Arm vs. Qualcomm - IP Licensor vs IP LicenseeTirias Research generated using Stable DiffusionDuring its second day of deliberation and with just a few hours before the holiday break, the jury reached a decision in the Arm-Qualcomm case. They determined that Qualcomm did not breach the Nuvia ALA (question 2) and that custom Qualcomm CPUs developed after the agreement using Nuvia technology as a baseline are covered under the Qualcomm ALA agreement (question 3 the counterclaim). The jury could not reach a decision on whether Nuvia breached the Nuvia ALA agreement (question 1). This is of no surprise given the conflicting language in the license agreement that created the dispute in the first place. Its no wonder that a jury could not interpret it if the parties that signed it cannot agree on the meaning of its terms and conditions.Disclosure: My company, Tirias Research, has consulted for Arm, Qualcomm and other companies mentioned in this article.The outcome is positive for Qualcomm. The jury decided that Qualcomm did not breach an agreement that it was not a party to and, perhaps more importantly, it can move forward with its efforts under its current license agreement. However, it leaves a cloud hanging over Nuvia. As for Arm, it loses its leverage to push for a new ALA with Qualcomm and faces lower royalties from its largest customer as Qualcomm rolls out its new line of custom CPU cores throughout its product lines. Note that it may take a few years before the custom CPU cores replace off-the-shelf Arm CPU cores across Qualcomms entire product line, and Qualcomm will still be using other Arm technology covered in its TLA agreement. Additionally, Arm will receive additional TLA and ALA royalties from Qualcomm as it pushes into new market segments. Arm will just receive a lower royalty rate on the custom CPU cores than it would have if Qualcomm was using off-the-shelve Arm cores or if were forced to operate under the Nuvia ALA, but this was inevitable as Qualcomm sought to develop more competitive CPUs one way or another.This may be a wake-up call for the rest of the Arm ecosystem as it considers taking new Arm licenses and/or acquisitions. The licenses need to be clear and should provide protection for all parties without limiting the operation, including a potential acquisition, of the licensee. In terms of ALA licensees, this is of little concern because most of the remaining ALA licensees are large, established tech companies like AMD, Intel, Microsoft, Google, and Samsung.MORE FOR YOUThe trial also highlighted Arms efforts to raise royalty rates in general, which is well known throughout the industry. However, it exposed some of the amounts and tactics Arm is leveraging to accomplish this goal. It also confirmed Arms efforts to design complete processors and SoCs for customers. This may benefit some customers and pose a competitive risk to others.When the lawsuit was first filed, most of the industry was questioning why Arm would sue its largest customer, something that the judge questioned as well. For the past few decades, Arm has been the Switzerland of the semiconductor industry. It was an independent vendor providing technology and support across the entire industry. Prior to this suit, Arm had never brought legal action against any customer, which it refers to more accurately as partners, and it had achieved huge success as its customers succeeded.What changed and how did things come to this? The answer requires looking at the changes in both Arm and Qualcomm over a little more than a decade, the inherent competitive threat created by Arms competing business models, and the changing dynamics of the industry. That will be the focus of my next article. For now, the industry is breathing a sigh of relief that this is over and that there is little, if any, impact on the existing Arm agreements, but with a bit of caution for the future.

In brief: Asus is preparing to introduce what it claims will be the world's lightest Copilot+ PC. The portable, the latest member of the company's long-running Zenbook line, is said to be inspired by nature and minimalism, and affords an impressive 32 hours of battery life. Asus is only teasing its new Zenbook at this time, so we'll have to wait until its formal introduction at the Always Incredible launch event on January 7 to get the full scoop. Given the battery life claims, however, it is likely that this new Copilot+ PC will be powered by a Snapdragon X chip.Qualcomm's Arm-based platform is known to excel in terms of energy efficiency. In a recent Tom's Hardware review, Lenovo's ThinkPad T14s with a Snapdragon Elite X chip notched an impressive 21 hours in their battery test. While not quite the 24 hours that Lenovo promised, it is impressive nevertheless.Speaking of battery life claims, it is not uncommon for real-world performance to fall short of manufacturer claims. As Tom's correctly highlights, PC makers test their machines in controlled environments that often involve light tasks, few background processes running, and low screen brightness. In reality, users often have many tasks running in the background and don't skimp on screen brightness, especially in brightly lit office environments or when working outdoors.Again, Asus is keeping its cards close to the vest. As of writing, we don't even know what size laptop we are going to get. If we had to guess, something in the 13-inch range feels about right, and would put Asus in contention with other lightweight laptop makers like LG and Fujitsu. Pricing is also a complete unknown at this time, so we'll just have to wait and reserve final judgment until CES.The Consumer Electronics Show kicks off on January 7 and runs through the 10th in Las Vegas. Media days, when most participants share their innovations for the coming year, will take place on January 5 and January 6. // Related Stories

Something to look forward to: Ventiva may have cracked the code for fanless cooling in relatively high-powered laptops and PCs. The thermal management company has introduced a new solution, dubbed ICE9, which can efficiently cool laptops with processors drawing up to 40W of power all while remaining completely silent. The ICE9 system uses Ventiva's patented Ionic Cooling Engine, which generates airflow without any moving parts. Instead of relying on traditional fans, it moves ionized air molecules within an electric field to transfer heat away from the processors. This innovative approach enables ultra-thin and completely silent laptop designs.Ventiva initially demonstrated its ICE technology for low-power laptops with processors consuming up to 15 watts. The company has since improved its capability to 25 watts, which is currently available. The new 40-watt threshold, however, will make the technology viable for much more powerful systems. Ventiva also offers a suite combining advanced monitoring tools and algorithms, which it claims will allow laptop manufacturers to create sleek, high-performance models under 12mm thick.The lack of fans also likely enhances the robustness and reliability of the technology compared to traditional fan-based cooling systems over the long term. Eliminating fan assemblies could free up space for additional components or larger batteries, offering manufacturers more design flexibility.However, integrating high-power chips into ultra-portable laptops presents a significant thermal challenge. In a newly published white paper, Ventiva highlights the delicate balance between cooling requirements and maintaining device silence and compactness. The paper explores how manufacturers assess these trade-offs based on their current product roadmaps and future device strategies.As noted by Tom's Hardware, ICE9 cannot be simply retrofitted into existing laptop designs that rely on airflow generated by spinning fans. To fully capitalize on ionic cooling's capabilities, manufacturers will need to design new chassis specifically optimized for its low static pressure. // Related StoriesVentiva's first wave of 25W laptops equipped with ICE9 is scheduled to debut at CES 2025 in January, but the company anticipates that 40W TDP laptops featuring the technology won't hit the market until 2027."Our ICE technology is transforming the electronics market, enabling a new wave of silent, intelligent heat-transferring thermal management solutions, and our latest results underscore the remarkable scalability of our ICE9 solution," said Carl Schlachte, the CEO of Ventiva.Ventiva is not alone in the fanless cooling space. Earlier this year, another startup, Frore Systems, introduced the AirJet Mini Slim, a 2.5mm-thin solid-state cooler with self-cleaning capabilities and autonomous thermal optimization.

Fortnite skins are some of the most sought-after cosmetic items in any Battle Royale title, and thousands of skins have been released in the game to date. Among those, certain skins hold the mantle of being some of the rarest skins that the community hasnt seen since they were first released. Some of these date as far back as 2019 and havent been brought back to the shop for over five years.However, Epic just changed that with two of the rarest Fortnite skins and has brought them back unexpectedly, which has caused a divide in the community. The skins are Aerial Assault Trooper and Renegade Raider, which are one again available in Fortnite for players to get after eight long years.Recommended VideosIf youre one of the players who want a taste of the OG Fortnite with these skins, heres how you can claim them in the game.RelatedRenegade Raider is finally back in Fortnite after it was last seen on December 13, 2017, more than eight years ago in the Item Shop. Epic has brought back the outfit with three more cosmetic items, as part of the OG Season Shop to celebrate the release of Fortnite OG Chapter 1, Season 1. While Fortnite players can claim a new version of the skin, Renegade Rebel from the OG Pass by completing quests and earning XP, getting the OG Renegade Raider is no easy task.Epic GamesAs a throwback to the very first Shop, the Outfits, Pickaxe, and Glider will be available for purchase after youve earned enough XP to unlock them similar to how the classic Season Shop worked in 2017 when you needed to reach a certain Season Level to purchase some items. Heres how much XP youll need to earn to purchase items in the OG Season Shop:Aerial Assault One Glider 500,000 XPAerial Assault Trooper Outfit 1,000,000 XPRenegade Raider Outfit 1,500,000 XPRaiders Revenge Pickaxe 2,000,000 XPOnce you have enough XP and unlocked all the items to be able to be purchased in the shop, you can purchase the Renegade Raider outfit for 1,200 V-Bucks, Aerial Assault Trooper outfit for 1,200 V-Bucks, Aerial Assault One glider for 500 V-Bucks, and Raiders Revenge pickaxe for 1,500 V-Bucks.The XP needed can be from any Fortnite experience that grants XP, not just Fortnite OG or Battle Royale. Please note that the OG Season Shop will only be available from the Shop inside Fortnite and not the online Item Shop. If youre not seeing the unlock requirements in the OG Season Shop, try closing and restarting Fortnite.Furthermore, Epic has also announced that players who purchased the OG Outfits in 2017 will receive an exclusive new Style for Renegade Raider and/or Aerial Assault Trooper early next year. And if they already own the Pickaxe or Glider, theyll receive an exclusive new Style for it in spring 2025. The OG Season Shop will be live until 7 p.m. ET on January 30, 2025.While you complete quests whether in Fortnites OG mode or in Chapter 6, Season 1, make sure to look out at our best weapons tier list for both modes, which will help your decision-making.Editors Recommendations

2023 is already off to a strong start in terms of game releases. PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch all received notable new exclusives, while multiplatform AA games and indies helped add even more depth and flavor to Januarys game lineup. From rhythm-based action games to engaging strategy RPGs to highly polished retro throwbacks, the best games of this month were extremely varied in the experiences they offered too.

The Elder Scrolls VIisnt coming anytime soon, despite how badly we all want it. EvenAvowed the next closest thing to an Elder Scrolls game were likely to see isnt out until mid-February. If you need something to tide you over, a new mod for The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowindadds ahuge amount of content to the game that makes it worth firing up this 22-year-old gem.Abecean Shores, a section of the much-larger and still unfinished Project Cyrodiil, is now available. If you recognize the name, then youll probably be able to guess the setting: the shores of Cyrodiil, the Imperial homeland and the setting forThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The mod creators have added a truly ridiculous amount of content intoMorrowind, including more than 160 new quests, according to PCGamesN.Recommended VideosThe factions you know and love are still present, including the Thieves Guild, Fighters Guild, and Mages Guild. The mod also introduces a few extra factions in the form of the Itinerant Priests and the Kingdom of Anvil.Project Cyrodiil: Abecean Shores | Release TrailerThe nearly three-minute long trailer shows off quite a few details. Its designed to work seamlessly with the vanilla version ofMorrowind, so you can travel back and forth from the expansion to the base game at nearly any time or level. The entire tileset has been rebuilt from scratch, so while the mod clearly shows the games age, it also looks better than it did when it first released two decades ago.Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming You can download this mod from Nexus Mods, but it isnt quite a standalone; youll need a few other mods running alongside it for everything to go smoothly.RelatedAbecean Shores is a work of art in many ways, but it also reflects the incredible amount of effort and dedication that went into creating something so massive and a community that will do whatever it takes to keep its favorite series alive.Editors Recommendations

The actor stars in director James Mangolds biopic, which follows the singer-songwriter during his rise to stardom as a folk-rock revolutionary.

The Icebreaker breaks the bank $2,100 mechanical keyboardhas 800 holes, NYC skyscraper looks No, four figures does not get you a numpad. Scharon Harding Dec 23, 2024 1:09 pm | 9 Credit: Serene Industries Credit: Serene Industries Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreFor $2,100, you could buy over a dozen upper-quality mechanical keyboards. Alternatively, you could buy just one mechanical keyboard kit. Costing the same as a desktop computer, The Icebreaker keyboard commands one of the highest price tags you'll see for a keyboard, and that's more due to its appearance than its capabilities.The Icebreaker, spotted by Tom's Hardware, became available for preorder on Thursday. The prohibitively priced peripheral is the primary product from Serene Industries, which founder Denis Agarkov describes as an outlet for creativity, love of materials, experimentation, and an endless exercise in learning new things."In a February interview with Design Milk, Agarkov said that the profile view of New York Citys Flatiron skyscraper inspired the keyboards design. The building opened in 1902 and measures 285 feet tall with a steel frame and distinct prism shape. The Flatiron Building. GettyThe Flatiron Building. Getty The Icebreaker tries to match the Flatiron's shape. Serene Industries The Icebreaker tries to match the Flatiron's shape. Serene Industries Another angle. Serene Industries Another angle. Serene Industries The Icebreaker tries to match the Flatiron's shape. Serene Industries Another angle. Serene Industries In turn, the Icebreakers profile view shows a sharp wedge shape thats uncommon, but not unheard of, in keyboards striving for a striking appearance."Viewed from the right angle, it seems to be as flat as a sheet of paper," Agarkov told Null Society in January ahead of the keyboard's launch.Serene heavily advertises the aluminum build of the keyboard, saying that it's a "fully CNC'd, solid block 6061 aluminum" alloy chassis. The Icebreaker isnt an outlier in using aluminum; numerous companies sell aluminum alloy keyboard cases for a few hundred dollars. An alternative to cheaper plastic, aluminum is popular for keyboard durability, weight, and custom touches around details like the case's finish and color. The Icebreaker case, being a unified block rather than a top and bottom piece fused together, makes for a unique, massive (17.71.70.9 inches) look.The keycaps, which Serene sells separately for $415, are fully aluminum with about 800 micro-perforations that make up the legends," Serene's website says, "allowing the LED light to pass through. A close-up of the porous keycaps. Credit: Serene Industries The holes are 400 microns in diameter, per the company's Instagram page, which suggests that users can feel the holes with their fingertips. Using tiny holes to construct key legends is something I havent seen in mechanical keyboard kits before. It gives the Icebreaker's keycaps a digital vibe that seems tedious and costly to make, contributing to the keyboard's price. Despite the openings' tininess, I'm still worried about dust and debris with a keyboard littered with holes.What's interesting about the typing feel of this keyboard is the use of low-profile keycaps despite the keyboard supporting full-height mechanical switches. I'm curious if the pairing results in the keycaps feeling too thin or unstable while typing.Other Icebreaker specs include a silicone dampener integrated into the bottom lid both supporting the PCB and doubling as non-slip feet, per Serene. The keyboard's underside. Credit: Serene Industries There's also a 4,000 mAh battery and 1/4-20 threads for professional accessory mounting, such as Picatinny rails. One could also use the threads for mounting the keyboard onto monitor arms and hand grips.And like many high-priced keyboards to come out in the past couple of years, the Icebreaker includes a rotary encoder dial. The dial is programmable, like the rest of the keyboards keys, with the Via configurator.The Icebreaker starts at $1,500 with a clear-colored base, hot-swappable switches, and USB-C cable connectivity. It goes up to $2,100 if you get in black and with Bluetooth connectivity or Hall effect switches, which actuate through the use of magnets. Notably, the Bluetooth version of the keyboard only seems to have one Bluetooth channel, compared to cheaper wireless keyboards that let you pair and toggle across multiple, simultaneously paired devices.The lavish side of mechanical keyboardsUltimately, the keyboard's unique construction, design cues, and lack of mass production contribute to a four-figure price tag that'll shock those not accustomed to the overly luxurious side of mechanical keyboards. Agarkov told Null Society that one of the biggest challenges with making The Icebreaker was "balancing the design with practical considerations.""For instance, the keyboard is intentionally heavy and large, which, funny enough, was a point of confusion for the manufacturers," he added.As you may have determined by now, The Icebreaker's price is more about style and clout than advanced features or high-end typing. In fact, you dont even get a numpad or switches at this price. For comparison, Angry Miaom is no stranger to outrageously priced keyboards, but as of this writing, its only keyboards with MSRPs over $1,000 are split keyboards: Angry Miaos Afa Blade Limited Edition keyboard kit costs $2,049 and uses aluminum, stainless steel, glass, carbon, and aluminum alloy. Credit: Angry Miao Still, The Icebreaker is an example of how dedicated, artistic, and daring mechanical keyboard enthusiasts can be and how much time, effort, and expense can impact crafting a one-of-a-kind keyboard thats sure to get people talking.In the world of mechanical keyboards, unreasonable luxury is par for the course. For the avid collector out there, The Icebreaker can make for one expensive trophy.Scharon HardingSenior Technology ReporterScharon HardingSenior Technology Reporter Scharon is a Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica writing news, reviews, and analysis on consumer gadgets and services. She's been reporting on technology for over 10 years, with bylines at Toms Hardware, Channelnomics, and CRN UK. 9 Comments

In time for the holidays Flu surges in Louisiana as health department barred from promoting flu shots Flu is rising around the country, but Louisiana is well ahead of the curve. Beth Mole Dec 23, 2024 12:35 pm | 37 A masked person stands by a sign advertising flu shots. Credit: Getty | Noam Galai A masked person stands by a sign advertising flu shots. Credit: Getty | Noam Galai Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreFlu season is ramping up across the US, but Louisianathe state that has reportedly barred its health department from promoting flu shots, as well as COVID-19 and mpox vaccinesis leading the country with an early and strong surge.Louisiana's flu activity has reached the "Very High" category set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the latest data. The 13-category scale is based on the percentage of doctor's visits that were for influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) in the previous week. Louisiana is at the first of three "Very High" levels. Oregon is the only other state to have reached this level. The rest of the country spans the scale, with 13 jurisdictions at "High," including New York City and Washington, DC. There are 11 at "Moderate," 10 at "Low," and 19 at "Minimal." Map of ILI activity by state Credit: CDC Last week, NPR, KFF Health News, and New Orleans Public Radio WWNO reported that the state had forbidden the health department and its workers from promoting annual flu shots, as well as vaccines for COVID-19 and mpox. The policy was explicitly kept quiet and officials have avoided putting it in writing.In a response to Ars Technica, health department spokesperson Emma Herrock did not deny the claim or dispute any of the outlets' reporting. Instead, Herrock provided a statement confirming that the department's policy had shifted, specifically, it moved "away from one-size-fits-all paternalistic guidance" and to the stance that "immunization for any vaccine ... are an individuals personal choice." Discussions and decisions about vaccines should be between an individual and their health provider, the statement read.The statement seemed to offer an assurance that other vaccines were not subject to the new restrictions. "Changes regarding seasonal vaccines like COVID and influenza do not change the Departments policy or messaging regarding childhood immunizations," it read.This flu season, the health department has reportedly canceled standard vaccination events and clinics. On social media, the department has avoided mentioning flu shots in posts about the flu, instead advising people to wash their hands and cover their coughs.While Louisiana is seeing an early surge in influenza, the rest of the country is on an upward trend in what appears to be a normal-looking season so far. Nationally, the percentage of doctor visits that were for ILIs is 3.8 percent, with the upswing in ILI activity similar to what was seen in the 20192020 flu season at this point in the year. At the peak of flu seasons, the percentage of visits for ILIs usually tops out around 7 percent to 8 percent. US ILI activity charted by week across several flu seasons Credit: CDC Two children died last week of flu, bringing the season's total pediatric deaths to four. In the 20232024 season, 206 children died with influenza-associated disease. Most of the deaths occurred in early 2024.COVID-19 is also ramping up a winter wave. While standard disease burden indicatorshospitalization and deathsare low, they're trending positive. Wastewater surveillance, meanwhile, is showing a steep incline, with levels of the virus being detected at "moderate" levels.Beth MoleSenior Health ReporterBeth MoleSenior Health Reporter Beth is Ars Technicas Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes. 37 Comments

EarthA large number of damaging and deadly hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, floods and droughts this year were photographed from land, air and space 23 December 2024 Hurricane Milton churning in the Gulf of MexicoCIRAThe ominous swirling grey of Hurricane Milton is captured in the Gulf of Mexico in this shot from the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere. In October, Milton became one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded over the Gulf of Mexico, with winds hitting 285 kilometres per hour. Once it made landfall as a category 3 storm in Florida, it caused storms and flooding that wrecked homes and power lines. It killed at least 35 people, 32 in the US and three in Mexico.The Fagradalsfjall volcano in