IF / News

Midea has stated that manufacturers’ supply of chips is “under pressure in the home appliances industry”. Midea has said the prices of chips used for home appliances, which are generally less sophisticated than those used in smartphones and laptop computers, are poised to increase as the global shortfall of chips persists. Midea has also revealed that chip unit MR Semiconductor, which is set up in 2018, has helped provide a steady supply of components, including microcontrollers and power management chips, for its own use. (Gizmo China, SCMP, Xinhuanet)

OPPO and Xiaomi will reportedly introduce their in-house-developed sub-6GHz 5G chip solutions between late 2021 and early 2022, joining fabless chipmaker UNISOC in competing against chip vendors such as Qualcomm and MediaTek, according to Digitimes. (Digitimes, Android Authority, CC Time)

MediaTek’s new generation of 5G smartphone chip Dimensity 2000 based on TSMC’s 5nm process will complete its design (tape out) in 2Q21, and begin mass production and shipment as early as the end of 3Q21. It is expected to win multiple 5G smartphone brand customers in 4Q21. MediaTek have reportedly successfully entered the Apple Watch supply chain with a 4G modem chip for the first time, and will begin mass production and shipment in 2022. (CN Beta, Digitimes, CTEE)

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Co. has reportedly started preparations for a U.S. initial public offering of chipmaker GlobalFoundries. The sovereign wealth fund has been having initial discussions with potential advisers about a listing of GlobalFoundries that could value the business at about USD20B. (CN Beta, Bloomberg, Arab News)

Samsung and LG are planning for a partnership in OLED panels, which is the first time that’s happening. Samsung is considering buying OLED panels from LG Display for Samsung TVs but not smartphones. Until 2H21, LG Display should deliver over 1M OLED panels to Samsung. This could increase to over 4M units in 2022. (Android Headlines, MTN, SamMobile)

According to Digitimes, Apple’s premium “Pro” models of the upcoming iPhone 13 lineup will be equipped with a low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) display, enabling the iPhones to have a 120Hz refresh rate. Samsung Display and LG Display, now offering LTPS OLED displays for iPhones, are proceeding with capacity conversion to LTPO panels at their Apple-dedicated Gen-6 OLED lines, with the conversion likely to be completed in 1H21. (GSM Arena, Apple Insider, Digitimes, MacRumors)

CREAL, a company building light-field display technology for AR and VR headsets, has revealed a new through-the-lens video showing off the performance of its latest VR headset prototype. The company demonstrates the ability to focus on arbitrary distances, as well as the high resolution of the foveated region. The company also the rendering tech that powers the headset is “approaching the equivalent of [contemporary] VR headsets”. (Liliputing, Road to VR, TechRadar, Sohu)

Samsung patents a tablet design with a foldable display with a patent titled “Display Device”. The tablet’s opened design features a simple rectangular display, except with 2 subtle notches on either side of the screen where the folding mechanism is. The tablet’s body around the notches is also noticeably thicker than the extremities of the tablet. (Android Headlines, Tom’s Guide, Gizmo China, LetsGoDigital)

Samsung may partner with Olympus for its future smartphones. Olympus has allegedly approached Samsung with a view of jointly working on future smartphones.  (Android Headlines, Sam Mobile, Phone Arena)

Toshiba has received a USD20B offer from CVC Capital Partners to take the Japanese conglomerate private. Toshiba has confirmed that it has been approached by the private equity firm with an acquisition proposal. (CN Beta, Japan Times, Bloomberg, City A.M.)

General Electric (GE) will be developing miniature sensors that can detect the Covid-19 virus nano-particles on surfaces. GE has been awarded a two-year research grant with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create a new type of COVID-19 detector. (CN Beta, Times Union, Fast Company)

Huawei has confirmed that its smart car solution will be used in the upcoming ARCFOX Polar Fox Alpha S model, with a new generation of smart luxury pure electric cars. Furthermore, Wang Jun, President of Huawei’s Smart Car Solution BU has revealed that Huawei plans to reduce the cost of Lidar to USD200 or even USD100 in the future. (GSM Arena, Huawei Central, Android Geek, IT Home, CN Beta)

Apple is developing an API that supports multiple authentication methods. These methods include Touch ID and Face ID authentication. Apple’s new iPhone 13 series to be launched in 2021 may use an on-screen fingerprint recognition technology. Apple’s on-screen fingerprint recognition method may integrate sensors on the glass, rather than “under-screen” in the true sense. (GizChina, Twitter, IT Home, Sina)

Ant Security Laboratories has announced that its Dimensity Laboratory is officially recognized by Google based on the industry’s first biometric fully automated testing and certification system launched earlier, becoming the world’s first Android biometric fully automated security testing laboratory. The Ant Security Dimensity Laboratory has completed the testing and certification of 50 phone models, serving 4 major fingerprint manufacturers of Goodix, Silead, EgisTec, and FPC, as well as 13 domestic and foreign phone vendors. (My Drivers, 163)

OPPO, realme and OnePlus will be launching their own smartphones 125W Super Fast Charging in 2H21. The technology supports multiple fast-charging protocols including PPS 125W, PD 65W and QX 36W. It will be compatible with VOOC, Dart, Warp, SuperVOOC, SuperVOOC 2.0, SuperDart technologies. (GizChina, 163)

HMD Global announces HMD Mobile, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). Ran independently by the Finnish smartphone manufacturer, HMD Global provides a simple one-stop-shop for reliable mobile connectivity. People can buy their device and their service from one place, Nokia.com/phones. (CN Beta, GSM Arena, Telecoms, Light Reading, Digital Trends)

IC substrate makers in Apple’s iPhone supply chain are aggressively bracing for production of BT-based AiP (antenna in package) substrates expecting a surge in demand for new iPhones in 2021, according to Digitimes. Apple is expected to boost its 5G mmWave smartphone shipment goal for 2021 as the global economy is on track for stable recovery, and its demand for AiP modules supporting mmWave iPhones will grow remarkably in 2021. (MacRumors, Digitimes, Digitimes, CN Beta)

LG Electronics has announced that all premium LG smartphones currently in use will receive up to 3 iterations of Android operating system updates from the year of purchase. The 3 OS update guarantee applies to LG premium phones released in 2019 and later (G series, V series, VELVET, Wing) while certain 2020 models such as LG Stylo and K series will receive 2 OS updates. (Neowin, LG, Android Authority, IT Home, Sina)

In 2020, Samsung announced that it would provide 3 years of major updates and monthly security patches to its Galaxy S, Note, and foldable devices. Now, that same policy is expanding to Galaxy A series, with the Galaxy A52 getting 3 years of Android updates. (Android Authority, 9to5Google, LTN)

Samsung is bringing the first batch of Galaxy A 2021 phones to the US, including its first 5G phone under USD300. There are 3 5G models in total, plus 2 affordable 4G phones. (CNET, GSM Arena, Samsung, Sina)

Samsung has launched “iTest”, which is an interactive website experience that is designed to allow Apple iPhone users to test out Android on a Galaxy device, or “sample the other side”, as Samsung puts it. (MacRumors, iTest, 163)

Apple has introduced the updated Find My app, allowing third-party products to use the private and secure finding capabilities of Apple’s Find My network. The Find My network accessory program opens up the vast and global Find My network to third-party device manufacturers to build products utilizing the service. New products that work with the Find My app from Belkin, Chipolo, and VanMoof will be available soon. (MacRumors, Apple, Apple, 9to5Google, Engadget)

Apple is on a trajectory to sell a record-breaking 240M-250M iPhones in the 2021 fiscal year, topping a previous record of 231M iPhones sold in the 2015 fiscal year, according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. Ives estimates that 350M iPhone users worldwide are currently “in the window of an upgrade opportunity”, which he believes is “translating into an unprecedented supercycle upgrade cycle” for Apple in 2021. (MacRumors, GizChina, IT Home)

According to Wang Chenglu, President of Huawei’s Consumer Business Software Department and Head of AI, HarmonyOS offers a unifying language for intelligence, interconnection, and collaboration of different devices. Furthermore, he claims that the HarmonyOS will run on 300M units of devices in 2021. This is Huawei’s target for HarmonyOS. (GizChina, IT Home)

Nokia G20, G10, C20 and C10 are unveiled: G20 – 6.52” 720×1600 HD+ v-notch, MediaTek Helio G35, rear quad 48MP-5MP ultrawide-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 8MP, 4+128GB, Android 11.0, side fingerprint, 5050mAh 10W, EUR159. G10 – 6.38” 720×1560 HD+ HiD, Qualcomm Snapdragon 460, rear quad 48MP-5MP ultrawide-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 16MP, 3+32GB, Android 11.0, rear fingerprint, 4000mAh 10W, EUR139. C20 – 6.52” 720×1600 HD+ v-notch, UNISOC SC9863A, rear 5MP + front 5MP, 1+16 / 2+32GB, Android 11.0 Go, 3000mAh, no fingerprint scanner, from EUR90. C10 – 6.52” 720×1600 HD+ v-notch, UNISOC SC7331E, rear 5MP + front 5MP, 1+16 / 2+32GB, Android 11.0 Go, no fingerprint scanner, from EUR75. (GSM Arena, Android Authority, Gizmo China)

Nokia X10 and X20 are announced, featuring 6.67” 1080×2400 FHD+ HiD, Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G, Android 11.0, side fingerprint, 4470mAh 18W: X10 – Rear quad Ziess optics 48MP-5MP ultrawide-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 8MP, 6+64 / 4+128 / 6+128GB, from EUR309. X20 – Rear quad Ziess optics 64MP-5MP ultrawide-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 32MP, 6+128 / 8+128GB, from EUR349. (Gizmo China, GSM Arena, CN Beta)

Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is announced in China and Europe – 6.92” 1080×2460 FHD+ AMOLED 144Hz, Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, built-in 2 cooling fans, pressure sensitive zones (gaming triggers), rear dual 64MP-16MP ultrawide + front motorized pop-up 44MP, 8+128 / 12+128 / 12+256 / 16+512/ 18+512GB, Android 11.0, fingerprint on display, 2 USB Type-C ports, 5500mAh 90W, CNY3699-5999 or EUR700 / EUR999 (12+256 / 16+512GB). (GSM Arena, IT Home, My Drivers, CN Beta)

realme X70 Pro Ultra is announced in China – 6.55” 1080×2400 FHD+ Super AMOLED HiD 90Hz, MediaTek Dimensity 1000+, rear tri 64MP-8MP ultrawide-2MP macro + front 32MP, 8+128 / 12+256GB, Android 11.0, side fingerprint, 4500mAh 65W, CNY2,399 (USD365) / CNY2,699 (USD410). (GSM Arena, realme)

Tecno Spark 7 is announced in India –  6.5” 720×1600 HD+ v-notch, MediaTek Helio A25, rear dual 16MP-AI lens + front 8MP, 2+32 / 3+64GB, Android 11.0, rear fingerprint, 6000mAh, INR6,999 (USD94) / INR7,999 (USD107). (Gizmo China, GSM Arena, NDTV)

Gionee M3 is announced in China – 6.53” 720×1600 HD+ v-notch, MediaTek Helio P60, rear quad 16MP-5MP ultrawide-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 8MP, 6+128 / 8+128 / 8+256GB, Android 11.0, side fingerprint, 5000mAh 18W, CNY899 (USD137) / CNY959 (USD147) / CNY1,059 (USD162). (GSM Arena, GizChina)

Nokia Lite Earbuds is announced, features  a 6 mm driver that covers the 20 Hz to 20 kHz range, offers battery lite for 6 hours of uninterrupted listening time, the case (with its 400mAh battery) brings the total listening time up to 36 hours. It is priced at EUR75. (GSM Arena, Gizmo China, CN Beta)

HTC plans to launch new 5G smartphone models, AR / VR hardware products and related solutions in 2Q21 to stimulate sales, according to Digitimes. In addition to focusing on the domestic market in Taiwan, the company has also been keen on promoting its smartphones in Europe and the Middle East in cooperation with local telecom operators. (Digitimes, press, Gizmo China, UDN, IT Home)

Samsung is repurposing older smartphones to enable greater access to ophthalmic health care in underserved communities around the world. Samsung has partnered with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and Yonsei University Health System (YUHS) in Korea to create medical devices that screen for eye disease by upcycling Galaxy smartphones. (Sammy Hub, Samsung)

Uber will spend USD250M on a one-time stimulus aimed at getting drivers back on the road. The company said that the incentives will help welcome back existing drivers and “ensure first-time drivers do well as they learn the ropes”. Uber is anticipating an eventual rise in demand across its United States business. (CN Beta, CNBC, TechCrunch, Business Insider)

Xpeng, backed by Alibaba and Xiaomi, has announced the construction of another plant. It is to be built in Wuhan and will have an annual capacity of 100,000 cars. The new factory follows in the footsteps of Xpeng’s first assembly line, in Zhaoqing in China’s southern Guangdong province, built in May 2020 . The Zhaoqing production line, which has a capacity of 150,000 units. (CN Beta, SCMP, XPeng, Reuters)

Chinese-owned electric vehicle manufacturer XPeng Motors has partnered with Lizhi, a leading podcast app provider, to install an audio feature in Xpeng’s electric cars called live-stream podcast, which bears similarities to the Clubhouse app. The interactive audio element in Xpeng’s electric vehicles is bound to catch the fancy of several potential buyers in the world’s largest car market. (GizChina, Lizhi, Sina, Sohu, IT Home)

The Biden administration’s USD174B proposal to boost electric vehicles calls for USD100B in new consumer rebates and USD15B to build 500,000 new electric vehicle charging stations, according to a Transportation Department email sent to congressional staff. The new EV rebates, part of a USD2.3T infrastructure and jobs proposal, would be a potential big boost to U.S. automakers, especially General Motors and Tesla, which no longer qualify for USD7,500 rebates after they sold more than 200,000 zero-emission models. (NY Times, Reuters, Teslarati, CN Beta)

Signal plans to announce that it is rolling out the ability for some of its users to send money to one another within its fast-growing encrypted communications network. It has integrated support for the cryptocurrency MobileCoin, a form of digital cash designed to work efficiently on mobile devices while protecting users’ privacy and even their anonymity. (GizChina, Wired, CN Beta)