IF / News

Chipset

[CES 2017] Qualcomm details Snapdragon 835 – using Samsung 10nm 10LPE FinFET manufacturing node, 4×2.5GHz +4×1.9GHz, Kyro 280 cores, Adreno 540 GPU, supporting 4K, UFS 2.1, dual-camera, LTE Cat. 16 and Quick Charge 4.0 fast charging. (CN Beta, Android Headlines, AnandTech)

Qualcomm reportedly is going to invest in Softbank’s new USD100B tech fund. (Barron’s, CN Beta, WSJ, Business Insider)

[CES 2017] Qualcomm unveils a new automotive processor, Snapdragon 820A. it brings all of the benefits of the 820 chip, including the new 64-bit Kryo CPU, Adreno 530 GPU, LTE speeds of up to 600Mbps, Zeroth machine intelligence capabilities. (Android Headlines, Tencent, Engadget, Qualcomm)

[CES 2017] Qualcomm has unveiled several initiatives to drive further into the connected car space, including a partnership with Volkswagen, a connected car trial in Germany, a new class of high-bandwidth, Gigabit LTE for vehicles, and more. Patrick Little, Qualcomm’s SVP and GM for automotive tech, indicates that the company is looking to develop end-to-end car technology for the next generation of connected vehicles. (TechCrunch, iFanr)

Qualcomm reportedly is going to invest in Softbank’s new USD100B tech fund. (Barron’s, CN Beta, WSJ, Business Insider)

[CES 2017] Intel announces its new series of 7^th generation Core processor Kaby Lake built with 14nm+ process. Intel is launching a myriad of SKUs under Kaby Lake, ranging from mobile KBL-U at 15W and 28W through mobile KBL-H at 45W and desktop-class KBL-S at 35W to 91W. This includes three overclocking SKUs for desktop, including an i3 variant. Here’s the front page of AnandTech’s Kaby Lake launch coverage. (CN Beta, Apple Insider, AnandTech)

Intel is buying a 15% stake in HERE, a mapping company, to develop autonomous positioning systems used in driverless vehicles. Intel has sought approval to buy a stake in HERE, a digital mapping firm controlled by Germany’s carmakers Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen. (CN Beta, Reuters, CNET, VentureBeat)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has moved to qualify its more advanced 7nm FinFET technology, which will be ready for customer tape-outs 2Q17, according to Digitimes. More than 15 customers including Xilinx and Nvidia are looking to adopt TSMC’s 7nm process. (Digitimes, press, TechNews)

Touch / Display

Nomura Securities think 2017 will be a super-cycle for LCD in latter terms – record earnings. They are turning bullish on the LCD space from a neutral stance previously for 3 reasons: 1) Tight LCD supply / demand balance to continue in 2017; 2) Positive correlation between LCD panel makers’ operating profit margin and global utilization rate; and, 3) Further upside potential for LCD TV panel prices. (Nomura report)

Samsung’s rumored foldable smartphone featuring 4K flexible OLED display and Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, dubbed Galaxy X, is allegedly to be launched in 2H17. (Ubergizmo, Android Headlines, Softpedia, Twitter, Yesky)

Japan Display Inc. (JDI) reportedly will launch flexible LCD display in fiscal year of 2017 (Apr. 2017~Mar. 2018). JDI indicated in 2016 that it has planned to launch flexible LCD panels in 2019, so it seems they have moved up the schedule. (Yomiuri, TechNews)

Demand for large-size LCD panels during 1H17 will be above the level expected for the usual off season, according to TrendForce. This latest forecast is attributed to the closure of Samsung Display’s L7-1 fab and Sharp’s decision to halt supplying TV panels to Samsung Electronics. The market situation will become more uncertain in the 2H17 as important variables will influence panel supply and demand. TrendForce forecasts that the glut ratio of large-size panel market for 2017 will be 3.2%, which is the almost the same as 2016’s estimate of 3.3%. (TechNews, TrendForce, press, TrendForce[cn], press)

LG Display (LGD) will begin to supply OLED TV panels to Sony in 2Q17, and has agreed to supply Sony with about 100K TVs each year. In Oct. 2016, LGD said its monthly production capacity is currently around 100,000 panels (it depends on the ratio of 55” and 65” panels) – and it expects to increase that rate to be able to make around 2M panels in 2017. In 2018 LGD aims to be produce 2.5M panels. (ET News, OLED-Info, ZOL, FPDisplay)

[CES 2017] E Ink and Quirk Logic are introducing Quilla, a 42” display that works as both signage and a digital whiteboard. (Liliputing, TechCrunch, Market Wired, ZOL)

Camera

Samsung has filed a patent application in South Korea for a dual-lens camera configuration that uses a telephoto and wide angle lens. The patent application is titled “Digital Photographing Apparatus and Method of Operating the Same” and it reveals a dual-camera system. (CN Beta, Softpedia, Phone Arena, USPTO)

Sensory

Purdue University’s DeepHand can capture hand movements with depth-sensing cameras, and using a deep-learning network to understand millions of possible hand positions in order to display them accurately in the virtual world. (CN Beta, Purdue, New Atlas)

[CES 2017] Bluemint Labs’ Bixi is a device that adds gesture control to smartphones and smart home gadgets. The company has announced the successor — Bixi 2.0, which has an E Ink display for showing temperature, time, and notifications. (The Verge, CN Beta)

Biometrics

[CES 2017] Synaptics announced its “new multi-factor biometric fusion engine” that combines both fingerprint and facial recognition technologies. Synaptics has partnered with KeyLemon, a leader in continuous camera-based facial recognition and authentication, to seamlessly integrate secure facial biometrics with Natural ID fingerprint authentication. (Android Authority, Synaptics, CN Beta)

Battery

Samsung SDI CEO Cho Nam-seong indicates that the company is looking to make safety a priority from now on. He also pointed out how this change has already started in 2016 after Samsung SDI adopted numerous transparency policies and simplified the process of reporting issues and communicating with its parent company and the general public. (CN Beta, Android Headlines, Softpedia, Pulse News)

Smartphones

Kim Dong-won, an analyst from KB Securities, indicates that production cost of LG G6 will be more than 20% lower than LG G5 thanks to reduced costs of components. (Android Headlines, The Investor)

Coming Chinese New Year 2017 holiday, Apple’s supply chain has thought of a series of methods to ask their workers to stay over the long holiday, and one of the most effective ways is to increase wages. In particular, Foxconn has decided to increase wages to encourage its workers to work over the holiday, Pegatron and Quanta will follow suit by giving 3 times of wages. (TechNews, Sohu)

Amid reports that Apple is to soon start making iPhones in India, a top-ranking government official said the company’s demand for exemptions as part of its investment plan will come under close scrutiny, indicating “No other company has made these demands which Apple is making, so why should they be given special treatment?” (India Times, CN Beta)

Xiaomi managed to make a mark in India smartphone market with its online and minimalist product portfolio. Two years after it entered the country, they have established itself as one of the leading smartphone sellers making India its biggest overseas market. Majorly credited with its unique strategy of making low-cost products, the company has the knack of making products that people love. (Laoyaoba, TechRadar)

[CES 2017] Huawei Honor 6X is announced for US and Europe – 5.5” FHD 2.5D curved display, HiSilicon Kirin 655 processor, dual rear 12MP-2MP + 8MP cameras, 3 / 4GB RAM, 32 / 64GB storage, Android 6.0, 3340mAh battery, USD250. (Android Authority, Android Central, Yahoo, Ars Technica)

Tablets / PCs

[CES 2017] Lenovo launching 2-in-1 tablet Miix 720 – 12” 2880×1920 QHD+ display, Intel Core i7 Kaby Lake processor, 5MP + 1MP camerea for Windows Hello facial recognition, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Windows 10, Lenovo Active Pen 2, 41Wh battery, from USD1000. (CN Beta, Ubergizmo, Liliputing, Gizmo China)

[CES 2017] Lenovo updates the ThinkPad X1 line-up powered by Intel Core Kaby Lake processor: X1 Carbon – 14” FHD / WQHD IPS display, up to 16GB RAM, up to 1TB SSD, starting at USD1349. X1 Yoga – 14” FHD / WQHD OLED display, ThinkPad Pen Pro, starting at USD1499. X1 Tablet – 12” 2160×1440 display, 8MP + 2MP cameras, up to 16GB RAM, up to 1TB SSD, integrated projection option, starting at USD949. (AnandTech, Beta News, PC World, CNET, India.com, MS Poweruser, 163)

[CES 2017] Dell launches a 2-in-1 hybrid tablet Latitude 5285 – 12.3” 1920×1080 display, Intel Core Kaby Lake processor, up to 16GB RAM, up to 1TB SSD, 4G optional, up to 4Wh battery, from USD899. (CN Beta, Liliputing, The Verge, Digital Trends)

Wearables

The next generation Apple Watch reportedly will be revealed in 3Q17, and be built by Quanta Computer, featuring extended battery life and new version of Apple S-series chip. Quanta is the current manufacturer of the Series 1 and Series 2 Apple Watch. (Apple Insider, TechWeb)

[CES 2017] ODG announces R-8 and R-9 AR glasses, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, running Android 7.0-based Reticle OS, supporting Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, GPS / GLONASS, featuring high-speed IMU for detecting gestures, dual microphones, directional speakers, and USB-C.  (Liliputing, VentureBeat, Android Headlines, 163)

[CES 2017] Lenovo introducing New Glass C200 – a wearable display that uses AI to create AR experience. It is a 2-part system a headset with a camera and a small display and a Pocket Unit that connects to smartphone. (Liliputing, Lenovo, Digital Trends, Leiphone)

[CES 2017] Bodytrak earbud, built by a UK-based startup, is able to function both as a more traditional earbud and as a fitness tracking device.  It can track oxygen intake, speed and distance, and heart rate and body temperature in real time. (Android Headlines, Wearable, Wearable Insider, The Verge)

[CES 2017] Polar launching Team Pro Shirt. The sleeveless, base-layer shirt features 2 thin heart rate capture points embedded directly into the fabric to deliver real-time heart rate metrics. There is also a small sensor pod that sits into a pocket on the back collar to track motion and provide metrics on speed, distance and acceleration. (Engadget, Digital Trends, Wearable, 163)

[CES 2017] Mio Global unveils Mio Slice personal health tracker that has a new personalized metric that translates heart rate data into a single, easy-to-understand score, Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI). A PAI score is calculated based on your age, gender, resting heart rate and maximum heart rate. (CN Beta, CNET, Digital Trends, Yahoo)

[CES 2017] Jewellery brand Swarovski will announce its own Android Wear smartwatch in Mar. 2017, which powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. (Pocket-Lint, Android Headlines)

[CES 2017] Bloomlife’s eponymous pregnancy wearable is now available to inform and help bring peace of mind to expecting moms. The device is taped to the mom’s abdomen during the third trimester of pregnancy and data is transmitted to Android and iOS smartphone apps. (Engadget, Bloomlife, Digital Trends)

[CES 2017] The Cerevo Taclim is pair of tactile feedback shoes and wireless hand controllers made to work with Google VR experiences that make it feel like you’re actually walking on the surface shown in the virtual world. (Gizmodo, Engadget, Baidu)

Internet of Things

[CES 2017] Lenovo unveils Smart Assistant supporting Amazon Alexa, features a set of 8 far-field microphones which are designed to pick up voice commands from as far as 16ft (5m) away, and a 360° microphone-speaker combo, priced from USD129.99. (CN Beta, CNET, Tech Portal, Forbes)

[CES 2017] Linksys will offer a mesh Wi-Fi system with Velop, new modular setup of Wi-Fi access points that are designed to deliver whole home coverage. Each Velop node is designed to be Tri-Band AC 2×2 802.11ac Wave 2 with MU-MIMO compatible. It is also designed to work together with Amazon Alexa. (GSM Arena, Android Headlines, 163)

[CES 2017] LeEco unveils Smart Mountain Bike and will launch in US in 2Q17. It has a 4” touchscreen device on board powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor running Android-based BikeOS, equipped with GPS / GLONASS, functionality to measure light level, wheel speed and crank speed, 6000mAh battery. (GizChina, Android Authority, LeEco, iFeng)

[CES 2017] Mattel unveils Aristotle AI ‘nanny’ speaker – compatible with Amazon Alexa, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, it can sing songs, read stories and teaches kids languages, having a HD camera that streams live video to the app, and costs USD399. (Pocket-Lint, Daily Mail, USA Today, Fast Company, Pocket Now)

[CES 2017] Samsung showcasing Family Hub 2.0 series of refrigerators, including 3-Door, 4-Door French Door, and 4-Door Flex. Samsung is also showcasing other series of Smart Appliances. (Android Headlines, CN Beta)

[CES 2017] French hardware company Netatmo is announcing a bunch of new products for home – indoor camera, outdoor camera, door tags, connected Smart Smoke Alarm, and a security siren that can be paired with Netatmo Welcome camera. (TechCrunch, Apple Insider, Engadget)

Mercedes-Benz design chief Gorden Wagener believes people will still drive their autonomous cars. “Every car is finished up to 2020 and then we have platforms that go up to 2035 or so,” he said. “As creative people we can imagine what the future can be and we can drive it. You see how the complexity of design and the details of digitization has increased in the last 10 years.” (CN Beta, The Verge)

[CES 2017] Emotech Olly robot is a smart lifestyle assistant which makes use of deep learning techniques in order to deliver accurate speech as well as emotion interaction. (Ubergizmo, Olly, VOC)

[CES 2017] Faraday Future has unveiled its first production car FF91. With a 130kWh battery, it will have 1050 horsepower and 378 miles of EPA range. The 200kW DC charging system purportedly charges the car at a rate of 500 miles of range per hour, and the car will include self-driving capability courtesy of a 3D LIDAR system embedded in the center of the hood. (Gizmo China, Electrek, CN Beta)