TechTober ’21: Windows 11, Intel 12th Gen, Supply Chain Woes, SHIBA-INU and More
In 2021, the economy slowly opens up and production in consumer electronics and high tech have ramped up again. Things have not been the same due to the effects of the pandemic (Covid-19), so we are not going to reach the same levels before 2020. Consumer demand has not been strong, so vendors are trying to rebrand their products or adapt to more health related features.
Big tech usually take the forefront with their events, but things are still not quite ready for in-person attendance. Most of the big tech events have turned to virtual so as not to bypass their relevance. It is actually easier to just go online to watch a presentation, but being there physically is more engaging and even entertaining. Those events were also great opportunities for networking with peers.
Here is a review of some of the latest tech in 2021 that has caught the attention of 0xMachina.
Windows 11 Upgrades
Long time Windows users by this time would probably expect installing or upgrading would be a breeze by now. It is not, and there are still issues when doing so. This time it is Windows 11, a major upgrade revision of the popular operating system.
Microsoft is reinventing the interface again, meaning users will be given a new looking screen and icons (e.g. glass taskbar). It also supports the latest features and hardware, along with improved UI/UX to support users with disabilities. It is supposed to be a free upgrade for Windows 10 computers. According to Microsoft:
“The free upgrade to Windows 11 starts on October 5 and will be phased and measured with a focus on quality. Following the tremendous learnings from Windows 10, we want to make sure we’re providing you with the best possible experience. That means new eligible devices will be offered the upgrade first.”
That sounds a little confusing at first. Then after further research it appears that not all users running Windows 10 computers will be able to perform an upgrade yet. It will be deployed in stages, starting with the latest computer models first. By mid-2022, other users can then upgrade to Windows 11 (once offered by Microsoft).
After reading the fine line on their website, it does not seem like this will be an easy upgrade for the IT department and more difficult for home users. It’s not going to be a layup you would expect. For an experienced techie it will be like taking a perimeter jump shot. For beginners, it is like attempting a three pointer … from half court!
UEFI, secure boot capability and TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0 are all required to perform a successful upgrade from Windows 10 to 11. These features are available on more recent and newer computer models. This is not true for older systems that date from 2010 and below (Check computer specifications of the model to be certain or use the compatibility checker from Microsoft’s website).
Issues that have been reported include AMD processor performance degradation (Ryzen processor related), ‘This PC can’t run Windows 11' error and some more bugs in this link. If you are in the market to also upgrade your computer, you might as well get a computer pre-loaded with Windows 11 if you don’t want to worry about upgrading.
Intel 12th Gen
Chipmaker Intel has announced their 12th Gen core processor based on the Alder Lake architecture (10 nm fabrication process). Six new models will be released using the 12x00 convention (e.g. Core i9–12900K, Core i7–12700K, and the Core i5–12600K). It uses a hybrid core design using a combination of Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficient-cores (E-cores). That is similar to the architecture of the A series processor from Apple, which uses a combination of high-performance and energy efficient cores.
The new Intel CPU design contains features similar to ARM-based processors used in smartphones and tablet devices. This brings a new type of performance and efficiency to desktop computing. It is being described as a big performance leap for Intel processors within the last decade. This is probably a boost that is much needed by Intel to maintain market share from rival AMD. That is something users will have to find out.
iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 is just another iPhone, move along … but wait. What I think will be one of the best features is the 120 Hz ProMotion display. This is probably more suited for gamers and creatives. An HFR display is not any more amazing for Word docs, but for games and multimedia it is mind blowing. Especially on an OLED Super Retina XDR display with an LTPO backplane panel.
This means the display can dynamically adjust from 60 to 120 Hz. The LTPO makes it less draining on the battery. At 120 Hz more detail reaches your eyes with smoother motion in video and transitions in animation. The screen’s pixels are refreshed 120x per second.
If you have eye problems, faster refresh rates can help since it reduces eye strain by eliminating flicker and pixel latency. The iPhone 13 will likely be great for gaming and streaming. Nothing better than playing Mobile Legends or watching Vikings reruns with more depth and detail.
While most praise the “new” cameras, faster chip, high refresh rate display and amazing Tim Cook presentation I am a bit disappointed about 2 things. Why does a modern flagship still use lightning instead of USB-C charging? Apple is an innovator, but unlike Samsung and the others they are slow to change. It is obvious. Lightning is proprietary and still earns a large cut of revenue for Apple. It also cuts production costs for the iPhone, so why move to something new?
Moving to USB-C would require updating the phone design and circuit layout, which is more expensive and can also lead to delays since it is a new process. Maybe the future iPhones were not meant to be wired. Wireless charging, Wi-Fi, BT, NFC and 5G is the future … not USB-C. The notch is getting smaller, but still eye soaringly noticeable. Not my style for gaming or watching videos. Bring back in -display fingerprint TouchID sensor, but Apple is heavily invested in FaceID tech. Thus the notch is not easy to redesign or remove. Waiting for iPhone 14 …
Supply Chain Shortages
Early in 2021, there were reports of chip shortages in the auto industry. It has not improved and now this is affecting the production of new cars for the market. The chip shortages are just one part of the problem in the supply chain. Major automakers like Volkswagen and Stellantis have been affected by this.
A myriad of factors are affecting the global scale of production. The tech industry is affected because of the reliance on computers and electronic devices. Without a steady supply, there will be less production and as a result the prices of items will have to go up to control the demand. There are also shortages in the workforce that is slowing down production. This is the consequence of the pandemic restrictions and sudden increase in economic activity as businesses begin to open up again.
This worst case is that this can spur higher inflation. Higher freight charges compound the problem. The latest consumer electronic products will become more expensive coming this holiday season. The good news is that retailers may want to sell off their inventory of older items, so some tech products may be sold at bargain prices come the start of holiday shopping season.
TechTober Takeaways
There are plenty of other things going in tech. What is emerging are more surveillance, increased automation, commercialization of space travel (e.g. Jeff Bezos rocket flight), new food substitutes (e.g. plant based meat) and more green energy awareness (in light of the climate crisis). Now supply chains are backed up, as the economy is trying to get back to pre-2020 conditions.
The chip shortages include both CPU and GPU, and some analysts report that this can last until 2023. This would further delay the availability of many consumer electronic products like the PS5 and gaming equipment. If there are any available, it will be more expensive than usual. Many consumers will probably have to either buy older models in stock from inventory or wait until things are available for sale. There is still so much uncertainty there is just no definite answer to when things will be available.
In the meantime, meme coin SHIB is reaching all time highs leading an altcoin rally in cryptocurrency and Amazon has built their first built-in Alexa integrated TV. Other than that things are still not fully back to normal in October, but slowly moving in that direction. Things would probably be more exciting in another multiverse, but the good thing is that the tech lifestyle is far from boring.
