Smartphone application processor (AP) shipments in China are forecast to increase 34.6% sequentially in the second quarter, following a 25.7% decline in the first quarter, according to Digitimes Research

Samsung Electronics uses mainly 18nm process technology to manufacture server DRAM chips, and is gearing up for transition to a newer 16nm process node in 2020, according to Digitimes Research

At FPD China 2019, more flat panel production equipment and related component suppliers were present, while the number of flat panel makers decreased. But the main focus of its technology forums was still on emerging display technologies, in particular foldable AMOLED

Global shipments of smartphone-use TDDI (touch and display driver integration) chips are expected to increase 20% in 2019 from about 414 million units in 2018, according to Digitimes Research

The global top-5 notebook brands together saw their shipments in February slip 16% on month due to seasonality, Intel's CPU shortages and fewer working days during the Lunar New Year period. Compared to the same month a year ago, the volumes went down 11%, but for the first two months of 2019 combined, the top-5 vendors' shipments only dropped 0.7% on year

As Korea will adopt 4G LTE-based non-standalone (NSA) architecture for its initial commercial 5G operations, SK Telecom (SKT) will have a competitive advantage over fellow companies KT and LG U+, leveraging its established, faster 4G LTE networks, according to Digitimes Research

Smart cars will integrate four core elements, collectively dubbed CASE (connected, autonomous, shared and services, and electric), which has become a common goal being sought after by major automakers including Daimler, initiator of the CASE concept. The elements are sending the global auto industry marching toward high-tech development while also ushering in new business models

Combined revenues of Taiwan's top-3 foundries - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), United Microelectronics (UMC) and Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) - are expected to fall 23.4% sequentially and 17% on year to US$8.27 billion in the first quarter of 2019, according to Digitimes Research

Taiwan-based makers saw their combined shipments of monitors increase on year for the fourth consecutive quarter in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to Digitimes Research

The top-5 notebook brands saw better-than-expected results with combined shipments falling 21% on month in January 2019, as the market has entered the slow season in the first quarter, helping ease Intel CPU shortages. The top-5's shipments also represent an increase from those recorded in the same month a year ago

Smartphone application processor (AP) shipments to China vendors in fourth-quarter 2018 declined 10% on quarter with system manufacturers adjusting shipment targets downward. As system manufacturers adjusted shipment targets downward by an average of more than 10%, some even by 20%, Digitimes Research expects they will become even more conservative in shipment ramp-up and will adjust inventory levels in first-quarter 2019, resulting in a drop of 25.7% in shipments on quarter

Worldwide notebook shipments are forecast to decrease only 12.9% sequentially in the first quarter of 2019 as vendors are still seeing some unfulfilled demand created by the CPU shortages. The CPU shortage gap is also expected to shrink to below one million units in the low season