Sharp

Sharp beats everyone to completely bezeless phone

Forget Xiaomi's Mi MIX, Samsung's, Galaxy S8 or Apple's upcoming iPhone 8: Apple supplier Sharp is set to launch a completely bezeless devices on the July 17. According to GizChina, Sharp's rather mundanely branded FS8016 and FS8010 phones will have 100 percent seamless appearance with no bezels on the sides and really high screen to body ratios.

The otherwise identical Android devices have different processors: the FS8016 model uses a Snapdragon 660 processor with 6GB of RAM while its FS8010 counterpart is powered by a Snapdragon 330 chip with 4GB of RAM.

Each phone will come running on Android 7.1.1 and have a 5.5-inch display with with a 2,048-by-1,080 pixel resolution, dual twelve-megapixel rear cameras, an eight-megapixel camera on the front and 64 GB of onboard memory.

I'm not surprised that Sharp has managed to design what's essentially a seamless phone with a 100 percent full-screen face with no visible bezels given their awesome Aquos Crystal device in 2014, which filed as the first phone to have three of its sides completely bezel-less.

Are you surprised that Sharp is set to beat other smartphone vendors and launch a completely bezeless device? Chime in with your thoughts in the comment section.

Foxconn and Sharp buying a stake in micro-LED startup eLux

Apple's favorite contract manufacturer Foxconn Electronics is teaming up with its display-making subsidiary Sharp to acquire a 31.82 percent stake in eLux, a Delaware-based startup engaged in research and development of micro-LED technology and its application to virtual reality and augmented reality devices.

The American startup was established in October 2016 by researchers formerly employed at Sharp's research facilities across the United States.

Sharp says it will team with CyberNet Venture Capital, panel maker Innolux and Advanced Optoelectronic Technology (all affiliated with Foxconn) to buy eLux in October.

Nikkei said earlier this week that Sharp will take a stake of just over 30 percent in eLux, valued at $7 million, in exchange for related patents. Additionally, the Japanese giant will transfer 21 patents regarding micro-LED technology to eLux, said DigiTimes.

Apple is apparently serious about this promising new display technology.

Aside from acquiring micro-LED specialists LuxVue back in 2014, the Cupertino company could kick off trial production of micro-LEDs by the end of 2017, with Apple Watch Series 3 likely switching from OLED to micro-LED display technology.

Power-conserving micro-LEDs consist of small, light-emitting diodes that render images.

They're capable of boosting battery life by as much as 300 percent versus LCDs. The technology allows for improved color gamut and up to two to three times the brightness of OLED-based screens under the same power consumption.

WSJ: Sharp investing $878 million into OLED production for future iPhones

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday morning that Sharp is investing a trillion yen, or about $878 million, into a manufacturing facility solely dedicated to churning out the superior organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panels.

Sharp is owned by iPhone manufacturer Foxconn and the facility is expected to focus exclusively on OLED panel production for future iPhones.

Sharp’s $7 billion US display plant may break ground before summer

Japanese giant Sharp is “taking the lead” on a rumored $7 billion display manufacturing plant in the United States which its parent company Foxconn recently highlighted in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Make in America” call. Citing a person with knowledge of the plan, Reuters is reporting that the forthcoming facility may break ground sometime in the first half of 2017.

Samsung seeks arbitration against Sharp and other LCD panel makers over supply halt

Samsung Electronics has filed a request for international arbitration against Sharp and two other LCD panel makers over supply panel halt, The Korea Herald reported Friday.

Owned by iPhone manufacturer Foxconn, Sharp said recently it would stop supplying LCDs to Samsung.

The Galaxy maker is now seeking $492 million in compensation from Sharp and other vendors, said industry sources. Samsung reportedly filed its request with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

Apple suppliers Foxconn and Sharp could build $8 billion LCD plant in USA

Apple's key suppliers—iPhone assembler Foxconn and its Japanese subsidiary Sharp—say that rumored plans calling for establishing an LCD manufacturing plant in the United States are “still on the table”. Company officials made that comment in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's “Make in America” call, Japanese outlet Nikkei reported Friday.

An unnamed Sharp executive told Nikkei that such a decision must be made “carefully”.

Sharp working to secure iPhone camera lens orders from Apple

According to Japanese outlet Nikkei, cited by DigiTimes, Sharp is hoping to secure some camera lens orders from Apple for future iPhones. To boost its chances of cutting a lucrative deal with Apple, Sharp is now speculated to increase its investment in Japan-based lens module maker Kantatsu, in which it currently holds a 44 percent stake.

Sharp would need to compete with Taiwan-based Largan Precision, which currently supplies iPhone camera lens modules in volume. Sharp is owned by Foxconn, the world's top contract manufacturer that assembles iPhones.

Foxconn revenue rises on brisk iPhone 7 sales, but earnings fall due to losses at Sharp

Foxconn Technology Group, the world’s top contract manufacturer and the biggest assembler of Apple products, reported rising revenues for the September quarter and a decline in net profit. Revenue for the July-September quarter climbed from NT$1.066 trillion ($33.43 billion) a year earlier to NT$1.075 trillion ($33.7 billion) thanks to brisk sales of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.

However, losses produced by Foxconn-owned electronics maker Sharp caused net profit to fall to NY$34.6 billion ($1.09 billion) from NY$37.9 billion ($1.19 billion) a year earlier.