Tech News Roundup: A Closer Look at Recent Developments
This week’s tech news is a mixed bag of innovative concepts and practical realities. We’ll delve into updates on quantum computing, explore a new foldable phone, and touch on the emerging world of AI-generated music, along with discussing a controversial new Google Android feature.
Quantum Computing: Microsoft’s Setback
Recent announcements suggested significant progress in the field of quantum computing, but the truth might be less impressive than the marketing. Microsoft’s claims about topological q-bits and a potential quantum computer in the coming years appear to be based on speculative theories and tests that have already been challenged by the physics community.
While a deeper analysis of the published data is required, it is more likely Microsoft’s quantum computer is decades, not years, away, if it ever materializes.
Foldable Phones: Huawei’s Triple-Screen Mate XT
What happens when two screens aren’t enough? You get something with three, as exemplified by the Huawei Mate XT. The phone’s design allows it to fold out into a device with one, two, or three screens.
The initial international version, available in Malaysia, comes with a high price of $3,360 (114,000 baht) compared to $1,760 for a high-end phone such as the Samsung S25 Ultra with 1TB. The device folds up to just under 1.3cm thick and weighs 298g, making it relatively easy to hold in one hand when unfolded.
The Mate XT will run Android with an EMUI skin, instead of Huawei’s current Harmony OS. Reviews indicate that the device needs work in terms of handling multiple screens, icon and keyboard sizing, and some apps do not work well with the extra screen space. It has a 3K display with a 2232 x 3184 pixel resolution and 381-ppi density. The high-end model has 1TB of storage with 16GB of RAM. It also comes with three rear cameras with a 5.5 optical zoom and an 8MP selfie camera. The phone lacks a card slot, a 3.5mm audio jack and has a side-mounted fingerprint reader. It sports a 5,600mAh battery and is available in red and black leather finish.
Intel Delays Ohio Foundry Construction
Intel has delayed the construction of its Ohio foundry. The original completion date of the $28 billion factory was slated for five years. However, Intel announced that the factory will now be built by 2030, with the second one coming online a year later. The delay is from lost tax incentives under the US CHIPS and Science Act that were dropped last year. This caused a delay for its implementation as Intel has racked up billions of dollars in losses with its foundry division, with many chips now outsourced to TSMC.
AI-Generated Music Videos: A Rising Trend
AI-generated music videos are becoming increasingly impressive. With the right tools and planning, users can produce a video for free, save for the time investment. There are numerous AIs which can generate melodies, and if you can sing, you can then convert your voice to that of your favorite artist. With some skill, even the creation process may be automated by next year.
Google’s New Android Feature: SafetyCore
Google is implementing a new feature that many are calling spyware. Devices running Android 9 or later may soon have SafetyCore installed, which will scan your photos and warn you before opening content it considers questionable. Google claims that, “the classification of content runs exclusively on your device and the results aren’t shared with Google.” However, past assurances of this kind have not always held true, and that may raise some concerns.
James Hein is an IT professional with over 30 years’ experience. He can be reached at jclhein@gmail.com.
