6-1 Happy Children’s Day: Intel 7th-Gen processor; Intel first 10-core desktop CPU; Allwinner all-in-one VR solution; AMD’s USD199 graphic card for VR; etc.
Intel 7th-Gen processor; Intel first 10-core desktop CPU; Allwinner all-in-one VR solution; AMD’s USD199 graphic card for VR; AMD announces 7th generation APU – Excavator; Samsung starts mass production of first 512GB NVMe SSD for ultra-slim notebooks; etc.
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Chipsets |
| The U.S. government asked for a joint effort with its South Korean counterpart against China’s rise in semiconductor areas, saying, “There is a problem in China’s state-led supports for its semiconductor industry”. This move is based on concerns that China’s massive investment in semiconductors could bring about a massive overcapacity and plunge the price of chips. (TechNews, Korea Economic Daily) |
| Intel has announced that its 7th generation Kaby Lake processors will be available to consumers by the end of 2016. Mass production will commence on the 14nm node starting in June 2016. (Windows Central, Engadget, PC Pop, DoSpy)
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| Intel has unveiled its Broadwell-E lineup of processors, debuting its first 10-core desktop CPU. The flagship in the Broadwell-E series is the Core i7-6950X Extreme Edition, which will retail for an astounding USD1,723. It offers a base frequency of 3.0GHz, a turbo frequency of 3.5GHz, and can accommodate memory modules with 2400MHz DDR4 frequency. (Gizmodo, PC World, Windows Central, CN Beta)
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| Allwinner shows their 4K VR all-in-one solution using Allwinner H8vr octa-core ARM Cortex-A7 with PowerVR SGX544 GPU, runs Android, 2GB RAM, 16GB Nand Flash, supports up to 4K@60fps video playback. Allwinner also presents their VR roadmap until 2017 – VR9 in 4Q16 and VR10 with LTE support in 2Q17. (Android Headlines, Liliputing, ARM Devices, TouTiao)
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| Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is angling to lower the cost of virtual reality, targeting the field with a new line of graphics hardware priced at USD199—half or less the cost of comparable products. The company aims to help push the starting cost of PCs that can deliver VR experiences as low as USD799 from above USD1,000. (WSJ, Video Cardz, CN Beta) |
| AMD unveils Radeon RX 480, which will retail for USD199. The RX480 is capable of more than 5 teraflops of computing power. It will be available in 4GB and 8GB memory configurations. This GPU can support VR. (AnandTech, article, Engadget, GamerSky)
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| AMD announces 7th generation APU – Excavator mk2 in Bristol Ridge for mainstream notebooks and Stoney Ridge for entry-level notebooks. (AnandTech, article, Ubergizmo, Engadget, CN Beta, The Verge, CNET)
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Touch / Display |
| Apple’s 2017 iPhone will reportedly “be able to create more complex tactile vibrations on the display because of a tiny, but high-performance motor equipped inside”. (CN Beta, iDownloadBlog, BGR, Nikkei) |
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Camera |
| OmniVision introduced OV12890, 1/2.3” 12MP camera sensor for smartphones with a 1.55µ pixel size, using PureCel Plus-S stacked die technology and also has support for phase detection autofocus (PDAF). (Android Headlines, Android Truth, Fone Arena)
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Memory |
| Samsung starts mass production of first 512GB NVMe SSD for ultra-slim notebooks. Configuring the PM971-NVMe SSD in a single BGA package was enabled by combining 16 of Samsung’s 48-layer 256Gb V-NAND flash chips, one 20-nanometer 4Gb LPDDR4 mobile DRAM chip and a high-performance Samsung controller. (CN Beta, Fone Arena, Gear Burn, Hot Hardware)
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Smartphones |
| Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will meet with government officials in China to discuss the ongoing antitrust investigation. (CN Beta, Business Insider) |
| Microsoft and Xiaomi have reached an agreement that will see cross-license patent portfolios, as well as pre-load Skype and Microsoft Office on future Xiaomi Android phones and tablets. (Sina, Android Central) |
| According to department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) secretary Ramesh Abhishek, Xiaomi has withdrawn its request seeking complete exemption from the mandatory 30% local sourcing norms for opening single-brand retail stores in India. (CN Beta, NDTV, India Times, Money Control, Financial Express,) |
| Complicated tax systems, high logistics costs and low popularity of the Xiaomi brand hinder sales of Xiaomi’s smartphones in Brazil, according to Xiaomi Hugo Barra. (CN Beta, Digitimes, press, IT168, China Times) |
| A new study from the University of British Columbia has demonstrated that smartphone notifications can create symptoms in adults similar to ADHD. (ACM, paper, Android Authority, Vice) |
| Apple is reportedly about to adopt a 3 year cycle between major product upgrades for the iPhone, in particular. Reportedly, the change is motivated precisely by the little opportunity left for enhancing the already refined smartphone hardware. (Phone Arena, Nikkei, ZOL, TechWeb) |
| Lenovo ZUK Z2 is announced – 5” FHD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 13MP PDAF EIS + 8MP cameras, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, ZUI 2.0, LTE, 3500mAh battery, CNY1799. (Gizmo China, CN Beta)
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| YU Yunicon launched in India – 5.5” FHD 2.5D curved glass display, MediaTek Helio P10 MT6755 processor, 13MP PDAF + 5MP cameras, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, Android 5.1, LTE, dual-SIM, fingerprint sensor, 4000mAh battery, INR12999. (GSM Arena, Fone Arena)
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| Sirin Labs partnering with KoolSpan with integrated chip-to-chip 256-bit AES encryption launches Solarin – 5.5” 2K display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, 23.8MP + 8MP cameras, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage, Android 5.1.1, 4040mAh battery, USD14,000. (CN Beta, The Verge, IB Times, Venture Beat, Engadget, BGR, Blonde20)
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| Sony Xperia E5 is announced – 5” HD display, MediaTek MT6735 processor, 13MP + 5MP cameras, 1.5GB RAM, 16GB storage, Android 6.0, LTE, dual-SIM optional, 2700mAh battery, EUR199. (GSM Arena, Sony Mobile, CN Beta)
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Tablets |
| LG G Pad III 8.0 is launched in Korea and Canada – 8” 1920×1200 display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor, 8MP + 5MP cameras, 2GB RAM, 16/32GB storage, Android 6.0, LTE, 4800mAh battery, CAD240. (CN Beta, Pocket Now, GSM Arena, Mobile Syrup)
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| A Los Angeles based start-up Rufus Labs has launched a wearable tablet Rufus Cuff, which is available for pre-order now – 3.2” 400×320 TFT display, 640×320 camera, TI Cortex A9 processor, 1GB RAM, 8/16/32/64GB storage, Android KitKat, 1175mAh battery, priced from USD299. (CN Beta, Android Headlines, Startup-Buzz)
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Wearables |
| According to Allwinner’s data, phone VR (like Google Cardboard) has a huge volume currently, but it is only a “temporary phase”. All-in-One VR and PC VR products will continue to grow, and the company forecasts the All-in-One VR will have 130 million units shipped by 2020. (Android Headlines, Liliputing, TouTiao)
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| Jawbone has issued a statement claiming that recent reports stating it is exiting its fitness wearable business are “false”. (Android Central, Engadget, TechInsider) |
| École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) has created VIZIR, a smart visor for firefighters that will allow them to see thermal images through their breathing mask visor while keeping their hands free. (The Verge, BGR, AFZhan, 4399)
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| Baofeng launching new VR products, compatible with 4.7”-5.5” OTG Android smartphones, supporting microUSB and USB Type-C connectors, equipped with FOV96° professional lenses, high accuracy 9-axis gyroscope, capacitive touch panel and running new VR ROM, i.e., Magic UI: Mojing 5 – has its own Bluetooth sticks, priced at CNY499. Mojing 5 Plus – powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, equipped with Leap Motion hand gesture technology, priced at CNY899. (Sohu, 163, iFanr, CN Beta, My Drivers, DoSpy)
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Internet of Things |
| Atari and SIGFOX, the world’s leading provider of dedicated communications service for the IoT, announced a global partnership to develop a line of new connected devices based on Atari’s iconic brand. (OfWeek, Android Headlines, Business Wire, Venture Beat) |
