Intel enables enthusiast desktop AI PCs

Source: Intel video screen capture at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3evkF909lc . Introducing the Intel Core Ultra 200S series of processors.

Intel has launched the Core Ultra 200S series processor family, designed to scale AI PC capabilities and usher in the first enthusiast desktop AI PCs.

Led by the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 285K, the latest generation of enthusiast desktop processors includes five unlocked desktop processors equipped with up to eight next-gen Performance-cores (P-cores), the fastest cores available for desktop PCs1. The processors also support up to 16 next-gen Efficient-cores (E-cores). These cores result in up to 14% more in combined performance for multithreaded workloads compared to the previous generation2. 

The new family are the first NPU-enabled desktop processors for enthusiasts3 and come with a built-in Xe GPU with state-of-the-art media support.

“The new Intel Core Ultra 200S series processors deliver on our goals to significantly cut power usage while retaining outstanding gaming performance and delivering leadership compute. The result is a cooler and quieter user experience elevated by new AI gaming and creation capabilities enabled by the NPU, and leadership media performance that leverages our growing graphics portfolio,” said Robert Hallock, VP and GM of AI and Technical Marketing, Client Computing Group at Intel.

The new desktop processors deliver a landmark reduction in power usage. Intel said users can expect up to 58% lower package power in everyday applications4 and up to 165W lower system power5 while gaming. The new processor family further delivers up to 6% faster single-threaded6 and up to 14% faster multithreaded performance2 over the previous generation.

With up to 36 platform TOPS, the new Intel Core Ultra 200S series processor is Intel’s 1st and ​best desktop processor ​for AI PCs​. When it comes to AI, the Intel Core Ultra 200S series processors deliver up to 50% faster performance in AI-enabled creator applications against competing flagship processors7. 

The newly-available NPU enables offloading of AI functions. Examples include freeing up discrete GPUs to increase gaming frame rates, significantly reducing power usage in AI workloads, and enabling accessibility use cases such as face- and gesture-tracking in games while minimising performance impact.

According to Intel, Intel Core Ultra 200S series processors offer excellent performance in AI and content creation, and power an immersive gaming experience, with up to 28% gaming performance uplift compared to competing flagship processors8.

- The Intel Core Ultra 200S series processors’ new Intel 800 Series chipset extends platform compatibility with up to 24 PCIe 4.0 lanes, up to eight SATA 3.0 ports, and up to 10 USB 3.2 ports.

- Intel Core Ultra 200S series processors bring new overclocking functionality with fine-grain controls, with top turbo frequency in 16.6 MHz steps for P-cores and E-cores. 

- A new memory controller supports fast, new XMP and CUDIMM DDR5 memory up to 48 GB per DIMM for up to 192 GB in total, and the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility now includes one-click overclocking enhancements.

- Connectivity: Intel Core Ultra 200S processors come equipped with 20 CPU PCIe 5.0 lanes, 4 CPU PCIe 4.0 lanes, support for 2 integrated Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6E​ and Bluetooth 5.3​. Intel Killer Wi-Fi delivers supercharged wireless performance and enables seamless, immersive online gameplay through application priority auto-detection, bandwidth analysis and management, and smart access point (AP) selection and switching.

- Multi-engine security: Intel Silicon Security Engine helps preserve data confidentiality and code integrity while maintaining high performance for demanding AI workloads.

Details

The Intel Core Ultra 200S series processors will be available at retail online and in stores, and via OEM partner systems starting October 24, 2024.

1 Among x86 desktop processors targeting ~125W TDP, based on single thread/core performance benchmarks as compared against prior generation and competition processors, as of October 2024. See intel.com/PerformanceIndex for details. Results may vary.

2 As measured by SPECrate 2017_int_base (n-copies) performance estimates on an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K vs. Intel Core i9 processor 14900K. SPEC, SPECrate and SPEC CPU are registered trademarks of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation. See http://www.spec.org/spec/trademarks.html for more information

3 Among desktop processors targeting ~125W TDP, as of October 2024. AI features may require additional purchase or specific compatibility requirements. See intel.com/performanceindex for details.

4 As measured by processor power during a 1x1 Zoom call with background blur on NPU on an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K vs. Intel Core i9 processor 14900K. Individual system results may vary as power and performance are affected by use, configuration and other factors.

5 As measured by average system power while playing Warhammer: Space Marines 2 on an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K vs Intel Core i9 processor 14900K. Individual system results may vary as power and performance are affected by use, configuration and other factors.

6 As measured by SPECrate 2017_int_base (1-copy) performance estimates on an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K vs. Intel Core i9 processor 14900K.

7 As measured by the Adobe After Effects AI Scene Edit Detection feature on an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K vs. AMD Ryzen 9 9950X.

8 As measured by Total War: Warhammer III - Mirrors of Madness Benchmark on an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K vs. AMD Ryzen 9 9950X.

*AI features may require software purchase, subscription or enablement by a software or platform provider, or may have specific configuration or compatibility requirements. Details at intel.com/AIPC. Results may vary.

Altering clock frequency or voltage may void any product warranties and reduce stability, security, performance, and life of the processor and other components. Check with system and component manufacturers for details.

Performance varies by use, configuration and other factors. Learn more at intel.com/PerformanceIndex.

Performance results are based on testing as of dates shown in configurations and may not reflect all publicly available updates. See backup for configuration details. No product or component can be absolutely secure.

Your costs and results may vary.

Intel technologies may require enabled hardware, software or service activation.

Someline Apple Tree app grows apples for charity if you stay away from your phone

Source: Google Play.

Libern Lin, a student entrepreneur from Singapore's Republic Polytechnic, has taken his Someline Apple Tree app to the next level with the help of funding from the Singapore Computer Society (SCS).

The app encourages face to face interaction, with users growing digital apples for rewards if they leave their phones alone. Said Lin, creator of Someline Apple Tree: “After some thought, we felt that we could use this concept for the greater good. Hence, we decided to use the S$30,000 development fund provided by SCS to further enhance the app (by creating) a charity component for IDA’s Code for Charity*. 

"Moving forward, we are also looking to partner with retailers to provide users with additional incentives to put their phones down, as any apples grown will earn the user discounts and freebies in the store.”

Lin hopes to unlock S$10,000 worth of digital apples, sponsored by Singapore Pools, for the SG Enable charity. SG Enable runs a day activity centre aimed at providing care and skills training to adults with disabilities.

Interested?

Download the app from the iTunes store or from the Google Play store  

*IDA's Code for Charity initiative enables participants to learn about coding while contributing to a good cause.

Parallels turns Raspberry Pi computers into Windows PCs

Source: Parallels. A Raspberry Pi computer, attached to a monitor, keyboard and mouse, running Windows and Excel through Parallels 2X RAS.

Parallels, a cross-platform solutions provider, has recognised the popularity of the Raspberry Pi with technology that transforms the low-cost device into a complete workstation running business software. 

For the first time since Raspberry Pi’s launch in 2012, users can use any application 'remotely' with Parallels 2X Remote Application Server (RAS). A RAS basically takes mouse and keyboard information from a workstation or other device, sends it to a more powerful computer for processing, and then updates the screen of the device. The processing generally occurs off the device and on the more powerful computer, or remotely, but is fast enough that the device appears to be doing the processing on the spot.

Parallels 2X RAS already delivers applications to any device, including Chromebook notebook computers, Windows PCs, Mac computers, Linux workstations, Android and iOS devices, the Windows Phone, and HTML5 browsers. 

Said Parallels 2X Marketing Director Giorgio Bonuccelli: “With more than five million units shipped since its 2012 launch, Raspberry Pi is the new kid on the IT block, but the use of this small and revolutionary device has been limited to Linux and web applications so far. Parallels 2X RAS offers the unique opportunity to deliver corporate Windows applications and remote desktops on this low-cost, credit card-sized computer.”

Singapore police raid local computer vendor, find counterfeit Microsoft software

Microsoft has called on consumers and small businesses to be wary of the unintentional purchase and use of counterfeit software. This advisory was issued following a raid of a computer vendor located at Kembangan Plaza yesterday by the Intellectual Property Rights Branch (IPRB) of the Singapore Police Force. 

It is understood that the company operating at the shop had advertised the sale of unauthorised “Microsoft license keys”, claiming they were genuine. Customers could also purchase branded computers and laptops bundled with counterfeit software at highly discounted prices via an online store. These computers were sold with fake Certificates of Authenticity that could mislead customers into believing the software installed were genuine.

During the raid, the authorities also seized 43 units of laptops installed with suspected counterfeit copies of Windows 7 Pro and Office Enterprise 2007 and affixed with fake Certificates of Authenticity. The total commercial value of the seized goods is estimated at S$80,000. The Lenovo, Dell and HP laptops seized are believed to be originally preinstalled with DOS operating systems.

Pirated software often leads to increased security risks and threats from malware and viruses. Honest computer vendors are also put to a disadvantage as they are unable to compete with dealers offering counterfeit software that are often lower in cost. In this case, Microsoft was alerted by a concerned computer vendor when their customer demanded a refund of a genuine copy of software he bought because he claimed the same software was sold by the raided vendor at a cheaper price.

Roland Chan, Senior Director, Compliance Programs – Asia-Pacific, BSA | The Software Alliance (BSA) said, ”Most people do not know what is installed on their systems, and that needs to change. While Singapore has one of the lowest rates of unlicensed software use in the Asia-Pacific region, it is still important for both consumers and businesses to be vigilant in view of the security and malware risk counterfeit software potentially brings. 

"According to our BSA Global Software Survey, the risk of security threats from malware is the chief reason why computer users around the world avoid the use of unlicensed software. Among the risks associated with this, 64% of users cited unauthorised access by hackers as a top concern and 59% cited the loss of data. Consumers and business should actively take steps to prevent the potential risks at hand and to protect themselves from unwanted exposure to potential loss of privacy and data.”

Singapore has one of the most stringent copyright laws in the world. Offenders, if found guilty in the court of law for the manufacture for sale, sale of infringing copies and possession or importation of infringing copies, are liable to a fine not exceeding S$10,000 for each infringing copy, up to a total of S$100,000 per charge, or imprisonment for up to five years. Offenders may also be liable to both a fine and imprisonment if found guilty.

The recent raid was one of several that has been conducted by the authorities in recent months. In September this year, a 20-year-old man pleaded guilty and was fined S$20,000 for selling unauthorised software products or license keys in several local online websites, the maximum fine under the Copyright Act for a first-time offender.

Jonathan Selvasegaram, Corporate Attorney at the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) said, “Software piracy is a major concern for everyone, because of the damage it could cause for unsuspecting users. Such software could expose computers to spyware, malware and viruses that can lead to identity theft, loss of personal data, and unexpected system failures. The risk is very real as this has dangerous repercussions, especially for businesses where operational disruptions caused by malware and viruses could potentially lead to heavy financial losses for them. 

"In fact, a quick anti-malware scan on a new branded laptop purchased earlier from the raided vendor revealed that it contained adware. While good adware can enable you to enjoy apps for free, bad adware can turn your system into a zombie computer that is part of a botnet and is sending out spam, phishing emails, and even attacking other computers. The DCU team hopes to be able to examine the computers seized by the Police in greater detail once the case is over.

Selvasegaram made the remarks in reference to a joint study conducted by International Data Corporation (IDC) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) released in March this year which found that enterprises in Asia Pacific (APAC) are expected to spend nearly US$230 billion to deal with issues caused by malware deliberately loaded onto pirated software. Breaking this down further, the majority of the cost (US$170 billion) will go into dealing with data breaches, while the remainder will be utilised to deal with security issues. 

The study, titled The Link Between Pirated Software and Cybersecurity Breaches, also revealed that 65% of APAC consumers surveyed said their greatest fear from infected software is the loss of data, files or personal information, followed by unauthorised Internet transactions (48%) and potential identity theft (47%).

According to the study, government officials also expressed concern about the potential impact of cybersecurity threats to their nations. The survey outlined that APAC governments are most worried about the unauthorised access to confidential government information (57%), the impact of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure (56%), and the loss of business trade secrets or competitive information (55%). It is estimated that governments worldwide could lose more than US$50 billion to deal with the costs associated with malware on pirated software.

Microsoft reminds buyers and retailers to ensure they obtain their software products only from trusted vendors and local authorised sources. To guard against the unintentional purchase and use of counterfeit software and to find out how to verify the origin of Microsoft products, consumers can visit this Microsoft website.

Apple launches the iMac with Retina 5K display, its highest resolution display ever

Move over, 4K. While the industry is still rolling out displays with at least 4,000 pixels on one side, Apple has gone 5K.

Source: Apple.

The company has unveiled the 27" iMac with Retina 5K display, featuring the world’s highest-resolution display — with 14.7 million pixels. At this resolution, text appears sharper, videos are more lifelike, and there are new levels of detail in photos, the company said.

“Thirty years after the first Mac changed the world, the new iMac with Retina 5K display running OS X Yosemite is the most insanely great Mac we have ever made,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing. “With a breathtaking 14.7-million-pixel display, faster CPU and graphics, Fusion Drive, and Thunderbolt 2, it’s the most beautiful and powerful iMac ever.”

The iMac with Retina 5K display delivers a resolution of 5,120 x 2,880, four times more pixels than the standard 27" iMac and 67% more pixels than a 4K display. This means more details can be seen in high-resolution images. In apps like Final Cut Pro X, a user can view 4K video at full size while still leaving room for assets and editing tools.

The machine comes with a 3.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.9 GHz, and for the first time can be configured with a 4 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 4.4 GHz. Every new iMac with Retina 5K display also comes with AMD Radeon R9 M290X graphics and can be configured with AMD Radeon R9 M295X graphics, delivering up to 3.5 teraflops of computing power, the most powerful graphics ever offered on an iMac. 

iMac with Retina 5K display comes standard with 8GB of memory and a 1TB Fusion Drive for the first time. The new iMac can also be configured with up to 32GB of memory, a 3TB Fusion Drive, or up to 1TB of super-fast, PCIe-based flash storage. In addition, iMac with Retina 5K display includes two Thunderbolt 2 ports that deliver up to 20Gbps each, twice the bandwidth of the previous generation.

Every new Mac comes with the new OS X Yosemite operating system, with new Continuity features that make working across Mac and iOS devices more fluid. OS X Yosemite is also engineered to take full advantage of the iMac’s Retina 5K display.

iMovie, a movie creation tool, GarageBand for making music, and the suite of iWork apps come free with every new Mac. iWork has been redesigned, and now has support for iCloud Drive and other features like a new comments view in Pages. iWork for iCloud beta lets you create your document on an iPad, edit it on your Mac and collaborate with friends on other platforms, such as a PC.

iMac with Retina 5K display with a 3.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.9 GHz, AMD Radeon R9 M290X graphics and a 1TB Fusion Drive for a suggested retail price of US$2,499*. Customers can order iMac with Retina 5K display through the Apple Online Store.

*US pricing. Prices may vary across other countries.

Kickstarter focus: record direct from your phone to the computer

Recap S2 is a little device that attaches to a smartphone and saves a call to a computer or voice recorder, and its inventor hopes the world will fund its manufacture. 

Source: Kickstarter website

According to inventor Igor Ramos, Recap is easy to use as it works on any device with a combo port* and outputs into any with a standard stereo MIC port. 

"(A) Recap recording will be as good as the phone call quality," said Ramos on the Kickstarter page.

View the associated video here. 

*A combo port inputs sound from a mike and outputs audio. It is where the earphones with mike connects to mobile phones.