News

iPhone 7 flash memory maker Toshiba could sell its NAND flash unit to Western Digital

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 20, 2017

DigiTimes estimated this week that flash memory chips for smartphones will remain in high demand throughout 2017 because supply shortages are reportedly “worse than expected” as chip makers are currently transitioning from older 2D NAND to newer 3D NAND technology.

According to a report Friday in The Korea Herald newspaper, citing Mirae Asset Daewoo Securities analysts, Toshiba may spin off of its lucrative NAND flash unit and sell the stake to Western Digital, narrowing the technology and market share gap with its bigger rival Samsung Electronics.

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

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 20, 2017

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).

Galaxy S8’s assistant to be called Bixby, offer camera-based visual search & text recognition

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 19, 2017

Galaxy S8 is widely expected to include a new Siri-like personal assistant, called Bixby, which may let users search for objects identified in a photograph and recognize text on images. These features should be integrated directly into Samsung's standard Camera app via a dedicated Bixby button, SamMobile learned Thursday.

Aside from these rumored visual search features, Bixby is thought to let the user control all stock apps and conduct payments, similar to Apple's Siri, and more.

Apple posts Sketch and Photoshop design assets for iOS 10 development

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 19, 2017

Apple today shared new user interface resources aimed at iOS 10 development. They come in the form of ready-made design templates for Photoshop and Sketch and include a variety of other helpful assets for quickly designing iOS apps.

Apple says these resources accurately depict the full range of UIKit controls which are available in iOS 10, as well as views and glyphs to help speed up the process of constructing and designing user interfaces in iPhone, iPad and iPod touch apps.

Google bogged down with shipping Pixels, demand at Best Buy not a tenth of that for iPhone 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 19, 2017

Since launching its Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones in early-October 2016, Google's learned that real artists ship—the firm's done a poor job at shipping its latest and greatest phones which received glowing reviews due to their excellent cameras, built-in Google Assistant and other nice features. The company may have grossly underestimated demand for the larger 5.5-inch Pixel XL models.

One visit to its online store is enough to realize Google is struggling to meet consumer demand for its iPhone 7 rival. Regardless of the color option, both 32GB and 128GB models of Pixel XL are currently out of stock at the Google online store, said The Verge.

Pixels are only offered in 32 and 128 gigabytes and the 128GB one hasn't been in stock since November 30. Separately, AppleInsider learned from a source at Best Buy, which only sells 32GB Pixel models, that demand for Pixel isn't a tenth of that for iPhone 7.

Hulu for iOS gains user profiles for multiple-user accounts, offline viewing in the works

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 21, 2017

Hulu for iOS was updated on App Store with personalized profiles for multiple-user accounts following the introduction of single-user profiles in December 2016.

Personalized profiles for multiple users who share a single Hulu account are now available on the web at Hulu.com and in the mobile Hulu app for iOS and other platforms, TechCrunch reported yesterday.

The oft-requested offline viewing feature will arrive “in a few months” as the company is working hard on the technology as well as on securing content rights, Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins told Adweek.

5 years later, Apple officially ends iPod nano replacement program

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 19, 2017

The first-generation iPod nano replacement program, which launched five years ago due to a potential fire risk from overheating, is no longer found on Apple's Exchange and Repair Extension Programs webpage. Although the company appears to have now formally ended the program, it's still honoring replacement requests as first discovered by MacRumors.

Lite-On Semi rumored to supply fast wireless charging components for iPhone 8

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 19, 2017

According to a recent Chinese-language Commercial Times report cited by trade publication DigiTimes, Apple signed a component contract with supplier Lite-On Semi which should provide several parts that the iPhone maker needs in order to realize fast wireless charging on iPhone 8.

The Taiwan-based supplier has been tasked with building GPP bridge rectifiers that help reduce thermal issue and increase efficiency of wireless power transmission.

New iPads may not arrive until later half of 2017

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 14, 2017

A trio of new iPads that KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted for this year may not launch until the second half of 2017, according to supply chain reports cited by trade publication DigiTimes. The new 9.7, 10.5 and 12.9-inch iPads won't launch before summer because they're still in the planning stage.

The refreshed 9.7-inch model is expected to enter mass production in the first quarter while volume production of the other two models should kick off in the second quarter of this year. For what it's worth, DigiTimes said in December 2016 that lower-than-expected yield rates for TSMC’s 10-nanometer process technology could disrupt planned March 2017 debut of new iPads.

Malwarebytes reports first case of Mac malware for 2017, points out antiquated tactics

Anthony Bouchard ∙ January 19, 2017

Security software development firm Malwarebytes has just exposed what could be the first known case of Mac malware for the year of 2017.

It appears to be a highly antiquated piece of malware. In other words, it’s not super advanced and it’s using methods to infect machines that are so well-known that only a small number of unsuspecting users would even fall victim to it.

Nintendo announces new ‘Fire Emblem’ game coming to iOS February 2

Cody Lee ∙ January 18, 2017

Nintendo on Wednesday announced that its next game released for mobile will be a new entry from the popular Fire Emblem franchise. It's called Fire Emblem Heroes, and it is slated to launch on iOS and Android on February 2.

Like other FE titles, Heroes is a tactical roleplaying game with upgradeable characters from the series. In this all-new storyline, players are tasked with summoning warriors to fight in epic battles between two warring kingdoms.

Apple Pencil 2 rumored to feature iPad-attaching magnetic system & pocket clip

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 18, 2017

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that Apple will refresh its tablet lineup this year, adding a new model with a screen measuring between ten and 10.5 inches diagonally. A new rumor published Wednesday by Dutch blog Letem svetem Applem alleges that Apple Pencil 2 is due soon.