In addition to its cooperation with Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) to launch an 11.6-inch inexpensive notebook priced at US$179 for the education market, Microsoft is planning to partner with Acer and Lenovo to release a series of low-cost Windows 10 notebooks between mid-August and the end of the fourth quarter
In addition to Lenovo's N21 2-in-1 Chromebook launched in February and Asustek Computer's Chromebook Flip 2-in-1 device announced in April, Google, Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Acer are also planning to unveil Chromebook products in the second half. With the devices, the market will see at least six branded 2-in-1 Chromebooks in 2015, showing that Google's aggressive moves to integrate Chromebook with Android are succeeding in promoting the devices in non-education markets
Lenovo outperformed domestic rival vendors Huawei and Xiaomi Technology to take the third position in the global smartphone vendor rankings in the first quarter of 2015, according to Digitimes Research
Japan panel maker JDI is expected to surpass Sharp in revenues during fiscal 2015 due to the company's strong presence in the China market coupled with steady orders from Apple
Capex from Korea-based panel makers Samsung Display and LG Display for AMOLED panels will drop from KRW7 trillion (US$6.9 billion) in 2014 to KRW6.7 trillion in 2015, according to Digitimes Research
Japan-based Softbank will continue to foray into the robot market in Japan after launching the household robot 'Pepper' and business robot 'Asra C1', according to Digitimes Research
Leading companies developing UV (ultraviolet)-A LEDs include Japan-based Nichia and Nitride Semiconductors, South Korea-based LG Innotek and US-based Lumileds Holding. Japan-based Riken and Nikkiso as well as US-based Crystal IS and HexaTech lead in the UV-C LED segment, according to Digitimes Research
The production value of South Korea's memory chip industry soared 31% from a year earlier to almost KRW13 trillion (US$11.9 billion) in the first quarter of 2015, according Digitimes Research
Monitor vendors are continuing to tackle curved units sized 27-inch and above with 2560 by 1080 and Ultra HD resolutions as part of their strategy in the first half of 2015, according to Digitimes Research
Taiwan's major IC foundries will see their combined revenues decrease 4.5% sequentially in the second quarter of 2015, according to Digitimes Research. Weaker-than-expected smartphone shipments as well as downward pressure on the world economy have prompted many of IC suppliers to continue adjusting their inventory levels
Taiwan-based makers will ship 41.579 million smartphone-use touch panels in the second quarter of 2015, increasing 23.5% on quarter but decreasing 22.3% on year, 8.941 million tablet-use units, up 7.2% and down 15% respectively, and 2.175 million notebook-use units, up 34% and 16.0% respectively, according to Digitimes Research
