6-24: Qualcomm sues Meizu; A total of 90.8 million OLED panels were sold in 1Q16; , Largan Precision is expected to maintain its leading market status of smartphone-use dual-lens modules; etc.
Qualcomm sues Meizu; A total of 90.8 million OLED panels were sold in 1Q16; , Largan Precision is expected to maintain its leading market status of smartphone-use dual-lens modules; Huawei CEO Richard Yu says as long as Google Android keeps the platform open, Huawei will not stop using it; Brexit, Samsung is also reported to considering relocating its European headquarters in London to a location in Europe; etc.
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Chipset |
| Qualcomm has asked the Beijing Intellectual Property Court for a ruling that the terms of a patent license it offered Meizu comply with China’s Anti-Monopoly Law, Qualcomm’s “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory licensing obligations”. (CN Beta, 163, DoNews, WSJ, Yahoo, PC World) |
| China’s tablet-use application processor (AP) shipments are expected to decrease 2.9% in 2016 as a result of poor tablet sales, according to Digitimes Research. China’s tablet AP shipments will increase 6% sequentially to 20.4 million units in 2Q16, thanks to a pick-up in demand. (Digitimes, press, 52RD, EEPW)
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Touch Display |
| According IHS, a total of 90.8 million OLED panels were sold in 1Q16, 96.2% of which, or 87.35 million, were for smartphones. The smartphone panels mark a 62.8% rise from a year earlier, the data showed. SDC is still the clear OLED leader, with a market share of 97.7%. LGD follows with 0.9% and AUO with 0.7%. (TechNews, OLED-Info, Korea Times) |
| Samsung Display and LG Display combined AMOLED capacity to increase at a CAGR of 33.1% during 2015-2019, according to Digitimes Research. The two companies‘ combined annual capacity for AMOLED panels will increase from 6.093 million square meters in 2015 to 19.1 million square meters in 2019. (Digitimes, press) |
| Apple patent application for a “Stylus with touch sensor” describes a next-generation input device that incorporates an array of capacitive touch sensors along its body to determine the position of a user’s fingers. Information gathered by these sensors can be interpreted as gestures for onscreen UI control. (Apple Insider, USPTO, TechWeb, 51Touch)
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| Apple patent “Electronic Devices with Hand Detection Circuitry” has an array of sensors on the body of the device can again detect the fingers and other parts of the hand, in order to determine whether it is being held in the left or right hand. Thereby the hardware can be used single-handedly. (CN Beta, TNW, MACNN, USPTO)
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Camera |
| According to Digitimes, although adoption of dual-lens cameras for smartphones is not yet popular, Largan Precision is expected to maintain its leading market status in technology and production capacity of smartphone-use dual-lens modules. Kantatsu and Sunny Optical Technology are Largan’s major competitors in smartphone-use dual-lens module segment. (Digitimes, press) |
| Xiaomi and LeEco are reportedly buying dual-camera modules for their upcoming phones. Samsung Electro Mechanics will be supplying the dual-camera modules to both smartphone makers in July 2016. OPPO may also be another candidate shopping for dual-camera modules from Samsung. (CN Beta, Korea Herald, CNET) |
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Memory |
| SanDisk iXpand is an Apple iPhone case with up to 128GB of extra storage built-in. (GSM Arena, SanDisk, SlashGear, 25PP)
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Connectivity |
| BCE, parent company of Canada’s 3rd largest wireless carrier Bell Mobility, has gain major MTS shareholders’ approval of acquiring Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS). (Android Central, PR Newswire) |
| Google Fiber is acquiring San Francisco-based gigabit internet provider Webpass for an undisclosed amount. (Android Central, Webpass, 163) |
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Smartphones |
| After LeEco spending HKD1.047 billion to acquire 11% share of Coolpad, becoming the biggest shareholder, Coolpad sent out an internal letter to its employees, affirming the management organization is not changed. (CN Beta, Sina, 163)
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| Regarding the rumour Huawei is developing its own OS, CEO Richard Yu says as long as Google Android keeps the platform open, Huawei will not stop using it. Though, he does not make any official denial to the rumour. (CN Beta, My Drivers)
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| Samsung’s European sales had accounted for 21.2% of the total in 2013, but the figure dropped to 12.8% last year. Over the same period, LG’s figure went from 11.2% to 10.3%. While sales have slowed, Brexit is expected to add hurdles for the two companies. Samsung is also reported to considering relocating its European headquarters in London to a location in Europe. (Phone Arena, Korea Herald) |
| The total transaction value of NFC- and 2D barcode-based mobile payment services in the China market in 2015 reached CNY108.2 trillion (USD17.22 trillion), hiking 379% on year, Digitimes Research indicated. However, providers of third-party e-payment services offered subsidies to maintain their user bases and market shares. (Digitimes, press) |
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Wearables |
| The Basslet, created by Lofelt, is a wrist-worn gadget and wearable subwoofer that delivers bass straight into your body without having to blast your music. It is using LoSound engine technology. (CN Beta, CNET, Digital Spy)
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Internet of Things |
| The Mi Qicycle is developed by Xiaomi backed start-up iRiding. The bicycle features a 3-speed hub and 250W 36V pedal assist motor, which can manage up to 45km on a single charge. The bicycle also features Bluetooth technology to connect the bike up to a smartphone companion app. It is priced at CNY2999. (CN Beta, Android Authority)
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| Segway miniPRO, which can reach top speed of 10mph and max range of 14 miles using an 800-watt dual motor that is engineered to overcome humps, slopes, and other everyday conditions without sacrificing safety and stability, priced at USD999 on Amazon. (CN Beta, Mashable, CNET, BGR, PhysOrg)
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| Chris Olah at Google Research has spelled out the 5 big questions about how to develop smarter, safer artificial intelligence: Avoiding Negative Side Effects, Avoid Reward Hacking, Scalable Oversight, Safe Exploration, Robustness to Distributional Shift. (AskCI, Phone Arena, Google, CNET, Hexun) |
| Boston Dynamics unveils its latest robot, the SpotMini, which is a smaller version of the company’s robots and instead of using a hydraulic system, the SpotMini will rely on electric motors to help get itself around. It comes embedded with a host of sensors so that it can find its way around without walking into objects like walls. (Ubergizmo, Gizmodo, TechNews, 163)
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