8-31: Corning announces Gorilla Glass SR+ for wearables; Sunic System’s solution for 11K (2,250 ppi) AMOLED production is revealed; etc.
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Chipset |
| Intel launches 7th-gen Core series, formerly known by the code name Kaby Lake, for laptops and 2-in-1 tablets. Kaby Lake is Intel’s 3rd generation of chips to be based on 14nm process. Kaby Lake Core Series processors will offer clock speed boosts up to 400 / 500MHz higher in the same power envelop (4.5~15W depending on SKU). (AnandTech, Liliputing, CN Beta, Forbes, PC Perspective, Intel)
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Touch Display |
| Corning announces Gorilla Glass SR+, a composite material for wearable devices. According to Corning, it offers scratch resistance similar to sapphire but with 70% better damage resistance against impacts and 25% better surface reflection. (Apple Insider, CNET, SlashGear, Mac Rumors, Corning, CN Beta)
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| An Apple patent published could potentially be applied to building touch-sensing surfaces, including screens, using material concepts first developed by Liquidmetal Technology. the patent describes a way of using “bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys” in substrates and arrays. “Discrete areas of crystalline alloy” could be used to form sense, drive, and/or multi-function circuit elements. (Apple Insider, USPTO, CN Beta)
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| Apple patent titled “Electronic Devices with Sapphire-Coated Substrates” is an invention designed to add a sapphire coating to future OLED displays like those that will begin shipping in 2017 and beyond. (TechNews, Patently Apple)
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| Sunic System’s solution for 11K (2,250 ppi) AMOLED production is revealed. Samsung Display’s principal engineer Insun Hwang indicates high resolution is the key in VR, and approximately 2,000ppi is required for suitable realism, and current AMOLED panel for mobile is 806ppi from Samsung Display. (OLEDnet, OLED-Info, OLED-Info, Sohu)
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| Mirle Automation has developed forming equipment for 3D curved glass chassis, and reportedly entered the supply chain for the 2017 Apple iPhone series. Mirle has obtained orders for the newly-developed equipment from Foxconn Technology and Lens Technology with shipments scheduled to kick off in 4Q16. (Apple Insider, Digitimes, press, China Times) |
| Taiwan-based Wisechip launched a new 256×64 monochrome white PMOLED display. It is aimed to replace 16×2 character displays so that device makers can upgrade easily from a character display to a graphic one. (OLED-Info, Digitimes)
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Battery |
| Toyota is working with Horizon Educational Group on a competition that teaches high-school students how to build mini hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles. (Autoblog, Engadget, Toyota)
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| Mophie has announced Charge Force Powerstation, which is an external battery with 10,000mAh capacity, but it is able to charge devices wirelessly, priced at USD99.95. (CN Beta, Phone Arena, Digital Trends, Yahoo)
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Sensory |
| Smartphones can be used to detect atrial fibrillation with existing hardware, according to Technology Research Centre (TRC), University of Turku, Finland. A low-cost app with a smoothing and specially designed algorithm has been developed that uses the phone’s own accelerometer and gyroscope to check for atrial fibrillation. (Digital Trends, Eureka Alert, Tech-Ex, Toutiao) |
| Drive.ai, a startup founded by Stanford University AI researchers that wants to teach cars to think, unveiled plans for a kit to convert conventional autos into self-driving cars guided by its software in a move to commercialize its research. (The Verge, CNET, Forbes, Business Insider, CN Beta)
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Connectivity |
| Ericsson has announced it would launch the worlds first commercial 5G New Radio (NR) incorporating multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) technology and multi-user MIMO, with the first deployments coming in 2017. (CN Beta, India Times, WSJ, Gizmodo, Market Watch) |
| Guang Yang, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics comments 5G network plans have developed well in 2016, driving an ecosystem which will put 7% of mobile connections on 5G networks by 2025. China’s 2020 5G launch plans brings it closer to early adopters in the US, South Korea and Japan. In contrast, European operators are currently paying more attention to opportunities in IoT. (Strategy Analytics, press, EE Trend) |
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Smartphones |
| Ramzi Haidamus, president of Nokia Technologies, to step down from the Nokia Group Leadership Team and leave company. (Phone Arena, Nokia, 163) |
| [IFA 2016] Archos 55 Diamond Selfie is announced – 5.5” FHD LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, 16MP + 8MP cameras, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, Android 6.0, 3000mAh battery, EUR199. (Android Authority, Archos)
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| ZTE Warp 7 is announced at Boost Mobile – 5.5” HD TFT LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor, 13MP + 5MP cameras, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, LTE, 3080mAh battery, USD99. (Digital Trends, eWeek, GSM Arena, Business Wire)
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| [IFA 2016] Acer Liquid Z6 and Z6 Plus are announced: Liquid Z6 – 5” HD 2.5D curved glass display, MediaTek MT6737 processor, 8MP + 2MP cameras, 1GB RAM, 8GB ROM, Android 6.0, 2000mAh battery, EUR119. Liquid Z6 Plus – 5.5” FHD 2.5D curved glass display, MediaTek MT6753 processor, 13MP + 5MP cameras, 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, Android 6.0, 4080mAh battery, EUR249. (Android Central, Android Authority, GSM Arena)
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Tablets |
| The decline of the worldwide tablet market is set to continue for the remainder of 2016 as YoY growth reaches an all-time low of -11.5% and shipments of 183.4 million units, according to IDC. Positive growth is set to return in 2018 and continue through 2020 with shipments reaching 194.2 million tablets as detachable tablets continue to steal share from traditional PCs. (IDC, press, CN Beta)
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| [IFA 2016] Acer Iconia Talk S is announced – 7” HD display, MediaTek MT8735 processor, 13MP + 2MP cameras, 2GB RAM, 16/32GB storage, Android 6.0, LTE, dual-SIM, EUR169. (GSM Arena, Digital Trends)
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Wearables |
| [IFA 2016] ASUS ZenWatch 3 is announced – 1.39” 400×400 AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100, 512MB RAM, 4GB storage, Android Wear 2.0, 9.95mm thick, 341mAh battery, EUR229. (Engadget, Android Central, Liliputing)
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Internet of Things |
| According to a MaritzCX survey with 12,000 car owners, about 27% percent of owners of Daimler AG’s Mercedes and Nissan Motor Co.’s Infiniti say they are “very interested” in buying a fully self-driving auto when those become available. (CN Beta, The News Wheel, In Auto News, USA Today) |
| Sonos is adding compatibility with Amazon’s Alexa voice control in 2017 as well as Spotify Connect compatibility. (CNET, Forbes, Bloomberg, Android Headlines) |
