IF / News

U.S. auto sales are expected to nose-dive in Sept 2021, driving purchases of new vehicles down in the third quarter by at least 13% as the chip shortage continues to disrupt production. Forecasts from Cox Automotive, Edmunds and J.D. Power / LMC Automotive predict vehicle sales in Jul-Sept 2021 were less than 3.4M, down 13%-14% from the same time in 2020 when volumes were depressed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The severe decline, including an expected 24%-26% fall in Sept 2021, is due to the ongoing shortage of semiconductor chips for new vehicles. (CN Beta, CNBC)

MediaTek has introduced the Filogic connectivity family with Filogic 830 Wi-Fi 6 / 6E system-on-chip (SoC) and Filogic 630 Wi-Fi 6E network interface card (NIC) solutions. Filogic 830 is based on 12nm architecture and bags a bunch of features into a compact, ultra-low power chipset housing four Arm Cortex-A53 processors clocked at up to 2GHz per core for up to +18,000 DMIPs processing power, dual 4×4 Wi-Fi 6/6E for up to 6Gbps connectivity, two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, and a host of peripheral interfaces. Filogic 630 is a Wi-Fi 6/6E NIC solution with dual-band, dual-concurrent 2×2 2.4GHz and 3×3 5GHz or 6GHz for up to 3Gbps support. The chipset packs a unique 3T3R 5/6GHz system with internal front-end modules (FEMs). (Gizmo China, MediaTek)

Astera Labs, a fabless semiconductor company that builds connectivity solutions that help remove bottlenecks around high-bandwidth applications and help better allocate resources around enterprise data, has raised USD50M. The Series C values the company at USD950M post-money. (VentureBeat, TechCrunch, Business Wire)

Qualcomm is promoting its expanded global ecosystem of more than 400 members including system integrators, designers and manufacturers—many engaged in IoT projects through Qualcomm’s IoT Services Suite. Qualcomm is showcasing continued momentum of the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program.  (VentureBeat, Qualcomm, Qualcomm, Fierce Electronics)

Unisoc has said that due to rising raw material prices and continued tight supply capacity, the cost of its related products has continued to increase. In order to strive for reasonable production capacity, stabilize product supply, and better serve customers in the long-term, after careful consideration and decision of the company, the price of smart wearable product line has been increased by 25%. The price adjustment will take effect from 1 Oct 2021, and the adjustment range is subject to the quotation of the specific product model. (Sina, CN Beta, OfWeek)

Amazon debuts its AZ2 processor, a chip that powers artificial intelligence (AI) tasks like understanding user’s voice commands and figuring out who is issuing those commands. It is built into the new Echo Show 15 smart display. The AZ2 chip is key to Visual ID, an optional facial recognition feature that lets Alexa show users personalized recommendations, calendars, to-do lists and more when your face is captured by the camera. (CN Beta, The Verge, CNET)

A metal made from the second-most abundant element on Earth has become scarce, threatening everything from car parts to computer chips and throwing up another hurdle for the world economy. The shortage in silicon metal, sparked by a production cut in China, has sent prices up 300% in less than 2 months. Norwegian chemicals manufacturer Elkem ASA said it and several other companies making silicone-based products suspended some sales due to to the shortage. (CN Beta, ieconomy, Yahoo, Bloomberg)

Intel has unveiled its Loihi 2, the second generation of a processor family that marries conventional electronics with the architecture of human brains. Loihi 2, an example of a technology called neuromorphic computing  built with a preproduction version of the Intel 4 manufacturing process, is about 10 times faster than its predecessor. The new Loihi 2 chip also features a 31mm2 die size and packs 2.3B transistors.  (CN Beta, Extreme Tech, Intel, CNET, Tom’s Hardware)

OPPO VP Liu Bo has hinted that the company is developing smartphones with foldable display and rollable display. He has also confirmed the release of OPPO’s first tablet in 1H22. He has revealed that OPPO will debut “multi-shape smartphones”. (CN Beta, Droid.News, GizChina, GSM Arena)

Samsung Display (SDC) reportedly will mass-produce QD OLED in 4Q21, and QD OLED TVs will be released in 2022. SDC has decided to produce QD OLED panels on the Gen-8.5 generation production line Q1 in Asan, Chungnam in Nov 2021, with a monthly production capacity of 30K mother glass. RUNTO predicts that, considering the yield rate, the annual shipment of QD OLED TV panels in 2022 will be 1.4M pieces. (CN Beta, Chosun)

Honor’s patent reveals that the company might be working on a rollable smartphone with a wrap-around screen. The patent application shows a narrow phone with a large wrap-around screen which covers the entire front and the back.  (CN Beta, Gizmo China, LetsGoDigital)

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (Sony) has announced the commercialization of the IMX487, a 2/3-type CMOS image sensor for industrial equipment, which is compatible with the UV (ultraviolet light) wavelength and comes with global shutter functionality and the industry’s highest effective pixel count of approximately 8.13MP. the pixels capture UV light with high efficiency, resulting in high UV sensitivity as well as a compact form factor and high resolution made possible by the industry’s smallest 2.74µm square pixel size. (CN Beta, Sparrow News, Sony)

Samsung will reportedly procure batteries for the upcoming Galaxy S22 smartphones series from both China’s Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) and Samsung SDI. Batteries from both companies will be used in the initial batch of the phones. ATL has so far supplied its batteries for Galaxy A, Galaxy M, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds. Samsung is also likely looking to cut unit prices from Samsung SDI through giving ATL orders. (CN Beta, Gizmo China, The Elec)

Tesla has announced that Tesla is raising the price of the mobile connector in China by CNY400 (USD62) to CNY2,950 effective immediately. Tesla has explained that the cost up is due to chip shortages and cost fluctuations. The mobile connector supports 100-240V 50Hz AC, supports a maximum current of 13A and has a cable length of 6m. (CN Beta, My Drivers, CN EV Post)

Michigan Technological University (MTU), part of ReCell, have developed an innovative process for separating the valuable materials that make up the cathode, a battery’s positively charged electrode. MTU and ReCell detail their discovery: a method of separating individual cathode materials using a new twist on an old process called froth flotation. (CN Beta, SciTechDaily)

USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has announced a new certified logo program based on USB4, USB Type-C, and USB Power Delivery specifications. Cables that now feature the new USB PD 3.1 standard of 60W or 240W will feature the new logo that clearly identify the power rating that the cable is capable of. USB4 cables that support either 20Gbps or 40Gbps speeds will feature a new logo that shows not just the new data transfer speeds but also the charging speed. (CN Beta, Business Wire, GSM Arena)

Samsung has stopped filling their stock One UI apps with ads after years of serving them. The apps include Samsung Pay, Weather, and Samsung Health. This is confirmed in a reply on Samsung’s Community Forum by the Samsung Health Manager. (Gizmo China, CN Beta, GSM Arena, 9to5Google, Samsung)

According to Strategy Analytics, global smartphone wholesale price will grow +11% YoY from USD279 in 2020 to USD310 in 2021. This is the highest price in the smartphone industry since 2013. Global smartphone wholesale revenue is expected to grow +21% YoY to reach its highest ever value at USD435B in 2021. This is driven by smartphone sales volume that will rebound at +9% YoY and the higher average price point. (CN Beta, Strategy Analytics)

Fairphone 4 is announced promising 2 major Android version updates and software support until the end of 2025 – 6.3” 1080×2340 FHD+ v-notch IPS LCD, Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G, rear tri 48MP OIS-48MP ultrawide-3D ToF + front 25MP, 6+128 / 8+256GB, Android 11.0, side fingerprint, IP54 rated, 3905mAh 20W, EUR579 / EUR649. (CN Beta, GSM Arena)

Redmi 9i Sport and 9A Sport are launched in India, featuring 6.53” 720×1600 HD+ v-notch IPS LCD, MediaTek Helio G25, rear 13MP + front 5MP, no fingerprint, 5000mAh 10W: 9i Sport –  4+64 / 4+128GB, Android 10.0,  INR8,799 (USD119) / INR9,299 (USD125). 9A Sport – 2+32 / 3+32GB, Android 10.0, INR6,999 (USD94) / INR7,999 (USD108).  (GizChina, Mi.com, Mi.com)

Tecno Camon 18 Premier is launched in Nigeria – 6.7” 1080×2400 FHD+ HiD AMOLED 120Hz, MediaTek Helio G96, rear tri 64MP-8MP periscope telephoto 5x optical zoom-12MP ultrawide gimbal OIS + front 32MP, 8+256GB, Android 11.0, side fingerprint, 4750mAh 33W, price to be announced. (Gizmo China, GSM Arena, NDTV, Tecno)

Tecno Camon 18 and 18P are launched in Nigeria, featuring 6.8” 1080×2460 FHD+ HiD 90Hz IPS LCD: 18 – MediaTek Helio G88, rear tri 48MP-2MP macro-2MP depth + front 16MP, 4+128GB, Android 11.0, side fingerprint, 5000mAh 18W, price yet to be unveiled. 18P – MediaTek Helio G96, rear tri 48MP-13MP telephoto 1.7 optical zoom-2MP depth + front 16MP, 8+128GB, Android 11.0, side fingerprint, 5000mAh 33W, price yet to be unveiled. (Price Baba, Gizmo China, GSM Arena, Tecno, Tecno)

Alcatel 3X Plus is launched in Argentina – 6.22” 720×1520 HD+ v-notch S-IPS, Unisoc SC9863A, rear tri 13MP-5MP ultrawide-2MP depth + front 5MP, 4+128GB, Android 10.0, rear fingerprint, 4000mAh, ARS23,999 (USD243). (Gizmo China, Alcatel, News Byte,  TechAndroids)

Motorola Moto Tab G20 is launched in India – 8” 800×1200 TDDI IPS LCD, MediaTek Helio P22T, rear 5MP + front 2MP, 3+32GB, Android 11.0, Dolby Atmos single speaker, USB-C, 5100mAh, INR10,999 (USD148). (CN Beta, GSM Arena, Motorola)

Honor Pad V7 is launched in China – 10.4” 1200×2000 IPS LCD 90Hz HDR10, MediaTek Kompanio 900T, rear 13MP + front 8MP, 6+128 / 8+128 / 6+128GB 5G, Android 11.0, quad speaker with DTS:X Ultra, supports Magic Pencil 2, 7250mAh 22.5W, CNY1,999 (USD309) / CNY2,299 (USD355) / CNY2,599 (USD402). (Liliputing, GSM Arena)

Amazon has announced new a lineup of Ring devices: Amazon is opening the invite list for the Ring Always Home Cam, which the flying drone home camera the company announced earlier 2021. Ring Alarm Pro with Eero built-in, which is an all-new home security system, and features alarm and motion detection, reliable Wi-Fi with 24/7 internet backups, and enabling Ring Edge. It is priced at USD250. Blink doorbell, which is priced at USD50, targeting the more budget-friendly section of the market. Ring Jobsite Security, which are dedicated for job sites, priced at USD399. A new Ring Virtual Security Guard, which is a USD99 per month service that offers dedicated team members to monitor user’s home. (Pocket-Lint, Business Wire, Ring, The Verge, Liliputing)

Faraday Future (FF), in partnership with Gonzales Group, has unveiled an inside look at the fully automated system that will manufacture the FF 91’s lightweight aluminum closures. FF is on schedule to deliver its ultimate intelligent techluxury FF 91. FF is also currently ramping up hiring efforts for the Hanford facility and expects to continue to increase hiring there in the coming months. (CN Beta, Business Wire, Yahoo)

Daimler AG shareholders have backed a plan to spin off the sprawling truck division from the Mercedes-Benz luxury-car operations in a watershed decision to boost the valuation of both companies. The move is designed for the businesses to react faster to sector-specific trends like battery power and autonomous driving, ending more than a century of running them under one roof.   (CN Beta, Bloomberg, Auto News)

Earlier 2021, General Motors (GM) announced plans to go green by 2035 with the vehicles it produces and by 2030 with how it produces them. The company has now announced that it will use 100% renewable energy across its US operations by 2025 — 5 years ahead of schedule. The company has also said it was working with U.S power grid operator PJM Interconnection and energy firm TimberRock to track carbon emissions from electricity use at its U.S. facilities. (TechCrunch, Engadget, Reuters)

AutoLeap, an auto repair software company serving the automotive repair industry, has raised USD18M in a Series A round. AutoLeap provides the leading all-in-one SaaS software that helps auto repair shop owners better understand, manage and grow their business – from scheduling appointments to managing technicians and generating invoices. (TechCrunch, PR Newswire)

In 3Q21, Tesla sold 241,300 cars. That‘s 102,000 more than the same time period in 2020. The company has managed to deliver more vehicles once again despite the fact that major automakers saw huge drops this past quarter. While other manufacturers have felt the brunt of the global chip shortage Tesla has begun sourcing different silicon. (Engadget, Tesla, The Verge)