IF / News

ZTE has a new president Zhao Xianming; Huawei might launch a new flagship in US this year; Marvell CEO and president step down; Samsung has become the first company to begin mass producing 10nm-class DRAM; Microsoft Windows Continuum is a big selling-point; Google long-term aim is AR; in 15 years China would become the largest market for self-driving car; etc.

Chipset

Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) announced worldwide sales of semiconductors reached USD26.0 billion for February 2016, a decrease of 3.2% compared to the previous month’s total of USD26.9 billion and 6.2% lower than the February 2015 total of USD27.7 billion. (TechNews, Barron’s, PR Newswire, SIA)

Marvell Technology Group founder and CEO Sehat Sutardja and President Weili Dai will step down from active management posts due to possible accounting scandal. (EE Times, WSJ, Bloomberg, Market Watch, Sohu, 163)

Memory

Samsung has become the first company to begin mass producing 10nm-class DRAM, using a new process known as argon fluoride immersion lithography. Samsung will be releasing 8GB DDR4 RAM using these new chips. These new 10nm-class DRAM chips can support data rates up to 3200Mbps. (CN Beta, IT Home, Kit Guru, Digital Trends)

Smartphones

ZTE has named the current Chief Technology Officer, Zhao Xianming, as their new president.  (CN Beta, WSJ, Financial Times, 163, Sina, Android Headlines)

ZTE’s new president Zhao Xianming sent an internal letter to his employees, admitting the current crisis that ZTE needs to face with openness, and need to solve this crisis with positive mindset, and also needs to respect the laws. The company’s strategy of M-ICT will not change, planning and targets are not going to change, and the promises to the employees are going to stay the same. (CN Beta, 163)

France’s competition, consumer, and fraud agency (DGCCRF) reportedly launches a court case against Apple seeking EUR48.5 million, saying Apple is maintaining unfair carrier contracts. (BFMTV, Apple Insider, 163)

Huawei reportedly will be launching a flagship smartphone in the U.S. later in the year. (Android Headlines, WSJ, Phandroid)

Microsoft is reportedly working on 3 different Surface Phone models that will only arrive in 2017. (Ubergizmo, Windows Central, iFeng, Sina)

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella implies they are not giving up on phone business, and indicating that Continuum feature of Windows is going to be a “wow” feature to Windows phone because it can “turn” a phone into a PC. (TechNews, Business Insider, Tencent)

vivo V3 and V3 Max are announced in India: V3 – 5” HD IPS LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 (MSM8938v2) processor, 13MP PDAF + 8MP cameras, 3GB RAM, 16/32GB storage, Android 5.1, LTE, dual-SIM, AK4375 audio chip, 2550mAh battery, USD270. V3 Max – 5.5” FHD IPS LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 (MSM8976) processor, 13MP PDAF + 8MP cameras, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, Android 5.1, LTE, dual-SIM, AK4375 audio chip, 3000mAh battery, USD360. (GSM Arena, CNMO)

OPPO F1 Plus is official – 5.5” FHD Super AMOLED display, Mediatek Helio P10 (MT6755) processor, 13MP PDAF + 16MP (Samsung ISOCELL) cameras, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, Android 5.1, LTE, dual-SIM, VOOC Flash Charge, 2850mAh battery, INR26990. (Ubergizmo, 9to5Google)

Wearables

Adidas teams up with Interactive Health Technologies, a firm that provides a connected fitness-assessment platform to schools in US. Adidas introduces a wrist-worn ZONE designed for physical education classrooms. It is a heart-rate monitor that uses the cloud to share a student’s personal fitness data with teachers. (Engadget, Adidas)

Ikea VR Experience app lets user see the company’s kitchen design offerings from different perspective and allows user to change the colors of the cabinets and drawers with a click. (Ikea, GSM Arena, Tencent, 163)

Google’s long-term bet is on AR, making several follow-ups to Glass, has “Tango” that aims to outfit smartphones with computerized “eyes” that can map a 3D space. (The Information, Business Insider, Android Headlines, Leiphone, Huxiu)

Mightycast’s Nex Band is the modular smart band that features five touch-sensitive buttons called Mods that can be programmed to allow the user to control devices and manage apps and notifications. (CN Beta, Tech Times, Barron’s)

Internet of Things

A startup named Zipline has recently signed a contract with Rwanda’s government in order to facilitate a series of supply drops performed by a fleet of fixed-wing drones. (eTekNix, Engadget, Zipline, New York Times, 163, ZMKE)

Boston Consulting Group analyst Xavier Mosquet indicates that in 15 years self-driving car will be recognized as one of the biggest market in China. (New York Times, Gizmodo, 21CN)

Nissan Motor CEO Carlos Ghosn is welcoming the quarter million-plus preorders booked by Tesla Motors for its new Model 3 as finally some “good competition.” (CN Beta, CNET, Auto News)