2-13 #ComesTheOx : Google, Microsoft and Qualcomm are complaining to U.S. antitrust regulators about Nvidia’s acquisition of ARM; TikTok’s forced sale to Oracle and Walmart has been put on hold “indefinitely”; Bullitt has agreed to a long-term brand partnership deal with Motorola; etc.
Qualcomm’s incoming Chief Executive Officer Cristiano Amon has said U.S. sanctions against Huawei may help alleviate a global shortfall in semiconductor supply. If Huawei’s in-house chip unit HiSilicon cannot get its designs manufactured, the company may order more chips from other providers. These limitations will also free up capacity at TSMC. (Phone Arena, Yahoo)
Samsung Foundry has filed documents with authorities in Arizona, New York, and Texas seeking to build a leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing facility in the USA. The potential fab near Austin, Texas, is expected to cost over USD17B and to create 1,800 jobs. If everything goes as planned, it will go online by 4Q23. (CN Beta, AnandTech)
Some of the world’s largest technology companies are complaining to U.S. antitrust regulators about Nvidia’s acquisition of ARM because the deal will harm competition in an area of the industry that is vital to their businesses. Alphabet’s Google, Microsoft and Qualcomm are among companies worried about the USD40B deal and are urging antitrust officials to intervene. (CN Beta, Bloomberg, The Verge)
vivo has filed a patent of foldable phone, featuring left and right sides of the phone on the front of the phone, yet the upper and lower ends are all wrapped by the screen. The bottom screen of the folding screen phone is designed with an additional display, which is folded at the back of the fuselage, and the front screen of the phone is opened. (GSM Arena, LetsGoDigital, CN Beta)
Building on existing systems that monitor sleep through placing a sensor on top of the mattress, Apple is researching how to get more data and do so with less discomfort for the sleeper. As well as Apple’s acquisition of Beddit for its technology, the company has been persistently pursuing new methods of tracking sleep as part of its health features. Two newly-revealed patent applications suggest that it is particularly focusing on devices that can be laid upon a bed, yet not disturb the sleep they are intended to monitor. (Apple Insider, UPSTO, CN Beta)
A series of new patent applications backs up recent claims that Apple will introduce the ability for a future Apple Watch to monitor glucose using terahertz electromagnetic radiation without the need to draw blood. A series of four related new patent applications have been revealed, which together show Apple’s latest proposal for such a system in Apple Watch. (Apple Insider, USPTO, CN Beta)
TikTok’s forced sale to Oracle and Walmart has been put on hold “indefinitely” as President Joe Biden reviews past efforts to handle security risks from Chinese technology companies. The company is reportedly still talking to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) about resolving concerns. (Engadget, WSJ, STCN, Sohu)
Bullit Group, the rugged phone maker that owns the Cat, Kodak and Land Rover smartphone brands has agreed to a long-term brand partnership deal with Motorola. The UK-based company will develop and market Moto-branded rugged phones which will be drop-proof and shockproof. (GSM Arena, Bullitt)
Google has announced that it will add over 100 games to its cloud gaming service Stadia. Stadia’s announcement comes shortly after Google shut down the Stadia game studios in Montreal and Los Angeles due to the company’s decision to step away from developing first-party games.(CN Beta, Thurott, 9to5Google, Stadia)
Peter Franklin, CEO of OnwardMobility (new operators of BlackBerry), has reiterated that the company will release a 5G phone in 2021. The phone will come with a classic BlackBerry keyboard. The company is currently cooperating with Foxconn to jointly develop the new BlackBerry 5G phone. (Phone Arena, GSM Arena, GizChina, IT Home)
Infinix Smart 5 launched in India – 6.82” 720×1440 HD+ v-notch, MediaTek Helio G25, rear 13MP-low light sensor + front 8MP, 2+32 / 3+32GB, Android 10.0 Go, rear fingerprint, 6000mAh, INR8,999 (USD123). (GSM Arena, GizChina)
Moto E6i is announced in Brazil – 6.1” 720×1560 HD+ u-notch, UNISOC SC9863A, rear dual 13MP-2MP depth + front 5MP, 2+32GB, Android 10.0 Go, rear fingerprint, 3000mAh 10W, BRL1,099 (USD205). (Android Headlines, GSM Arena, Motorola)
Facebook is allegedly building a smartwatch it hopes to start selling in 2022. The watch will let wearers send messages using Facebook’s services and also offer health and fitness features. (Apple Insider, The Information, CN Beta)
More than 100M people globally now own an Apple Watch, an adoption milestone Apple surpassed Dec 2020, according to estimated figures compiled by Above Avalon’s Neil Cybart. It took 5.5 years for the Apple Watch installed base to surpass 100M people. (Mac Rumors, Above Avalon)
“For All Mankind: Time Capsule” is a new augmented reality (AR) app created by Apple to promote the upcoming second season of “For All Mankind”. In Time Capsule, users progress through a series of character-driven moments centered around augmented reality objects. (Engadget, TechCrunch, Apple)
