4-27: Apple 2Q16 revenue USD50.55bln, YoY -13%; From 2017 all phones sold in India must have a panic button; Nokia acquires Withings; etc.
Apple 2Q16 revenue USD50.55bln, YoY -13%; From 2017 all phones sold in India must have a panic button; Nokia acquires Withings; HTC launches APVRA and Vive X; DRAM will be severely undersupply in 2H17; SkullStruct could authenticate a person with accuracy 97%; etc.
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Chipset |
| A team of researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences expect to set a new valuation record in China with their start-up based on Cambrian, a deep-learning processor they invented that may take artificial intelligence to the next level. (CN Beta, People, SCMP)
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Display |
| Researchers from the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School have developed a smartphone application that projects a magnified smartphone screen to Google Glass, which users can navigate using head movements to view a corresponding portion of the magnified screen. (CN Beta, Science Daily, Newswire)
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| The global notebook PC display market fell 23% YoY in 1Q16, according to IHS. Due to the low profitability of HD notebook PC panels, panel makers have begun to decrease production, in favor of FHD panels. FHD panels are therefore expected to enjoy high growth through 2018 and could become mainstream in notebook PCs in 3 years. (IHS, press, Sohu, EEPW)
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| As panel makers promote in-cell and on-cell touch-screen solutions, and offer aggressive pricing as well, in-cell and on-cell touch solutions are expected to comprise half of all smartphone displays shipped in 2017, according to IHS. (IHS, press)
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Memory |
| According to Gartner, the DRAM market will see oversupply in 1Q16, before moving to an undersupply in 2Q16 and then moving back to oversupply for the remainder of 2016. 2017 will see an oversupply in 1Q17 before moving to a mild undersupply in 2Q17 and then a more severe undersupply in 2H17. (Gartner report)
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Battery |
| GTM Research estimates that Tesla will sell 168.5 megawatt-hours of energy storage systems to SolarCity this year. That’s more than six times what Tesla sold to SolarCity in 2015. Excluding the 52 megawatt-hour solar-plus-storage project in KIUC territory in Hawaii, Tesla’s expected 116.5 megawatt-hours will be 60% larger than the entire 2015 U.S. behind-the-meter market. (CN Beta, Green Tech Media, IT World)
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Sensors |
| Eindhoven University, Netherlands has developed a sweat sensor through which the sweat itself flows at a steady rate and is analyzed. Using laser micro-manufacturing, they made minuscule structures in flexible plastic and integrated a small analytic chip. Their work overcomes an important hurdle towards the development of flexible sweat sensors that can be stuck on the skin. (Forbes, CN Beta, Eindhoven University)
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Biometrics |
| Researchers have developed a new form of biometrics using the buzz generated when sound passes through a skull. The SkullConduct system, developed by University of Stuttgart, Saarland University and the Max Planck Institute for Informatic, identifies individuals by the conduction of sound through their skull to identify them. By integrating it with a pair of Google Glass smartglasses, the researchers were able to test it on 10 participants and identify the individuals with 97% accuracy. (TechNews, New Scientist, Parent Herald, NewsWeek)
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| IEEE Cybersecurity Initiative’s Center for Secure Design provides practical insights into secure software design principles and practices for wearable device (no matter what types of devices you work on), by analyzing the design of a wearable device. The WearFit report is based on a fictitious fitness tracking device design, but mirrors actual devices on the market. (EE Times, paper)
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Connectivity |
| Intel proposes to use USB Type-C Digital Audio Technology. Intel is working on a standard that could replace the analog audio port on your laptop and phone. (CN Beta, AnandTech, article, Digital Trends, Intel)
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| Microsoft and Rolls-Royce are collaborating to bring new capabilities to Rolls-Royce customers. Rolls-Royce will integrate Microsoft Azure IoT Suite and Cortana Intelligence Suite into its service solutions to expand its digital capabilities to support the current and next generation of Rolls-Royce intelligent engines. (CN Beta, Geek Wire, Financial News, Microsoft)
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| MC10’s Wearable Interactive Stamp Platform (WiSP) is an ultra-thin sticker that resembles a tattoo. It contains near field communication (NFC) technology enabling it to connect to an NFC-capable device such as a smartphone or a dedicated reader. Tearing the WiSP would make the information it contains becomes unreadable. (Read/Write, NFC World, Gizmag, Gfan)
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Smartphones |
| Apple has officially posted its 2Q16 (Jan-Mar 2016) earnings results with USD50.6 billion in revenue and USD10.5 billion in profit. 51.1 million units of iPhone, 10.2 million units of iPad and 4 million units of Mac are sold. (Apple Insider, iPhone Forums, Apple, 9to5Mac, CN Beta)
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| Apple reportedly has been cutting all of its contract recruiters in the past few weeks. In all, more than 100 people could be affected by the moves. (CN Beta, Apple Insider, Venture Beat) |
| Wells Fargo analyst Maynard Um expects the “iPhone 7” will see a return to growth for Apple in the December quarter. Currently, he projects Apple could reach as many as 82.2 million iPhone units in the holiday frame. (CN Beta, Apple Insider, Value Walk, Street Insider) |
| As announced at the launch, 1 million units of 3 superphones from LeEco, Le2, Le2 Pro and Le Max 2 went on 1st sale today, priced at CNY1099, 1499, 2099/2499 respectively. (GSM Arena, Gizmo China, Xinhuanet, ZOL) |
| LeEco has announced plans of setting up a manufacturing and research units in India. (Android Central, ChinaSo) |
| India has decreed that, from 2017, all phones must be sold with a panic button that lets users instantly alert the emergency services. A year later and all devices sold must come with GPS as standard for authorities to quickly locate victims of sexual assault. (Engadget, Economic Times, Mashable, The Quint, CN Beta) |
| Chinese phones that do not have International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) number and lack necessary security features are banned in India. (IB Times, Trak, Android Headlines, Press Trust of India, Sohu, Huanqiu) |
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Wearables |
| In 2015, Rolex’s combined revenue totaled USD4.5 billion. Meanwhile, Apple Watch revenue totaled USD6 billion in its first 12 months of availability. (CN Beta, Yahoo)
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| Nokia Technologies announced a planned takeover of health and fitness accessory maker Withings, with EUR170 million. (Apple Insider, Nokia, 163, ZOL) |
| The head of the HTC Vive in China Wang Tsung-ching was recently quoted as saying that he believes that in the next 4 years, VR could very well outpace the smartphone market. (Ubergizmo, Focus Taiwan, 163) |
| HTC is launching Asia Pacific VR industry alliance (APVRA), and also pioneering a VR accelerator program, expending USD100 million of its own capital on the initiative. Dubbed Vive X, HTC is targeting startups in Beijing, Tapei, and San Francisco for its initial launch, with other cities being considered for future revisions. (TechNews, Digital Trends, 163, DoNews)
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| Ossic introducing its innovative approach to 3D audio, the Ossic X headset, which takes into account of head-related transfer function (HRTF). It can make VR experiences more immersive. (TechNews, Kickstarter, Tom’s Hardware, Popular Science)
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Internet of Things |
| Google, Ford, Uber, Lyft, and Volvo have joined together in a new coalition, looking to persuade the public and U.S. government about the benefits of self-driving cars. (Apple Insider, Bloomberg, 163, Sina) |
| The German government plans to encourage buyers by exempting them for paying vehicle tax for 10 years. (CN Beta, Reuters, DW, In Auto News, Auto News) |
| Apple had held talks with both BMW AG and Daimler AG but failed due to a disagreement over who controlled what in any joint project. Canadian-Austrian firm Magna International is currently favored by Apple to co-design and manufacture the Apple Car. (CN Beta, TechSpot, Silicon Angle, Handlesblatt) |
| Volvo launches new model S90 in China, which is equipped with advanced semi-autonomous drive system Pilot Assist, that can reach speed of around 130km/h. (CN Beta, Auto Blog, Auto Evolution)
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| Dubai wants driverless cars to account for 25% of all trips by 2030. (Big Story, Ubergizmo, China Times, iFeng) |
| IHS Automotive Asia consultant James Chao indicates that at least 10 VC firms / companies in China are investing in developing, building and eventually selling electric car. China has already become the largest market in the world for EV sales, with 320,000 electric vehicles, including commercial ones, sold last year. (TechNews, CNBC) |
