IF / News

ARM, the semiconductor designer owned by SoftBank Group, is allegedly attracting takeover interest from graphics chipmaker Nvidia. Nvidia’s interest in ARM Holdings may not lead to a sale, however. SoftBank could also decide to pursue a public listing. (Bloomberg, Apple Insider, Sina)

MediaTek has announced Dimensity 720, which is expected to be its most affordable MediaTek 5G chipset yet. It is equipped with an octa-core design (2x Cortex-A76 and 6x Cortex-A55) and Mali-G57 MC3 graphics. It also supports APU for machine learning tasks, FHD+ screens at 90Hz, 64MP single cameras, 20MP+16MP dual cameras, and 4K video recording. (Android Authority, Android Central, MediaTek)

MediaTek’s supply for many of its 4G chip has run dry and the restock will arrive only by 2021. The lack of supply is also indicative of the chipmaker’s focus on 5G chips, which has become popular in the current market in 2020.  (UDN, Gizmo China, UDN)

MediaTek will allegedly launch a new generation of 5G flagship mobile platform under the Dimensity series. The flagship processor will be unveiled in 2Q21. The flagship chipset will reportedly be called Dimensity 2000, which will be built on a 5nm process. (CN Beta, Gizmo China, TechNews, Money DJ)

Intel has revealed that yields for its 7nm process are now 12 months behind the company’s internal targets, meaning the company is not currently on track to produce its 7nm process in an economically viable way. The company now says its 7nm CPUs will not debut on the market until late 2022 or early 2023.  (The Verge, Neowin, Intel, Tom’s Hardware)

Samsung is rumored to be working on the Exynos 1000, and expected to be made using the company’s advanced 5nm architecture. Though the Exynos 1000 might have been originally developed for use in the upcoming Galaxy S21 series, Samsung might also use them in its upcoming Windows PCs. (CN Beta, WCCFTech)

Due to the continued work at home because of the pandemic, the demand for notebooks and tablets is stable, coupled with the urgent orders of Samsung, MediaTek, Realtek and other major manufacturers, new chip orders have poured in, and UMC’s 8” and 12” plants are full of orders, and the current capacity is In short supply. (Laoyaoba, UDN, UDN)

Samsung is rumored to be preparing investment in GlobalFoundries manufacturing facilities. Samsung  will help GlobalFoundries expand its power supply capacity from 63MW to 100MW. The proposed expansion of GlobalFoundries Dresden fab would be funded exclusively by Samsung. Samsung hopes that from this investment, it can get closer to US soil and gain some new customers in the future. (Laoyaoba, Coreteks, Kit Guru)

Corning has today introduced its latest breakthrough in glass technology, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. In lab tests, Gorilla Glass Victus achieved drop performance up to 2m when dropped onto hard, rough surfaces. Competitive aluminosilicate glasses from other manufacturers typically fail when dropped from less than 0.8m.  (Android Authority, Gizmo China, GSM Arena, Corning, CN Beta)

LG Display (LGD) has heralded the much-awaited opening of its new organic light-emitting diode panel manufacturing plant in Guangzhou, China. LGD is currently producing 70,000 sheets per month at its OLED panel production plant in Paju, Korea, and this production capability will almost double to 130,000 sheets monthly when combined with Guangzhou’s capacity to make 60,000 sheets per month. The plant will focus on manufacturing large-size high-resolution OLED products including 48”, 55”, 65”, and 77” panels. (CN Beta, IT Home, PR Newsasia, Korea Herald)

Camera and touch module supplier O-Film Group is one of 11 Chinese companies added to the U.S. Commerce Department’s Entity List over alleged human rights abuses involving China’s Uighur Muslim minority. O-Film has stated that as a global leader in technological innovation and smart manufacturing, O-Film has always abided by laws and regulations, treated all employees equally and fully protected their legitimate rights and interests. (Sina, NY Times, Asia Nikkei, Biometric Update, CNET, My Drivers)

French authorities have allegedly told telecoms operators planning to buy Huawei 5G equipment that they will not be able to renew licenses for the gear once they expire, effectively phasing the Chinese firm out of mobile networks. France’s cybersecurity agency ANSSI has said earlier it would allow operators to use equipment, including Huawei’s, under licenses of 3-8 years.  (CN Beta, Reuters)

OPPO’s realme has announced that there are 40M realme users globally. Most recently, 150K users have joined the group in just 2 minutes after purchasing the new realme C11. (GizChina, Gizmo China)

Moutai Group and ZTE have signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The two parties will actively cooperate in the construction of “smart Moutai” and promote the transformation and upgrading of Moutai’s digitization. Earlier, Huawei and Moutai have signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Shenzhen. The two parties will conduct comprehensive cooperation in the areas of information consulting and planning, new infrastructure, “smart Moutai” engineering, and industrial Internet platforms. (CN Beta, Maotai, Sohu)

Apple has started making iPhone 11 at the Foxconn plant near Chennai, the first time it’s manufactured a top-of-the-line model in the country, marking a boost for the government’s Make in India initiative. Local production saves Apple 22% import duty. (Apple Insider, TechCrunch, Economic Times)

ASUS ROG Phone 3 is announced –6.59” 1080×2340 FHD+ AMOLED HDR10+ 144Hz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+, rear tri 64MP-13MP ultrawide-5MP macro + front 24MP, 8+256 (Strix Edition) / 12+512 / 16+512GB, Android 10.0, fingerprint on display, 6000mAh 30W, reverse charging 10W, support accessories include GameCool 3, Kunai 3 Gamepad, Clip, TwinView 3 Dock and Lighting Armor Case, EUR799 / EUR999 / EUR1,099.  (GSM Arena, GizChina, Liliputing, Engadget)

Lenovo Legion Duel (Legion Pro in China) is announced – 6.65” 1080×2340 FHD+ AMOLED HDR+ 144Hz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, rear dual 64MP-16MP ultrawide + front motorized pop-up 20MP, 8+128 / 12+128 / 12+256 / 16+512GB, Android 10.0, fingerprint on display, 5000mAh 90W, featuring shoulder triggers, advanced cooling systems, Lenovo’s U-Engine dual X-Axis vibration motor, CNY3,499 (USD500) / CNY3,899 (USD557) / CNY4,199 (USD600) / CNY5,999 (USD857). (GSM Arena, CN Beta, GizChina)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G is announced in US – 6.7” 1080×2636 FHD+ Foldable Dynamic AMOLED HDR+ + 1.1” 112×300 Super AMOLED Cover display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+, rear dual 12MP-12MP ultrawide + front 10MP, 8+256GB, Android 10.0, side fingerprint, 3300mAh 15W, wireless charging, USD1,449. (Android Central, Apple Insider, GSM Arena, CN Beta)

realme 6i is announced in India – 6.5” 1080×2400 FHD+ IPS HiD, MediaTek Helio G90T, rear quad 48MP-8MP ultrawide-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 16MP, 4+64 / 6+64GB, Android 10.0, side fingerprint, 4300mAh 30W, INR12,999 (USD175) / INR14,999 (USD200). (GSM Arena, GizChina, realme)

vivo Y51s 5G is announced in China – 6.53” 1080×2340 FHD+ IPS HiD, Samsung Exynos 880, rear tri 48MP-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 8MP, 6+128GB, Android 10.0, side fingerprint scanner, 4500mAh 18W, CNY1798 (USD256). (vivo, GSM Arena)

Total shipment of AR/VR devices is expected to reach 5.12M units in 2020, according to TrendForce. Thanks to the release of various glasses-like AR/VR devices, the AR/VR devices market is likely to rapidly expand from 2021 to 2022, with a forecasted shipment of 43.2M units in 2025. This market is projected to reach a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 53.1% from 2020 to 2025. (Laoyaoba, TrendForce, TrendForce)

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced that Tesla will build its next US Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, wrapping up a months-long search for a location to build the upcoming Cybertruck. Tesla will also build Model Ys and Model 3s destined for the East Coast, as well as the Tesla Semi. (The Verge, CNBC, Forbes)

Waymo and Fiat Chrysler Automotive (FCA) are extending their 4-year-old partnership to include commercial vans. The companies have announced a plan to jointly develop an autonomous delivery van based on FCA’s Ram ProMaster. (The Verge, TechCrunch, CNET)

Daimler AG may reduce its workforce by 30% due to the coronavirus crisis. The company aims to cut fixed costs in Europe by 22%, planning to ax up to 30,000 jobs globally, including vacant positions. (CN Beta, Teletrader, Weser-Kurier)