IF / News

Chipsets

JD.com and Intel have announced strategic collaboration to initiate enterprise level of cooperation. On one hand, both companies will base on JD.com Big Data platform integration, analysis and with the results combining with Intel’s cloud computing and IoT capabilities to deliver different solutions for different mid-to-small business. (CN Beta, Sootoo, Sina, PC Pop)

Qualcomm is set to build an operational and manufacturing engineering center in Taiwan by the end of 2019, according to a local report, citing Hong Tsai-lung, commissioner of Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC). (Digitimes, press, UDN)

Touch Display

Hong-Kong display driver developer Solomon Systech says that it expects strong growth for its advanced AMOLED touch controller ICs. Solomon Systech has also announced its next-generation flexible / foldable AMOLED touch controller IC. The mXT640U series platform delivers performance for rigid, curved, and full display AMOLED smartphone handsets with industry leading power consumption, with advanced algorithms supporting bezel-less round and notch shaped sensors across all screen sizes & aspect ratios. (OLED-Info, JRJ, Solomon Systech, AA Stock)

Samsung Electronics has revealed that it wishes to become the first in the world to release an operational foldable smartphone, raising the possibility that it may showcase the first product in the near future. “We are focused on bringing innovations favored by consumers, rather than just becoming the world’s first. In terms of the foldable phone, however, we do not want to miss the first spot,” said Koh Dong-jin, who heads Samsung Electronics’ IT and Mobile division. (Gizmo China, Yonhap News, CN Beta)

Storage

The global DRAM revenue grew by 11.3% QoQ to reach another record high in 2Q18, according to TrendForce. DRAM quotes rose during the period as the market remained in tight supply. Contract prices of most DRAM products advanced by just around 3% QoQ on average in 2Q18, except for contract prices of graphics DRAM products that surged by nearly 15% QoQ on the back of the cryptocurrency-related demand. (TrendForce[cn], TrendForce, press)

Battery

According to WPC, in 2017 there is 60 models of smartphones have passed Qi standards verification, and in Aug 2018 the number increases to 97 models, which does not include those that are not finished verification yet. The number might be more than hundreds. (CN Beta, Chongdiantou)

Battery maker Simplo Technology has begun delivering lithium-based backup battery units (BBU) used in datacenters to two potential clients in the US with volume production likely to begin in 2Q19, according to company chairman Sung Fu-hsiang. (Digitimes, press, China Times)

Connectivity

Huawei denies that it has never announced a fee plan, and Huawei says that any single obligee who charges 4% is too high and unreasonable. Huawei has explained that HUAWEI did not plan to charge royalties by 4%. In the future, Huawei will strictly abide by the FRAND principle in patent licensing activities, not blackmail industry and society, and advocate other rights holders dedicated to promoting 5G technology implementation to make the cumulative patent fee rate lower and more transparent than 4G. (CN Beta, JQK News, Fonow)

Ericsson is making several significant investments in the US in a bid to speed up deployments of 5G networks in North America and beyond. CEO Borje Ekholm said Jabil will produce Ericsson’s mobile network gear in the final quarter of 2018, when the Swedish company will also decide whether to build its own U.S. production capacity or continue relying on the St. Petersburg, Florida-based manufacturing services company. (Laoyaoba, TechRadar, Silicon Republic, ZDNet, Bloomberg)

Phone

Samsung is reportedly considering to shutdown one of its two smartphone manufacturing units in China. The concerned factory is Tianjin Samsung Telecommunication (TSTC) located in Tianjin, northern China, where, the company plans to suspend its operations within a year before completely shutting the unit down. (Android Headlines, WCCFTech, Sam Mobile, The Investor, Sina, 36Kr, OfWeek)

Xiaomi Group has gone into an agreement with Shanghai Songjiang District Government and Lingang Group to build a massive Xiaomi Ecological Chain Industrial Park in Lingang Songjiang Science and Technology City. This industrial park will cover an area of 100,000sq/m. Within the park, there will be notable Xiaomi properties like Xiaomi Ecological Chain East China Headquarters and Xiaomi (Shanghai) Industrial Design and Research Institute. (CN Beta, My Drivers, NBD, GizChina)

Apple’s new iPhone is launching soon, and it is rumored that major components from Largan Precision, Catcher Technology have passed the validation of Apple. Foxconn’s subsidy GIS-KY has also gained the validation and will begin supplying in Aug 2018. (Apple Insider, UDN)

Foxconn will not only manufacture Apple’s every second-generation, 5.8” OLED iPhone — sometimes dubbed the “iPhone XS” — but 90% of 6.5” “XS Plus” units, and 75% of a 6.1” LCD budget model. (CN Beta, Apple Insider)

Alcatel 7 is announced at MetroPCS – 6” FHD+ IPS 2.5D, MediaTek MT6763T, rear 12MP-2MP + front 8MP, 2GB+32GB, Android 8.1, 4000mAh, USD180. (GSM Arena, Phone Arena)

Home

Philips has announced a slew of new Apple HomeKit-compatible Hue lights due in 2018, including the previously leaked Outdoor Lightstrip. The Outdoor Lightstrip will come in 7- and 16-foot versions, priced at USD89.99 and USD159.99. (Ubergizmo, 9to5Mac, The Verge, Apple Insider)

Reports suggest that Xiaomi’s success has inspired a few more brands like Huawei, OPPO, and vivo to test waters in the Smart TV segment. Not it is being reported that these brands are analyzing the market and scope and if things go well, they may soon announce their entry into this domain. (Laoyaoba, China Byte, Caijing, GizChina, Mobile Scout)

Samsung is overhauling its SmartThings product line, with two key new offerings: a brand new hub, dubbed SmartThings Hub, which can now wirelessly connect to router, and a new Wi-Fi router that includes mesh networking tech from Plume. (The Verge, Mac Rumors, CN Beta)

Artificial Intelligence

London-based DeepMind, owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, focuses heavily on the specifics of using artificial intelligence (AI) in health care. DeepMind, in partnership with Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, has trained its algorithms to detect over 50 sight-threatening conditions to the same accuracy as expert clinicians. It is also capable of correctly recommending the most appropriate course of action for patients and prioritize those in most urgent need of care. (VentureBeat, CNET, Wired, Business Insider, ChinaZ)

Fintech

The cryptocurrency mining company Bitmain Technologies is filing for an initial public offering (IPO) potentially as high as USD18B in Sept 2018 at a market capitalization of USD40B~50B. It will be underwritten by China International Capital Corporation and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 4Q18 or 1Q19 amid a wave of Chinese unicorns hitting the public markets, including bitcoin mining competitors Canaan Creative and Ebang Communication. (CN Beta, Coin Desk, CCN)