China panel makers are continuing to move toward production of TFT Oxide displays for use in large-size applications in addition to AMOLED, with Tianma Microelectronics starting to make some of the biggest shifts, according to Digitimes Research's observations at the China 2015 FDP exhibition
Based on recent product displays and talks with representatives at Tianma Optoelectronics at the FPD China 2015 exhibition, the company is actively pursuing OLED and LTPS TFT LCD production and expects new facilities to enter production by late 2015, according to Digitimes Research
Although the launches of inexpensive Chromebooks using Rockchip's solutions were postponed recently, Google is not giving up plans to release such products in 2015, forcing Microsoft, which has been closely monitoring Chromebook development, to release two new inexpensive projects targeting the education and consumer markets. The projects are 11.6-inch clamshell-type notebooks priced at US$149-179 and set for release in mid-2015, at the earliest
China-based touch panel maker Holitech Technology reportedly will raise funds to acquire Each Opto Electronics Industrial, BYD's electronics component department, and Pingbo Electronics, all makers of touch panel-related components. Digitimes Research believes the acquisitions will raise Holitech's position in the industry and boost its touch panel shipments to help it become the second-largest supplier in China as the acquired businesses will complement Holitech's weaknesses
The production value of Japan's semiconductor industry reached JPY3.25 trillion (US$27.5 billion) in 2014, increasing 8.7% from a year earlier. Companies have received a boost from government policies that help strengthen the division of labor in order to improve their profitability, according to Digitimes Research
Following the release of vehicles from Mazda that feature adaptive LED headlight (ALH) technology, more vehicle vendors are looking to incorporate the technology into upcoming automobiles in 2015, according to Digitimes Research
Samsung Electronics will lead the world's top-10 smartphone vendor rankings in 2015, followed by Apple, Lenovo, LG Electronics, Huawei, Xiaomi Technology, Microsoft, TCL Communication Technology, Coolpad and Oppo, according to Digitimes Research.
Shipments for white-box tablets using Intel solutions enjoyed significant growth on quarter in the fourth quarter of 2014 and are expected to see flat performance or drop slightly in the first quarter of 2015 despite the quarter being the traditional slow season. Compared to shipments for MediaTek, Rockchip and Allwinners, which are all seeing dramatic declines from a quarter ago, Intel's application processor (AP) shipments are performing rather well
Panel makers are looking to further invest in Oxide TFT LCD technology throughout 2015, with major plans to expand production capacity expected to unfold in the second half of the year and into 2016, according to Digitimes Research
Taiwan panel makers have been aggressively promoting their on-cell touch panels and quotes for a 5-inch HD (1280 by 720) on-cell touch panel already dropped to about US$10-12 in early 2015, attracting orders from major handset brand vendors and white-box players in China
The market for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has continued to expand, triggering demand for upstream parts and components, according to Digitimes Research
