4-7: Huawei Leica dual-camera P9 is announced; Sharp to increase AMOLED production; NVIDIA accuses Qualcomm of unfair competition; Global AMOLED smartphone shipment would reach 3.45mln units in 2016; etc.
Huawei Leica dual-camera P9 is announced; Sharp to increase AMOLED production; NVIDIA accuses Qualcomm of unfair competition; Xiaomi rumored to have smartphones with dual-edge curved display; ZTE warns it could still face penalties for violating American sanctions; Global AMOLED smartphone shipment would reach 3.45mln units in 2016; Alipay is launching in Europe; etc.
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Chipset |
| Global semiconductor revenues fell by 2% in 2015. Global revenue in 2015 totaled USD347.3 billion, down from USD354.3 billion in 2014. Overall semiconductor revenue growth will limp along at roughly 2.1% growth compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2015 and 2020. (Digitimes, IHS, press, HC360, Sohu)
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| Worldwide semiconductor revenue totaled USD334.8 billion in 2015, a 2.3% decline from 2014, according to Gartner. The combined revenue of the top 25 semiconductor vendors fell by 0.5% during 2015. (TechNews, Gartner, report, data)
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| US-headquartered companies held a 54% share of the total worldwide IC market in 2015, which includes sales from IDMs and fabless IC companies, according to IC Insights. The total does not include foundry sales. South Korea-headquartered companies captured a 20% share of total IC sales. China-based companies accounted for just 3% of total IC sales in 2015. (Digitimes, IC Insights, press)
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| NVIDIA accuses Qualcomm of mobile chip monopoly with its aggressive industry strategies, forcing NVIDIA to close its Icera division. (Bloomberg, CN Beta, WCCF Tech) |
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Display |
| Global shipments of smartphone-use AMOLED panels will increase from 3.45 million units in 2016 to 10.24 million units in 2020 and further to 13.57 million units in 2025, Digitimes Research estimates. (Digitimes, press, Phone Arena) |
| Foxconn Technology Group CEO Terry Guo indicates that they plan to hire a Japanese CEO to stabilize the management of Sharp. (CN Beta, 163) |
| Sharp will set up one 4.5G and two 6G AMOLED production lines with monthly capacity of 13,000, 11,500 and 34,500 glass substrates respectively, with total monthly capacity of 9.85 million 5.5” equivalent panels. (Digitimes, press) |
| Xiaomi Mi 5S and Mi Note 2 (5.7” FHD) are rumored o feature dual-edge curved displays. Isaiah Research speculates there would be a Mi Note 2 Pro featuring 5.7” WQHD dual-edged display. (Android Headlines, China Tech, Isaiah Research report)
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| Samsung is working on a smart contact lens dubbed the “Samsung Gear Blink”. The patent, titled “smart contact lens for augmented reality and methods of manufacturing and operating” is a contact lens that consists of a small display, camera, RF antenna, and sensors to detect eye movement. (Android Headlines, Sam Mobile, Digital Trends)
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| A metallic glass known as SAM2X5-630 developed by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) has the ability to be hard, as well as elastic. The material was developed by heating a powdered iron composite up to 1,166 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by rapid cooling. The raw material is heated through the application of a large jolt of electricity, which randomizes the molecules without liquefying the substance. (CN Beta, Next Big Future, Tech Times, Nature)
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Smartphones |
| According to the latest report from market research firm Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, Apple iOS declined 3.2 percentage points between February 2015 and February 2016 to 22.2%, and Android increased its sales share to 76.4%. Huawei was able to recapture the top spot on the Smartphone brand leader board, capturing 24.4% of Smartphones sold in urban China, just ahead of Apple’s 22.2%. (Apple Insider, Kantar Worldpanel, Kantar Worldpanel, TechNews)
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| Apple has an outside shot at getting to 1 billion iPhones before July. (CN Beta, CNN, Yahoo)
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| ZTE announces overall operating revenues of CNY100.19 billion for 2015, up 23% compared to 2014. Net profit in 2015 is CNY3.2 billion, a 21.8% rise from 2014. ZTE has invested CNY12.2 billion in R&D in 2015. ZTE has shipped 56 million units of smartphones in 2015, more than 70% of which is to overseas. (CN Beta, 163, Yahoo, Mobile World Live) |
| ZTE says it is cooperating with U.S. authorities accusing it of secretly doing business with Iran but warned it could still face penalties for violating American sanctions. (CN Beta, Law 360, WSJ) |
| Isaiah Research expects a new product segment in between J series and O series from Samsung, which aims at mid-end market, expected to announce in 2Q16-3Q16 time frame. (Isaiah Research report)
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| Based on Isaiah Research estimation, Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, and Meizu still majorly target domestic market with over 80% of shipments allocation in 2016. Lenovo, ZTE and TCL still aim majorly for overseas market. (Isaiah Research report)
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| Alipay, the payment app run by Alibaba’s affiliate Ant Financial, is launching in Europe. (CN Beta, CNBC, Qianzhan) |
| Samsung Galaxy S7 is a sales success (9 million units sold within first month of availability), and a few factors contributing that success: glowing reviews, TTM is a month early than last year, price it more affordably, and correctly judging demand for larger S7 Edge model. (Phone Arena, Bloomberg, CN Beta) |
| Meizu m3 note is official with aluminium uni-body – 5.5” FHD IPS LCD display, MediaTek Helio P10 (MT6755) processor, 13MP PDAF+5MP cameras, 2GB RAM + 16GB storage / 3GB RAM + 32GB storage, Android 5.1, LTE and VoLTE, dual-SIM, fingerpring sensor, 4100mAh battery, CNY799 / CNY999. (GSM Arena, Meizu, CN Beta)
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| Huawei P9 is official with dual-camera – 5.2” FHD IPS-NEO LCD display, HiSilicon Kirin 955 processor, 2×12MP PDAF (Leica) + 8MP cameras, 3GB RAM + 32GB storage / 4GB RAM + 64GB storage, Android 6.0, fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C, dual-SIM, LTE, 3000mAh battery, EUR599 / EUR649. (CN Beta, GSM Arena)
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| Huawei P9 Plus is officially announced with dual-camera – 5.5” FHD Super AMOLED display, HiSilicon Kirin 955, Android 6.0, 2×12MP PDAF (Leica) + 8MP cameras, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, Android 6.0, fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C, dual-SIM, LTE, 3400mAh battery, GBP549. (CN Beta, GSM Arena) |
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Wearables |
| Band Aid app works with Microsoft Band, monitoring skin temperature and heart rate to detect a spike in the stress level, thus trying to determine whether domestic violence is possible. (CN Beta, Softpedia)
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| Huawei TalkBand B3 is officially announced – 128 × 80 PMOLED 3D-curved display, Bluetooth 4.2, compatible with Android / iOS, IP57 rated, 91mAh battery, 3 different models Active (EUR169), Classic (EUR199) and Elite (EUR249). (GSM Arena, Digital Trends, 163)
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| Meizu announces smart band bong 2P, which could interact with Meizu m3 note. It can unlock the handset by wearing the band. It has 40 days battery life, weighed 11g, priced at CNY79. (CN Beta, HiAPK)
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| MiClimate is a belt with air vents that cool or even heat your body in just seconds. The operating principle is called “thermoelectric technology”. The main unit that is attached to the belt with a flexible manifold. Ambient air is sucked through the down-facing port in the bottom of the unit and dispersed under the wearer’s garments, heated or cooled, according to needs. (CN Beta, Auto Evolution, WPTV, MiClimate)
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| Internet of Things |
| Volvo is planning an experiment in China that will have as many as 100 autonomous vehicles driving on public streets in regular traffic conditions. (Engadget, Volvo, The Verge, Sina) |
| Google has added an ex-Apple global supply manager Daniel Munoz for the iPhone and the Apple Watch to the self-driving car supply management team. (CN Beta, 9to5Google) |
| An advisory committee is recommending standards that could clear the way for commercial drone flights over populated areas and help speed the introduction of package delivery drones. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently prohibits most commercial drone flights over populated areas. (CN Beta, Boston Globe, US News) |
