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• Mercedes has unveiled a series of future innovations during workshops
• Its 'solar paint' contains no rare earths and no toxic materials
• Aerodynamic braking and power converters aim to improve EV efficiencies

What is solar paint?

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Mercedes says it's new kind of solar paint can be used on "all exterior vehicle surfaces". It also claims it's "considerably cheaper" to produce to typical solar modules and is easy to recycle, thanks to the lack of rare earth materials and silicon.

The utopian dream of solar-powered motoring might not be so distant, as Mercedes-Benz recently opened the doors to some of its most forward-thinking engineering laboratories – and it turns out photovoltaic surfaces are very much on the agenda.

During a number of workshops in its home city of Stuttgart, Germany, Mercedes-Benz lifted the lid on how it has been working on a new kind of solar surface that could generate enough electricity for folks in sunnier climates to cover their daily commuting requirements.

According to the German marque, the ‘solar modules’ measure just five micrometers in thickness – significantly thinner than a human hair – and weigh just 50 grams per square meter. They can be applied to almost any substrate, with applications of future vehicles likely coming in the form of a "wafer-thin layer of paste" that will cover most of the body work.

Mercedes-Benz has past experience with solar panels and the impact they can have on the electric range of EVs, as the company’s record-breaking EQXX concept (the rolling lab that drove more than 620 miles on a single charge) used a small solar panel on the roof that added around 30km (18 miles) of additional range during one of its long distance record attempts.

But the breakthrough in photovoltaic surface treatments means much more of a vehicle could be covered, equating to a much greater increase in additional EV mileage.

No giant solar panels needed

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Taking a fairly standard mid-sized SUV like the marque's EQS as an example, Mercedes engineers claim the 11 square meter surface area and the 20% solar efficiencies of the technology would be enough to generate around 7,400-miles of motoring per year in somewhere sunny, like Los Angeles.

Nanoparticle-based paint would also allow 94% of the sun's energy to pass through to the solar coating, meaning future EVs won't necessarily have to look like giant solar panels.

Studying the daily driving habits of EV owners in Stuttgart, Germany, those close to the project found they cover an average of 52 kilometers (around 32 miles) a day. Around 62% of this distance would be covered using solar energy, the company says, despite the often poor weather conditions.

Again, if you live somewhere with plenty of excess sunshine, the 'always-on' nature of a photovoltaic surface means the vehicle could effectively be charging, even when parked.

As a result, LA owners could cover 100% of their driving distance on average by solar energy. Any surplus achieved could be fed directly into the home network via bidirectional charging, in theory.

Braking down inefficiencies

(Image credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Alongside pondering the state of future cities and speeding up AI decisions with neuromorphic computing, Mercedes-Benz also touched on the fact that it is also working on an EV braking system that removes the need for standard discs, drums and pads.

Effectively ridding the world of harmful particles emitted in the form of brake dust, Mercedes’ innovation is integrated into the electric drive unit at the front or rear axle, negating the need for in-wheel brakes.

Not only would this be subject to minimal wear and take up less space, it would also mean the company could look at much lighter wheel and tyre combinations, reducing the overall mass of an EV, as well as exploring fully-enclosed rims for optimized aerodynamics, as openings for brake cooling would no longer be required.

Plus, the company's research into electrical inverter systems could see the integration of micro-converters directly at battery-cell level, which would allow for greater control over individual cells.

It is complicated stuff, but it would result in more efficient battery performance, increased the longevity of battery pack lifespans and greater freedom when it comes to packaging – allowing engineers to use varying cell designs throughout the vehicle.

All of these advancements are still a long way from making production, but it is good to see Mercedes-Benz busy exploring innovations that offer its future customers real-world value.

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• Report claims Snapdragon X laptops only capture 0.8% of the global PC market
• Microsoft Surface leads Snapdragon X adoption in niche segment
• Qualcomm faces stiff competition from AMD, Intel, and Apple

Ed: The article has been amended to clarify that the headline number was for Q3 rather than since launched.

The PC market is continuing to be a challenge for Snapdragon X laptops, with recent reports showing limited market penetration in its first full quarter since launch, as total sales reached under 720,000 units.

This figure represents less than 0.8% of the total PCs shipped globally over Q3, equivalent to fewer than one out of every 125 devices.

Despite a notable sequential growth of 180% in Q3 2024 compared to Q2, the Snapdragon X Series remains a small segment of the broader Windows market, capturing less than 1.5% of the ecosystem.

AI-capable PCs are gaining momentum

Microsoft and other popular brands have already transitioned some devices to the Snapdragon X platform, however, the market for these devices remains niche, even as Qualcomm pushes forward with integration into more consumer and business devices.

Canalys told TechRadar Pro, “As this was the first full quarter of shipments for Snapdragon X Series PCs, we saw sequential growth of around 180% compared to Q2 2024. However, as a proportion of the total Windows market, the products remain very niche, at less than 1.5% share. The top shipping vendor was Microsoft, which has transitioned most of their Surface line to the platform. Behind them was Dell who has embraced the new platform quite strongly in terms of SKU count, followed by HP, Lenovo, Acer and Asus (all four with similar volumes).”

While Snapdragon X laptops struggle to gain traction, the broader category of AI-capable PCs is rapidly expanding. In Q3 2024, shipments of these devices reached 13.3 million units, accounting for 20% of all PC shipments. This category includes desktops and notebooks equipped with chipsets dedicated to AI workloads, such as AMD’s XDNA, Intel’s AI Boost, and Qualcomm’s Hexagon.

Windows devices led the AI-capable PC market for the first time, capturing 53% of the segment. The surge in demand was supported by the Windows 11 refresh cycle and processor advancements. Sequential growth for AI-capable PCs stood at 49%, underscoring the market’s increasing appetite for AI-driven computing capabilities.

Nevertheless, AI-capable PCs face significant hurdles. Canalys' data suggests that consumers and channel partners remain cautious about adopting these premium offerings. For instance, Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs, requiring at least 40 NPU TOPS and other high-performance specifications, have yet to fully convince buyers of their value.

A November 2024 poll of channel partners revealed that 31% do not plan to sell Copilot+ PCs in 2025, while 34% expect these devices to account for less than 10% of their sales. With Windows 10’s end-of-support deadline approaching, PC vendors are under pressure to drive upgrades among users still relying on ageing devices.

To stand out in the competitive AI-capable PC market, vendors are exploring unique strategies. HP has emphasized collaborations with independent software vendors (ISVs) to enhance on-device AI experiences. Lenovo has invested in proprietary AI tools embedded within its PCs, such as Creator Zone and Lenovo AI Now.

Dell and Lenovo are leveraging on-device AI to complement their broader AI service ecosystems. Meanwhile, Apple has taken a distinct approach, focusing on its vertically integrated ecosystem.

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• AI taking pressure off contact center agents by improving their eyes, ears, and voice

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Upgrade your mirror with this full-length mirror that has customizable LED lights and is now over 50% off for Black Friday.

• AMD's 192-core EPYC 9965 CPU now a third cheaper than at launch
• 5th-gen Turin chip has seen stellar reviews from the tech press
• Half the price of Intel's 128-core Granite Rapids Xeon 6980P

AMD’s new 192-core CPU monster, the EPYC 9965, launched last month, four months after its initial announcement. The CPU, which uses the Zen 5c core architecture, boasts 192 cores and 384 threads and competes (almost) directly with Intel’s recently launched 128-core Granite Rapids Xeon 6980P.

In addition to being AMD’s most complex microprocessor to date, the EPYC 9965 was also its most expensive, at nearly $15,000.

Fast forward to today however, andWiredzone is currently selling the chip for a more modest $10,034 - a significant discount. Unlike some online deals that disappoint with limited stock or long delivery times, Wiredzone has the processors in and ready to ship, with volume discounts also available.

What's behind the price cut?

The reason for this surprise price drop isn’t entirely clear. It could be that AMD has been able to produce more processors than first anticipated, or perhaps demand hasn’t been as high as expected (which seems very unlikely).

By comparison, Intel’s Xeon 6980P launched at $17,800, but its price has since increased. Newegg is currently selling it for $18,900, and Connection lists it for $20,527 - though neither retailer has the product in stock at the moment. That could suggest another reason for the sudden price drop.

At the lower cost, AMD might see an opportunity to appeal to budget-conscious enterprises or organizations seeking high-performance processors without paying a premium.

By undercutting Intel’s prices and ensuring ample stock availability, AMD could strengthen its position in the competitive server CPU market while attracting new customers who might otherwise consider Intel’s offerings.

Reviewers previously declared that with the Xeon 6900P family, Intel was finally a contender again in the server CPU arena.

However, the arrival shortly afterwards of AMD’s 5th generation Turin products quickly rained on that parade, comfortably putting AMD back on top. As Phoronix noted in its gushing review, “The new top-end AMD EPYC Turin processor performance can obliterate the competition in most workloads and delivers a great generational leap in performance and power efficiency."

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• Meet AMD’s new 192-core CPU monster; the EPYC 9965
• First AMD EPYC 9965 benchmarks set flurry of new world records
• Reviews of Intel’s fastest CPU ever shows that it has caught up with AMD

• AMD's 192-core EPYC 9965 CPU now a third cheaper than at launch
• 5th-gen Turin chip has seen stellar reviews from the tech press
• Half the price of Intel's 128-core Granite Rapids Xeon 6980P

AMD’s new 192-core CPU monster, the EPYC 9965, launched last month, four months after its initial announcement. The CPU, which uses the Zen 5c core architecture, boasts 192 cores and 384 threads and competes (almost) directly with Intel’s recently launched 128-core Granite Rapids Xeon 6980P.

In addition to being AMD’s most complex microprocessor to date, the EPYC 9965 was also its most expensive, at nearly $15,000.

Fast forward to today however, andWiredzone is currently selling the chip for a more modest $10,034 - a significant discount. Unlike some online deals that disappoint with limited stock or long delivery times, Wiredzone has the processors in and ready to ship, with volume discounts also available.

What's behind the price cut?

The reason for this surprise price drop isn’t entirely clear. It could be that AMD has been able to produce more processors than first anticipated, or perhaps demand hasn’t been as high as expected (which seems very unlikely).

By comparison, Intel’s Xeon 6980P launched at $17,800, but its price has since increased. Newegg is currently selling it for $18,900, and Connection lists it for $20,527 - though neither retailer has the product in stock at the moment. That could suggest another reason for the sudden price drop.

At the lower cost, AMD might see an opportunity to appeal to budget-conscious enterprises or organizations seeking high-performance processors without paying a premium.

By undercutting Intel’s prices and ensuring ample stock availability, AMD could strengthen its position in the competitive server CPU market while attracting new customers who might otherwise consider Intel’s offerings.

Reviewers previously declared that with the Xeon 6900P family, Intel was finally a contender again in the server CPU arena.

However, the arrival shortly afterwards of AMD’s 5th generation Turin products quickly rained on that parade, comfortably putting AMD back on top. As Phoronix noted in its gushing review, “The new top-end AMD EPYC Turin processor performance can obliterate the competition in most workloads and delivers a great generational leap in performance and power efficiency."

You might also like

• Meet AMD’s new 192-core CPU monster; the EPYC 9965
• First AMD EPYC 9965 benchmarks set flurry of new world records
• Reviews of Intel’s fastest CPU ever shows that it has caught up with AMD

• Apple TV Plus renews Jon Hamm series Your Friends & Neighbors
• However, the first season won't air until Spring 2025
• It's the first lead TV role for Jon Hamm since Mad Men

Apple TV Plus seems to have a lot of confidence in its upcoming series Your Friends & Neighbors, as it has been renewed for a second season - before the first has even aired! If you want to catch the new Apple TV Plus show, there's a fairly long wait as it won't be hitting the streamer until Spring 2025.

This isn't the first time one of the best streaming services has renewed one of their originals early, as Slow Horses season six was recently confirmed before viewers have seen the fifth one. So, Apple TV Plus continues to back its growing library even before it has been released to the wider public.

The new Jon Hamm-led series comprises nine episodes and won't premiere until Friday, April 11. To pass the time, you might want to check out some of their other offerings, like the best Apple TV movies.

What do we know about Your Friends & Neighbors?

Your Friends & Neighbors marks Jon Hamm's first leading role in an ongoing series since Mad Men ended in 2015. We've recently seen him in Paramount Plus shows like Landman, but fans will no doubt be excited to see him back as the star of a show.

Here, he plays the role of Cooper, a hedge fund manager who has recently been fired from his job and is going through a divorce, so he's seen better days. Don't feel too sorry for him just yet, though.

To cope with the loss of his job and the financial pressures of a divorce, Cooper begins stealing from his neighbors living in the affluent Westmont Village. However, he soon discovers that there are dark secrets and affairs buried, and this neighborhood might be more dangerous than he first thought.

Currently, we don't have a trailer for the new series, so we'll just have to wait patiently for that!

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• New trailer for The Studio looks like Apple TV Plus' star-studded cringe comedy response to HBO's superhero satire series The Franchise

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