IF / News

Chipsets

MediaTek is launching Helio A series and first SoC in the series Helio A22. Helio A22 is adopting 12nm new process, with 4×2.0GHz A53 CPU cores, PowerVR GPU, supporting 1600×720 display resolution with 20:9 aspect ratio, H.264 1080p / 30fps. (CN Beta, Laoyaoba, MediaTek)

Intel XMM 7560 modem supports CDMA, which could allow Intel to win Apple’s modem orders for new iPhone. Apple is allegedly expecting Intel to supply 70% of the modem chips inside the new iPhone models for 2018, with Intel potentially getting all of the orders for the 2019 iPhone “if all goes well”. (Laoyaoba, Motley Fool, CN Beta, Fox Business, Fast Company)

Xilinx, the leader in adaptive and intelligent computing, announced today that it has acquired DeePhi Technology, a Beijing-based privately held start-up with industry-leading capabilities in machine learning, specializing in deep compression, pruning, and system-level optimization for neural networks. (CN Beta, Xilinx, Design Reuse)

Touch Display

Having seen its sales grow nearly 30% on year in 1H18, semiconductor materials supplier Wah Lee Industrial is expected to see its momentum continue in 2H18 amid rising demand for related OLED equipment and materials. Buoyed by its established distribution channels in China, Wah Lee’s sales of OLED business line alone expanded by 2.5-fold in 1H18, indicating the booming demand for related OLED products in China. (51Touch, EEPW, Money DJ, Laoyaoba, Digitimes, press)

Camera

According to Digitimes, Taiwan-based CMOS image sensor (CIS) suppliers, such as Silicon Optronics and Pixart Imaging, and backend houses including Xintec, VisEra Technologies, Kingpak Technology, King Yuan Electronics (KYEC) and Tong Hsing Electronic Industries, and IC distributor Sunnic Technology & Merchandise have moved to explore new growth drivers in the non-smartphone fields. (Digitimes, press)

Sensory

Global shipments of smartphones featuring 3D sensing technology are expected to top over 100M units in 2018, with Apple serving as the primary vendor and following by Xiaomi, OPPO and vivo, according to Sigmaintell. Combined shipments of Android-based smartphones with 3D sensing technology are likely to reach only 12M units in 2018, which added that the TOF technology may start getting momentum in 2019. (CN Beta, Digitimes, press, Sigmaintell, press)

Connectivity

The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), BMW, Ford Motor, and Groupe PSA — in association with Qualcomm and Savari, Inc. have  announced Europe’s first live demonstration of C-V2X direct communication technology operating across vehicles from multiple auto manufacturers. (Laoyaoba, Automotive World, PR Newswire)

Phone

Strategy Analytics finds that on-device Edge AI is growing fast among smartphone vendors. Senior analyst Ville-Petteri Ukonaho indicates that by 2023, 80% of smartphones will have on-device AI. (Laoyaoba, Strategy Analytics, press)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is Xiaomi’s first mobile phone to officially sell through SK Telecom and KT Corp from 16 Jul 2018.  Unlocked Xiaomi phones have previously been available through other retail channels in Korea. (Laoyaoba, My Smart Price, Korea Herald, Korea JoongAng Daily)

Xiaomi officially enters Bangladesh bringing Redmi S2, Redmi 5 and Redmi Note 5. These phones will be available online via Daraz Bangladesh (daraz.com.bd) and it will be available to offline sales soon. (GizChina, MoF Com, People.com)

Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) finds that the U.S. smartphone market further consolidated in 2Q18, with Apple iOS improving its take from 2017. Apple accounted for 36% of U.S. activations for the three-month period, compared to 63% for Google Android. (Apple Insider, 9to5Mac)

The European Commission has fined Google EUR4.34B for breaching EU antitrust rules. Since 2011, Google has imposed illegal restrictions on Android device manufacturers and mobile network operators to cement its dominant position in general internet search. (Engadget, EU Commission, GizChina, GSM Arena, CN Beta)

vivo Y71i is launched in India – 6” 1440×720 FullView HD+, Qualcomm Snapdragon 425, rear 8MP + front 5MP, 2GB+16GB, Android 8.1, no fingerprint scanner, face unlock, 3360mAh, INR8,990. (Gizmo China, The Mobile Indian, Indian Express)

Nokia X5 is announced – 5.8” 720×1520 HD+ IPS LCD, MediaTek Helio P60, rear dual 13MP – 5MP + front 8MP, 3GB+32GB / 4GB+64GB, Android 8.1, 3060mAh, CNY999 / CNY1399. (GizChina, GSM Arena, NDTV)

Huawei Nova 3i is announced in Philippines and China – 6.3” 2340×1080 FHD+, HiSilicon Kirin 710, rear dual 16MP-2MP + front dual 24MP-2MP, 4GB+128GB / 6GB+64GB, Android 8.1, 3340mAh, from PHP15,990 (USD300) / CNY1,999. (Huawei, Yuga Tech, GSM Arena, CN Beta)

Wearables

Huami Corporation, a biometric and activity data-driven company, has announced that sales volume for the Amazfit smart sport watches has reached 1M units in 1H18. Since the Amazfit smart sport watches were first launched late 2016, overseas sales volume has exceeded 1M units.  (Laoyaoba, Sina, JRJ, Asia One)

Automotive

Belgium-based investment fund Sogepa will invest EUR150M (USD176M) in Hong Kong-based electric vehicle (EV) maker Thunder Power Holdings and help the latter establish a Belgium-based subsidiary, Thunder Power Belgium, mainly for setting up an EV R&D center and factory in Gosselies, Belgium. (Digitimes, press, CNYES, China Times, Money DJ)

Xpeng Motors reportedly has its backing from Alibaba Group Holding, Foxconn Technology Group and Xiaomi founder Lei Jun. Xpeng expects to raise more than USD600M in Jul 2018 from investors that include Alibaba, valuing it close to USD4B. (Laoyaoba, Bloomberg, SCMP, Sina, East Money)

Zoox, a self-driving car startup, is closing a USD500M at a USD3.2B post-money valuation. Prior to the deal, Zoox is valued at USD2.7B. Zoox is to publicly deploy autonomous vehicles by 2020 in the form of its own ride-hailing service. (TechCrunch, Bloomberg)

E-Commerce

Walmart has announced it is establishing a strategic partnership with Microsoft to further accelerate Walmart’s digital transformation in retail, empower its associates worldwide and make shopping faster and easier for millions of customers around the world. In a 5-year agreement, Walmart has selected the full range of Microsoft cloud solutions. (WSJ, WSJ CN, Walmart, Engadget, Sina)

Fintech

Stronghold is launching a cryptocurrency that is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and IBM will explore how to use it on its own IBM Blockchain Platform. The move is aimed at instilling more trust in cryptocurrency and increasing its usefulness based on the technical advantages of blockchain, which is a decentralized, secure, and transparent ledger. (VentureBeat, Reuters, CNBC, Sina)