HP and Qualcomm are currently in the doldrums, just like the rest of the tech sector, for different reasons.
HP has adapted to the changing tech landscape. The COVID-driven PC sales boom is over. Now, with the industry moving toward new solutions and usage models, HP’s growth has been hampered.
Investors are skeptical about the company’s venture into 3D printing services and enterprise services, which is interesting but has not yet yielded significant returns. Qualcomm, the leader in mobile chipsets, is facing its challenges.
The smartphone market is flat, and ARM-based silicon solutions for laptops haven’t yet attracted many users. However, the smartphone market has matured and is now facing increased competition.
To regain their footing, both companies will have to navigate rapidly changing technological trends such as 5G and the Internet of Things. They will also need to focus on innovation, diversification, and cost-effective management to resurgence.
HP and Qualcomm are not letting up on innovation despite these challenges. As tempting as it might be to save on opex, the announcements of the past few weeks show that each company believes that innovation is the most effective way to combat the market’s lethargy and sluggishness.
HP’s mantra is ‘Live better, work happier, and dream bigger.’
HP’s most recent announcement was not the launch of a portable, all-in-one computer. The company’s 2024 plan was revealed at the HP Imagine 2023 Conference, which showcased several exciting new products and projects, some of which were already available in presale.
Enrique Lores, HP’s President and CEO, and other HP officials opened the event. The company unveiled new video creation peripherals and customer care solutions, as well as plans for AI integration in enterprise and consumer laptops and desktops.
The Spectre Fold has a ‘Wow Factor.’
Alex Cho, the president of Personal Systems and Solutions at HP, gave Imagine 2023 attendees a tour of HP’s latest accessories and equipment and provided information about upcoming releases.
Cho introduced the HP Spectre Fold. It has a 17″ screen that can be used for a laptop, tablet, or desktop, and the Spectre Fold is a laptop that has a “foldable” display. While other companies, notably Lenovo, have jumped in, the Spectre Fold offers a few surprises.
It initially appears to be a 2-in-1 laptop with its small size and low-profile keyboard. However, the keyboard can be removed, revealing the other half of the display, which transforms the device into a 17″ all-in-one desktop. The Spectre Foldable PC is now available for pre-order at a price starting at $4,999.
Envy Move Portable All-in-One PC
Cho also revealed the HP Envy Move – a mobile, all-in-one computer that is deceptively small. The HP Envy Move has a 23.8″ display, an integrated handle, and a battery life of 4 hours. It also comes with a full-size keyboard, which has a touchpad integrated.
The new HP Envy Move will feature a 13th-generation Intel Core i5 CPU, up to 16GB RAM, and up to 1TB storage.
Pre-orders for the Envy Move are now available at a price starting at $899.
HP Targets Professionals in Video Content
Cho then went on to describe the latest products from HP’s gaming peripherals division, HyperX.
The company intends to enter video content creation with the Vision S webcam interface and Audio Mixer, despite its best-known headsets, mice, and keyboards.
The 8MP Sony Starvix IMX415 in the Vision S can achieve 4K resolution with 30 frames per second or 60 frames per second at 1080p HD. The camera also features a magnetic privacy shield and an aluminum body to ensure durability and spy-proofing. HyperX Audio mixer interface was designed after consulting established video streamers and podcasters.
These solutions are appealing not only to prosumer users but also to beginners who wish to improve the quality of their video content.
It can be connected to XLR, USB, and 3.5mm audio inputs.
Dividends on Poly Acquisition
Cho ended his presentation with a discussion of HP’s collaboration with Poly in developing webcams and headsets for business conferencing.
Dave Shull, HP’s president of Workforce Solutions, spoke next. He discussed hybrid work solutions, such as HP’s first-ever refurbished device resale and AI-assisted work tools, which can do anything from compiling complex strings of code for data scientists to creating bulleted notes from any meetings you may have missed.
HP’s new AI Studio software platform will be available next year to help data scientists and AI professionals accelerate and scale up the development of AI models.
HP has also announced a new AI Workstation Solution that simplifies the creation and modification of personal AI programs and models. HP claims that thanks to a partnership between Nvidia and HP, it will be first to market in the next few months with dedicated enterprise workstations utilizing Nvidia AI’s Enterprise software platform.
Tuan Tran announced HP’s latest range of corporate printers, including the HP SitePrint, as he closed the Imagine 2023 Conference. SitePrint is a productivity-enhancing robotic construction printer intended to paint construction layout blueprints swiftly and precisely on-site, minimizing the possibility of mistakes or delays.
SitePrint was developed in collaboration with Leica Geosystems Topcon and Trimble to ensure compatibility with existing survey tools and navigational systems. Tran clarified that SitePrint will first be available in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland starting on November 1. The United States has not been given a release date or an introductory price.
Qualcomm Gears up AR/VR/MR Silicon Solutions
The industry has been focusing on Apple’s Vision Pro solution since June this year. However, Qualcomm sees a huge opportunity for customers who are not part of the Apple ecosystem. It wants to benefit from the new price umbrella created by Vision Pro.
Qualcomm recently unveiled its newest AR/VR/MR component solutions. In light of Apple’s Vision Pro announcement, the company hopes to offer manufacturers a powerful and expansive platform for developing similar solutions.
The new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, as well as the AR Gen 1, will make it possible to create new mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR), and other products. Qualcomm’s latest generation is focused on enabling OEMs to design devices that are more affordable, light, and small without the need for a large battery.
The $3,500 Vision Pro price tag will deter a large segment of the market.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon XR Gen 2 is, in my opinion, the most interesting of the two. It enables virtual and mixed reality devices with 2.5 times the GPU performance of its predecessor. It can support up to 10 sensors and cameras and has an 8x increase in AI performance.
These attributes are what make it the most compelling competitor for Apple Vision Pro.
The Qualcomm AR1 Gen 1 platform was designed for thin mixed-reality smart glasses. It also allows visual search, real-time translation, direct recording, and broadcasting.
Meta has been involved in developing both systems, which will soon be available as part of the newly announced Meta products.
Meta Quest 3 will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Generation 2 Platform. Ray-Ban Meta Smart Eyewear will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Platform.
Additional OEMs will be expected to use the platform by 2024 to create their devices.
