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Arm CEO Denounces IPO Chatter, Says NVIDIA Acquisition Is Critical Path Forward – Forbes

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There were a number of interesting developments regarding NVIDIA’s potential $40B acquisition of Arm over the past couple of weeks. High-ranking executives from three of Arm’s key chip partners – namely MediaTek, Marvell and Broadcom – all came out in favor of the deal, citing similar reasons for support. To summarize, the execs claimed that investments by NVIDIA, in conjunction with the company’s deep expertise in graphics processors (GPUs) and artificial intelligence (AI), would ultimately benefit Arm and bolster the entire chip industry that relies on Arm’s IP ecosystem. They also went on record affirming their belief that NVIDIA would continue Arm’s open licensing model and not limit partner access to bleeding-edge Arm technology.

It is no surprise that multiple industry heavyweights have spoken out about the potential deal. NVIDIA’s acquisition of Arm could have far reaching implications that resonate throughout the technology industry, due to the pervasiveness of Arm’s IP and the company’s current business model, which licenses core processor architecture innovations to many chip partners. Arm technology is quite literally everywhere, from cellphones to cars, industrial equipment, the IoT, and the data center.

Arm CEO Says NVIDIA Is The Way, Not IPO

However, there are some players in the space that aren’t quite as keen on NVIDIA’s plans. Some recent chatter also suggested that there is an opportunity for Softbank, the current Japanese owner of Arm, to consider an IPO option. In lieu of NVIDIA’s acquisition, an IPO could allow some of Arm’s partners to directly invest in the company, to help solidify its financial positions and maintain the status quo. Simon Segars, the current CEO of Arm Holdings plc, however, took to the company’s blog today to quash the IPO idea and reaffirm his support for the NVIDIA acquisition, stating that it was essentially the only viable path forward.

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Segars made a number of assertions, which seem to make sense in the current climate. With the rapid pace of innovation and advancement in the machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) space, a straightforward cash infusion from an IPO isn’t ideal and doesn’t cater to Arm’s unique needs. Segars asserts that Arm would benefit significantly more by partnering with a leader in the AI field, which is exactly what NVIDIA is, and that NVIDIA’s expertise, in conjunction with the cash infusion that would come by way of the $40 billion acquisition, is the best path forward.

“Now is the time for us to take our scale to the next level to address the technology challenges ahead. We contemplated an IPO but determined that the pressure to deliver short-term revenue growth and profitability would suffocate our ability to invest, expand, move fast and innovate. Combining with NVIDIA will give us the scale, resources and agility needed to maximize the opportunities ahead. This deal is the best opportunity for Arm and our customers and will enable the UK to be a meaningful industry player in the age of AI,” noted Segars in his post this morning.

Arm Chief Underscores Commitment To Investment In The UK

It is also worth noting that Softbank considered an Arm IPO last year, but ultimately decided that engaging with NVIDIA was the better move. Further, with respect to the notion that an NVIDIA acquisition would be detrimental to jobs and economic growth in the UK tech industry, Segars firmly insists that NVIDIA “will not siphon investment away from the UK,” rather it will invest specifically in the expansion of Arm’s Cambridge headquarters to help build a “world-class AI research facility,” at the center of which will be one of the world’s most powerful Arm-powered supercomputers for leading scientists, engineers and researchers to harness for the evolution of AI, which is certainly one of the most critical technology growth areas of our time.

Further, in an interview with the Telegraph, Segars goes on to suggest that an IPO would be the “worst place to go” suggesting Arm would need to cut costs after its long-term investment in staffing. “We’ve got over 6,400 people today, that is significantly higher than what it was when we were acquired [by SoftBank], and our profitability is very, very low,” Segars notes. In fact, this statement suggests maybe, if the acquisition isn’t approved, Arm may actually have to trim head count.

The Arm Chief continues with reassurances that both Arm and NVIDIA are committed to maintaining the company’s open licensing model, noting that it’s an “economic and commercial necessity,” which makes sense as well. Arm’s entire business model is centered around partner adoption and implementation of its core IP. If the combined entity moved to close this off in any significant way, it would be like biting off its nose to spite its face.

There’s a bit more road ahead to travel with the regulatory approval process in any potential NVIDIA-Arm acquisition deal, but there’s one thing for certain and it’s that Arm’s executive leadership is firmly behind the acquisition and truly believes NVIDIA is its best partner moving forward, not only for its massive $40 billion dollar investment, which is the biggest the semiconductor industry has ever seen, but for the strategic synergies that NVIDIA brings to the table for Arm. When it comes to AI and the breakneck pace of innovation that the technology industry in general is currently marching towards, we’re bound to have at least a couple of these tectonic shift-like events like this. You learn to be surprised by almost nothing.

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Vizio Launches New 86-Inch 4K TV – For Just $999 – Forbes

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Perhaps because it’s been a bit busy signing itself over to retail giant Walmart, things have of late been a little quieter than usual on the Vizio product front. Today, though, Vizio has broken its silence with a big – literally – announcement that seems to confirm that its long-running tradition of delivering lots of TV for surprisingly little money isn’t set to change under its new ownership.

This big news is that Vizio will be adding a new 86-inch model to its current range of 4K TVs – and will only be charging $999 for it. That’s a remarkably low launch price for such a colossal TV, and could have home cinema fans falling over themselves to get hold of one if it follows in the footsteps of many of its Vizio predecessors by performing better than its price would lead you to expect.

Set to hit US stores from April 29, the unmemorably named V4K86C-0804 is, unsurprisingly for its price, built on a fairly basic core – namely an IPS panel that doesn’t have any local dimming to bolster its contrast performance. No Quantum Dots are involved in the screen’s colour creation, either.

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It also, though, has a few features up its sleeve that suggest it’s got more going on than your typical entry level 4K TV. For instance, its high dynamic range video support includes both of the premium Dolby Vision and HDR10+ formats, with their extra scene by scene picture information, as well as the basic HDR10 and HLG formats. This means it can take in the best version of any picture source you care to play into it.

Unlike some of the other TVs in Vizio’s 4K range, the new 86-inch addition can support 120fps gaming signals – albeit at only 1080p resolutions. There doesn’t appear to be any support, though, for other HDMI 2.1 gaming features such as variable refresh rates or auto low latency game mode switching. The only HDMI 2.1 feature confirmed is eARC, enabling the TV to pass lossless multi-channel audio out to ARC-capable soundbars and AV receivers.

Other value-added features of the new Vizio 86-inch TV include DTS:X audio decoding and Dual-Band WiFi 6 connectivity, while its operating system is the revamped Vizio Home Screen system the brand introduced in 2023. Powered by SmartCast, Vizio Home Screen offers helpful smart TV features such an app ‘row’ with an easily customisable running order, support for AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, genre-based content browsing, and access to many of the most popular streaming services.

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“We’re thrilled to be able to evolve our lineup of 4K, Full HD and HD TVs, which have been a staple of at VIZIO for years and to continue to bring unprecedented value and quality to our customers,” said John Schindler, Vice President of Product Management at VIZIO. “With even more sizes and display ranges to select from, customers can enjoy precise picture quality and built-in entertainment content no matter what room in the home they are in.”

Vizio’s new 86-inch screen joins a host of affordable new king-sized arrivals from the likes of TCL, Hisense, LG and Samsung (see my recent review of the 98-inch Samsung 98Q80C) seeking to cash in on the sudden post-Covid surge in demand for cinematic experiences at home.

Related reading

Samsung 98Q80C 98-inch TV Review: A Monster Hit

LG G4 First Look: A Promising Tale Of The Unexpected

Pioneer Unveils Two New PS5 and Xbox Series X-Friendly AV Receivers

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Record low prices hit Apple's M3 MacBook Pro 14-inch, now on sale from $1,399 – AppleInsider

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B&H has dropped MacBook Pro prices further as March comes to a close. Pick up an M3 MacBook Pro with 16GB RAM for just $1,549 — or opt for the M3 Pro MacBook Pro 14-inch for $1,699. Both are record-breaking deals.

14-inch models

16-inch models

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There are numerous MacBook Pro deals on upgraded configurations, so if you’re looking for an M3 Max configuration or extra storage, it’s worth checking out our Mac Price Guide to shop the latest sales.

Even more month-end deals on Apple

Best Apple prices

Aggressive savings are in effect now on nearly every current Mac. You can also find discounted prices on streaming services, closeout models and software. Here are a few of the top deals going on now:

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Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) New iPad Pro and iPad Air to Hit Markets Soon – TipRanks.com – TipRanks

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Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is likely to introduce its new iPad Pro and iPad Air as soon as May. The much-anticipated product launch will come just ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.

End to a Long Wait

As the much-awaited moment draws near, Bloomberg reports that the tech giant’s suppliers have already ramped up production of the devices. For Apple’s devout customers, the introduction of the revamped iPads marks the end of a nearly 18-month drought of major new releases from the company. The iPads are expected to boast features such as new OLED displays for the Pro model and an option for a 12.9-inch screen for the Air model.

Revamped iPads Unleashed

The long wait for new iPad models has resulted in sluggish tablet sales for Apple in recent times. Consequently, the company will likely look to the revamped versions to boost demand. Additionally, Apple is introducing more processing power to the new versions. The Pro models will feature a new M3 chip. Similarly, the iPad Air is also receiving an upgrade with a new processor, moving from its last version’s M1 chip to the latest technology.

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What to Expect in June

Importantly, the product launches are scheduled just before Apple’s highly anticipated annual Worldwide Developers Conference. This event is slated for June 10. The iPhone maker is widely expected to unveil its AI strategy as well as software updates for its range of products at the event. 

Is Apple a Buy, Sell, or a Hold?

Apple’s share price has corrected by nearly 11% year-to-date. The Street has a cautiously optimistic stance on the stock with a Moderate Buy consensus rating. Furthermore, the average AAPL price target of $203.40 points to an 18.6% potential upside in the company’s share price.

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