IF / News

Chipsets

MediaTek has put high hope on high-end chipset Helio X30 , yet it is not able to breakthrough Qualcomm. Meanwhile, orders for mid-range chipsets P20, P25 are slower than expected. Additionally, competitors are pressurizing with their competitive pricing strategy, and the growth of global mobile phone demand has slowed down. It seems it is not easy for MediaTek to achieve its target in 2017. (Laoyaoba, Digitimes)

The global supply of MOSFET chips is set to fall short of demand in 2H17 as a result of a growing number of MOSFETs for new CPU platforms coupled with sluggish growth in foundries’ high-pressure process capacity, according to Digitimes. Despite the slowdown in customer orders, MOSFET chip suppliers continue to ramp up their inventories as they expect demand to come back in 2H17. (Digitimes, press)

TSMC indicates that the yield rate of the first generation 7nm process made 256Mbit SRAM chipset has achieved 76%. ARM indicates that it is using new design to make 4GHz ARM chipset. Additionally, TSMC’s 7nm will expand to other products, and the enhanced version of 7nm will use EUV technology (but not the first generation). (SEMI, Sohu, Laoyaoba)

Touch Panel

According to Taiwan Ministry of Taiwan, in 2016 Taiwan export panel products value amount to NTD240.6B, a 12.1% declined on year.  In particular, export to Mainland China value amounts to NTD220.6B, which is about 92% of overall value. (CECB2B, TTV, MoneyDJ)

Samsung Display and LG Display, for front-end manufacturing process of flexible OLED panels, still have to rely on imported organic materials used in vapor deposition, but the reliance is decreasing through Samsung Group’s and LG Group’s mergers with and stake investment in foreign enterprises to obtain relevant patents for self-production of such materials by Samsung SDI and LG Chem respectively, according to Digitimes. (Digitimes, press)

Thanks to the growing demand for OLED panels, Japan equipment manufacturer Canon Tokki plans to increase production of vacuum deposition equipment, which evaporates and applies organic material to substrates, to more than 10 units a year in 2017. Each of this OLED equipment costs JPY10B, and customers need to wait for 2 years for this machine. It is expected in coming 3 years orders for this machine will be strong. (CN Beta, 163)

Touch panel maker TPK Holding has announced the strategic partnership with China-based Shenzhen O-film Tech through mutual stake investment and establishment of a joint venture with TPK and O-film Tech holding 49% and 51% stakes respectively. (52RD, Digitimes, press, 51Touch, EEPW)

Japan Display Inc (JDI) has announced that it will expand its production of panels used for automotive, and aims to increase its factory production of 12% to 53K units by Nov 2017. (Laoyaoba,  ChinaFPD, CNFOL)

Samsung Display is reportedly going to stop operating G5 LCD lines and slowly reduce output of 7”~12” LCDs that have been supplied for tablets. It is heard that Samsung Display will gradually reduce supply of LCDs for Apple iPads. Apple is also considering using OLEDs for its iPads.  (Android Authority, ET News, 163)

Memory

Taiwan-based Macronix International, a maker of mask ROM and flash memory, expects to benefit from robust demand for low-capacity NOR flash products in both 2017 and 2018. Macronix chairman Miin Wu expressed optimism about the NOR flash market thanks to a ramp-up of demand driven by new applications coupled with limited supply growth. Macronix president CY Lu was quoted in previous reports saying NOR flash memory prices are expected to grow 5%-10% in 1Q17 and will continue to rise through the end of the year. (Laoyaoba, TY News, China Times, CECB2B, Digitimes, press, Eye on Taiwan)

Sensory

Researchers are already working to create smart skin that embeds sensors that mimic the tactile feedback of human skin, making it possible for amputees to feel pressure, temperature and even dampness. University of Glasgow in the UK has come up with a version that harnesses solar power. (CN Beta, CNET, Forbes)

Connectivity

China Telecom reported a 10% fall in profit in 2016. Net profit fell to CNY18B (USD2.6B) in 2016. Operating revenues for the mobile and fixed-line service provider grew by 6.4% year on year to CNY352.3B as service revenues rose 5.6% to CNY309.6B. The company added 17M mobile subscribers during the year with the number of 4G subscribers rising by 63.4M to 122M. (CN Beta, Sina, CNMO, Financial Times)

Qualcomm president Derek Aberle indicates that with 5G the whole network latency is shorter, and more reliable, and it can support all sorts of critical tasks. By 2035, global 5G industry could bring USD12.3T to the economy, and it can generate 9.5M jobs in China. (Laoyaoba, ETT)

Smartphones

According to Strategy Analytics’ forecast of 2017-2018 global smartphone market share development, Samsung in 2017 will be only 19.9%, a 4.3% drop from 2016, which is the first time below 20%. (Laoyaoba, TechNews)

Huawei is reportedly in the process of getting one of its HiSilicon Kirin chipsets accredited by AT&T in the US. (Android Headlines, Digital Trends, Android Guys, Android Authority, The Information, Kejixun)

Huawei plans to build a cloud data center in New Zealand as part of a 5 year, NZD400M (USD281.8M) ICT infrastructure investment into the nation. (NBR, CN Beta, Data Center Dynamics)

Foxconn Electronics and Czech-based KKCG will deepen their cooperation by jointly establishing a EUR100M (USD107.5M) IT-focused investment fund. (Digitimes, press, Minimouse)

A Beijing court has ruled that Sony Mobile Communications (China) had infringed the patent of a Chinese Internet company and should pay over CNY9.1M (USD1.3M) for the latter’s losses. The lawsuit, filed in 2015 by Xidian Jietong, a wireless network communications company in the northwestern Chinese city of Xi’an, accused Sony of infringing its copyright of WLAN Authentication and Privacy Infrastructure (WAPI). (CN Beta, 163, Sina)

Lenovo Institute of artificial intelligence laboratory recently officially established. Lenovo also announced that the German artificial intelligence research center technology leader Dr. Xu Fei Yu joined Lenovo, as the vice president. (Laoyaoba, Sohu, Tencent, VVCAT)

About 40 mobile phone making plants have started since Modi announced Make in India in Sept 2014. These plants manufacture 20M phones every month. The value of mobile phones assembled in India has increased 373% in the last 2 years, from INR19,000 crore in 2014-15 to more than INR90,000 crore in 2016-17.  (Laoyaoba, Hindustan Times, Caijing, Tencent)

VAIO Phone A is announced in Japan – 5.5” FHD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, 13MP + 5MP cameras, 3GB RAM, 16GB storage, Android 6.0, 2800mAh battery. (CN Beta, Digital Trends)

OPPO F3 Plus is official in India – 6” FHD IPS LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 processor, 16MP rear + dual front camera 16MP-8MP, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, Android 6.0, 4000mAh battery. (Android Headlines, GSM Arena, OPPO)

Tablets

Apple has halted new sales of the iPad mini 2. Apple replaces iPad Air 2 with A9-equipped 9.7” iPad starting at USD329. (Apple Insider, CNET, Apple Insider, CN Beta, Apple Insider)

Wearables

Casio has disclosed the release of a new limited edition smartwatch based off its Pro Trek Smart WSD-F20, called the Pro Trek Smart WSD-F20S. It has unique blue and black color scheme as well as more resilient sapphire crystal and ion plating present throughout the hardware.  (CN Beta, Android Authority, Wearable)

Fossil has announced that it is launching 300 hybrid and touchscreen styles in 2017, and that includes brands that are both introducing their very first wearables as well as veterans jumping into the Android Wear arena.  (Engadget, Phone Arena, Fossil, ESM China)