IF / News

Chipsets

Qualcomm has announced its support for China Unicom’s 5G rollout in collaboration with device OEMs nubia, OnePlus, OPPO, Vivo, Xiaomi and ZTE – all of which participated in the launch with devices powered by the flagship Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform with the X50 5G Modem with integrated RF transceiver and Qualcomm’s RF front-end solution. (Phone Arena, Qualcomm, IT Home)

Apple is seemingly set to source 5G chips from Qualcomm and Samsung for its 2H20 iPhones, according to noted Apple observer and TFI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He estimates Apple will use Qualcomm (for mmWave market) and Samsung (for sub-6GHz market) 5G modems. (GSM Arena, 91Mobiles, TF Securities)

Intel has launched the new 9th Gen Intel Core mobile H-series processors. Intel says its new H-series processors bring desktop-class performance to mobile devices, with up to 33% better all-around performance when compared with a 3-year-old PC. The H-series processors consist of 6 chips, including 2 Core i9 models, 2 Core i7, and 2 Core i5. (Liliputing, Apple Insider, Intel, AnandTech, CN Beta)

Samsung Electronics intends to invest KRW133T (USD116B) over the next decade or so to take on Intel and Qualcomm in the business of making advanced chip processors, quickening an effort to take greater control of the global semiconductor industry. The company plans to take over the lead as the world’s foremost processor maker by 2030. (The Verge, Bloomberg, Sina, Yahoo)

Qualcomm, TikTok, and OPPO have announced that they have achieved a higher quality live video experience on the Vibrating Short Video App under the same traffic consumption. This is based on the Reno smartphone, which is equipped with Snapdragon 855 and supports 10x zoom. The collaboration leverages the power of the new Qualcomm Spectra 380 ISP integrated on the Snapdragon 855 mobile platform to optimize key areas (such as faces) in the image through the Region of Interest (ROI) technology. (GizChina, ZOL, EE World)

Touch Display

Xiaomi has filed a design patent that envisions a smartphone that features minimal bezels and a large hump on the very top of the device. (Phone Arena, Tiger Mobiles, GizChina)

Connectivity

Verizon and Google have announced a new partnership where Verizon customers will be able to subscribe to YouTube TV through their accounts to watch “on whatever platform they choose”. (TechCrunch, Globes Newswire, Verizon)

Phone

Xiaomi has reportedly opened its first Mi Store in Romania. The Mi Store is located at Mega Mall in Bucharest, the country’s capital. (Gizmo China, Arenait, Xinhuanet)

Realme founder and global CEO Sky Li has announced that Realme is officially expanding to the domestic market, 1 year after it was formally established. (CN Beta, GSM Arena, Panda Daily)

Meizu 16s is announced in China – 6.2” 1080×2232 FHD+ AMOLED, Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, rear dual 48MP OIS-20MP tele + front 20MP, 6+128GB or 8+128/256GB, under-display fingerprint scanner, Android 9.0, 3600mAh 24W fast charging, from CNY3,198. (Pocket-Lint, Gizmo China, GSM Arena, Globe Newswire)

Redmi Y3 is announced in India – 6.26” 1520×720 HD+ IPS, Qualcomm Snapdragon 632, rear dual 12MP-2MP + front 32MP, 3+32GB / 4+64GB, Android 9.0, rear fingerprint scanner, 4000mAh, INR9,999 (USD143) / INR11,999 (USD172). (Android Authority, Android Central, GSM Arena, Mi.com)

Huawei Y5 (2019) is launched in Europe – 5.71” 720×1520 HD+ IPS, MediaTek Helio A22 MT6761, rear 13MP + front 5MP, 2+16/32GB, Android 9.0, no fingerprint scanner, 3020mAh. (GizChina, Gizmo China, Huawei, GSM Arena)

Wearables

Apple is reportedly set to release its 3rd-generation AirPods for sales by the end of 2019, with the new wireless earphones to incorporate a noise cancellation function. And Inventec reportedly will be the major assembler of AirPods 3, while Luxshare Precision will also grab part of the orders for the new device, according to Digitimes. (MacRumors, Digitimes, press, Digitimes, press)

According TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple may ship 2 new AirPods models at the end of 2019 or in the beginning of 2020. One model is expected to have an all-new form-factor at a higher price. The second model is expected to be the same as the present in both design and cost. Apple is said to be shifting to a new SiP design to improve assembly yields, save internal space, and cut costs. Kuo says that Apple will sell 52M units in 2019, and 75M~85M units in 2020. (TF Securities, Apple Insider, CN Beta)

Augmented / Virtual Reality

Qualcomm, RealWear and UROS, together announced a digitization project set to begin in Kazakhstan later in 2019. UROS plans to provide RealWear HMT-1 and HMT-1Z1 voice-controlled, head-mounted devices powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile Platform to ten thousand front line industrial workers. (Android Central, Qualcomm)

Home

Xiaomi has presented four new Mi TVs, equipped with screens 32”, 43”, 55” and 65”. The new smart TVs, which form the new E series, are equipped with a Bluetooth remote control with voice commands, PatchWall interface and very thin frames. They are priced from CNY1,099. (GizChina, Fonearena, Weibo)

Automotive

Google’s self-driving affiliate Waymo will repurpose a former American Axle plant in the city to install fully autonomous vehicle hardware and software into cars. (Gizmodo, Medium, TechCrunch, Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Reuters, Sina)

Robotics

Locus Robotics, the market leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMR) for fulfillment warehouses, has announced that it has raised USD26M in Series C funding. The Company will use the proceeds to scale production of its revolutionary multi-bot solution for warehouse fulfillment, as well as for expansion of its sales and marketing efforts, both in North America, and internationally. (TechCrunch, PR Newswire, East Day)

Seven Dreamers, the Japanese company behind the AI-powered laundry-folding robot Laundroid, has filed for bankruptcy. Backed by companies like Panasonic and Daiwa House, Laundroid had ambitious dreams to be the ultimate wardrobe organizer for the entire household. (CN Beta, TechCrunch, The Verge, Japan Times, Seven Dreamers)

Wing, the Alphabet-owned startup, has become the first drone delivery company to gain the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) approval to make commercial deliveries in the US. (CN Beta, OfWeek, The Verge, Bloomberg)