03-19: Apple has set up over 100 small stores in India under the franchise mode in the pilot phase; Some Chinese “unknown brands” are entering Indian market; etc.
Chipsets
Intel’s Vice President of New Technology Group, Jerry Bautista, recently talked about the new Intel-powered TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 smartwatch and also about the possibilities of smaller smartwatches down the road. (Android Headlines, Android Central, CIO)
Shanghai Zhaoxin Semiconductor plans to introduce a 16nm 8-core 3GHz PC processor series in 2018, according to company vice president Cheng Fu. Zhaoxin’s in-house developed ZX-D series processors built using 28nm process technology will start shipping in Lenovo’s all-in-one (AIO) PCs in 2H17, said Fu. (Digitimes, press, OfWeek, EE Focus)
To win exclusive orders from Apple iPhone SoC, TSMC is already investing USD15.7B in new production lines for 3nm and 5nm process chipsets. TSMC plans to begin 10nm production in early 2017, then 7nm for its next-gen chipsets, and 5nm / 3nm will begin mass production at the earliest year 2022. (21IC, 163, Laoyaoba, Tech Powerup)
Memory
Samsung is reportedly planning to invest in a new DRAM lab. The move raises concerns of a capital spending race which could ruin profitability for makers of DRAM. Samsung plans to invest KRW10T in a new DRAM lab next to its Line 17 lab in Hwaseong. JPMorgan estimates this new DRAM lab, which will not open until 2019, could increase Samsung’s DRAM capacity by about 20%. (Laoyaoba, CSIA, OfWeek, EE World, Korea Herald, Yonhap News, Barron’s, blog, Business Korea)
Taiwan-based mobile-DRAM design specialist AP Memory Technology has announced plans to acquire the remaining 44.76% share of Zentel Electronics for NTD14.50 (USD0.47) per share. AP Memory previously acquired a 55.24% stake in Zentel also at NTD14.50 per unit through a tender offer launched in Sept 2016. (Digitimes, press, China Times)
Battery
A new patent by Sony entitled “Configuration of Data and Power Transfer in Near Field Communications,” describes a scenario where data and power antennas are embedded in as many different consumer electronic devices as possible. In so doing, any and all electronic device could act as a wireless charging station and also transfer data if desired. (Laoyaoba, 163, ChinaZ, The Verge, PC Mag, USPTO)
Smartphones
Apple has set up over 100 small stores in India under the franchise mode in the pilot phase of an initiative aimed at a six-fold expansion of such outlets in the country in 2018. (Apple Insider, India Times, CN Beta)
Micromax is aiming to sell 5M-6M units of its upcoming Bharat 1 VoLTE feature phone and Bharat 2 VoLTE smartphone in India over the next 5~6 months. Bharat 1 is going to be Micromax’s first 4G VoLTE feature phone running Java OS, which is going to be priced at INR1999. (GizChina, TechRadar, India Times)
Some Chinese “unknown brands” are entering Indian market, including Tinno, Huaqin, and Malata, etc. Shenzhen Transsion Group sub-brands Infinix and also some other foreign brands such as Caterpillar, Kodak and Land Rover, even though their brands are not that well-known, they are having a huge plans to enter Indian market. (Sohu, 163, CN Beta)
vivo Y66 is launched in India – 5.5” HD IPS LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 MSM8937 processor, 13MP + 16MP cameras, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, Android 6.0, LTE (VoLTE), 3000mAh battery, INR14999. (GizChina, TechRadar, Gizbot)
Huawei P10 Lite is official – 5.2” FHD display, Huawei Kirin 658 processor, 12MP + 8MP cameras, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, 3000mAh battery, GBP299. (Android Central, Pocket-Lint, TechRadar)
PCs / Tablets
Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing has stressed that PC is not dead, and it will not be replaced by smartphone. PC still has USD200B market, and it will continue to evolve and innovate, and will have touch-screen enabled products or other new form factors emerging. (My Drivers, China Daily, CN Beta)
According to IDC, with the main components demand is increasing and peak season, global tablet assembly shipment in 4Q16 has increased 17.9% on quarter. With the impact from phablets, in 2016 overall global tablet assembly shipment has decreased 15.3% compared to 2015, with 180M units. (IDC, press)
According to IDC, in 2016 in China 21.92M units of tablets shipped in China, a 7.9% decreased on year. It expects shipment in 2017 will continue to decrease with 15.8% on year. From the aspect of shipment and product lifecycle, China tablet market has entered a mature stage. (IDC, press)
For the first time in almost 5 years, global quarterly tablet shipments will dip below 40M (39.03M) units in 1Q17, according to Digitimes Research. The first quarter is a traditional low season but US- and South Korea-based vendors including Apple, Samsung and Microsoft plan to introduce new products in the quarter and this may slightly weaken the negative effect of the low season. (Digitimes, press, Digitimes)
Wearables
Swarovski is putting their Android Wear smartwatch on hold according to a statement from Robert Buchbauer who is one of the company’s executives. (Android Headlines, Forbes, PYMNTS, Wearable)
According to IDC, total headset device shipments will reach 99.4M units in 2021, up nearly 10-fold from the 10.1M units shipped in 2016. This results in a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 58% across the 5-year forecast period. For enterprise users, AR and VR is expected to raise productivity. (IDC, press, Laoyaoba)
Internet of Things
Drone manufacturer Yuneec International confirmed that it would lay off an undisclosed number of employees in its Americas division. The company has received USD60M in funding from Intel’s venture-capital arm. (CN Beta, Market Watch)
Tesla Inc. has raised about USD1.2B, roughly 20% more than it had planned, by selling common shares and convertible debt, ahead of the launch of the crucial Model 3 electric sedan. (CN Beta, Yahoo, Motley Fool, Reuters, Hybrid Cars)