Hardware
LG producing HDTV set-top boxes for DirecTV
MUMBAI: American digital television platofrm DirecTV has selected LG Electronics as the first supplier of digital high-definition television (HDTV) set-top boxes based on new video compression technology.
LG Electronics has begun production of set-top boxes for use in DirecTV’s MPEG-4 (moving picture experts group) HD satellite broadcasts, further expanding LG’s leadership in the North American digital television market.
DirecTV will begin offering local broadcast channels in HD later this year.. By 2007, DIRECTV plans to offer more than 1,500 local broadcast channels and more than 150 national channels in HD.
DirecTV executive VP and CTO Romulo Pontual said, “Consumer demand for HD is exploding, and DirecTV is ushering in a new era in satellite delivery of HD content using a powerful new broadcasting technology, MPEG-4. This will enable us to greatly enhance our customers’ viewing experience by offering the widest array of HD programming available. The technical and manufacturing capabilities of LG Electronics, coupled with their strong commitment to this specific programme, make LG a terrific partner for DirecTV.”
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.
