IF / News

Chipsets

The market shortage will continue to drive up wafer prices, said GlobalWafers. Prices for mainstream 12” wafers, for example, will continue to rise 5%-10% quarterly. GlobalWafers also anticipated that wafer prices will see larger growth in 2H17 than in 1H17, as the ongoing shortage will become more acute in 2H17. The global wafer supply will likely fall short of demand by 10%-20% at the end of 2018, and the shortage could persist through 2020. (Digitimes, press)

Touch Display

China-based Tianma Micro-electronics has begun production of rigid and flexible AMOLED panels based on LTPS (low-temperature poly-Si) backplanes at a new 6G AMOLED line in Wuhan, central China. (Digitimes, iFeng)

Corning announced that 1Q17 core sales climbed 14.5%, to USD2.485B, core earnings increased 19.7%, to USD407M. Looking forward, Corning anticipates 2Q17 glass substrates shipment will increase 5% on quarter and 5% on year. It can tell the demand from AUO, Innolux and other global panel makers is still strong. (Laoyaoba, 51Touch, Sohu, Motley Fool, NASDAQ, Corning)

LG Display (LGD) has released its 1Q17 financial report, reporting net operating profit of KRW1,027B (USD912M), the firm’s highest-ever quarterly level. TV panels accounted for 43% of 1Q17 consolidated revenues; smartphones and other mobile device applications 26%; notebook and tablet applications 16%; and desktop monitor panels 15%. (Digitimes, press, Reuters, NY Times, Laoyaoba, LGD, 36Kr, Sina, CN Beta)

Camera

Sony Mobile senior product manager Kiyama Yosuke indicates that single camera is sufficient to bring high quality picture experience, and Sony is willing to perfecting the single camera. (My Drivers, ET Today, Techbang, Sohu)

Nomura analyst Chris Chang thinks there is a high chance that Samsung will adopt dual cams for its Galaxy Note 8 in 2H17, which means that dual cams are likely to be the new standard for all of Samsung’s flagship going forward. Including the growing dual-cam customers in China, Nomura looks for Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEMCO) dual-cam mix (shipment basis) to reach 21%/54% in 2017/2018 and expect OPM improvement to 7%-8% levels in 2018. (Barron’s, blog)

Memory

Samsung has developed a new type of mobile-friendly RAM, called magnetoresistant random access memory (MRAM). MRAM is non-volatile, and uses a magnetic technology called spin torque transfer (STT) to read and write data up to 1,000 times faster than existing NAND solutions, all while using less power when active, and none at all when it is inactive. (Android Headlines, Fudzilla, SamMobile, ZOL, My Drivers)

AP Memory Technology has disclosed plans to raise its specialty DRAM (SRAM) prices. The memory design house also expressed optimism about demand for IoT applications that will offset a slowdown in demand coming from the handset market. The supply of NAND flash has been tight affecting the market for SDRAM particularly low-power DRAM chips, AP Memory indicated. (Digitimes, press, China Times, Digitimes)

Packaging and testing company Powertech Technology (PTI) expects to post mid single-digit sequential growth in revenues for 2Q17, said company president JY Hung. PTI hopes to consolidate Micron Akita and Tera Probe, to exceed J-Device biggest Japanese packaging / testing company. (Laoyaoba, CECB2B, MoneyDJ, Apple Daily, Evertiq, Digitimes, press, Digitimes)

Samsung Electronics announced financial results for 1Q17. Samsung’s revenue for the quarter was KRW50.55T, while operating profit for the quarter was KRW9.90T (USD8.75B). Samsung improved earnings in the first quarter in both DRAM and NAND by focusing on high-density and value-added products for datacenters, enterprise SSDs and flagship smartphones. Even amid slower demand due to weak seasonality compared with the previous quarter, the prices of memory products remained strong due to limited supply. (Laoyaoba, Laoyaoba, Samsung, Business Insider)

Battery

Hydro-Québec and McGill University in Canada shows a self-charging lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery. The study shows that a Li-Ion battery’s standard cathode can be treated with photo-harvesting dye molecules in order to make it sensitized to light. The team reportedly managed to simulate a charging process using only light as an energy source. (The Sun, Digital Trends, Android Headlines, Nature, Sina, Tencent)

Smartphones

According to the report, there were 2.8B smartphones in use last year. Samsung was the global leader with a market share of 31%, ahead of Apple with 25%. Newzoo indicates that out of 3B smartphone and tablet users, more than 33% are using Apple’s products. Newzoo’s data also indicates that 5 of the top 10 smartphone vendors are from China, i.e., Huawei, Xiaomi, Lenovo, OPPO and vivo. (Android Headlines, CN Beta, Newzoo, report)

Samsung reportedly will be selling recycled Note 7s in South Korea under 3 carriers in Jun 2017. Pricing is still being negotiated but right now, it is looking like the Note 7 will go back on sale with a price tag of KRW700K, just under KRW300K cheaper than the original. The refurbished Note 7 will have a smaller 3200mAh battery. (Kit Guru, ET News, Cool3C)

vivo V5s is launched in India via Flipkart – 5.5” HD 2.5D display, MediaTek MT6750 processor, rear 13MP PDAF + front 20MP cameras, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, Android 6.0 (Funtouch OS 3.0), AK4376 Hi-Fi audio chip, 3000mAh battery, INR18990. (GSM Arena, Android Headlines)

ivvi F2 launched in China – 5” HD  IPS LCD 2.5D curved display, 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 5MP + 2MP cameras, 1 / 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, from CNY399. (Gizmo China, Qudong, MNW)

PCs / Tablets

According to Lenovo Asia Pacific president Ivan Cheung, Lenovo has a good management on component costs, but since cost is increasing, the company is reducing the launch of new models of entry, low margin; and shifting focus to high end. Lenovo has recently created a gaming brand Legion and will begin selling desktops, notebooks and peripherals under the brand. (Laoyaoba, 4-Traders,  Digitimes, 163)

Wearables

Google appears to be planning to release its own Bluetooth on-ear headphones, codenamed GID5B. It also comes with an active noise-canceling feature. It also comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack and an auxiliary cable so users can switch from wireless to wired listening. (CN Beta, Android Police, Liliputing, IB Times)

According to a new survey conducted by Fluent with 1,339 consumers, individuals who did not already own Apple’s smartwatch were unenthusiastic about buying one anytime soon, while just 8% of those surveyed said they planned to make the purchase. In comparison, 42% of consumers who already owned an Apple Watch said they would buy the device next year. (CNBC, Ubergizmo, McDaily News, Fluent, press, Yesky)