IF / News

Chipsets

[CES2019] AMD has announced new A4 and A6 chips that are designed for Chromebooks. Both the A6-9220C and the A4-9120C are dual-core CPUs with two threads, they have a 6W TDP, and are built on a 28nm process node. The A6 has a base frequency of 1.8GHz and a boost frequency of 2.7GHz, while the A4 has a base frequency of 1.6GHz and a boost frequency of 2.4GHz. (Neowin, Liliputing, AMD, AnandTech, Baijiahao)

[CES2019] Nvidia unveiled its RTX line of GPUs featuring real-time ray tracing and a heavy focus on artificial intelligence. Now the company is announcing mobile variants of the RTX 2080, 2070, and 2060. (Neowin, Nvidia)

[CES2019] Huawei has announced its new high-performance ARM-based CPU for servers called Kunpeng 920. It aims to improve the overall performance and efficiency of computing in big data, distributed storage and ARM applications. (GSM Arena, Neowin, Sina, VOA)

[CES2019] Qualcomm has announced that its Snapdragon X50 platform will be at the heart of more than 30 5G-capable devices this year alone. With the Snapdragon X50 5G modem family and Qualcomm RFFE (RF Front End) solutions, devices powered by the Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform support both sub-6 and mmWave spectrum. (Android Central, CN Beta)

[CES2019] Qualcomm has announced the third generation of its Snapdragon Automotive Cockpit Platform, its latest AI-centric platform for building in-car experiences that include everything from voice-driven interfaces to good-old navigation systems, all with modern visual interfaces. (TechCrunch, Street Insider, PR Newswire, Sohu)

[CES2019] Intel has just announced a brand new class of AI processor: the Intel Nervana NNP-1. Nervana is optimized for image recognition. It has an architecture distinct from other chips: It lacks a standard cache hierarchy, and on-chip memory is managed by software directly.  (Engadget, Intel, VentureBeat, WCCFTech, Sina, CN Beta)

Touch Display

Samsung Electronics is developing a new LED solution that it plans to officially refer to as “Black Seal Technology”.  The term may also describe a specific chemical treatment of various materials during production, with or without coating, as per the same source. (Android Headlines)

BOE demos foldable display with impressively small bend radius. It is a prototype AMOLED panel, with a diagonal of 7.65” and a WQHD resolution of 2048×1536 pixels. Other key features include a maximum advertised brightness of 380 nits, response times as low as 1ms and a color gamut as high as 118% on the NTSC scale. (CN Beta, My Drivers, Sina, Digit, Sparrow News)

[CES2019] Samsung has announced 2 new displays using modular Micro LEDs, building off technology used in its The Wall product introduced in 2018. The 2 new entrants include a 75” display, which is designed to be more home-friendly than The Wall, the other product is a 219” The Wall, which is a bigger variant of the 146” model. (Neowin, Samsung)

[CES2019] The LG Signature OLED TV R (65R9) is the world’s first rollable OLED TV that can be hidden away or pulled up as necessary. The 65” TV includes the artificial intelligence features from LG’s ThinQ brand, with support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. (Engadget, Neowin, Kaixian, Yicai, Sina)

Battery

Motorola has just unveiled its new Modular Power System. The company has announced a new line of battery products, which are officially being introduced by Schumacher Electric Company, actually. (Android Headlines)

Connectivity

OPPO has signed a strategic collaboration framework agreement with State Radio Monitoring Center Testing Center (STRC). According to the framework, both labs will form a strategic cooperation laboratory and cooperate closely in the exploration of cutting-edge technologies such as domestic radio equipment testing, international certification, domestic and foreign operator certification, laboratory resource sharing, 5G and Internet of Things. (CN Beta, ZOL)

Apple has reportedly “engaged in discussions with the GSMA and Operators about including RCS in iOS”. Touted as an upgraded version of SMS, RCS is being spearheaded by the carriers, Microsoft, and Google. The goal of the RCS Universal Profile is to bring a consistent data-based messaging experience to all users. (CN Beta, 9to5Mac)

Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) Band 165 (165号段) is launched. This MVNO is operated by China Mobile business unit’s 17 MVNOs together. This new MVNO marks the official launch of the first 16X billion segment of the domestic mobile industry. (CN Beta, Sina, Donews)

Phone

Huawei Honor Play 8A is launched – 6.09” 520×720 HD+ IPS waterdrop display, MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765), rear 13MP + front 8MP, 3+32GB / 3+64GB, Android 9.0, 3020mAh, no fingerprint scanner, from CN799. (CN Beta, GSM Arena, Mobile Crypto Tech)

LG Q9 is announced – 6.1” 1440×3120 2K+ IPS FullVision, Qualcomm Snapdragon 821, rear 16MP + front 8MP, 4+64GB, Android 8.1, rear fingerprint scanner, Hi-Fi Quad DAC system, 3000mAh, IP68 rated, KRW499,400 (USD445). (Android Central, CN Beta, Android Authority)

Wearables

Jabra Elite 85h is launched, which is a pair of noise-cancelling headphones with adaptive audio is IP52 dust- and water-resistant, further backed by a 2-year warranty. Its proprietary SmartSound technology adapts to a listener’s environment, providing optimal media playback. (Android Authority, Baijiahao)

[CES2019] Withings has announced a suite of new wearables and what it claims is the world’s smartest cardiovascular monitor. The additions to the company’s wearable portfolio come in the form of the Move and Move ECG, with the former being a range of conventional smartwatches, whereas the latter encompasses analog timepieces infused with support for medical-grade electrocardiogram readings. (Android Headlines, Say Digi, Engadget CN, Forbes, The Verge)

[CES2019] L’Oreal has showcased a new wearable technology that measures the skin hydration level. My Skin Track pH by La Roche-Posay is a product out of collaboration between L’Oreal and wearable pioneer Professor John Rogers. The skin sticker comes with a wearable sensor and monitors the skin’s hydration levels. (Engadget, Mashdigi, Northwestern, Business Standard, Biospace)

[CES2019] House of Marley has launched its first true wireless earbuds. The Liberate Air earphones are made from bamboo, natural wood composite and Rewind fabric. (TechRadar)

[CES2019] Garmin has unveiled a new version of the vivoactive 3 Music, an LTE-connected smartwatch that works on Verizon network. The main use of the 4G connection is LiveTrack to share location with friends in real time. (GSM Arena, Garmin, Garmin)

Augmented / Virtual Reality

[CES2019] HTC is announcing Vive Pro Eye and the Vive Cosmos. The Vive Pro Eye natively integrates eye tracking, featuring gaze-tracking menu navigation and removes the need for controllers. The Pro Eye has “foveated rendering”, which will supposedly give a better visual quality inside the headset.  (Neowin, GSM Arena, Baijiahao,iFeng)

[CES2019] HTC is putting some enterprise application heft behind its Vive virtual reality system via partnerships with Mozilla’s Firefox, AWS Amazon Sumerian and Fidelity investments as well as an eye tracking system. The company has been focusing on developing enterprise content for its Vive virtual reality platform. HTC is already a go-to for developers and collaboration with AWS in particular is likely to help its corporate cause. (TechNews, China Times, The Verge, ZDNet, Variety)

Home

Xiaomi Corp has bought a stake in TCL Corp as the two companies agreed to cooperate on the development of smart products and electronic devices. Xiaomi bought 65.2M shares, or 0.48%, of TCL from the secondary market as of 4 Jan 2019. TCL said the purchase is recognition of its valuation, operational strategy and core competence, and that Xiaomi is willing to conduct a strategic cooperation with it on a capital level. (CN Beta, Bloomberg, GizChina)

Samsung Electronics has announced it will offer Apple’s iTunes Movies and TV Shows and Apple AirPlay 2 support on 2019 Samsung Smart TV models beginning spring 2019. AirPlay 2 support will be available on Samsung Smart TVs in 190 countries worldwide. (Mac Rumors, Samsung, IT Home, Sina)

Kohler has announced an “intelligent toilet” with built-in surround sound speakers, ambient mood lighting, and Amazon Alexa voice controls. Kohler promises that customers will enjoy a “fully-immersive experience” thanks to the many “lighting and audio enhancements” of the Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet. (The Verge, Business Wire, Baijiahao)

EMS provider Lite-On Technology has disclosed it has initially shipped over 3,000 AI-enabled smart LED streetlamps to Southeast Asia. Developed by Leotek, an LED street lighting solution business group under Lite-On, the smart LED streetlamps are equipped with surveillance cameras and wireless communication modules. (Digitimes, press, China Times, UDN,  ET Today)

[CES2019] Netatmo has unveiled the Smart Video Doorbell, which it says is the first doorbell to support Apple HomeKit. The doorbell saves video calls to a microSD card and can send them directly to Dropbox. The camera itself is a 1080p, 160º shooter with a high dynamic range. (Engadget, Netatmo, CN Beta)

[CES2019] General Electric (GE) has released a 27” smart screen “kitchen hub”.  It is designed to integrate into kitchen setup, since the microwave-looking device replaces exhaust vent directly above your stove. (Android Central, The Verge, Business Insider, CN Beta)

[CES2019] House of Marley, which specializes in high-end audio kit made from sustainable materials, has announced its first smart speaker. The Get Together Mini with Google Assistant is crafted from bamboo, aluminum (easily recycled), and the company’s signature Rewind fabric (a combination of organic cotton, hemp and recycled plastics). (TechRadar, 9to5Google)

Automotive

Mercedes-Benz executive Christoph Schroeder indicates that Mercedes-Benz is not aiming to be the first manufacturer to develop a self-driving car but it wants to be among the first two players able to scale up the technology. (My Drivers, Sina, Channel News Asia)