6-30: MediaTek MT6737, MT6750 reportedly will be used by Samsung J and A series; Samsung project to build memory chip plant in Pyengtaek is facing obstacles; Huawei reiterates has no problem to reach 140mln sales in 2016; etc.
MediaTek MT6737, MT6750 reportedly will be used by Samsung J and A series; By 2020 estimates there would be 1.4bln smartphones in use in China; Samsung project to build memory chip plant in Pyengtaek is facing obstacles; Huawei reiterates has no problem to reach 140mln sales in 2016; Xiaomi might go IPO in 2025; LG Innotek’s textile flexible pressure sensors; etc.
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Chipset |
| Reportedly MediaTek entry mobile SoC MT6737 and mid-range MT6750 are going to be used by Samsung Galaxy J series and A series. MediaTek is to replace Spreadtrum and some Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 and 400 series. The shipment is expected to begin in 3Q16, and the volume would be around 30-40 million units. (TechNews, 52RD, Toutiao, Tuicool) |
| Qualcomm aims to roll out the world’s first 5G SoC solution in 2018-2019 as 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and is expected to finalize 5G technology standards sometime in 2018, according to company engineering vice president Durga Prasad Malladi. (Digitimes, press, CENA, Sohu, CNFOL) |
| MediaTek announced joining China Mobile 5G research enter, and both companies will work together focusing on 4G to 5G standards. (TechNews, EE Trend) |
| Intel has renewed its research partnership with Tyndall National Institute in Cork, Ireland, for a further 3 years and worth USD1.5 million. (EE Times, Tyndall, Silicon Republic, VIP SMT)
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Touch Display |
| LG Innotek announced a development of new concept textile flexible pressure sensors. This sensor senses pressure from the entire surface of the sensor and it is even bendable. (Far East Gizmos, Gulf News, The Verge)
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Memory |
| The Hokkaido University researchers have developed a device that can switch safely and quickly between magnetic and electronic signals. In so doing they have opened the door to a doubling of the storage capacity of conventional memory devices such as solid-state drives and USB flash drives. (CN Beta, Gizmag, Hokkaido University, Advanced Electronic Materials)
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| Cities near Pyeongtaek are reluctant to cooperate with Samsung and Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) to provide a stable power supply for the Samsung plant. This may dent Samsung’s project of building the world’s largest memory chip plant worth hundreds of billions of dollars in the industrial city of Pyeongtaek. (TechNews, Korea Times) |
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Sensory |
| Cyborg Nest aims to manufacture and sell implantable senses under the slogan “Design Your Evolution”. North Sense Compass Implant, costs USD355, has been designed to connect wearers to “earth, space and the continuous flow of the earth’s magnetic field”. (TechNews, Quartz, Cyborg Nest, Geeky Gadgets)
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| Sony announced that it was working on developing a robot which can connect emotionally with people, and expects to launch it soon. Sony will establish a fund focusing on development of AI and robotic, with the investment of JPY10 billion. (CN Beta, Nikkei, Gulf Today, First Post) |
| Imagination Technologies has announced a collaboration with China-based 3Glasses on the promotion of ray tracing technology in the VR market. Ray tracing allows videogames and apps to use real-life dynamic lighting models, enabling advanced lighting effects, dynamic soft shadows, and life-like reflections and transparencies. (EE Trend, Compotech, AZO Robotics, VR Focus) |
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Battery |
| Sharp will release a solar-powered charging stand for easily charging mobile phones and smartphones. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is JPY2.5 million. (CN Beta, Nikkei)
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Connectivity |
| The Wi-Fi Alliance has expanded the “Wi-Fi CERTIFIED ac” certification program to include features for faster performance. This program will now include features called “Wave 2” such as MU-MIMO for newer and future AC network products. (Android Headlines, CNET, eWeek, 163) |
| University of Birmingham has come up with a multi-function laptop antenna that is able to squeeze inside a hinge. The tech packs Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, and 3G/4G LTE into a single unit, and could allow for thin-and-light notebooks with better connectivity and longer battery life. (CN Beta, Gizmag, Economic Times)
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| Samsung has developed an antenna smaller than 1mm and a power amplifier that will make devices and radio stations smaller for 5G usage. The new technologies are intended to be applied to both 5G base stations and end-user devices using 28GHz millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum. (Far East Gizmos, ZDNet, Telecom Paper) |
| A new undersea cable designed to deliver 60 terabits-per-second (Tbps) of bandwidth across the Pacific Ocean is scheduled to begin service after almost 2 years in the works. A consortium of companies consisting of Google, China Mobile, China Telecom, Global Transit, KDDI, and Singtel in Aug 2014 unveiled their plans to create a 9,000km transpacific submarine cable system “FASTER” spanning from Japan in the east to Oregon on the west coast of the U.S. There are three landing points — two in Japan (Chiba and Mie prefectures) and one in Oregon. (Android Headlines, Venture Beat, My Drivers)
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| Disney Research and ETH Zurich have developed EnLighting based on consumer-grade LEDs that, with some modifications both produce light and serve as light sensors. By having individual LEDs alternate between sending modulated light signals and serving as receivers of signals, it is possible to create a network of bulbs that can send messages to each other and connect to devices, while having no discernible effect on room lighting. (EE Times, Electronics EE Times, VIPSMT)
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| Cirrus Logic announced a new development kit “MFi Headset Development Kit” that makes it easy for companies to develop headphones using Apple’s Lightning connector. (CN Beta, Yahoo, 9to5Mac, Business Wire)
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| According to Akamai’s “State of the Internet” report, global average connection speed in 1Q16 increased 12% from 4Q15, to 6.3Mbps, a 23% increase YoY. (CN Beta, The Verge, Engadget, TechCrunch, Akamai report)
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Smartphones |
| Canalys has predicted that by 2020, there will be more than 1.4 billion smartphones in use in China, as well as a further 34 million mobile phone users still to upgrade. The figure is forecast to outstrip the US, where smartphone usage is said to reach 332 million in 2020, with only 5 million mobile phone users. (CN Beta, 163, ZDNet) |
| Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun indicates that it would take about 15 years from inception for the company to be ready to launch an IPO. Having been registered in 2010, that means Xiaomi is looking at 2025 to go public. (Android Headlines, BGR, DoNews) |
| Huawei smartphone chief He Gang indicates that Huawei have not lowered their shipment targets, and saying the company has no problem to achieve 140 million in 2016. (CN Beta, JRJ, Anzhuo, China Tech) |
| Amazon to sell unlocked phones at a discount in exchange for “personalized deals and product recommendations”, i.e., pre-installed apps and ads on the phone. (CN Beta, Digital Trends, Amazon, CNET, Android Police)
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| BLU R1 HD is announced – 5” HD display, MediaTek MT6735 processor, 8MP + 5MP cameras, 1/2GB RAM, 8/16GB storage, Android 6.0, LTE, 2500mAh battery, from USD100. (Android Central)
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Tablets |
| After launched for 11 months, Microsoft says the number of devices running Windows 10 has jumped to over 350 million. (CN Beta, 163, Beta News, Ars Technica, Bloomberg) |
| PC shipments in India totalled nearly 2 million units in 1Q16, a 7.4% decrease over 1Q15, according to Gartner. Consumers accounted for 45% of total PC sales in 1Q16, down from 48% in 1Q15. (Digitimes, Gartner, data)
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| Xiaomi notebook reportedly will be announced in July 2016, and the specification is not premium, i.e., practical and cheap. (TechNews, Leikeji)
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Wearables |
| NetEase at the 2016 NetEase Future Tech Conference in Beijing, that it is setting up its own VR platform, VR Dream Lab. It is in collaboration with Tsinghua University and AMD. (My Drivers, EE Trend, All China Tech)
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| HTC can confirm that it has established a wholly-owned subsidiary, HTC Vive Tech Corporation, as a vehicle for developing strategic alliances to help build the global VR ecosystem. (CN Beta, TNW, The Verge) |
| The Virtual Reality Box Headset builds on Google’s ‘Cardboard’ technology to deliver a headset made from high quality ABS plastic, and 42mm spherical resin lenses to bring gorgeous 3D effects, and priced at USD19. (TNW, iDownloadBlog, Pocket-Lint)
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| Google’s play would very likely build upon their success in Google Cardboard, and based on the announcements at Google IO, it appears that Google’s approach to VR is very “Google”. Google knows that they do best when they play an enablement role in whatever ecosystem they participate in, and VR should be no different. (Forbes, article, CN Beta)
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