07-31: KGI believes LGD will to supply between 10%~20% of the iPhone’s OLED supply by 2019; JDI is halting panel plants in the central Japanese city of Nomi and China’s Jiangsu Province; etc.
Chipsets
Intel has recorded USD14.8B in revenue in 2Q17, up 9% from a year ago. Operating income, which was down dramatically a year ago due to restructuring charges, has rebounded to USD3.8B for the quarter, up 190% when compared to a year ago when they took the restructuring hit. Gross margin came in at 61.6%. Net income was up 111% to USD2.8B. (AnandTech, Intel, Leiphone, Sohu, JRJ)
For 2Q17, AMD’s revenue was up 19% year-over-year to USD1.22B, and operating income was USD25M for the quarter. Net income was still in the red with a loss of USD16M. Gross margin was 33%, hovering right around that 35% range that AMD wants to hit for profitability. (AnandTech, AMD, Seeking Alpha, Market Watch, 163, My Drivers)
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation has announced that mass production has commenced for TZ1201XBG, the latest addition to its line-up of ApP LiteTM application processors for IoT devices, including wearables. The compact TZ1201XBG graphics processor is based on a high-performance 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4F processor capable of operating at 96MHz (up to 120MHz with overdriving). (Laoyaoba, CTIMES, Digitimes, Business Wire)
Touch Display
According to KGI Securities, driven by the increasing demand of in-cell panel, in 2016 TDDI shipment has reached 40M~50M, and in 2017, 2018, the shipment will reach 200M and 300M, respectively, and this benefits FocalTech. At the same time, in-cell panel demand increases driving NOR Flash shipment, which benefits Winbond and Macronix. (UDN, Laoyaoba)
The “super phablets,” whose screens are larger than 6”, are forecast to account for 4.3% of total smartphone sales this year, selling about 66M units, according to Strategy Analytics. Sales volume of such super phablets are estimated to be 89.1M units in 2018 and reach 110M by 2019, occupying about 6% of the smartphone market. (Strategy Analytics, TechNews, Korea Herald)
KGI Securities believes that Apple’s biggest supply chain bottleneck in the future will be Samsung Display’s OLED technology. KGI’s analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that LG Display (LGD) will to supply between 10%~20% of the iPhone’s OLED supply by 2019, and 20%~30% by 2020. It is likely LGD can team up with GIS for improved lamination experience with MegaSite and integration with Foxconn manufacturing facilities. (Apple Insider, 9to5Mac, CNYES, OfWeek, Yahoo)
DSCC expects OLED panel shipments for all applications are expected to rise at a 28% CAGR from 393M in 2016 to 1.33B in 2021. Smartphone displays accounted for 94% of OLED unit shipments in 2016, and are still expected to account for 90% of unit shipments in 2021. China’s OLED capacity will increase very fast, at a CAGR of 114% – and Chinese OLED makers will increase their AMOLED market share from 4% in 2016 to 34% in 2021. (OLED-Info, DSCC, press, PJ Times)
Japan Display Inc (JDI) has asked its main creditors for around JPY100B (USD893M) to finance an ongoing turnaround effort as it faces a potentially formidable threat to its mainstay technology. This money will provide operating capital and fund a restructuring that may involve halting production and trimming staff at smartphone panel plants in the central Japanese city of Nomi and China’s Jiangsu Province. (TechNews, Asia Nikkei)
Memory
According IC Insights, historical precedent in the memory market shows that too much spending usually leads to overcapacity and subsequent pricing weakness. Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron, Intel, Toshiba / SanDisk, and XMC / Yangtze River Storage Technology each plan to significantly ramp up 3D NAND flash capacity over the next couple of years (with additional new Chinese producers possibly entering the market). The likelihood of overshooting 3D NAND flash capacity over the next few years is very high. (IC Insights, press, Laoyaoba, Sina)
Sensory
Fuse, sensor and other passive electronic component maker Littelfuse acquired the assets of U.S. Sensor. The Orange, California, based U.S. Sensor makes thermistors and probe assemblies used in the most demanding temperature sensing applications. (Laoyaoba, Littelfuse, Semi, EE Herald)
World leader of ToF sensor supplier Espros is launching a 320×240 (QVGA) epc660 3D ToF sensor. With this solution the company can provide applications of people calculation, access control, rail transit, etc. (EE Trend, MEMS)
Smartphones
LG Electronics published the financial results for 2Q17. The revenue went up 4% year over year to USD12.89B while the operating income was 13.6% higher, USD0.59B. LG Mobile posted an operating loss of USD0.12B on a revenue of USD2.39B, about the same numbers as 2016. Lower than expected sales of LG flagships coupled with rising component costs were the major hurdle. (My Drivers, GSM Arena, LG)
Micromax Selfie 2 is announced – MediaTek MT6737 processor, 13MP + 8MP cameras, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, Android 7.0, rear fingerprint sensor, 3000mAh battery. (GizChina, Gizmo China, GSM Arena, Micromax, NDTV)
Bluboo S8 is launched with full display – 5.7” HD+ (720×1440) display, MediaTek MT6750 processor, rear dual 16MP-3MP + front 8MP cameras, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, Android 7.0 (360 OS), 3450mAh battery, USD180. (Bluboo, Phone Arena)
Wearables
Amazon is granted 2 AR patents that let shoppers try on jewelry and test out furniture at home with augmented reality before purchase. The 1st patent, titled Augmented Reality Presentation, describes using product data from an e-commerce website to generate highly realistic augmented reality images of products, including jewelry, glasses, watches, and furniture. The 2nd patent, titled Forming a Representation of an Item With Light, describes a system to project images of products into a room, so shoppers could see how furniture or other items look before purchase. (Laoyaoba, Sohu, Geek Wire, Free Patents Online, CB Insights)
Samsung has announced a collaboration with TUMI in which the Gear S3 Frontier TUMI Special Edition smartwatch has been announced. It features 1.3” 360×360 display, 768MB RAM, 4GB storage, 380mAh battery, USD450. (Ubergizmo, Digital Trends, OfWeek, Tencent)
Internet of Things
Motorola is launching a wide-angle dash cam for cars and it’s going to be priced at USD99. The camera is being launched by Motorola Accessories which is part of Binatone, and is the same company that launched all of Motorola’s Verve Life accessories. (Android Headlines, GizChina)
