IF / News

Chipsets

According to IC Insights, looking at the ranking for 300mm wafers, it is not surprising that the list includes only DRAM and NAND flash memory suppliers like Samsung, Micron, SK Hynix, and Toshiba / Western Digital; the world’s 5 largest pure-play foundries TSMC, GlobalFoundries, UMC, Powerchip, and SMIC; and Intel, the industry’s biggest IC manufacturer (in terms of revenue).   (IC Insights, press, Laoyaoba)

Qualcomm Technologies plans to add support for Google’s new Android Things operating system to its flagship Snapdragon mobile processor. Qualcomm says its partnership with Google will create a unique opportunity to help “internet of things” application developers overcome the challenges of a fragmented ecosystem. (M2M Magazine, RCR Wireless, ZDNet, Qualcomm, Laoyaoba, Epoch Times)

Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf sees a particular opportunity in the automotive and “internet of things” sectors, where the smartphone is already being absorbed into the dashboard. (Financial Times, article, Laoyaoba)

President of Intel China Yang Xu confirms Intel’s focus segments in China. Intel has chosen 8 segments to focus on—AI, self-driving, 5G, VR, sports, robotics, accurate healthcare, and Made in China 2025. (Yicai, Laoyaoba)

Touch / Display

Apple’s patent application titled “Devices and Methods for Manipulating User Interfaces with a Stylus”, shows how the Pencil could be used with a handset, as well as with a wider range of apps for both Apple’s iPhone and iPad Pro. (Laoyaoba, Digital Trends, Patently Apple, USPTO)

Sensory

Touch Display Research forecasts that sensors for AR, VR, and AI market will be USD97B in 2017, and will reach USD160B in 2022. The USD160B opportunity will be gobbled by over 200 sensor suppliers and integration companies. There are over 20 types of sensor technologies are used for AR, VR, and AI applications. (SEMI, press)

Biometrics

Samsung might reportedly place the Galaxy S8 fingerprint scanner on the back of the device. (Android Headlines, Naver, Sam Mobile, Tech Times, My Drivers)

Smartphones

GM of Android and Chrome at Lenovo, Jeff Meredith mentioned that since other companies will be working on new Tango phones for 2017, it only makes sense for Lenovo to do the same. (Android Authority, Tom’s Guide)

Vikas Agarwal, general manager of OnePlus’ Indian operations, said the company was now looking to make its new 3T phone in India, starting early 1Q17. (CN Beta, India Times)

Apple has reportedly agreed to invest USD44M in an Indonesian R&D center, in a move likely geared mainly toward opening up sales of the iPhone 7, and future iPhones. (Apple Insider, Reuters, 163, Donews)

Freedom 251-maker Ringing Bells has slammed reports claiming that the company is shutting down. The company also said that MDM Electronics Private Limited is a separate entity distinct from Ringing Bells. (Android Authority, Gadgets Now)

Huawei Honor Magic is official – 5.09” QHD Super AMOLED 3D curved display, curvy body, Huawei Kirin 950 processor, dual 12MP—12MP + 8MP cameras, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, Android 6.0 (Magic Live OS), LTE Cat.6, fingerprint sensor, 2900mAh battery, Magic Charge fast charge, CNY3699. (Android Authority, TechWeb, CN Beta, Gizmo China, GSM Arena)

Rugged phone Kyocera DuraForce Pro is launched at US Verizon – 5” FHD Sapphire Shield display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, dual wide-action camera—13MP + 5MP cameras, 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, Android 6.0, IP68 certified, 3240mAh battery. (Phone Arena, CN Beta, Verizon)

Tablets / PCs

Lenovo VP Jeff Meredith indicates the company plans to release a version of the Yoga Book that runs Chrome OS in 2017. (The Verge, Laptop Mag, My Drivers, CN Beta)

Wearables

Samsung vice president Sung-Hoon Hong revealed that the company is not only working on a new virtual reality headset, but that it has plans for an augmented reality device as well. Hong explained that Samsung plans to improve upon existing tech like Microsoft HoloLens and Magic Leap when it comes to AR. (CN Beta, The Verge, Engadget, Next Reality)

3Glasses, or Shenzhen Virtual Reality Technologies Limited, is a Chinese VR industry leader with experience in R&D, production, sales, and value added services across the VR ecosystem. 3Glasses plans to offer a Windows 10-compatible headset in 1H17 at the higher end of a range of specifications Microsoft will support. (CN Beta, VentureBeat, On MSFT)

Rivvr has developed a device that uses proprietary technology to send the raw HDMI signal from both headsets over the air to a PC, at a speed of somewhere between 40~80mbps. The device weighs around 300g. (Kit Guru, TechCrunch, Shack News, ChinaZ, Ali213)

Although Apple has not announced any AR/VR products yet, Touch Display Research forecasts that Apple will release augmented reality devices in the 2017 / 2018 time frame.  (SEMI, press)