IF / News

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) is under the radar of the US government and could face export restrictions. Now, the company has confirmed that it held preliminary exchanges with the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security. SMIC is conducting assessments on the relevant impact of such export restrictions on the company’s production and operation activities. (Reuters, Gizmo China, GizChina, RFI)

TSMC is expected to cumulatively purchase about 55 sets of EUV lithography equipment by the end of 2021, as the foundry is stepping up its EUV process manufacturing development, according to Digitimes. TSMC has reportedly purchased more than 30 EUV equipment, and Nanke, which is  a 5nm/3nm base, currently has 20 units. (TechNews, Laoyaoba, China Times, Digitimes)

Organic light emitting diode (OLED) sales will jump 107% in 2H20 compared to 1H20, according to UBI Research. OLED panel shipment will reach 383M units and sales USD28B in 2H20, a rise of 66% and 107%, respectively, compared to 1H20. OLED shipment in 1H20 stood at 231M units, a drop of 29% compared to 2H19. Sales dropped 36% to USD13.53B in the same time period. (Gizmo China, The Elec)

The Finance Ministry of India has imposed a customs duty of 5% on the import of key components used in manufacturing LCD and LED TVs., which would go into effect from 1 Oct 2020. Earlier, the Ministry of Electronics and IT had proposed to impose a duty of 5% on open cell panels and bring the pure cell to zero percent in a bid to encourage the process of polariser film and COF bonding for open-cell. (India Times, Zee News, Gizmo China)

OPPO has filed a new patent with the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) for hinge used in a foldable smartphone. The hinge features a pair of rotatable cover plates coupled to the support plate to mitigate the length between the screen and the housing while folding and unfolding. (Gizmo China, LetsGoDigital)

Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) in collaboration with University of Maryland and University of Colorado have developed a transparent wood material, which has the potential to outperform glass currently used in construction in nearly every way. Transparent wood is created when wood from the fast-growing, low-density balsa tree is treated to a room temperature, oxidizing bath that bleaches it of nearly all visibility. The wood is then penetrated with a synthetic polymer called polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), creating a product that is virtually transparent. (Phone Arena, USDA)

Cooler Screens, which uses interactive digital displays to replace the glass doors in store cooler aisles, is announcing that it has raised more than USD80M in Series C funding. The startup has now raised more thanUSD100M in funding. (CN Beta, TechCrunch)

Google has started rolling out a Night Mode in the Camera Go app on Android Go to improve picture quality on lower-cost phones without relying on flash. (Android Authority, Twitter)

SK hynix has announced to launch world’s first DDR5 DRAM. SK hynix’s DDR5 supports transfer rate of 4,800-5,600 Megabit-per-second (Mbps), which is 1.8 times faster than the previous generation – DDR4.  (CN Beta, YNA, PR Newswire)

Google hardware boss Rick Osterloh has revealed that the Project Soli radar and gestures will return. “They will be used in the future,” he says. They were just too expensive for the phone that Google wanted to build this time. (CN Beta, The Verge, Gizmo China)

LG Electronics has applied trademarks for the Q43, Q63S and Q83 with the Korean Intellectual Property Information Service (KIPRIS). These three applications are dated 25 Sept 2020, and are classified as Category 9, which also includes smartphones. (CN Beta, LetsGoDigital, Gizmo China)

According to Visual Capitalist, Samsung and Huawei occupy the top position with a 20% smartphone market share each. Apple is third with a market share of 14%. Xiaomi (10%), OPPO (9%), vivo (8%), and Lenovo (3%) occupies fourth to seventh place respectively. Apart from Samsung and Apple, the other brands in the top 7 list are Chinese.  (Visual Capitalist, GizChina)

Google is deferring its controversial new Play Store billing policy in India to 31 Mar 2022. The new rules stop apps from circumventing Google’s payment system and are scheduled to come into effect globally from 21 Sept 2020. They will ensure Google gets its 30% commission on all paid apps and in-app purchases. Google says that it is setting up listening sessions and policy workshops with leading Indian start-ups. Google is also extending the time for developers in India to integrate the Google Play billing system so they can implement a UPI payment option. (Android Authority, Google)

According to the leaked Huawei’s HarmonyOS upgrade for smartphone, the first batch of devices that run HarmonyOS will be smartphones powered by the Kirin 9000 5G. Furthermore, the subsequent batches will include handsets that feature the Kirin 990 5G, followed by the 4G variant of the Kirin 990 and other processors like the Kirin 985, 980, 820, 810, and even 710 later down the road. (Gizmo China, IT Home, Sohu)

A draft European Union law would require companies to let users remove preinstalled apps on phones and computers. The Digital Services Act would also require that large companies share customer data with competitors involved in “the same commercial activities”. The proposed law should be ready by the end of 2020.  (Android Authority, Financial Times, Euractiv, CN Beta)

OPPO A73 is announced (rebranded F17) in Tunisia – 6.44” 1080×2400 FHD+ Super AMOLED u-notch, Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, rear quad 16MP-8MP ultrawide-2MP depth-2MP depth + front 16MP, 6+128GB, Android 10.0, fingerprint on display, 4015mAh 30W, price yet to announced (F17 is priced at INR17,990 or USD245).  (GSM Arena, Gizmo China, OPPO)

Coolpad COOL 12A is announced in China – 6.3” HD+ v-notch, UNISOC Spreadtrum quad-core processor, rear dual 16MP-2MP depth + front 8MP, 4+64GB, Android 10.0, side fingerprint, 4000mAh, CNY599 (USD88). (Gizmo China, MySmartPrice, CN Beta)

Xiaomi POCO C3 is announced in India – 6.53” 720×1600 HD+ u-notch, MediaTek Helio G35, rear tri 13MP-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 5MP, 3+32GB / 4+64GB, Android 10.0, rear fingerprint scanner, 5000mAh 10W, INR7,499 (USD102) / INR8,999 (USD125).  (GSM Arena, Gizmo China)

Microsoft has rebranded Bing, renaming the search platform to Microsoft Bing in the process. Microsoft also explains the expansion of the Give with Bing program, which allows user to donate to charities with Microsoft Rewards. Give with Bing will be available in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain, in addition to the United States. (CN Beta, Microsoft, Microsoft, Neowin, Bing)

Google has teamed up with Samsonite to make a smart backpack, called the Konnect-I, which features Google’s Jacquard smart fiber technology. On the left shoulder strap, there is touch-sensitive fibers and a Jacquard tag. The latter connects to phone over Bluetooth for some control functions. There is also a programmable LED light for notifications and alerts. It comes in a USD199.99 Slim model and a USD219.99 Standard model. (Android Headlines, Google, Android Authority)

Fossil has launched a new Gen 5E smartwatch, which has new features such as VO2 max measurement, sleep tracking, and revamped battery saving modes. It has 1.19” 390×390 circular AMOLED, Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100, 1+4GB. It also gets all the essential health and fitness features, including the ability to track your heart rate, cardio fitness levels, heart rate, and more. It is priced at USD249. (CN Beta, Android Authority, Android Central, The Verge)

According to an update from Google Support, Daydream VR software is no longer supported by the newly released Android 11. The company has launched the Daydream virtual reality platform as a part of its Android OS. Daydream VR is launched in 2016. (Android Headlines, Android Police, Google)

Facebook is launching a new emotional health resource center with expert guides and information, to connect users of the social media platform and the other apps it owns with services and support. Emotional Health will be a centralized resource center on the Facebook app with tips and information from experts worldwide, including NAMI, Kids Help Phone and It’s OK To Talk.  (CN Beta, Facebook, CNET, AdWeek)

Japan’s NEC has agreed to buy Switzerland’s largest software provider to banks Avaloq for SFR2.05B (USD2.2B) in its biggest foray into the global fintech space. Avaloq is known for its platform-based software as a service, or SaaS, and business process as a service, or BPaaS, for wealth management. (CN Beta, Avaloq, Financial Times, Nikkei)

The European Central Bank (ECB) will start experimenting with a digital version of the euro while holding a public consultation in a major step toward introducing the technology. The ECB has said it would decide toward mid-2021 whether to launch a digital euro project, which would start with an “investigation phase.” (CN Beta, Bloomberg, DW, Coinnouce)

Zurich-based mobile cryptocurrency wallet BRD has announced that it now has more than 6M users worldwide, thanks to strong growth in India and Latin America. With this momentum, the company expects to reach 10M users by early 2021. (TechCrunch, PR Web)

PayPal’s Venmo allows users to send and receive funds through an app. A Venmo subscriber can link debit / bank accounts with the app to fund purchases or to transfer funds into a bank account. Venmo charges nothing for payments made using a Venmo balance, a bank account, a debit card, or a prepaid card. Using Venmo with a credit card results in a 3% fee. (TechCrunch, Phone Arena)