Qualcomm likely to announce new chip for kids' smartwatches
San Francisco, June 27: Global chipmaker Qualcomm is likely to announce a new chip called "Snapdragon Wear 2500" that is especially designed for kids' smartwatches.
The new chip would be smaller than the prior "Wear chips" and is supposed to provide slightly better battery life.
"The chip supports LTE, up to a 5-megapixel camera, location tracking and plenty of other sensors," The Verge reported late on Tuesday.
"Kids' watches are built to give kids the ability to keep learning and connecting with gadgets when they leave the house and find themselves in school, where they aren't always beside a computer," Pankaj Kedia, who leads wearables at Qualcomm, was quoted as saying.
However, "Snapdragon Wear 2500," would not support Google's smartwatch operating system (OS) "Wear OS".
Instead, it would be paired with a custom version of Android that Qualcomm has built for kids' watches called "Android for Kids" that would come preloaded with apps and games.
Qualcomm has started providing the "Wear 2500" to hardware partners and Huawei could be among the first partners, the report said.
Qualcomm is also planning to launch its next general-purpose smartwatch chip meant for "Wear OS" watches "but there is no word on when that would happen as of now".
The chipmaker announced its last processor for wearables, the "Snapdragon Wear 2100," in February 2016.
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LS polls: In Hathras hing market, neglect, discontent dominate discourse
Hathras (UP) (PTI): Before one arrives at Hathras' famed 'hing' (asafoetida) market, the pungent smell of the condiment greets visitors, almost pinpointing the place.
As one gets to the market, a scene of disrepair takes over - roads riddled with potholes and littered with debris, and congested lanes dotted with dilapidated houses.
For local traders and residents, these are physical manifestations of the government's "neglect" that mirror broader systemic challenges.
Hathras hing received the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2023 but it appears to have done little for the local traders, who are seeking change and accountability in this Lok Sabha election.
"Our leaders need to focus on improving our living conditions instead of engaging in empty rhetoric," said hing trader Rohit Upadhyay.
Pritish Jindal, a shopkeeper, said, "We contribute significantly to the local economy and yet we are burdened with excessive taxes and receive little in return in terms of infrastructure or support."
Some feel bogged down by the "soaring" GST rates.
"This is the biggest hing market in the world. Hing brought from Iran and Iraq is processed here and the market is known for this process worldwide. Despite the significant business here, we feel ignored when it comes to key issues like inflation, unemployment and infrastructure. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has devastated our trade," said Lalit Vashney, another hing trader.
"The soaring GST rates are suffocating our businesses. Profit margins are shrinking, making it increasingly challenging to sustain our livelihoods," said another trader Ramesh Gupta.
The GST rate for hing is 18 per cent.
According to the local trade union, India imported 1,500 tonnes of asafoetida milk worth Rs 940 crore last year.
Ranging from Rs 100 per kg to Rs 35,000 per kg, about 90 per cent of hing is sourced from Afghanistan, 8 per cent from Uzbekistan and 2 per cent from Iran, according to the union.
Hathras goes to polls in the third round of Lok Sabha polls on May 7. The western Uttar Pradesh constituency will see a direct fight between the BJP and the SP.
While the BJP has fielded state minister Anoop Pradhan Balmiki from the seat, the SP has fielded Jasveer Valmiki.
"The BJP has fielded a state minister from here. Aware of the weak competition from the opposition, they are not coming here to address our grievances," claimed a local trader who did not wish to be named.
Reviving Hathras' economic hubs is one of the issues on Valmiki's poll agenda.
"The neglect of our markets is a symptom of larger governance failures," the SP candidate said.
"If elected, I will prioritise infrastructure development and advocate for tax relief to bolster our local businesses," he said.
On the other hand, Balmiki's campaign so far has been focused on the progress made at the national level under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
Votes for all seven phases of Lok Sabha elections will be counted on June 4. Irrespective of who loses, the traders hope they will win this time.
