Qualcomm says Android always first to new technology, takes aim at iPhone X features
In a post to its website on Monday, cellular industry pioneer Qualcomm claims it helped Android roll out a number of industry firsts, like edge-to-edge OLED displays, augmented reality and facial recognition, many of which are expected to debut as tentpole features of Apple's upcoming iPhone X.
While Qualcomm stops short of referencing Apple by name in its complacent screed, the firm's list of "world firsts" reads like an iPhone X rumor roundup.
For example, among the first items mentioned by Qualcomm is facial recognition, expected by many to be a standout iPhone X feature. Samsung got there first with its Galaxy S8. Qualcomm fails to note the Galaxy S8's face unlock function was defeated at its launch event using nothing more than a digital photo displayed on another S8 screen.
Qualcomm goes on to say it was first to achieve depth sensing via structured light, widely rumored to be an integral component in Apple's so-called "Face ID" system. With iPhone X, Apple is expected to integrate a depth-sensing camera powered by a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), technology that affords highly accurate facial recognition for user authentication.
Augmented reality, another feature primed for launch this fall with ARKit in iOS 11, was first seen in Lenovo's Phab Pro 2, Qualcomm says.
Qualcomm takes direct aim at Apple's reported failure to integrate under-screen Touch ID into iPhone X, noting it was able to integrate the solution into a "reference design handset." The firm also cites this unreleased "reference" platform as the testbed for its structured light system.
The inclusion of research and development hardware is perhaps a tad disingenuous considering Apple, and perhaps others, have likely implemented their own designs in test hardware, but are reticent to share those successes on a public stage.
"We're working on inventing the next set of world firsts and collaborating with partners across the industry to get them into your hands, on a band around your wrist, or with lenses for over your eyes. Here's to the next generation of mobile device start-ups and innovators, competing to bring you the next wave of class-leading Android devices," Qualcomm says. "As before, they'll continue to pave the way for others to come."
The post comes amid a heated court battle between Apple and Qualcomm over the latter's alleged anticompetitive behavior and questionable patent licensing practices. Apple has so far filed a total of 11 international lawsuits against the chipmaker, as well as U.S. litigation, with the first volley fired in January over royalty payments.
Qualcomm has since countersued, claiming Apple's legal barrage is a gambit to secure lower licensing fees.
While Qualcomm stops short of referencing Apple by name in its complacent screed, the firm's list of "world firsts" reads like an iPhone X rumor roundup.
For example, among the first items mentioned by Qualcomm is facial recognition, expected by many to be a standout iPhone X feature. Samsung got there first with its Galaxy S8. Qualcomm fails to note the Galaxy S8's face unlock function was defeated at its launch event using nothing more than a digital photo displayed on another S8 screen.
Qualcomm goes on to say it was first to achieve depth sensing via structured light, widely rumored to be an integral component in Apple's so-called "Face ID" system. With iPhone X, Apple is expected to integrate a depth-sensing camera powered by a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), technology that affords highly accurate facial recognition for user authentication.
Augmented reality, another feature primed for launch this fall with ARKit in iOS 11, was first seen in Lenovo's Phab Pro 2, Qualcomm says.
Qualcomm takes direct aim at Apple's reported failure to integrate under-screen Touch ID into iPhone X, noting it was able to integrate the solution into a "reference design handset." The firm also cites this unreleased "reference" platform as the testbed for its structured light system.
The inclusion of research and development hardware is perhaps a tad disingenuous considering Apple, and perhaps others, have likely implemented their own designs in test hardware, but are reticent to share those successes on a public stage.
"We're working on inventing the next set of world firsts and collaborating with partners across the industry to get them into your hands, on a band around your wrist, or with lenses for over your eyes. Here's to the next generation of mobile device start-ups and innovators, competing to bring you the next wave of class-leading Android devices," Qualcomm says. "As before, they'll continue to pave the way for others to come."
The post comes amid a heated court battle between Apple and Qualcomm over the latter's alleged anticompetitive behavior and questionable patent licensing practices. Apple has so far filed a total of 11 international lawsuits against the chipmaker, as well as U.S. litigation, with the first volley fired in January over royalty payments.
Qualcomm has since countersued, claiming Apple's legal barrage is a gambit to secure lower licensing fees.
Comments
Its not about being first, its about being the best and being right. And in many cases Apple is first; however, even when they are, they still don't drop it on us until its ready to be the best.
...and conquer.
See previous examples:
- MP3 players
- Smartphones
- Tablets
- Smart watches
- Wireless headphones
And a a list of firsts... by other companies... does what for Qualcomm exactly? Do they really think this will sell their chips?
as others have said, you'd need to buy many devices to have all of that functionality - and even then, those devices use questionable implementation.
apple has been talking up and working on serious AR for years - even eschewing VR when everyone was telling them to do VR. Apple has also been working on real world 3D sensing tech for a long time as well ever since they bought that Israeli firm that created the Kinect tech.
We we are now going to see the fruit of their Labors.
Touch ID was awesome because they thought it through - from the sapphire cover to the chips to the secure enclave. Samsung copied quickly and it sucked.
Apple Pay is another great maneuver that was implemented right.
Visual voicemail as invented by apple. And now it's the standard.
Favetime revolutionized video calls.
Some things apple is first on and nonone no one catches up.
Mother things they add in, but make sure to do it the best it can be done.
Its why apple doesnt have to attack anyone. They just worry about making the best products in the world. Everyone else can waste time, profits, and energy trying to manipulate people away from Apple and toward them.
Qualcomm.. who'd have known they were so petty.
Any company pretending that implementing a solution in an unreleased REFERENCE design is compareable to s shopping product is accompany you should not trust with your valuable purchasing power. That's as shady as it gets.
Kind of funny how how they had to publish a note mentioning that they've modified their table after publishing. A bit rushed to get it in early enough before iPhone event eh? Lol
still can't believe they want to take credit for things like hdr or a 4k display. Wow.
Oh, yeah, Apple.
FFIW, I started out my career in the mid 70's in a professional laboratory hand processing E3 and C22 film in a manual sink line, I mention this because colour fidelity was the key to getting along in this industry. Some of the most finicky photographers would bring their 120 rolls to get them processed rather than take them to large facilities. The reversal on E3 was done by hand meaning that one had to physically wave a bright incandescent light over the rolls after they went through the hardener. I had to unroll and hand reverse them for this otherwise there would be an almost imperceptible red colour shift, maybe about 2 or 3 CC. Later on in my career when early digital printing onto film may have taken 4 hours to run off an 11x14 tranny, if there was the tiniest colour shift between the test and the final, all hell would break loose.
It was even worse with hand C type printing where a balance had to be made between skin tones neutrals and overall looks. This is all moot now with the miracles of end to end digital. But what I'm getting at is that I feel I am qualified to pass judgement on the Samsung OLED displays when I inspect them in a shop, which I do from time to time. I had a look at the new Galaxy S8 a few days ago against a iPhone 7 and speaking purely from an objective viewpoint the colour reproduction was abysmal. If I worked to that crappy standard I'd have been out of a job before I even started. The flesh tones are ridiculous, the contrast, the garishness everything is just wrong. I was quite surprised as I did expect something better. With top quality photos maybe it is fine, but when it comes down to images that are not perfect then it cannot find a balance that works. I really don't understand all the praise that is heaped on them. Also the Galaxy S8 with it's curved screen is atrocious, really ugly in comparison to not just iPhone but some other Android devices. But there you go.
This is the key to features: Calling a feature by the same name as does another manufacturer, does not make that feature the equal of the other.
Qualcomm is acting like a petulant child. It hasn't been successful in its initial defensive moves against Apple's assertions, so Qualcomm has stooped to indirectly bad mouthing the Company and its products.
Can't wait until Apple no longer needs Qualcomm. Come on Intel.
Google's Android implementation of AR is hardware based with the necessary software residing in the Cloud. That is why there is only ONE AR ready Android device. None of the cheap/low cost iPhone clone wannabe's is willing to include hardware for a "feature" that is Cloud dependent and there are no 3rd party applications to exploit it.
Google, Samsung, Qualcomm can say whatever they want about who introduced AR first. The reality is that Apple will be the ONLY firm that includes AR it on all of the new iPhones, will work on two year old iPhones and will have a slew (hundreds/thousands?) of AR applications on the App Store within a year.
In my opinion Apple is at least 3 years ahead of Android's AR effort. By the time Android can do what iOS does today it will be game over.