen 1, Gen 2, etc.). Active construction (in long cables there may be chips that regenerate data signal to act as a kind of repeater) or passive construction (they do not alter the data signal). How much power does the VCONN pin (intended to power accessories) consume? Whether the cable can support 3A (standard) or 5A (required for powers from 100 W to 240 W). Latency (signal delay over the cable). RX/TX directionality (how the high-speed cable pairs are configured). SOP Controller Mode: Whether the cable controller can communicate independently with the charger or device Hardware/firmware version. One of the sections of the USB Power Delivery specification that talks about this chip. Source: USB.org An active safety mechanism. The e-Marker is not only official, but is a mandatory part of the USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) specification dictated by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). This chip acts as an active safety mechanism, and during the power negotiation phase, the chip tells the charger “I am a cable certified to support up to 100W” (for example). If the charger does not receive that digital confirmation, it will assume that the cable is basic and cheap, restricting the flow of power or data transmission. Does your phone charge slowly or is the transfer using pedals? In fact, if a USB-C cable does not have an e-Marker chip, most device drivers will automatically treat it as a USB 2.0 cable. That means that even if the cable is physically capable of more, the speed will be limited to 480 Mbps maximum, and charging will also be slower. With 3A you can reach 60 W at 20 V, so even so this section is not so affected and it also depends on the charging capacity of the charger. {“videoId”:”x8dmqaj”,”autoplay”:false,”title”:”One USB-C TO RULE THEM ALL- the European Union approves a single charger for mobile phones”, “tag”:”webedia-prod”, “duration”:”54″} The rails. High-speed cables (USB 3.2, USB4, Thunderbolt) have multiple pairs of copper wires designed to transmit data in parallel. The e-Marker tells the device “I have all the threads necessary to activate dual lane mode.” If this confirmation does not arrive, the transfer speed is again limited. The e-Marker on long cables. Another function of the e-Marker, as we said, is to identify the length of the cable. At high transmission speeds the signal degrades very quickly, and the e-Marker is responsible for notifying you, allowing the device (mobile phone, computer) to adjust the signal strength to compensate for potential data loss. Support for alternative video modes. Another option that this chip enables is to indicate what video connection standards the USB-C cable in question supports, and if, for example, it has the necessary bandwidth for 4K or 8K resolutions. There are “readers” of the information provided by the e-Marker chip, although they are not cheap: this one from ChargerLAB costs about 140 euros. Two key pins. The “brains” of a USB-C connector are located on two specific pins known as the configuration channel (CC). These pins (CC1 and CC2) allow, for example, the orientation or reversibility to be detected. Since the connector is reversible, the device needs to know which side you inserted the cable to activate the appropriate data pins (TX/RX). When connecting it, the side will be identified, and based on that the rest of the pins are switched for transmission. The other pin of the configuration channel becomes Vconn to power the e-Marker chip. In Xataka | Mobile phone manufacturers first stopped including the charger with every purchase. Your next threat is clear: the USB cable (function() { window._JS_MODULES = window._JS_MODULES || {}; var headElement = document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)(0); if (_JS_MODULES.instagram) { var instagramScript = document.createElement(‘script’); instagramScript.src=”https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”; instagramScript.async = true; instagramScript.defer = true; headElement.appendChild(instagramScript); – The news There is an invisible chip in every USB-C cable that decides whether your phone charges fast or slow: almost no one knows it exists was originally published in Xataka by Javier Pastor .

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