Hardware
Reliance Jio to launch Android powered 4K STBs
MUMBAI: Enjoying huge waves of success, Reliance Jio, within few months of its launch, plans to launch Android powered set-top boxes (STBs) in India. Following its idea of providing free 4G internet, this is believed to be Jio’s second step in building their envisioned Digital Ecosystem in India.
Though they have not announced any date of the launch as of yet, several reports have surfaced hinting at the company’s plans to introduce three STBs, differing in prices and hardware. One will be the high-end STBs powered by Broadcom chipset, the other two would be powered by the Marvell processor. According to reports, the Broadcom powered by STB comes with dual core Brahma CPU and OGLES 3.1 GPU.
The three STBs are also rumoured to support 4K UHD by default and runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. However, the users would require a 4K supported TV for the best experience.
The devices come with a pre-installed Google PlayStore along with native Android apps. It also contains Jio Suite apps like Jio TV and Jio On Demand. With these STBs, the normal LCD/LED TV can be converted into a smart TV running on Android.
Instead of the regular IR remote controller, these boxes come with Bluetooth remote controllers. They can be also controlled with smartphones using the app, similar to something Xiaomi debuted in the U.S market a couple of weeks back. The remote controller also has a mic for voice search with LAN, USB, and HDMI ports along with built-in Wi-Fi support.
If reports are to be believed, the company has already imported 15,000 STBs priced at Rs. 5,500 per unit.
Hardware
Specs Inc. partners with Qualcomm for next-generation smart glasses
Snap subsidiary to power future Specs with Snapdragon XR platforms.
MUMBAI: Snap’s Specs are about to get a serious upgrade and this time, they’re teaming up with Qualcomm to make sure the future looks crystal clear. Specs Inc., a Snap subsidiary, has announced a multi-year strategic agreement with Qualcomm Technologies to power future generations of its advanced smart eyewear with Snapdragon system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology.
This marks the first flagship engagement for Specs Inc., which is preparing to launch its standalone, see-through smart glasses for consumers later this year. The Specs are designed to seamlessly blend digital experiences into the physical world, allowing users to see, hear, and interact with digital content as if it were part of their real surroundings.
By integrating Snapdragon XR platforms, the glasses will benefit from edge AI and high-performance, low-power computing. This combination enables intelligent, context-aware experiences to run directly on the device, delivering faster and more private interactions.
The partnership builds on more than five years of collaboration between Snap and Qualcomm, during which Snapdragon platforms have powered multiple generations of Snap’s Spectacles.
Snap Inc., co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel said, “We believe the future of computing will be more human and grounded in the real world. Our work with Qualcomm provides a strong foundation for the future of Specs, bringing advanced technology and performance that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible.”
Qualcomm Incorporated president and CEO Cristiano Amon added, “The next era of computing will be defined by devices that understand what you see, hear and say, and respond instantly to the world around you. Our collaboration on Specs will enable power-efficient interactive AR devices that feel natural and intuitive.”
The agreement establishes a scalable foundation for developers and partners building experiences for Specs, supporting a predictable product roadmap and increasingly sophisticated digital interactions over time.
In a world racing toward augmented reality, Specs Inc. and Qualcomm are ensuring that the next pair of smart glasses doesn’t just look good on paper, they perform brilliantly in real life. The future of wearable computing just got a powerful new lens.
