Samsung Electronics has announced plans to raise the price of its enterprise SSDs by 20-25% in Q2 of 2024. This is a significant increase from the initially projected 15%, with the price hike being attributed to the booming AI industry.
The past few weeks have seen a global shortage of NAND flash enterprise SSDs, a situation that is being blamed on high demand from new data centers and the rapid expansion of AI-related storage servers.
A semiconductor industry insider told BusinessKorea, “Server companies seeking to expand their storage capacity are rushing their SSD orders recently, and some products are even experiencing shortages, leading to considerations for increased production.”
Same price hike everywhere
Samsung significantly influences price decisions as it supplies about 50% of the enterprise SSD market. TrendForceestimates that where Samsung leads others will follow, with the 20-25% jump in price mirrored across the board.
TrendForce’s Bryan Ao says, “With large-capacity SSD orders experiencing low order fill rates, suppliers continue to influence price trends, likely forcing buyers to accept higher prices. As some buyers attempt to increase their inventory levels before the peak season in 2H24, Enterprise SSD contract prices are forecast to jump by 20–25% in Q2 – marking the highest rise across all product lines.”
This increase is unique to enterprise SSDs, with eMMC and consumer SSDs only getting 10-15% more expensive in Q2.
As The Register reports, “With much of the growth of the SSD market being propped up by AI-induced demand, there’s lots riding on AI being a success. After all, if there is a bubble and it pops, not only will those super-expensive SSDs have become a pretty bad deal in retrospect, but SSD makers like Samsung will see a major source of increasing revenue evaporate. Just as long as the money for expensive computer components keeps coming, there’s nothing to worry about. No pressure.”
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Spotify is reportedly set to raise the prices again. This news from a recent Bloomberg report that cites anonymous sources who told the publication of the streaming giant’s future plans.
According to the insiders, Spotify intends to “increase prices by about $1 to $2 a month” across five markets by April 30. These include the UK, Australia, and Pakistan. The other two regions were not mentioned. Users in the United States are slated to see the same changes, but they won’t happen until later in the year.
The reason why the company is bumping subscriptions up again is to “help cover the cost of audiobooks,” a new type of content that was introduced back in November. Bloomberg explains Spotify has to pay publishers for the books, however the platform only has so much money. They apparently need to charge more to keep them.
New tiers
Although audiobooks have proven themselves to be popular on Spotify, not everyone listens to them. For those who don’t, the company is going to add another subscription plan “that will offer music and podcasts” only, removing audiobooks as an option. This will keep the current price for individual premium plans. People who buy the new tier will have to pay for audiobooks separately.
No updates were given about the long-awaited Supremium plan. It’s presumably still in the works, and the launch of the tier may just be around the corner. A user on the truespotify subreddit shared a screenshot of what appears to be the Dolby Atmos logo appearing on the official player, indicating that spatial audio may be an upcoming feature.
Hearing the news about yet another price yet hike will probably elicit audible groans, especially if Spotify is charging more for content you may not enjoy. If you’re not happy with the direction Spotify is taking and want an alternative, below are the best three recommendations.
Tidal – Best overall alternative
(Image credit: Tidal)
$10.99 / £10.99 / AU$12.99 for HiFi tier
$19.99 / £19.99 / AU$23.99 for HiFi Plus
Tidal is the best alternative to Spotify for music fans. It offers great audio quality thanks to high resolution streaming, offer an easy-to-navigate UI, millions of songs, and thousands of music videos; all for the same cost as a standard Spotify subscription. You can get CD-quality audio coming through your headphones by opting for HiFi Plus, although it is rather expensive at $20 a month.
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It’s important to mention that Tidal doesn’t have a lot of podcasts available. There are a few, but the selection pales in comparison to what Spotify has. This isn’t a big deal you’re someone who doesn’t care about podcasts and prefers music. The service, again, is meant for music aficionados who want to hear their favorite artists in an impeccable quality.
Qobuz – Best alternative for audiophiles
(Image credit: Qobuz)
$12.99 / £12.99 / AU$24.99 for the Studio tier
$17.99 / £17.99 / AU$29.99 for Sublime plan
If you want a service that has the best audio quality out there, check out Qobuz.
You can stream music in the 24-bit FLAC format up to 192KHz. In plain English, that means songs coming from Qobuz are better than the CD-quality tracks. It blows what Spotify has out of the water. What’s great about the service is you don’t need to pay extra for Hi-Res audio. The 24-bit FLAC format is part of the basic tier. And if you don’t want to commit to a subscription, that’s okay because you can purchase individual albums.
It is the most expensive alternative. However, at the time of writing, the platform is offering a discount for people who buy the yearly plan. The cost comes out to $10.83 a month for a single person. Similar to Tidal, Quboz lacks podcasts. Again, it’s aimed at music fans.
YouTube Music – Best content alternative
(Image credit: YouTube)
$10.99 / £10.99 for YouTube Music Premium.
In Australia, it’s a part of YouTube Premium which is $16.99
YouTube Music is an underrated service. Not enough people give it the credit it deserves as a music streaming platform. It does lack hi-res audio. The stream quality on YouTube Music is the same as on Spotify, however, it excels in other areas.
The content library on YouTube Music eclipses what you find on its rival. You get millions of songs, tons of podcasts, and a wide assortment of audiobooks, all for free. Plus, you can control what you listen to at any given time. You won’t be forced to listen to a radio playlist.
Speaking of which, the platform has tons of playlists covering a variety of topics from favorite artists to Adult Swim bumps. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We didn’t even mention other notable features like the ability to upload your own files, the download function, and the opportunity to find rare releases like early demos.
You can’t listen to music without a good pair of headphones. For recommendations, check out TechRadar’s list of the best headphones for 2024.
Sam Altman, the visionary head of OpenAI,, is spearheading an ambitious initiative poised to revolutionize the technology landscape. His goal is to establish a global network of factories dedicated to producing the specialized silicon processors—the brains behind artificial intelligence. These processors are essential for powering advanced technologies from smarter phones to self-driving cars, marking a significant leap forward in AI capabilities.
This project, with an estimated cost between $5 and $7 trillion, aims not only to advance OpenAI’s technological base but also to catalyze a global shift towards more sophisticated AI applications. Altman’s strategy involves partnering with industry giants, including the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), leveraging their expertise to operationalize these advanced manufacturing hubs. These factories are envisioned to be at the forefront of semiconductor technology, producing chips for a wide array of companies eager to harness AI’s full potential.
The initiative emerges against the backdrop of a global chip shortage that has underscored the fragility of the current semiconductor supply chain, heavily reliant on a few key providers like TSMC. This shortage, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions, particularly between Taiwan and China, has prompted significant moves to diversify production and mitigate risks. The U.S. government, recognizing the strategic importance of semiconductor independence, has blocked certain tech transactions and invested in domestic semiconductor R&D, complementing TSMC’s commitment to build a $40 billion chip plant in the United States.
OpenAI AI Silicon Processors
Altman’s vision transcends merely addressing the current chip shortage. It represents a foundational shift towards diversifying chip production globally, reducing the geopolitical risk currently concentrated in the semiconductor industry. This strategic expansion is crucial as AI becomes increasingly integrated into every aspect of our lives, from healthcare to transportation, necessitating reliable and powerful semiconductors.
Financing this colossal venture poses a significant challenge, with Altman and his team in discussions with potential investors capable of supporting such a groundbreaking initiative. Beyond financial investment, the project requires global cooperation and alignment with the vision of a future where AI chips are ubiquitously manufactured worldwide, fostering a new era of technological innovation and independence.
The implications of Altman’s project extend far beyond the current technological landscape. By laying the groundwork for the next generation of AI technologies, this initiative not only aims to solve the immediate issues of chip shortages and geopolitical dependencies but also sets the stage for a future where AI’s potential can be fully realized, ensuring the tech industry can meet the growing demands of AI applications.
However, navigating the intricate web of political and financial challenges remains a formidable task. The endeavor is set against a complex backdrop of international politics and economic considerations, where the strategic importance of semiconductor manufacturing has become a focal point of global attention. As Altman’s project moves forward, it will require careful negotiation and strategic partnerships to realize this bold vision for a technologically empowered future.
Sam Altman’s project is not just an ambitious venture; it’s a visionary leap towards redefining the global semiconductor industry, promising to usher in a new era of technology that could fundamentally change how we interact with the world around us. With high stakes and the world watching, the success of this initiative could signal the dawn of an unprecedented technological age.
Source : Toms Hardware
Filed Under: Technology News, Top News
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