9-7: Xiaomi and Foxconn to build a new smartphone assembly plant in India; Huawei has sold 6 million P6 worldwide since launched in April 2016; Intel acquires Movidius; etc.
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Chipset |
| Intel acquires computer vision startup Movidius to build up its RealSense platform. Movidius has seen a great deal of interest in its radically low-powered computer vision chipset, signing deals with major device makers, including Google, Lenovo and DJI. (Android Authority, TechCrunch, Intel, Movidius, Engadget, CN Beta)
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| TSMC’s 7nm technology is scheduled to volume production in 1Q18. The foundry disclosed previously its 10nm process had received product tape-outs from 3 clients, and the node would start generating revenues in 1Q17. (Digitimes, press, China Times)
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| TSMC and and Renesas Electronics have announced their alliance on 28nm embedded flash process technology for MCUs targeted at autonomous vehicles. (EE Times, SZAEIA, EEPW) |
| UMC is teaming up with MEMS foundry Asia Pacific Microsystems (APM) to provide enhanced MEMS manufacturing services for mutual customers. UMC will leverage its 8” and 12” production capabilities with APM’s 6” fab and MEMS know-how and prototyping experience to provide chip designers with an end-to-end MEMS manufacturing solution. (Digitimes, press, China Times, TechNews) |
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Touch Display |
| Electrophoretic electronic paper maker E Ink announced that its South Korea-based subsidiary Hydis Technologies has signed with Tianma for cross licensing of patents concerning TFT-LCD. (Digitimes, press, OfWeek) |
| Taiwan-based TFT-LCD panel makers AU Optronics (AUO), Innolux and Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT) showed that they are capable of producing in-cell touch panels based on TDDI (touch with display driver integration) technology featuring a single IC to integrate display control with touch control, according to Digitimes Research. (Digitimes, press) |
| UK’s SmartKem, a developer of high-performance organic backplanes for flexible displays, has secured a EUR1.8 million EU grant to support the industrialization and technology transfer of its semiconductor platform to display makers in Asia. (OLED-Info, SmartKem, SMT)
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Memory |
| According to TrendForce, recovery of the notebook market, robust smartphone shipments and growing demand for servers have all supported a high level of demand for memory components. Prices of both DRAM and NAND Flash are projected to rise in the fourth quarter, and DRAM contract prices in particular will post another sequential increase of over 10%. (TrendForce, press, TrendForce[cn], press) |
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Battery |
| Nomura Securities analyst Chris Chang estimates that 65% of battery for Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is provided by Samsung SDI, and 35% from ATL. (Barron’s, press, CN Beta) |
| SolarCity plans to target 5 million U.S. homes with its new integrated solar rooftops. (CN Beta, Learn Bonds, WXYZ) |
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Connectivity |
| Aalborgs University in Denmark and commissioned by telecom authorities in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway assesses how good 26 smartphone models are at providing a connection when operated on weak mobile signals. Microsoft Lumia 640 tops the field under the LTE 800MHz. (ZDNet, Metro, Elite Daily, Norden report, CN Beta)
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| Google has extended the reach of its undersea cable network FASTER in Asia, laying a 26Tbps connection between Japan and Taiwan, which currently houses the Google’s largest data centre in the region. (TechCrunch, Google, The Stack, OfWeek)
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Smartphones |
| According to a new study by Market Strategies (called “iPhone 7 Market Landscaper”) almost 50% of Samsung Galaxy Note owners expressed interest in potentially switching to Apple iPhone 7. (CN Beta, Market Strategies, report, Beta News)
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| According to Strategy Analytics, Strategy Analytics, Apple iPhone 6s was the world’s top-selling smartphone model in 2Q16. Apple currently accounts for 2 of the 3 top-selling smartphone models shipped worldwide. (Strategy Analytics, press, Apple Insider, CN Beta)
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| Foxconn has started shipping about 370,000 Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus units from its Zhengzhou Technology Park. The units are currently on their merry way to stores in the UK, The Netherlands, Italy and the US. (Phone Radar, GSM Arena, IT Home)
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| Apple will reportedly partner with Sony to bring its Apple Pay service to Japan, using Sony’s contactless FeliCa technology to piggyback on existing infrastructure. (Ubergizmo, Asia Nikkei, 163, Tencent) |
| Apple has reportedly sounded out one of its largest contract manufacturing partners, Foxconn, to look at the possibility of making the iPhone in India in the next 2~3 years. (Apple Insider, India Times, ZOL, 163) |
| Xiaomi is setting up its second assembly plant in partnership with Foxconn in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, which is likely to more than double its local manufacturing facility. (GSM Arena, India Times, China Times) |
| Huawei announced that the company has already sold over 6 million P9 units globally since launched in April 2016. (GSM Arena, IT Home, 163) |
| Apple’s streaming music service Apple Music has hit another milestone – it has surpassed 10 million downloads on Android. (GSM Arena, Google Play, ZOL, 163) |
| Intex Aqua S7 launched in India – 5” HD DragonTrail glass display, MediaTek MT6735 processor, 13MP + 5MP cameras, 3GB RAM, 16GB storage, Android 6.0, LTE (VoLTE), fingerprint sensor, 3200mAh battery. (Android Central)
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| LG V20 is official – 5.7” QHD display with 160×1040 Second Display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, dual camera 16MP OIS – 8MP 135° wide-angle with laser AF, PDAF, contrast AF + 5MP cameras, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, Android Nougat, 3200mAh battery. (Pocket-Lint, Android Central, The Verge, Venture Beat, Android Beat, CN Beta)
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| Moto Z and Moto Z Play are officially launched in China: Moto Z – 5.5” QHD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 13MP OIS + 5MP cameras, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, 2600mAh battery, CNY3999. Moto Z Play – 5.5” FHD Super AMOLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 16MP PDAF + 5MP cameras, 3GB RAM, 64GB ROM, 3510mAh battery, CNY3299. Moto Mods – JBL speaker mod, projector mod, battery mod, etc. (CN Beta, Engadget, Gizmo China)
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Wearables |
| The number of new HTC Vive owners on Steam grew only 0.3% in July 2016 and was flat in August 2016, according to a survey of customers that use Valve’s distribution network. The Oculus Rift headset from the Facebook subsidiary saw similar stagnation of 0.3% in July and 0.1% in August. (CN Beta, Noob Feed, Tech Spot, Upload VR, Steam, Venture Beat)
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| Michael Kors enters luxurious smartwatch with Access collection – 320×290 display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 2100 processor, Android Wear 1.5, Bradshaw for women and Dylan for men, activity tracking, priced from USD350. (Android Headlines, CN Beta, The Verge, CNET)
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Internet of Things |
| Volvo is partnering with safety supplier Autoliv on a joint venture to create autonomous driving software (including driver assistance) for any company looking to add hands-free features to their lineups. The two firms hope to start selling driver assistance tech by 2019, and full-fledged autonomy by 2021. (Engadget, Volvo, Reuters, Tencent) |
| Volkswagen is paying about USD255 million for the stake, a 12% premium to U.S. truck maker Navistar’s last closing share price. (CN Beta, NY Times, Reuters, Forbes) |
| Xiaomi will reportedly begin selling the Mi Box in U.S. as soon as October 2016, and will be priced below USD100. (CN Beta, The Verge, TechCrunch) |
