Shipments of large-size LCD panels will drop in 2016 but total area will expand by 8%, says WitsView

Shipments of large-size LCD panels will drop in 2016 but total area will expand by 8%, says WitsView: Shipments of large-size LCD panels (7-inch and above) for 2015 will reach 794 million units, according to WitsView. This figure represents a 4.1% on-year drop and a first-ever annual shipment decline for the large-size LCD panel industry. The anemic IT application market has been a drag on large-size panel shipments during 2015. On a brighter note, panel shipments in the TV application market have been strong and provide critical support for total shipment area, which is projected grow 3.8% on-year in 2015.

Samsung aims to drop AMOLED pricing to within 10% of LCDs in 2016, says report

Samsung aims to drop AMOLED pricing to within 10% of LCDs in 2016, says report: Samsung Display aims to bring down pricing of small- to medium-size AMOLED displays within 10% of that for LCDs in 2016, according to to a report from China Times.

Digitimes Research: Global all-in-one PC shipments to drop 3.9% on year in 2015

Digitimes Research: Global all-in-one PC shipments to drop 3.9% on year in 2015: With consumer demand for all-in-one PCs remaining weak, and Apple's new high-end iMacs and the price cut for previous-generation models failing to drive sales, Digitimes Research expects all-in-one PC shipments to decline 3.9% on year in 2015 and reach around 13 million units.

Apple reportedly switching to OLED iPhone screens in 2018

Apple reportedly switching to OLED iPhone screens in 2018:

Apple has always used LCD display technology in the iPhone, but reports are now claiming the technology giant is planning a switch to OLED screens. Apple is reportedly meeting with suppliers to lay […]

We may have just been introduced to the future of touchscreens

We may have just been introduced to the future of touchscreens:

E Ink screens are fantastic for some applications, but they're certainly not suitable for smartphones. The low power consumption and great visibility in sunlight are both big checks in the plus column, but things then turn south when you consider what a smartphone experience would be like without vivid colors or high-quality videos and images.

LCD and AMOLED screens are much better suited for smartphones and other mobile devices right now, but we may have just gotten our first glimpse at the holy grail of display technology, combining vivid colors and usable refresh rates with low power consumption and high visibility in direct sunlight.

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Volkswagen is issuing AR glasses as standard factory equipment

Volkswagen is issuing AR glasses as standard factory equipment:

Following a successful 3-month pilot program at its Wolfsburg plant, Volkswagen announced on Tuesday that it will begin issuing 3D smart glasses to its plant logistics personnel. These glasses, which display information like bin locations and part nu...

FCC hires a privacy guru to help lead its telecom investigations

FCC hires a privacy guru to help lead its telecom investigations:

If you want proof that the Federal Communications Commission is getting serious about privacy, you only need to look at its latest recruit. The agency has hired Jonathan Mayer, one of the masterminds behind Do Not Track browsing, as the chief techno...

iPad Pro review: Big and powerful, but it won't replace your laptop

iPad Pro review: Big and powerful, but it won't replace your laptop:

Here we are. Apple, the same company that once swore off styluses, and dismissed hybrid PCs as experiments gone wrong, is now selling a laptop/tablet mashup of its own. One that accepts pen input, at that. The new 12.9-inch iPad Pro went on sale la...

I just don't understand why Samsung's Galaxy View exists

I just don't understand why Samsung's Galaxy View exists:

The process is always the same. New gadget arrives, I use it heavily for a few days, and then slowly settle into the process of figuring out if it in fact serves a need in my life. Things were different with Samsung's massive 18-inch Galaxy View "t...

Google to move all of its cloud services under one umbrella

Google to move all of its cloud services under one umbrella:

Google's shuffling its alphabet again. The company announced on Thursday that it will condense all of its cloud-based internet services -- including Google for Work, Cloud Platform, and Google Apps -- under a single company that has yet to be named...

Bosch's New Automotive Touchscreens Feel Like Physical Buttons

Bosch's New Automotive Touchscreens Feel Like Physical Buttons:

Countless states have laws preventing you from using a smartphone while driving, but trying to find a button on an in-dash navigation system is just as distracting. To remedy this, Bosch has created an automotive touch screen with buttons that feel real so they’re easy to find without taking your eyes off the road.

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Wah Hong reports October 2015 performance

Wah Hong reports October 2015 performance: Optical film maker Wah Hong has reported its October 2015 revenues reached NT$855 million (US$26.14 million), down 5.46% on month. The October performance was affected by holidays in China.

Digitimes Research: Top-5 notebook vendors and top-3 ODMs perform weakly in October

Digitimes Research: Top-5 notebook vendors and top-3 ODMs perform weakly in October: The global top-five notebook brand vendors and top-three notebook ODMs saw their combined shipments drop 32% and 27%, respectively in October. Although preparations for the year-end holidays greatly boosted shipments in September, shipment volumes returned conservative in October since demand from the end market has not seen any major improvements.

Elan expects to post 2-4% revenue drop in 4Q15

Elan expects to post 2-4% revenue drop in 4Q15: Touchscreen controller IC supplier Elan Microelectronics expects to post a 2-4% sequential decrease in consolidated revenues for the fourth quarter of 2015, with gross margin ranging from 41% to 43%.

iPad Pro Teardown: Big Screen Doesn't Mean Easy to Repair

iPad Pro Teardown: Big Screen Doesn't Mean Easy to Repair:

As is tradition with new gadgets, the cruel folks at iFixit have torn the iPad Pro from limb to limb for our entertainment and education.

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Is the board's involvement in cybersecurity really that critical?

Is the board's involvement in cybersecurity really that critical?:

Business IT, and information security leaders alike repeat it all of the time: cybersecurity is a board-level issue. Assuming that’s true, and many organizations believe it is, what can the board of directors actually do when it comes to improving cybersecurity efforts?

Most experts agree that one of the most important things boards can do is to set the security tone for the organization. (Also read "Six reasons why boards of director must be engaged in cybersecurity".)

“The board of directors, led by the CEO, should lead collaboration and security awareness across the enterprise,” says Steve Durbin, managing director at the Information Security Forum. "Senior executives understand that the global economy is still not adequately protected against cyberattacks, despite years of effort and annual spending in the billions.”

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Lenovo blames smartphones for its first loss in six years

Lenovo blames smartphones for its first loss in six years:

Lenovo had a nice run of profits thanks to its PC business, but like many others, it's finding smartphones to be a tougher go. Thanks to charges related to its Motorola acquisition and $300 million worth of unsold phones, the company incurred a hef...

China mobile phone users reach 1.3 billion in September, says MIIT

China mobile phone users reach 1.3 billion in September, says MIIT: China had 1.3 billion mobile communication service subscribers as of the end of September 2015, growing 0.28% sequentially and 2.14% on year. Of the subscribers, 427.41 million (32.88%) and 302.39 million (23.26%) used 3G and 4G services respectively, and 948.07 million (72.94%) were mobile Internet-access users, according to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

The top security threats of 2016

The top security threats of 2016:

You'll find everything from ransomware to Microsoft's Edge browser on McAfee's 2016 cybersecurity threat report.

Report claims iPhone 6s isn’t selling as fast as Apple thought it would

Report claims iPhone 6s isn’t selling as fast as Apple thought it would:

Apple is reportedly slashing iPhone 6s orders by 10% according to analysts, as the demand for the best iPhone yet is weaker than expected. Credit Suisse analysts have one theory for the lack of interest in the new iPhone 6s that’s related to 3D Touch, Business Insider notes. According to the bank, there’s a “disappointing” number of apps that support the new pressure-sensitive touch gesture.

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BlackBerry Priv sells out on Amazon U.S. in just hours

BlackBerry Priv sells out on Amazon U.S. in just hours:

Earlier today, we told you that demand for the BlackBerry Priv has been heavy. How heavy? Consider that on BlackBerry's own online store, new orders for the unlocked version of the Android flavored slider won't be shipped until the week of November 23rd. Now, we have more confirmation that the Priv is selling like hotcakes.



Earlier today, online retailer Amazon put the phone up for sale from its U.S. web site. Priced at the same $699 that it is being sold for through the manufacturer's website, the slider sold out on Amazon within hours.



If you live in the states and you absolutely ...

Google is considering building its own smartphone from scratch

Google is considering building its own smartphone from scratch:

Google launched Android many years ago without actually making a smartphone. Instead, the company partnered up with various smartphone manufacturers to create Nexus-branded devices to show customers, developers and partners a fully functional high-end (or thereabout) smartphone running the latest version of Android. Though rumors said Google might ditch the Nexus smartphone program, the company kept making them – and Google is probably forced to create Nexus handsets so its brand new Android releases have a place to shine.

But Google might bring a twist to the Nexus smartphone program as the company is now rumored to be considering the release of its own smartphone.

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iPad Pro review roundup: Can Apple’s biggest tablet replace your laptop?

iPad Pro review roundup: Can Apple’s biggest tablet replace your laptop?:

Earlier this week, Apple CEO Tim Cook made a bold declaration that once you owned an iPad Pro, you'd never need a traditional PC ever again. The reviews are now in on the iPad Pro and they try to answer the burning question of whether Apple's monstrous tablet really is a laptop "killer."

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China to dominate flat panel display manufacturing by 2018, says IHS

China to dominate flat panel display manufacturing by 2018, says IHS: While conventional thin film TFT LCD displays are rapidly trending towards commoditization and currently suffering from declining prices and margins, China is quickly adding capacity in all flat panel display (FPD) manufacturing segments. Supported by financial incentives from local governments, China TFT capacity is projected to grow 40% per year between 2010-2018. In 2010 China accounted for just 4% of total TFT capacity. However by 2018, China is forecast to become the largest FPD-producing region in the world, accounting for 35% of the global market, according to IHS.

Banking on security innovation to beat the hackers

Banking on security innovation to beat the hackers:

Banks are being targeted by cybercriminals, and that looks likely to continue in a world with more data and devices. Are banks being innovative enough with information security to ward off the threats?

From chip-and-pin fraud and distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks to malware and nation-state APTs, cybercrime has become a big problem for banks across the world.

In the last year alone, we’ve seen the emergence of Carbanak, the Russian gang which stole $1 billion from more than 100 banks across 30 countries, as well as high-profile data breaches at JP Morgan Chase, HSBC, Halifax and Barclays. JP Morgan subsequently pledged to spend $500 million on security following its breach in late 2014, a trend adopted by many other companies post-breach. Indeed, PwC predicts that US financial services companies will increase their cyber security budgets by $2 billion by 2017.

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Motorola is opening a retail store in Chicago this weekend

Motorola is opening a retail store in Chicago this weekend:

With the holiday shopping season just around the corner, this week Motorola will open its first brick-and-mortar store in Chicago. Named Moto Shop, the space is designed to be a showroom and hands-on area for all things Motorola, the company reveal...

iPhone 7 may launch as soon as next summer, report claims

iPhone 7 may launch as soon as next summer, report claims:

Apple will reportedly release the iPhone 7 a bit earlier than expected next year, departing from its tried and true 12-month refresh cycle in the process. This eyebrow-raising rumor comes to us courtesy of AppleInsider who, citing a reliable source, claims that Apple is angling to complete iPhone 7 development ahead of schedule.

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Breakthrough research paves the way for glass that’s as strong as steel

Breakthrough research paves the way for glass that’s as strong as steel:

Recently we were really impressed with what Motorola was able to do with its shatterproof display for the Droid Turbo 2. However, IFLScience brings us word that some researchers at the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Industrial Science have come up with a breakthrough technology that could make the Droid Turbo 2's display seem positively fragile by comparison.

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Consumer notebook shipments may fall significantly after 2015 year-end

Consumer notebook shipments may fall significantly after 2015 year-end: Despite recent rebounding shipments of consumer notebooks due to replenishing inventories, global demand is still weak and therefore shipments are likely to significantly drop after the 2015 year-end holidays, especially since the first quarter is the traditional slow season, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers.

China panel makers ramping up high-end display production

China panel makers ramping up high-end display production: In addition to reaching 90% yields for a-Si displays, China panel makers are also ramping up production of AMOLED, Ultra HD (4K) and IGZO applications to meet demand from high-end markets.

Rumors reaffirmed: next Xiaomi flagship to have pressure-sensitive screen, developed by Synaptics

Rumors reaffirmed: next Xiaomi flagship to have pressure-sensitive screen, developed by Synaptics:

About a month ago, we got some exciting news from Synaptics. If you don't know who that is – the company is probably the biggest name out there, when it comes to any type of touch-based human interface solutions – touchpads, touchscreens, fingerprint ID, et cetera. So, it uploaded a demo of a tech that it is developing, dubbed ClearForce. And yes, it is a pressure-sensitive tech, much like Apple's Force Touch (on the Watch) or 3D Touch (on the iPhone 6s / iPhone 6s Plus).



It's becoming obvious that this type of interface will not be exclusive to Apple's smartphones ...

Lenovo's new ThinkPad X1 Tablet outed: Surface Pro rival due Feb. 2016

Lenovo's new ThinkPad X1 Tablet outed: Surface Pro rival due Feb. 2016:

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The market for pro-level tablets is growing steadily, with Microsoft, Apple, Samsung and many others having all delved into this category. A leaked Lenovo road map suggests the firm has a new model up its sleeve in the form of the ThinkPad X1 Tablet. Due in February of next year, details are scant at this stage, but judging by the image of the device, it will surely be looking to rival the new Microsoft Surface Pro 4.

First shared by the folks at WinFuture, the ThinkPad X1 Tablet (top right) will include a 12-inch display and is touted as ...

Digitimes Research: 58.7 million tablets to be shipped globally in 4Q15

Digitimes Research: 58.7 million tablets to be shipped globally in 4Q15: There will be 58.7 million tablets, including 2-in-1 and screen-detachable hybrid models, shipped globally in the fourth quarter of 2015, increasing 15.9% on quarter but decreasing 22.6% on year.Shipments will consist of 14 million iPads, 24.5 million non-iPads and 20.2 million white-box units, according to Digitimes Research.

Apple cuts a deal with failed sapphire screen supplier

Apple cuts a deal with failed sapphire screen supplier:

Apple and GT Advanced Technologies Inc. agreed to part ways back in 2014, after the latter filed for bankruptcy. Now the two have reached a deal that will eradicate GT's $439 million loan from Cupertino, according to The Wall Street Journal. Apple...

Ming-Chu Kuo prophesizes iPhone 7 Plus with A10 CPU and 3GB RAM for release in September 2016

Ming-Chu Kuo prophesizes iPhone 7 Plus with A10 CPU and 3GB RAM for release in September 2016:

After what was probably a transcendental experience of tapping into Apple suppliers' collective inner consciousness, renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is back from the void with bold predictions for the near future!



According to his research note, another duo of 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch phones is in the works for next year. The 4.7-inch iPhone 7 is expected to have 2GB of RAM, while the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus is expected to attain another gigabyte of RAM for enhanced performance. Both phones, however, will run on Apple's next-gen mobile processor, the A10.



Moreover, the analyst mentions ...

U.S. start-up creates a $420 smartphone with rear e-ink display, biometric earprint sensor and more

U.S. start-up creates a $420 smartphone with rear e-ink display, biometric earprint sensor and more:

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With smartphones tending offer near identical features, a number of manufacturers have sought to break the mold and bring something new to the table. On a number of occasions, we've seen handsets with more than one display, with LG having recently dropped the V10 featuring a smaller screen for additional functionality. There's also the YotaPhone 2, which by contrast, has opted for a rear-facing e-ink display. An interesting concept, it's one that American start-up Siam has latched onto with its Kickstarter hopeful 7X device.

Where YotaPhone is ...

The 'tablet' for your wrist has arrived

The 'tablet' for your wrist has arrived:

Yes, someone actually made a wearable "tablet." And no, we're not talking about the Neptune Pine, which is basically an oversized watch that doubles as a phone. This new device, dubbed Rufus Cuff, features a 3.2-inch screen and, since launching as...

Analyst sees Samsung leaving the smartphone business in five years

Analyst sees Samsung leaving the smartphone business in five years:

Samsung might be the world's largest manufacturer of smartphones at the moment, but according to one analyst, the company will be out of the industry in five years. This is the prediction made by Ben Bajarin, who says that the manufacturer will face The Innovator's Dilemma. This occurs when an early innovator, like Samsung, faces off in the marketplace with rivals making much cheaper products with the same features as the innovator's products carry.



As Bajarin notes, "When you ship the same operating system as your competition, you are only as good as their lowest price." The analyst says ...