IF / News

videantis, a leading supplier of processor IP for the automotive and other embedded markets, announces that cumulative shipments of production vehicles equipped with videantis processors have surpassed the 10M unit mark. videantis GmbH is a leading supplier of deep learning and computer vision solutions based on its unified processing platform. (Laoyaoba, Edge Ai+ Vision, Sohu)

According to Gartner, Apple remained the No. 1 semiconductor chip buyer in 2020, representing 11.9% of the total worldwide market. The top 10 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) increased their semiconductor spend by 10% in 2020, and accounted for 42% of the total market, up from 40.9% in 2019. The top 10 companies in 2020 remained the same as in 2019. (Laoyaoba, Gartner)

According to IC Insights, each of the top-5 wafer capacity leaders had capacity of at least 1.5M wafer starts per month. The combined capacity of the top 5 companies represented 54% of total global wafer capacity in Dec 2020, up one point from 53% in 2019.  For comparison, in the year 2009, the top 10 wafer capacity leaders held 54% of total global capacity and the top five leaders accounted for 36% of capacity. (Laoyaoba, IC Insights)

According to the executive VP of ASML Ron Kool, the chip shortages slowing car production are a symptom of broader increased demand that is placing strains on suppliers across the semiconductor sector. He has stated that there has been a higher demand for lower technology computer chips, a bit stronger and beyond the expectations of most chipmakers and industry watchers in the coronavirus pandemic era. (Laoyaoba, Sohu, Reuters, Gizmo China)

GlobalFoundries (GF) has announced a strategic partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to supply chips from its Fab 8 in Malta, New York. The company currently supplies chips to DOD from its Fab 10 in East Fishkill, New York, and Fab 9 in Burlington, Vermont, both former IBM sites. The new agreement covers its 45nm silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. (CN Beta, GlobalFoundries, Times Union, Forbes)

IHS Markit executive director Mark Fulthorpe has anticipated that 1M vehicles will be delayed from production in 1Q21. They expect the industry to recover later in 2021, with little expected risk to the full year forecast of 84.6M units currently. They are continuing to monitor, yet the situation remains fluid. (CN Beta, IHS Markit, Sohu)

Apple’s “iPhone 13” reportedly features always-on display, which could potentially light up portions for a brief period to show notifications to the user, without illuminating the entire screen. (GSM Arena, Apple Insider, YouTube, Sohu)

S-Connect has been manufacturing hinges for Samsung’s foldable phones since 2020 and will soon start making the hinges for the next generation Galaxy Z phones. It will start mass producing the hinges for the Galaxy Z Flip2 and Z Fold3 in 2Q21. (GSM Arena, ZDNet)

Omdia believes that Apple could launch their foldable iPhone in 2023. The foldable iPhone will feature a 7.3”-7.6” display and support for the Apple Pencil. This means that the form factor Apple will be going for will be a smartphone-tablet hybrid. (Equal Ocean, Ubergizmo, Mac Rumors, Gizmo China, My Drivers)

Apple’s patent that relates to displays with multiple refresh rate modes. Apple notes that displays may be operable at a native refresh rate that is equal to the highest refresh rate at which the display has full resolution. When operating at the native refresh rate, each row of pixels may be scanned sequentially. The native refresh rate may be 120Hz and the high refresh rate may be 240Hz, as one example. (CN Beta, Patently Apple, Ubergizmo)

Samsung’s next-generation foldable phone Galaxy Z Fold3 is reportedly to feature under-panel camera (UPC). It also appears that the company will take a similar approach to ZTE, Xiaomi and OPPO. The display will have two parts: a main screen and an area with lower resolution and higher light transmission. (Phone Arena, Twitter, Sina)

OPPO’s patent describes a movable front camera for capturing selfies from various angles. The arrangement on the top of the display upfront operates with the help of a drive motor. It uses a guide block placed inside a rail bracket to move the sensor bi-directionally. That is, once the camera app is opened, users can adjust the position of the front camera and move it left / right. (CN Beta, LetsGoDigital, Gizmo China)

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) working in association with startup Xsensio have developed a wearable sensing chip that can measure the concentration of cortisol – the stress hormone – in human sweat. Enabling future quasi-continuous monitoring, their device can eventually help doctors better understand and treat stress-related conditions like burnout and obesity. (CN Beta, EPFL, Engadget)

Apple’s patent relates to cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries. A coating, such as aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) or aluminum fluoride (AlF.sub.3), is typically applied to the cathode particles to prevent dissolution of the transition metals from the cathodes into the electrolyte. However, the aluminum oxide coating often causes energy density loss for the battery. There remains a need to develop coatings for improved battery performance. The performance of batteries can be improved using coatings that provide improved average voltage and energy retention. (CN Beta, Patently Apple, Ubergizmo)

Pusan National University has identified a promising candidate to answer all of these requirements: single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) film. By introducing small impurities (in this case, withdrawn electrons to molybdenum oxide) into the SWNT-PI nanocomposite layer, the energy needed for electrons to move across the structure is much smaller, and hence more charge can be generated for a given amount of current. Only 7μm thick, the composite film exhibited exceptional resistance to bending, almost 80% transparency, and a power conversion efficiency of 15.2%. (Laoyaoba, PR Newswire, Solar Industry)

The former Android founder Andy Rubin has signed over ownership of his one-time smartphone entrant Essential to former OnePlus director Carl Pei’s Nothing Technologies Limited. This process is completed as of 6 Jan 2021, with the application being made as early as 11 Nov 2020. (Android Authority, 9to5Google, CN Beta)

Google has launched the “Pixel for Business” to attract companies to buy Pixel phones. The company also reveals a new slogan “Built for Business”. Google claims that Pixel has all the tools and technology to support business needs across hardware, software, and built-in AI. (GizChina, Pixel)

According to IDC, the India smartphone market exited 2020 at 150M units, a 1.7% YoY decline, after several years of growth. Stay-at-home mandates, remote work, remote education, travel restrictions, and manufacturing shutdowns led to a sluggish 1H20 (-26% YoY decline), particularly impacting 2Q20. However, 2H20 recovered, with 19% YoY growth, as markets reopened gradually. (GSM Arena, IDC, Android Central)

Google has been developing a one-handed mode feature for inclusion into AOSP, the open-source version of Android. That means the feature will be accessible to any smartphone maker using AOSP. (Android Headlines, XDA-Developers, CN Beta)

The Mechanical Licensing Collective has announced that Apple and other digital service providers have paid a total of USD424,384,787 in historical unmatched royalty fees. Of that total, Apple paid USD163,338,890 which was the highest fee paid out. Spotify paid USD152,226,039, which marked the second highest payment. (MacRumors, The MLC, Variety)

Samsung Galaxy F62 is announced in India – 6.7” 1080×2400 FHD+ HiD Super AMOLED+, Exynos 9825, rear quad 64MP-12MP ultrawide-5MP macro-5MP depth + front 32MP, 6+128 / 8+128GB, Android 11.0, side fingerprint, 7000mAh 25W (9.5mm thick), reverse charging, INR23,999 (USD330) / INR25,999 (USD358). (GSM Arena, Gizmo China, CN Beta)

Moto G30 and G10 are unveiled: G30 – 6.5” 720×1600 HD+ v-notch 90Hz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, rear quad 64MP-8MP ultrawide-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 13MP, 4/6+128GB, Android 11.0, rear fingerprint, 5000mAh 20W, EUR179. G10 – 6.5” 720×1600 HD+ v-notch, Qualcomm Snapdragon 460, rear quad 48MP-8MP ultrawide-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 8MP, 4+64GB, Android 11.0, rear fingerprint, 5000mAh 10W, EUR149.(GSM Arena, Android Authority)

Xiaomi India has announced that it has managed to sell over 6.82M units of Mi Earphones Basic within 2.5 years. The data for this achievement comes from Xiaomi Data Center. (Gizmo China, Twitter, Sohu, IT Home)

Garmin Enduro is launched aiming specifically at ultra-runners / endurance athletes. Enduro has an enhanced VO2 Max measurement system which includes a new trail run VO2 Max capability, and automatically adjusts based on trail conditions. It is priced at USD799 / GBP699. (CN Beta, Pocket-Lint, Digital Trends)

Sennheiser has announced that it is looking for a partner to invest in its Consumer business. The company’s consumer business focuses on headphones of all types whereas its other businesses consist of professional audio products including studio microphones, amplifiers, and more. Sennheiser has said that it wants to focus on its professional business and aims to secure partnerships for its consumer business. (Gizmo China, India Today, The Verge, Sennheiser, CN Beta)

Electric aircraft such as drones could account for 30% of same-day package deliveries by 2040 as network scale dramatically brings down costs, according to L.E.K. Consulting. The exact market share for vertical takeoff-and-landing aircraft will depend on how transport operators configure their networks and the comparable cost of transporting goods through road-based methods. (CN Beta, Business Times, Bloomberg)

Nissan Motor has revealed that it is not in talks with Apple, following a report that Apple has approached the Japanese company in recent months about a tie-up for its autonomous car project. Early stage talks between Apple and Hyundai Motor Group over autonomous electric cars also recently collapsed on concerns within the South Korean automaker about becoming a mere contract manufacturer. (Apple Insider, CN Beta, Reuters)

Germany’s Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess has revealed that the company is not concerned by any Apple plans for a passenger vehicle that could include the Apple’s battery technology. Volkswagen plans to develop software needed for autonomous cars in-house to ensure it can compete against tech firms in the field of electric car data. (MacRumors, Reuters, IT Home, Sina)

Luxury car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover says it is aiming to be a net zero carbon business by 2039. Chief executive Thierry Bolloré has announced the manufacturer’s new ’Reimagine’ strategy. The company says it wants to be a “sustainability-rich” manufacturer which is embarking on a journey to become a net zero carbon business by 2039. (CN Beta, Business Live, Automotive World)

Bitcoin’s price broke above USD50,000 for the first time in history on 16 Feb 2021, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin has gotten a boost from news of large firms like Tesla and Mastercard showing support for crypto. (Neowin, CoinMarketCap, CNBC, CNN)