05-28: Intel has announced its 10th-generation mobile Core processors, codenamed Ice Lake; Samsung has announced 2 USB Type-C power delivery (PD) controllers; etc.
Chipsets
Intel has announced its 10th-generation mobile Core processors, codenamed Ice Lake. Built for ultrabooks and convertibles, the company is indeed skipping over the 9th-generation after offering 2 generations of 8th-generation U-series chips. Intel’s 10th-generation processor family includes Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 models in either 9-watt, 15-watt, or 28-watt configurations. (Digital Trends, Neowin, CN Beta)
Camera
ZTE claims the upcoming software updates will bring 20x Hybrid Zoom functionality to Axon 10 Pro (48MP wide + 20MP 125º FOV + 8MP telephoto), which already has 3x optical zoom, 5x hybrid zoom and 10x digital zoom. (Gizmo China, My Drivers)
vivo NEX 2 will allegedly adopt a new ‘detachable camera’ technology, which will help it enlarge the screen ratio. The camera can be attached to any part of the phone. (GizChina, ZOL)
Memory
According to TrendForce, DRAM prices have faced mounting pressure to trend down in 1Q19, the traditional offseason. Not only was this due to the production capacities added in 2H18, which found full expression in 1Q19, but also a compressed procurement momentum by a demand side busy clearing out their own inventories. This caused a pronounced double-decline effect: Both DRAM prices and volume fell in 1Q, causing overall production revenue to drop by 28.6% QoQ. (CN Beta, TrendForce, TrendForce, press)
Sensory
Automotive sensor company TriEye has announced a USD17M funding round led by Intel Capital that will be used to develop its sensors for low-visibility situations for connected and autonomous vehicles. Based in Tel Aviv, TriEye uses a technology known as short-wave-infrared (SWIR). (VentureBeat, Reuters, Yahoo)
Battery
Samsung has announced 2 USB Type-C power delivery (PD) controllers, SE8A and MM101. Both chips are built with an embedded Flash (eFlash) that allows the flexibility of modifying its firmware to meet the most up-to-date specifications and are able to supply up to 100 watts (W, 20V / 5A). The MM101 is currently sampling and the SE8A is in mass production. (GizChina, Samsung, CN Beta)
Phone
OPPO’s mobile division has completed its 10-year anniversary in China, and on the occasion, it wants to make some changes to its lineup. OPPO will be allegedly discontinuing the F series the lineup, and replacing it with Reno series. (Android Headlines, 91Mobiles, GizChina.it)
Huawei has trademarked three names with EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office), including HUAWEI ARK OS, HUAWEI ARK, ARK, and ARK OS. All of these trademarks were filed on 24 May 2019. (CN Beta, Android Headlines, IT Home)
Lu Weibing, VP of Xiaomi and general manager of Redmi brand, explains why Redmi is launching flagships. He has indicated that the flagship is complemented to improve the product portfolio to meet the needs of different users and create the first brand with high value for money. (CN Beta, EXP Review, Sohu)
Google has planned to invest about EUR600M (USD672M) in a new data center in Hamina, Finland. Google, which is owned by Alphabet Inc., already has a data center in Hamina, where it invested EUR800M to convert an old paper mill. Google said the existing Hamina facility was one of its most advanced and efficient data centers. Its cooling system uses seawater from the Gulf of Finland to reduce energy use. (CN Beta, Reuters, Bloomberg)
TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, is allegedly developing its own smartphone that will arrive pre-installed with the company’s range of apps which also include content aggregation platform TopBuzz and news platform News Republic. The smartphone will be created by talent ByteDance acquired earlier 2019 from Smartisan. (GizChina, Phone Arena, Financial Times, GSM Arena, The Verge, CN Beta, 36Kr, Yicai, Wallstreet CN)
Apple has announced a new iPod touch with headline features being a faster A10 Fusion chip and a new 256GB storage option. It features a 4” Retina display, a home button without Touch ID, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a Lightning connector, and a single speaker and microphone. (Mac Rumors, Apple, VentureBeat, Sohu, iFanr)
Lu Weibing, VP of Xiaomi and general manager of Redmi brand, has summarized the five common characteristics of the flagship smartphone—first, the flagship processor; second, AMOLED display and under display fingerprint scanner; third, 48MP main camera + multi-camera; forth, glass material + metal middle frame; and last, leading technology. (GizChina, IT Home, Sohu)
Redmi K20 and K20 Pro are announced in China, equipped with 6.39” 1080×2340 FHD+ Super AMOLED, rear tri 48MP wide-13MP ultrawide-8MP telephoto + front mechanical pop-up 20MP, Android 9.0, under display fingerprint scanner: K20 – Qualcomm Snapdragon 730, 6+64/128GB, 4000mAh 18W fast charging, CNY1,999 / CNY2,099. K20 Pro – Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, 6+64/128GB or 8+128/256GB, 4000mAh 27W fast charging, CNY2,499 / CNY2,599 / CNY2,799 / CNY2,999. (CN Beta, GSM Arena, Weibo)
Redmi 7A is announced in China – 5.45” 720×1440 HD+ IPS, Qualcomm Snapdragon 439, rear 13MP + front 5MP, 2+16GB or 2/3+32GB, Android 9.0, 4000mAh 10W fast charging, from CNY549. (GSM Arena, Mi.com)
vivo Y15 is launched in India – 6.35 720×1544 HD+ IPS, MediaTek Helio P22, rear tri 13MP-8MP-2MP + front 16MP, 4+64GB, Android 9.0, 5000mAh, INR13,990 (USD200). (GSM Arena, vivo)
Augmented / Virtual Reality
New spatial computing company Meta View has announced it has acquired the assets of Meta, a pioneer in augmented reality head-mounted displays. Meta, which shut down earlier 2019, captured global recognition for its Meta 2 headset and wide field-of-view (FOV) display system that gave users an immersive view of digital content on the physical world. (Business Wire, VentureBeat)
Artificial Intelligence
SoftBank Group’s early-stage venture capital arm is setting up a second investment fund dedicated to unearthing promising startups in artificial intelligence (AI), propelling founder Masayoshi Son’s ambition of staking out a position in the nascent technology. CEO Katsumasa Niki has indicated that Deepcore is preparing to form a new AI investment fund in 2~3 years as it expands its core startup incubation business. (CN Beta, Bloomberg)