3-5: Honeywell has built the world’s most powerful quantum computer; Samsung Display is planning to increase its production capacity of foldable displays up to 1M units per month by end of 2020; etc.
Chipsets
Honeywell has built the world’s most powerful quantum computer. Honeywell has been working quietly on quantum tech that it plans to make available to clients via the internet in the next 3 months. Honeywell also has partnerships with JPMorgan Chase and Microsoft. (TechCrunch, WSJ, CN WSJ, Technology Review, Honeywell)
Intel CFO George Davis admitted that 10nm would not be as productive as 14nm and 22nm. He has confirmed that the first generation of the improved 10nm-plus process Tiger Lake processor will be available by the end of 2020. He has also revealed that he expects to produce 7nm products by the end of 2021, then quickly switch to 5nm and regain leadership in the process. (CN Beta, My Drivers, Anandtech, Small Tech News)
Touch Display
Apple’s patent titled “foldable cover and display for an electronic device” suggests the use of flexible cover sheets and a flexible display layer within the same foldable phone, coupled to each other. The two layers are configured to be able to move between two different configurations when folded and unfolded, with the cover layer bending at specific points dubbed a “foldable region”. (Apple Insider, USPTO)
Samsung Display is planning to increase its production capacity of foldable displays up to 1M units per month by end of 2020. This means that it is going to quadruple its current production capacity and increase its supply according to flourishing of the global foldable smartphone market. Philoptics, , a display production equipment manufacturer and the only brand to supply cutting equipment to Samsung Display, has announced it plans to supply USD13.8M (KRW16.27B) and USD5.84M (KRW6.9B) worth of equipment by the end of May and the end of Jul 2020 respectively. (GSM Arena, ET News, GizChina)
CSOT and San’an Optoelectronics have signed a strategic cooperation memorandum. The two parties will jointly establish a joint lab to carry out end-to-end development of Micro-LED display technology, focusing on solving key problems in its engineering technology, and accelerate the trial production and application of Micro-LED. (Laoyaoba, Sina, Elecfans)
Storage
Kioxia (Toshiba’s new memory branch) and Western Digital are now stepping in with an alternative called XL-FLASH that aims to be cheaper than DRAM and faster than SSD storage 3D NAND flash memory at the same time. The new XL-FLASH memory is a new breed of 96-layer 3D NAND known as “storage class memory” (SCM). (CN Beta, Notebook Check, Impress)
Battery
General Motor (GM) has revealed new Ultium batteries that it claims will deliver the range and performance to make EVs practical for “nearly every customer”. The batteries can range from 50kWh to 200kWh, or enough to deliver as much as 400 miles of range and 0-60MPH in 3 seconds. (Engadget, GM, Sohu)
Phone
Apple supplier Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry) has warned revenue would drop 15% in businesses including consumer electronics and enterprise products in 1Q20, but that it would recover thereafter as production returns to normal in virus-hit China. As of today, the production resumption has reached 50% of seasonal required capacity, and plans to resume normal operation by the end of Mar 2020. (The Verge, Reuters, Mac Rumors)
Black Shark 3 is announced in China – 6.67” 1080×2400 FHD+ AMOLED 90Hz refresh rate 270Hz touch –sensing HDR10+, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, rear tri 64MP-5MP depth-13MP ultrawide + front 20MP, 8+128 / 12+128 / 12+256GB, Android 10.0, under display fingerprint, 4720mAh 65W, CNY3,499 (USD500) / CNY3,799 (USD545) / 3,999 (USD574). (CN Beta, GSM Arena)
Black Shark 3 Pro is also announced – 7.1” 1440×3120 90Hz refresh rate 270Hz touch-sensing HDR10+, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, rear tri 64MP-13MP ultrawide-5MP depth + front 20MP, 8+256 / 12+256GB Android 10.0, under display fingerprint, 5000mAh 65W, CNY4,699 (USD674) / CNY4,999 (USD718). (CN Beta, GSM Arena)
realme 6 and 6 Pro are announced in India, featuring 90Hz refresh 120Hz touch-sensing display, side fingerprint scanner and Android 10.0: 6 – 6.5” 1080×2400 FHD+ IPS HiD, MediaTek Helio G90T, rear quad 64MP-8MP ultrawide-2MP macro-2MP mono +front 16MP, 4+64 / 6+128 / 8+128GB, 4300mAh 30W, INR12,999 (USD177) / INR14,999 (USD204) / INR15,999 (USD218). 6 Pro – 6.6” 1080×2400 FHD+ IPS 2xHiD, Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, rear quad 64MP-12MP telephoto-8MP ultrawide-2MP macro +front dual 16MP-8MP ultrawide, 6+64 / 6+128 / 8+128GB, 4300mAh 30W, INR16,999 (USD232) / INR17,999 (USD245) / INR18,999 (USD260). (Android Central, GSM Arena)
Huawei P40 Lite E is launched in Poland (Europe) – 6.39” 720×1560 HD+ IPS HiD, HiSilicon Kirin 710F, rear tri 48MP-8MP ultrawide-2MP depth + front 8MP, 4+64GB, Android 9.0, rear fingerprint scanner, 4000mAh 10W, PLN700 (EUR163) offer price with Huawei Band 4. (My Drivers, GSM Arena, Huawei)
Wearables
realme Band is announced in India, featuring 0.96” 160×80 display for notifcations from Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and SMS notifications along with the app’s icon. It is IP68 water resistant (1.5m). It supports 9 sport modes including cricket, yoga, walking, hiking, climbing, cycling, spinning and fitness. It is priced at INR1499 (USD20). (CN Beta, GSM Arena)
Automotive
Ford has announced that it will debut an all-electric Ford Transit cargo van for the 2022 model year in the US and Canada. They are accelerating their plans to create solutions that help businesses run better, starting with our all-electric Transit and F-150. (Engadget, Ford, The Verge, Auto Home)
General Motor (GM) plans to invest more than USD20B in its next generation of all-electric and autonomous vehicles through 2025. GM has shown 11 new all-electric vehicles Wednesday as part of its plans through 2025, which includes at least 20 new models by 2023. (Market Watch, CNBC, CN Beta)
Five has raised USD41M in venture capital as the startup seeks to turn the self-driving research it has conducted into commercial products and services. The U.K.-based startup has created a technology stack to power autonomous vehicles. The company uses AI and machine learning that would let cars use simpler maps to navigate their surroundings. (Laoyaoba, VentureBeat)
FinTech
Nubank, the Brazilian digital bank valued at USD10B, is launching its Nu credit card in Mexico – a country where the unbanked population counts 36M people. The Sao Paulo-based fintech company, known for its fully-mobile digital bank and credit card, has raised USD820M across seven rounds of investment and has amassed nearly 22M customers in Brazil alone. (TechCrunch, PYMNTS)
HTC has launched the HTC Exodus 5G Hub, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+X50 (only supports Sub-6Hz), supporting Wi-Fi 5 and 60Hz 802.11ad Wi-Fi standard. The main function allows users to have their own keys through Zion software. This device also allows users to run a full Bitcoin node and an all-in-one private vault to track your cryptocurrency. Users can also track market performance through the display of the hub. (CN Beta, VentureBeat, GizChina)
