tjwolf
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HomeKit compatible Incipio CommandKit Smart Wall Switch and Wireless Smart Power Strip deb...
What security holes have been found in HomeKit? Just curious, because you said 'all' these smart devices and because I just started automating with HomeKit-based automation (just got a few light switches so far).lkrupp said:All these ‘smart’ devices to enhance experience but security hole after security hole being found by researchers. I think it took about a week after Amazon announced its inside the home delivery service util someone hacked it. I’ve been experimenting with HomeKit devices, a light, a fan, an outdoor switch, just to see how things work. I personally don’t see the overwhelming need for this technology but that’s just me.
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HomeKit compatible Incipio CommandKit Smart Wall Switch and Wireless Smart Power Strip deb...
Let me summarize your summary: absurd.fallenjt said:Let me summarize all HomeKit compatible devices so far: power plugs, switches, strips, light bulbs and door locks. To be honest, all of these craps are pretty much gimmicks. The only one gadget I think it is useful is the smart thermostat... like Ecobee. The rest of Homekit devices are garbage.
(Besides, your "summary" left out door bells, home security cameras, garage door openers, smoke detectors.There are lots of good automation use cases for light switches being HomeKit enabled (but I think smart light bulbs - an item that has a relatively limited life span - are a dumb idea). E.g. turning on one or more lights when you get home and turning all lights (and most electronic gadgets?) off when the last person leaves. Or simply telling Siri to turn on on lights (or any gadget) when your hands are full. I have no idea how you can label those uses/gadgets "garbage" or "gimmick".Actually, the only gadget I think is not that useful for home automation is...a smart thermostat. I keep the temperature in the house pretty constant throughout the day - just lower it at night. Current thermostats with schedules are perfectly fine for that. Sure, there are "learning" remotes like the "Nest" that optimize your energy consumption but I think the savings versus a simple schedule-based thermostats are negligible. And at least I don't have to worry about my data getting onto some Google servers (as is the case with Nest in particular.) So what makes you think a smart thermostat is less of a "gimmick" than something that turns on the lights for you? Enlighten us.
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TSMC said to have locked up all 'A12' chip orders for Apple's 2018 iPhones
It seems to me that this (getting their modem into Apple's SOC) would be a pretty desirable goal: while it's obviously not as profitable as selling an x86 chip, volume could potentially offset per-unit profits. More importantly, though, is that it would pretty much guarantee that Intel would become the sole modem supplier for Apple. Currently the modem is a discrete part and Apple uses availability of multiple vendors (mainly Qualcomm and Intel) to negotiate lower prices. For Apple, in the past, that bargaining power was more important than any technological benefits of placing the modem on their SOC. With relations with Qualcomm souring badly, Apple might be amenable to a change in this regard (the only complicating factor is that Intel's modems still don't do CDMA, but with everyone moving to LTE and beyond, that might not be a consideration in a year or two?)blastdoor said:
Yes, that would be possible. But as you say, not likely.tjwolf said:
Would it not be possible (maybe not likely, but possible) for Intel to let Apple put their modem design onto the Ax SOC? Sort of like what they did with Imagination's PowerVR processors - weren't they on the SOC also (before Apple decided to roll its own recently)?blastdoor said:Samsung? Pfft. They're done.
The more interesting competitor to TSMC now is Intel, because Intel offers the potential to integrate the cellular modem into the SOC.
But I wonder if Intel might have waited too long to get serious about going after Apple's business. These fab processes are difficult to assess by marketing name alone -- TSMC's 10nm is as good as Intel's 10nm, for example. But my impression is that the transistor density of TSMC's 10nm is better than Intel's 14 nm, and that TSMC's 7 nm MIGHT beat Intel's 10nm. If so, then Intel might have finally lost its fab process lead. And that would be a very big deal if true.
But Samsung? Ha. They're done.
Intel made a massive error in rejecting Apple for the iPhone. That decision has pushed literally tens of billions of dollars into the coffers of TSMC (and Samsung), allowing TSMC to catch up to Intel in process tech. Right now, today, TSMC is manufacturing more advanced chips than Intel (I mean the manufacturing process). That's because TSMC 10nm is better than Intel 14nm. When Intel comes out with their 10 nm, they will surpass TSMC again, but that may be very short lived if TSMC 7nm beats Intel 10nm (it seems possible that it will, but we won't know until we see shipping products).
For decades, Intel's profit margins have depended on two things (1) x86 near-monopoly and (2) manufacturing process leadership. Now both are in serious jeopardy.
If Intel is smart, they will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to fab fully integrated SOCs for Apple.
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TSMC said to have locked up all 'A12' chip orders for Apple's 2018 iPhones
I was going to comment/ask what is, from a foundry perspective, the difference between producing wafers that have ARM SOCs and Intel SOCs? A transistor is a transistor is a transistor, no matter the instruction set (ARM vs. x86) or type of cache or...isn't it?ksec said:
Oh dear No. Intel has been making ARM Chips, ( They are using ARM inside controllers ) and they do have the license to Fab ARM chips. Basically the highlighted word are false. Search Intel Custom Foundry.cloudmobile said:
Intel would have to 1) start making ARM SOCs instead of x86 ones and 2) make SOCs that are competitive with the ones made by Samsung and TSMC. Right now, Intel doesn't even have the foundries to make ARM chips, nor the expertise to make them or operate them. Getting that would take years and billions of dollars. That is why Intel spent years and billions trying to get mobile device makers to use their mobile x86 designs instead, and when that failed they decided to exit the mobile business to focus on IoT. Now that Windows runs on ARM nearly as well as it runs on x86, Intel is probably freaking out. And the multiple security issues that have been identified with their chips will only give manufacturers more incentive to switch from x86 to ARM for Windows PCs that don't require professional/workstation type performance. Yes, Samsung is done, but they never really needed Apple's SOC business anyway. They've had 4 straight record quarters without it. Time to let the Samsung thing go. Apple's lawsuit against them was going on 9 years ago, and Samsung has made 20 times as much money supplying Apple with components than Apple would have ever gotten out of that lawsuit anyway. And there is also the not insubstantial fact that Apple has taken far more design ideas for the iPhone X (and 8/7/6S/6) from the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note lines than Samsung ever did from the 1st and 2nd generation iPhone for their iPhone knockoffs that didn't sell anyway.blastdoor said:Samsung? Pfft. They're done.
The more interesting competitor to TSMC now is Intel, because Intel offers the potential to integrate the cellular modem into the SOC.
But I wonder if Intel might have waited too long to get serious about going after Apple's business. These fab processes are difficult to assess by marketing name alone -- TSMC's 10nm is as good as Intel's 10nm, for example. But my impression is that the transistor density of TSMC's 10nm is better than Intel's 14 nm, and that TSMC's 7 nm MIGHT beat Intel's 10nm. If so, then Intel might have finally lost its fab process lead. And that would be a very big deal if true.
But Samsung? Ha. They're done. -
TSMC said to have locked up all 'A12' chip orders for Apple's 2018 iPhones
Would it not be possible (maybe not likely, but possible) for Intel to let Apple put their modem design onto the Ax SOC? Sort of like what they did with Imagination's PowerVR processors - weren't they on the SOC also (before Apple decided to roll its own recently)?blastdoor said:Samsung? Pfft. They're done.
The more interesting competitor to TSMC now is Intel, because Intel offers the potential to integrate the cellular modem into the SOC.
But I wonder if Intel might have waited too long to get serious about going after Apple's business. These fab processes are difficult to assess by marketing name alone -- TSMC's 10nm is as good as Intel's 10nm, for example. But my impression is that the transistor density of TSMC's 10nm is better than Intel's 14 nm, and that TSMC's 7 nm MIGHT beat Intel's 10nm. If so, then Intel might have finally lost its fab process lead. And that would be a very big deal if true.
But Samsung? Ha. They're done.
