IF / News

MediaTek has announced advances in its collaboration with Intel to bring 5G experiences to next-generation PCs with the successful development and certification of its 5G modem data card. MediaTek’s T700 5G modem, which will be used to bring 5G connectivity to Intel-powered PCs, completed 5G standalone (SA) calls in real world test scenarios. (Engadget, Android Authority, MediaTek, IT Home)

Huawei’s consumer business group CEO Richard Yu has revealed that the production of Kirin chips will be halted after 15 Sept 2020. He has also revealed that Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) does not have the means to make it. He has also confirmed that Mate 40 will be its last phone to feature an in-house chip.  (Phone Arena, Neowin, JRJ, Sina)

Pure-play foundries including TSMC, UMC and VIS have raised their 8” wafer fabrication quotes by 10-20% recently to reflect their tight capacities, according to Digitimes. (Digitimes, CNTronics, Digitimes)

LG has showcased a new 13.3” foldable OLED display that is suitable for laptops and tablets.  LG is also showcasing a transparent OLED display for use in stores, museums, or art galleries, a rollable OLED display that can be rolled down from the ceiling like a projector screen, a smaller rollable display that can be used for in-car infotainment systems, and a 65” bendable OLED display that could adjust the curvature of the display. (Android Headlines, Liliputing)

PlayNitride, to fund its plan to set up its second micro LED production line, will raise additional paid-in capital of USD50M by the end of Sept 2020, according to the company. PlayNitride has said it started volume production at its first micro LED production line in 2019, and micro LED displays for wearables are being validated with shipments likely to begin in 2021. (Digitimes, press)

E Ink is showcasing a new 10.3” foldable electronic paper display that could be used for eBook readers. At the moment, there is not any commercially-available eReader that uses a flexible ePaper display. (Liliputing, Gizmo China, IT Home)

Adobe Research, the University of California, Berkeley, and KU Leuven in Flanders have developed an AI technique that automatically translates selfies into neutral-pose portraits. By identifying a target pose and generating a body texture, it is able to refine and composite a person on a given self-portrait’s background.  The proposed approach, “unselfie”, aims to make selfie photos look like “well-composed” portraits captured by photographers, showing relaxed arms, shoulders, and torsos.  (VentureBeat, Link Researcher)

TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revealed that Genius Electronic Optical has discovered issues with cracking coatings on the wide-angle camera lens destined for the lower-end 5.4” and 6.1” ‌iPhone 12‌ models. The problem appeared during high-temperature / high-humidity (HTHH) testing. Apple will give priority to purchasing Largan’s low-end 1/2.6” 7P wide-angle lens at least in the initial supply stage to ensure that the two aluminum-framed ‌iPhone 12‌ can be as scheduled. (CN Beta, TF Securities, GSM Arena, Mac Rumors)

Asia Optical, an original design manufacturer based in Taiwan, has filed a patent lawsuit against Samsung Electronics Japan in Tokyo District Court. The lawsuit involves the infringement of Asia Optical’s patent against the periscope lens design technology of Samsung’s flagship S20 Ultra series. (iam-media, TechNews, Laoyaoba)

An internal Google document is leaked containing a list of Android builds for all Pixel devices, including the Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5. The list is also said to include the Pixel 5a (code-named “barbette”) and 3 other unannounced devices, which are believed to include a foldable Pixel phone. (Android Authority, 9to5Google)

Popular short-video app TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, has said it plans to open its first European data centre in Ireland with an investment of about EUR420M. It will store videos, messages and other data generated by European users from the short-form video-sharing app. Until now all of its users’ records were stored in the US, with a back-up copy held in Singapore. (My Drivers, CN Beta, RTE, BBC)

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that will block any transactions between U.S. companies and the parent firms of TikTok and WeChat starting 20 Sept 2020. The order will essentially force ByteDance and Tencent to divest from TikTok and WeChat, respectively, or stop operating those apps in the country. (Apple Insider, TechCrunch, BBC, Xinhuanet, RFI)

Xiaomi India MD Manu Kumair Jain has clarified that Xiaomi ‘is and will be 100% compliant with the Indian government’. He has also detailed how these changes will affect Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco users in India. He has also announced that Xiaomi is working on a new version of MIUI which will be rolled out soon. (Laoyaoba, India Times, First Post)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G is announced – inner 7.6” 1768×2208  Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 120Hz HiD + outer 6.23” 816×2260 Super AMOLED HDR+, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+, rear tri 12MP OIS-12MP telephoto 2x optical zoom OIS-12MP ultrawide + front folded 10MP / unfolded 10MP, 12+256GB, Android 10.0, side fingerprint scanner, 4500mAh 25W, 11W wireless charging, 9W reverse wireless charging, price is tbd (est. EUR2,000). (GSM Arena, Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra and Note20 are announced: Note20 Ultra – 6.9” 1440×3088 QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED HDR10 120Hz@FHD 60Hz@QHD HiD, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ / Samsung Exynos 990 (Global), rear tri 108MP OIS-12MP periscope telephoto 5x optical zoom 50x hybrid zoom OIS-12MP ultrawide + front 10MP, 12+256 / 12+512GB, Android 10.0, fingerprint on display, S-Pen support, IP68 rated, 4500mAh 25W, 15W wireless charging, 9W reverse wireless charging, USD1,299 / USD1,499. Note20 – 6.7” 1080×2400 FHD+ Super AMOLED Plus HDR10+ HiD, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ / Samsung Exynos 990 (Global), rear tri 12MP OIS-64MP telephoto 5x optical zoom 50x hybrid zoom OIS-12MP ultrawide + front 10MP, 8+128GB, Android 10.0, fingerprint on display, S-Pen support, IP68 rated, 4500mAh 25W, 15W wireless charging, 9W reverse wireless charging, USD999. (GSM Arena, Android Central, GizChina, Samsung)

Lava Z66 is announced in India – 6.08” 1560×720 HD+ u-notch, Unisoc octa-core processor, rear dual 13MP-5MP depth + front 13MP, 3+32GB, Android 10.0, rear fingerprint scanner, 3950mAh, INR7,777 (USD103). (Gizmo China, Lava Mobiles)

According to Strategy Analytics, despite intense economic hardship related to COVID-19 quarantine orders, consumer and commercial customers went on a tablet buying spree to support work/learn-from-home initiatives. The supply chain almost fully recovered by Apr / May 2020, which contributed to a 17% year-on-year increase in tablet shipments in 2Q20. (CN Beta, Strategy Analytics)

Huawei consumer business group CEO Richard Yu has revealed that that in 2020 “Huawei’s smartwatch products will also use Hongmeng OS. In the future, all of Huawei’s IoT products, including PCs, tablets, and even mobile phones, may use Hongmeng OS”. (Gizmo China, IT Home, Sina)

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+ are announced: S7 – 11” 1600×2560 LTPS IPS LCD HDR10+ 120Hz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+, rear dual 13MP-5MP ultrawide + front 8MP, 6+128 / 8+256GB, Android 10.0, side fingerprint, AKG-tuned stereo speakers, stylus support, 5G optional, 8000mAh 45W, EUR700~880. S7+ – 12.4” 1752×2800 Super AMOLED HDR10+ 120Hz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+, rear dual 13MP-5MP ultrawide + front 8MP, 6+128 / 8+256GB, Android 10.0, fingerprint on display, AKG-tuned stereo speakers, 5G optional, stylus support, 10090mAh 45W, EUR900~1,180. (GSM Arena, Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live true wireless stereo earphones are announced featuring IPX2 water resistance and active noise-cancelling (ANC). The company posits frequencies below 700Hz (e.g. trains and buses) will be quieted, while other ambient sounds like a train conductor’s announcement will still be audible. It is priced at USD169. (GSM Arena, CN Beta, Samsung, Android Authority)

Chinese artificial intelligence company Shanghai Zhizhen Intelligent Network Technology, also known as Xiao-i, has filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging it has infringed on Xiao-i’s patents. Xiao-i is calling for CNY10B (USD1.43B) in damages and demands that Apple cease “manufacturing, using, promising to sell, selling, and importing” products that infringe on the patent. (VentureBeat, CN Beta)